tullyhubbert Posted October 16, 2008 Report Share Posted October 16, 2008 Only a few years ago I'd never seen any Buzzards in NI before, I'd only ever seen them at a friends place in Scotland (Perthshire) I was always fascinated by them and their call. However about 4 - 5 years ago I spotted the first one in my home area (Comber) Since then their numbers seem to be growing quickly, last year I seen 3 together and Saturday past I seen 6 together! Previously I thought they were purely carrion feeders but having chatted to a few farmers they claim to have seem them taking live rats & pigeons (By dropping on them while on the ground) A quick look at the RSPB website confirms this is likely http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/...zzard/index.asp Should we be concerned about the apparent explosion in their numbers and the effect they have on other species/gamebirds, or should we take the view that everything in nature has its place? -- Tullyhubbert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted October 16, 2008 Report Share Posted October 16, 2008 The short answer to your question is NO. After 12 years of studying them i have fount No serious problems with buzzards and game birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tullyhubbert Posted October 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2008 Thanks for the reply asner2, I assume you are trying to emphasise your point as opposed to shouting at me? I'm interested in your studies, were they something you undertook as a personal interest or part of wider research? I've been told that a conservation organisation (RSPB?) released birds in my area some years ago, if so they really seem to be thriving and multiplying. I don't know if this is true or not, all I can confirm is other than in Scotland I'd never seen a buzzard until about 5 years ago. Is there a rough rule of thumb as to how many buzzards can survive in a set area? I'm genuinely interested in them as they are a magnificent bird to watch/listen. I don't do any game shooting (Well a few snipe) so I'm not overly concerned about that, just wanting to know what affect all these new buzzards are having in general. Is it normal to see so many buzzards together, the 6 I seen on Saturday were circling and calling at a high altitude? -- Tullyhubbert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andovian Posted October 16, 2008 Report Share Posted October 16, 2008 regarding numbers about 1 month ago a group of us were out having a small clay shoot out newbury side of andover and there was a group of buzzards riding a thermal and numbers where easily in excess of 50 birds, none of us had ever seen that many together before and another point to add occasionally they will take pheasants when the poults are first put in the release pens but honestly for the number they actually take its not worth persecuting the birds in fact they are beneficial to any shoot as their presence will often send pheasants back into the cover of the wood and stop the birds straying from the shoot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brisa Posted October 17, 2008 Report Share Posted October 17, 2008 Funny you should bring that up, I was tucked in a natural hide in along some trees up near maryland industrial estate getting a few pigeons and they dried up I then seen this massive bird of prey flying in (which looks like the 'wing open' bird in the link ^^ there). It flew down the field about 4ft off the ground and its wingspan was about the same as they bale it was flying near. Sat and watched it once it perched in the tree for about 10 mins until it went for another fly about. Amazing looking bird but the pigeons didn't like its presence at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ballymac Posted October 17, 2008 Report Share Posted October 17, 2008 The first buzzard I saw in N.Ireland was about 15yrs ago near Fintona. I remember it well as I nearly crashed the car. I thought it was an eagle escaped from somewhere I researched what I had seen and realised it was indeed a buzzard. It was another 3-4 yrs before I saw another one. But in the last 10yrs or so they are commonplace throughout N.Ireland. From my garden I usually see 4-5 at some point in the day. I kn0ow where there are two nest sites both within 1 mile from my house. I have seen buzzards attack my decoys and take rabbits and rats. They certainly disturb the pigeons. We were shooting last year in a large barley field, having a good day, birds coming in a constant flow, when suddenly they stopped. We soon realised why when two buzzards came circling round. One of them landed in the tree beside us. Magnificannt birds, certainly built to kill. The last time I was out for a shot, about 2 weeks ago the only thing I SAW WAS magpies grey crows and two buzzrds. Again one of them landed in a tree near to my hide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweedledee Posted October 17, 2008 Report Share Posted October 17, 2008 plenty of buzzards round here too mate, the rabbits seem to be getting thin on the ground. the corvids hate them. beautiful bird in every right amazing to hear them call in the distance and see the height they can watch from Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nagantino Posted October 17, 2008 Report Share Posted October 17, 2008 A lovely bird to see for sure. We keep an eye