Buzzard numbers on the rise
IT still gives me a thrill when I see a buzzard soaring majestically over one of the reserves of the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside.
Only last week I was on Astley Moss, in Wigan and two of these magnificent birds were gliding on the thermals hundreds of feet above us mere mortals standing below.
I was working with a group of volunteers and we were all straining our necks to watch them wheel overhead on a lovely warm spring day.
When you are working on nature reserves it is a real bonus to actually see the wildlife you are protecting.
That morning I had also watched two roe deer heading off into a woodland after they spotted me from a distance. Back to the birds. The great thing is that we have buzzards in many areas of the North West, with an estimated 450 pairs breeding in Lancashire according to the local Bird Atlas.
I certainly know of a resident bird which inhabits woodland close to the motorway in Cadishead and is often seen over the local mosslands, our nature reserves.
This is a popular character accepted by conservationists and farmers as part of the landscape.
In fact, as buzzards tend to feed mainly on carrion – dead stuff to you and me – this bird is providing a valuable service cleaning up the mammal and bird corpses close to its home.
They also eat small birds, mammals and large insects.
This good work was not recognised by some folk over the centuries and buzzards were shot and poisoned; restricting them to the north and west of the UK in the early part of the 20th century.
Things have improved and you can generally hear the cat-like ‘kee-yaa’ call over grasslands, farmlands and woodlands throughout the UK.
In fact, the Bird Atlas talks of a population explosion as buzzards are doing so well.
Buzzards are the most frequently seen mediumsized birds of prey.
They have broader wings and shorter tails than the harriers or red kite.
The plumage is generally dark brown but can be paler. The majority I have seen have been brown.
The way they glide majestically with an odd flap of the wings is easily recognised as they cross motorways.
My favourite buzzard moment was when I saw one sitting on a fence with a crow perched either side of him.
The crows had obviously been pestering the raptor and they were all having a rest, just eyeing each other up.
Watch the skies when you are in open areas and you may just see a buzzard. »●To support the work of the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside, text WILD09 with the amount you want to donate to 70070. For more information about Cheshire Wildlife Trust go to cheshirewildlife trust.org.uk.