Buzzard nest/-ling

[Falk]

This is some sort of addendum to my Red Kite nest thread from yesterday, and features the Common Buzzard nest I had mentioned over there.

So, I went to the Buzzard nest this morning. It is built in a Willow tree and it's position indicated here:
#0
The photo above was taken in early May, when I made my first examination. To give some perspective, my house is just 250m away from the nest, left of center, hidden by bushes.

This morning, the first thing I came across on my way, was my neighbours cock - dare I say so!? - anyway, I used it to warm up the camera arm. Here he is
#1
Neighbours Cock Bigma+EC-14@708mm, 1/200s, ISO800, hand held, 50% crop

Half way through the meadows I need to use a small bridge to cross a ditch. Standing on the bridge I took this one, backlit by the sun:
#2
Calopteryx splendens, Bigma+EC-14@708mm, hand held, 25% crop

The Willow tree with the Buzzard nest is situated directly at the bank of the small ditch, half way between our village and that patch of wood with the Kites in it. I went to the edge of the woods and took the first photo:
#3
Willow with Buzzard nest at about 160m distance. Almost invisible! Bigma+EC-14@708mm, full frame

I slowly approched the nesting site and had not gone far, when both adult birds took to the air and left for the woods, now in my back. The male later came back and looked me over from the other side of the horse pasture:
#4
male Buzzard keeping an eye on me, being "not amused", c. 75% crop

The hanging branches of the Willow are an almost perfect screen and it is near to impossible to get a free line of sight. I criss-crossed the field to try every angle:
#5
Bingo! At least one little Buzzard! Bigma+EC-14@708mm, 50% crop

#6
A different angle from farther away. In all the many shots I took, I was only able to see this one chick. Probably the only one!? Interesting, how far behind this little Buzzard is, in direct comparison with the almost done Red Kitelings.

A pity, that the view is so obscured. You see, even standing in an open field, does not mean everyone can see you. For better pictures I may need to walk 1.5km to the next Buzzard nest I know ...?!

Cheers, thats all!
Falk

[Imageryone]

Re: Buzzard nest/-ling

Interesting narrative, Falk, and good images to back them too. It is good to have such a diverse bird population so close to home.

[Tordan58]

Re: Buzzard nest/-ling

Great story and good photos. You certainly have the skills required to spot them.

Out of curiosity - is it possible to approach the site with car? I am certain you would be able to come quite close without being seen as a threat. Or from tractor?

[Falk]

Re: Buzzard nest/-ling

Thanks Img1 and Tord.
There is no place a traktor can not go, but I don't have one and the farmer would not want me to flatten his corn. We have a 4WD but in Germany, if you should not know it, everything aside main roads is forbidden country. "No passing with vehicles" sign post everywhere. The next problem then is, there is always the one who needs to enforce the rules on you, because he can

Anyway, these birds have chosen their site in spitting distance to the village, the horse pastures and the main road 100m to the east and are pretty tolerant to presens of man. I am certain, they recognize my figure too. But, when I approach from a different direction, like yesterday, then they are wary. And more so, as they now have to protect their youngster

As a rule, I don't use hides or the car as such and prefer an open approach. It is almost impossible to fool a raptors eyesight, so you can show your intentions from the beginning. Sometimes I am clad in full camo, sure, as walking hide if you like, but that is more to get away with lesser sighted critters, anything with fur (incl. humans) and even insects.

[Tordan58]

Re: Buzzard nest/-ling

Hi Falk,

What I meant was not challenging you to bring a car where you are not allowed to. I was just suggesting that often a car will function as a hide, as long as you stay inside.

Interesting what you write about recognizing you. This is in line with recently published research results birds recognizing people on their features. To illustrate this, people here are complaining about Geese in our city parks and to keep the population in control licensed hunters where contracted, operating in the early hours of day and shooting in controlled conditions. It worked initially, but after a while the method became ineffective simply since the surviving Geese associated the hunters with danger and coming close enough for a safe shot became impossible. Changing clothes did not help.

[Falk]

Re: Buzzard nest/-ling

often a car will function as a hide

Of course it does. I guess everbody has had some experience with it by chance, if not on purpose. I found that animals will often be spooked, if you turn off the motor though.
As the camera is laying on the passanger seat anyway when on tour, I too have taken shots through the open window on occasion. But I found, that I have difficulties to get a decent sharp picture out of a running (motor wise) car. That has indeed puzzled me more then once. Can't be an interference pattern between IS and idleing motor, or can it? But it is more likely a question of holding steady in a sitting position. BTW, this is a good reminder, that I need to get my makeshift beanbag done.

In a (?BBC) TV report about "smart birds" I have seen a most amazing study done on/with Crows. The nesting site was "attacked" and molested by a man wearing a particular face mask. The Crows learned to hate him subsequently. Long time after and after they were shifted to a different location and what not, they and their siblings would start to call out warnings, if this particular "face" would show up somewhere in a crowd! Truely intelligent critters they are and capable of passing on information
In my experience birds of prey are of course all good looking but rather dumb. But to recognize or getting used to an often seen subject is not all that difficult.


Falk

[Falk]

Re: Buzzard nest/-ling

Time for an update on 'my' Buzzard. Controlled the fence around our horse pasture today. With some wind going I noticed a small opening in the Willow crown, giving a bit of a chance to actually picture the little guy in his nest. So I went and fetched the camera:
#1
70% crop and the best I could do. The single youngster seems almost done. As far as I could see through binoculars and from other photos, the plumage is 'flight ready'.

After about 45min I was going to go and switched the camera off - only to turn it back on immediately, when I spotted a 'Buzzard' a few hundred meters away - eventually closing in:
#2
Something did not seem right with this one! Looks like ...

#3
... yes! Typical pose for this bird, with relatively small head held way up, and long tail ...

#4
... and now showing his markings, so there is no doubt any more ...

#5
... a Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus)!
All heavy crops; unfortunately I had left IS1 'on' whilst panning this bird I've ruined half of everything I took ...
Each summer during the last several years I've seen a Honey Buzzard now. But so far I've never spotted their nesting site or one sitting on the ground, digging for Wesps etc. But I am convinced there has to be at least one breeding pair in my greater area.

Falk

[OM USer]

Re: Buzzard nest/-ling

Thanks for the update. That was one nice ball of fluff 4 weeks gao.

[Tordan58]

Re: Buzzard nest/-ling

Nice, pictures!Too bad about the IS thing. I spot Honey Buzzards almost every year but only in flight and usually high in the sky, and don't have any pictures that deserve to be shared. Maybe I should try harder by being at the yearly migration at the right time with good light and favorable wind conditions...

[Falk]

Re: Buzzard nest/-ling

Maybe I should try harder ...

That is up to you of course but the thing is, I see them without even trying at all. They just happen to be there, sailing suddenly through the skies - always catching me with the wrong settings I guess they need to cover lots of ground to find their prefered prey. The nest has not to be anywhere near in that case. However, the last three times I remember seeing one, he was just 50m high or less and going +/- directly over head. And I always came out with bad quality record shots only