Buzzard

[John Robinson]

Buzzard on Pigeon baited for Fox
One of those days.
Went to a new hide set up on a farm where the owner is very helpful( as most of them are). It’s a good spot for finches and it makes a pleasant change from the three pool hides. On the way down the track to the farm , I came across a dead woodpigeon.
I thought I might as well stick it out in front of the hide as I had already had some stuff on a fox which was coming regularly.. I managed to find a stick with a short angled twig on it and with a bit of penknife work,made a sort of tent peg , and I used this to hold the pigeon down- bit messy but the bird didn’t feel much !!
I stuck some seed down arranged a few perches and settled down. I got some lovely stuff on Bullfinches, Reed Bunting, Jay, Pheasant, Greenfinch etc.
All of a sudden there was a commotion and everything took off. To my surprise two Buzzards had landed about 5 foot behind the pigeon. One took off and the other hopped (in the way that buzzies do ! ) towards the pigeon.
He tried to drag it off but the peg held. He ripped the head off and ate that, and spent the next half hour slowly demolishing what was left. The wind comingfrom the right was blowing feathers all over the place !Took no notice of the camera at all, and I ended up with about 250 shots- vertical, horizontal and even full frame
( Crikey Robbo !!! )
As Mark Knopfler said “ Sometime it all come together “
D7000
Sigma 100-300 mm
400 ISO
320th @f8
Slight crop on this one.
Levels Paint Shop Pro
White balance auto /warm.
Very oof maggy in background taken out- looked like a feather !
Cheers
JR
Thanks for interest in my last post.- much appreciated

[John Rowell]

Great image, and the story really helps bring it all to life. Everything about this is nicely done, sharp, good pose from the bird, a bite of the pigeon in the beak and feathers flying everywhere. Very nice indeed. Is this really a buzzard, or is this what we on this side of the pond would call a hawk?

[John Robinson]

Thanks John
I,m not really sure ,but I think they are called Hawks over there. I remeber the old westerns had buzzards circling around when someone got shot but they were vultures werent they?
Cheers
John

[William Dickson]

Hi John. Another fantastic raptor with prey and a great story to go along with it. Great details and pose on the bird. I like the feathers blowin in the wind it gives the image depth. Great work. Thats the holidays booked for August, 10 days on South Uist, Outer Hebrides

Will

[Joseph Przybyla]

Lovely image John, thank you for sharing.

[David Cowling]

Great stuff John. Your luck was in there and you certainly made the best of it! Nice and sharp, good colouration and the flying feathers go to make an excellent image with a great story.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

John,

what an amazing experience mate. Well done getting the pix and the thought process to pin the dove down. Really nicely done.

[John Robinson]

Thanks all
The farmer has let the shooting (rabbits/pigeons etc) and the Buzzards have "moved away " I,m glad I made the most of it when I had the chance.!!
John

[Gizzo Sparkes]

Love the colours and detail. Thanks for the story as well. Nice read.

[shane shacaluga]

Nice image and story John. Lucky arrival of this buzzard on the pigeon

This Common buzzard is properly named Buteo buteo whereas the American Red Tailed Hawk is Buteo jamaicensis. Same family just different species. Not sure why they are called Hawks and Buzzards though

I have also heard the american kind called Red Tailed Buzzards

[Karl Egressy]

Good story and an amazing shot, John.

[Marina Scarr]

What a killer image, John! Love the various feathers, the raised talon and the morsel in its mouth. It looks as though the raptor is standing in a bed of feathers.

[Daniel Cadieux]

How cool is that!! Well done with the opportunity, everything looks great. Thank you also for the detailed write-up, very pleasant to read.

[John Robinson]

Thanks all Much appreciated.
Just think- out of ll the pictures I took of this bird (hundreds) only one had the flying featheres. How would we have gone on in film days !!
Found a great Buzzard nest today- perfect position but right on a heavily used footpath !!
Cheers
JohnR

[Jim Crosswell]

Great image John! I like the IQ, foot holding down the pigeon, feathers, composition and story. Hopefully you get some images at the nest you found.