on one just outside Lisburn. Its there very often on top of a lamppost. Last Christmas morning we were doing the family rounds when it dropped off the lamppost and landed on the ground were it proceeded to pull the inerds out of something dead. I slowed the car and we all watched it. We were no more the 10 feet from it. last month in Castle Gardens a guy was displaying hawks and owls and he said they ate worms, beetles and carrion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazza Posted October 17, 2008 Report Share Posted October 17, 2008 I watched one this morning being constantly attacked by two crows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted October 17, 2008 Report Share Posted October 17, 2008 (edited) Sorry Tully I did not mean to be sharp with you. This topic was well debated a few months ago in the game shooting section. My work with common buzzards started in 1997 in Norfolk where I was wardening Honey buzzards and commons were starting to breed for the first time in over 100 years in Norfolk. We were worried about the interactions between the 2 species. There are some on here who will tell you different , but all I can say is after 100s of hours watching them I have only once seen a common buzzard kill a bird , a half grown coot , and analysis of their pellets under nests have failed to show any bird bones or feathers. Here in Norfolk voles form most of their diet along with lots of rabbits , sloworms , worms and beetles. At the moment in suitable habitat we seem to have one pair to every 100 acres of mixed woodland \farmland , but the 100 odd pairs are mainly in the north and west of the county. I have seen 27 following the plough taking worms in Slapton Ley Devon. Edited October 17, 2008 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THEINVISIBLESCARECROW Posted October 18, 2008 Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 Got Buzzards near me. Personally I'm glad. Wish there was a few more Owls though. Everything has their place & arn't we lucky to have such a variety of wildlife in the UK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bignoel Posted October 18, 2008 Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 plenty of buzzards on my permission keeper next door must be worried thou for his pheasant's partridge's cracking bird get some real good veiw's aswell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
becassier Posted October 20, 2008 Report Share Posted October 20, 2008 The are the named the common buzzard and not without cause. In Northern Ireland they are all too common these days! As for them not taking game birds, that is not correct. I am a member of a small County Armagh syndicate and I can assure you that they do take game birds. I have personally seen this on a number of occasions. I have also witnessed one taking a mallard on a shoot day after it was shot and before it was picked-up after the drive. They are becoming a major pest in NI. Becassier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teal Posted October 20, 2008 Report Share Posted October 20, 2008 I know it was talked about a couple of months ago but based on my experience I don't agree with anser's comment that buzzards don't take gamebirds. The only reason I can only think that the reason you have not seen more poults getting killed by buzzards is that there are not many birds released in your area? Regarding pellets, I would be surprised if you were to be finding pheasant bones! Every carcass I have seen has been stripped of flesh, but physically I don't think that they can eat the bones them because they are far too large and inflexible to swallow! On a shoot I help on they factor in each buzzard taking one poult every day. As some of the other posters have mentioned this is a far from ideal situation, but there is nothing that can be done, and deterents only work for a short time period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
becassier Posted October 21, 2008 Report Share Posted October 21, 2008 I agree with your evaluation, Teal. As the law stands they are a protected species and, as such, are afforded legal protection. The simple fact is, in Northern Ireland generally they are a major pest as far a game bird rearing is concerned. In time the Dept of the Envorinment may have to issue culling licenses for common buzzard. Becassier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted October 21, 2008 Report Share Posted October 21, 2008 The area where study my buzzards id Norfolk , possibly the best game county in the country with 100,000 of pheasants and partridges being released every year. Some of the keepers here encourage the buzzards by putting out rabbit guts for them in winter. None of the keepers I have talked to have reported any problems with them , though plenty have problems with marsh harriers and some with goshawks. Becasser I think you can be sure that the Dep of the environment will never issue permits to control any bird of prey indeed the risk is that in the future rearing of game birds may be stopped. The shooting community does not have a good reputation as far as birds of prey are concerned. 50 years ago most of our raptors were seriously persecuted resulting them being rare or absent in most major game ( pheasant \ partridge ) shooting areas. In 1965 we had just one breeding pair of marsh harriers in the country and until 20 years ago no buzzards breeding in East Anglia. The county holds about 120 pairs of the former and well over 100 pairs of the latter today. We are just going to have to learn to live with increasing raptor populations rearing a few more birds if necessary to compensate for loses , siteing release pens to minimise their attraction to raptors , I.e. harriers no not usually hunt in woodland. If ever persecution of raptors becomes widespread again the powers that be have a simple answer...............stop game rearing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
