Buzzard hovering

mjsayles · #1 (**permalink**) 13-03-2007, 09:48 AM

I went for a bike ride at the weekend, and just a short distance from my house (I live in a village surrounded by farmland) I saw a buzzard hovering kestrel-style above a field.

There was very little wind (it was virtually still), so it wasn't being held up by a breeze. Yet it was hovering, for around 15-20 seconds, flapping its wings the way kestrels do when they hover, searching for prey. It wasn't that high up either - approximately the height of a three storey house.

I've never seen a buzzard do this before - usually I see them soaring, eagle-style. Has anyone else ever seen a buzzard hover when searching for prey?

Michael S

nightshade · #2 (**permalink**) 13-03-2007, 10:00 AM

I was working at Mygor and a Buzzard there used to hover
but usually was waiting for a Train! as soon as one went by
it would follow in its wake cruising sometimes hovering looking
to see what had been flushed out of the embankment vegetation

Kerry · #3 (**permalink**) 13-03-2007, 10:57 AM

I have seen this behaviour in buzzards as well. I queried it with someone from the RSPB and they said that it isn't uncommon for buzzards to hover.

Kerry

aeshna5 · #4 (**permalink**) 13-03-2007, 11:50 AM

Yes as the others have said Buzzards regularly hover. I was watching a pair of displaying Sparrowhawks on Sunday + there were also 2 Buzzards with them, 1 of which was hovering. In fact a friend with me , who's more of a bug man than birds, intially called out a Kestrel, despite the obvious size difference!

Nicola Main · #5 (**permalink**) 13-03-2007, 07:00 PM

I have seen a Buzzard hover once and that was outside the visitor centre at Montrose Basin. At first I did think it was a Kestrel but that thought was eliminated when I looked closer and saw the actual size of it. Nicola.

wyevilla · #6 (**permalink**) 13-03-2007, 07:07 PM

Hovering is definitely in the range of normal behaviours for this bird.

My experience is that they are more prone to do this in a slight breeze rather than a stronger wind and also on an updraught produced at the side of a hill. Seen them hover on the side of the A37 between Dorchester and Yeovil where the land on either side falls away towards Sydling (east) and Maiden Newton (west).

An impressive sight, to say the least, as you draw alongside them!