Am i seeing things

[deputy dog]

I thought the only bird of prey to hover motionless is the kestrel family. But recently iv started seeing buzzards doing exactly the same thing especially one breezy and gusty days. I live in a valley area in South Wales with mountains boths side of my house. I see kestrels hovering looking for prey on the ground, but not as common as they once were unfortunately. But over the last couple of months, iv been seeing to my disbelief, adult buzzards taking to the wind like kestrels and hovering for a good minute or so looking for prey items. My question is to you the fellow members, have any of you wittnessed such sightings of buzzards hovering like kestrels looking for food. Or am i just going nuts an seeing things.

 

 

ATB

 

DD

[Raja Clavata]

I thought the only bird of prey to hover motionless is the kestrel family. But recently iv started seeing buzzards doing exactly the same thing especially one breezy and gusty days. I live in a valley area in South Wales with mountains boths side of my house. I see kestrels hovering looking for prey on the ground, but not as common as they once were unfortunately. But over the last couple of months, iv been seeing to my disbelief, adult buzzards taking to the wind like kestrels and hovering for a good minute or so looking for prey items. My question is to you the fellow members, have any of you wittnessed such sightings of buzzards hovering like kestrels looking for food. Or am i just going nuts an seeing things.

 

 

ATB

 

DD

 

Kestrels and buzzards hover amigo :blink:

[steve_b_wales]

I've got a pair who nest in the quarry behind my house. I've seen them 'hovering' but not quite like the Kestrels etc.

[UKPoacher]

We watched an osprey hovering on an updraft for several minutes a could of years ago in Cyprus. We were only thirty yards from it and on the same level. Magic!

[Chard]

Buzzards can hover quite successfully if they face into a stiff breeze, I don't think they could do it for long on a calm day. :blink:

[ayrshiretaxidermy]

Contrary to popular belief, its not just Kestrels that hover. Buzzards, Ospreys, Harriers, Barn Owls and SE Owls hover as well.

[pigeonblasterian]

I have seen them ride the wind and seem to be fixed more or less to the same place.Have not seen them hover with the flapping of the wings like a kestrel. :blink:

[Browning GTS]

Yes that is the difference a buzzard is not really hovering it is statonary above the ground ( ground speed ) but there is air flowing over its wings ( air speed ) so it is the equivalent to moving fowards on a still day. Where as a kestrel will move its wings to hover its is just a lot less energy consuming on a breezy day.

[kdubya]

Yes that is the difference a buzzard is not really hovering it is statonary above the ground ( ground speed ) but there is air flowing over its wings ( air speed ) so it is the equivalent to moving fowards on a still day. Where as a kestrel will move its wings to hover its is just a lot less energy consuming on a breezy day.

 

 

Buzzards do actually flap to hover exactly the same as kestrels even with little or no wind (so do other birds of prey) but they can only do it for very short periods its always assumed that a kestrel is the only hovering raptor probably because its the only one that can do it for a considerable length of time.

 

KW