becassier Posted October 22, 2008 Report Share Posted October 22, 2008 (edited) Sorry but I don't agree with you Anser. We do not have BASC representing us here in NI and, as a result we can still hunt with hounds, shoot lead shot, curlews and under license take several species of birds currently prortected. You see, we do things our way here and that's what sets us apart from the rest of the UK. We should not be compared with the shooting community in England. We have the respect of the majority here becuase the majority here are rural people. Our keepers do not have trouble with kites, simply because there few of them resident here. I suggest the same may apply to your buzzards. If you had significant numbers, the sort of numbers we have, your keeper friends would tell a different tale. We also have direct contact with out MLAs and it is they who listen and make the decisions, not chinless civil servants in Whitehall or Westminster. The time is close for licenses being issued for the taking of buzzards this side. As for your county reraring lots of birds, you really should come here to carry out your research. You only think you have a lot of birds reared and released. You ought to come to the sportsman's heaven this side of the Irish Sea to see game shooting and fowling. But please don't tell anybody else though. It can be our secret! Vive la difference! Becassier Edited October 22, 2008 by becassier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 (edited) I take your point about shooting being different in N Ireland and enjoy it while you can. But within a year or so years lead shot is due to be phased out and I hear on the grapeline that curlew are likely to be protected very soon. As for game rearing , there is a hell of a lot going on in Norfolk. One local estate rears 7,000 partridges and 14,000 pheasants for release every year. That might be higher than average , but 100,000 + of game birds are released every year here in Norfolk alone. The unspoilet countryside of Ireland has always attracted me and i have visited the far south several times ( working on oystercatchers in Dingle ) so i have a good idea of your shooting , in the south at least. The esturay there was full of wigeon , pintail and teal and has tremendous wildfowling potential. But alas i have never used a gun in the country. Edited October 23, 2008 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
becassier Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 That is a pity..about not using a gun here. You never know, you just may get an invitation to shoot here. We'll have to make sure you know the difference between a pheasant and a buzzard on a drive though. Or maybe not! Becassier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tullyhubbert Posted November 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2008 I was working in Dazza's area this week (Portavoe water tower) The pheasants from the estate where all over the place, hundreds of them on drillings and cover crop. The whole time I was there 3 Buzzards circled at a low height, didn't see any action though Late afternoon there were a lot of pigeons coming in to roost also, I wonder if the keeper would mind me having a shot at the pigeons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazza Posted November 21, 2008 Report Share Posted November 21, 2008 I was working in Dazza's area this week (Portavoe water tower) The pheasants from the estate where all over the place, hundreds of them on drillings and cover crop. The whole time I was there 3 Buzzards circled at a low height, didn't see any action though Late afternoon there were a lot of pigeons coming in to roost also, I wonder if the keeper would mind me having a shot at the pigeons Robert Croft, I dare you to go and ask him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tullyhubbert Posted November 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2008 Robert Croft, I dare you to go and ask him Last summer I was doing a job at the tower and the electricity supply failed, I assumed it was a local outage but 30 mins later the power was still off. I decided to ask the "Estate" if they had any power so had a look round the out buildings but there seemed to be no one about. So I went to the "Big house" and rapped the door, as if by magic the keeper arrived out of nowhere He must have been watching Hey I'll ask anyone Dazza, two weeks ago I asked Lady Anthea Forde from Seaford Estate would she mind me shooting pigeons which were feeding on the estates drillings and stubble. Charming Lady and polite but she informed me that she was very much anti blood sports I wish the estate workers who directed me her direction had told me that first Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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