Birds of prey

[Destrike]

Hi all.. just a quick "whats that bird" question

We've seen two of these birds (or ones very similar) a good while ago, but unfortunately one died due to clipping an electrical pylon I'm told. Over the last few days though we seem to have another two (or another mate to one of the previous), and on a worrying note one of our dogs has taken to getting out to the field and looks alot like a rabbit when shes bounding around :s lol

anyways.. onto the pictures.. I apologise for them being not so clear, as my camera isn't very good and they were towards the top of the field.




could be the same one I shot previously.. but there were definately two soaring

[Neil Rigby]

Hi Destrike,

Thanks for your post.

I don't know if it would help with the indentification, but could you let us know more about the location.

The shots are a bit too soft for me to have a proper guess. I'll let one of our experts have a look!

[Destrike]

thanks for the quick response we're in Kidwelly, south west corner of Wales (inbetween Llanelli and Carmarthen), our house is pretty much on the edge of the town, with farmland/fields all up behind.. heres an ariel pic..

ahh and the circle that covers part of that bottom field.. thats the field behind my house, the one we've spotted them over

[Destrike]

just caught another picture of one of them breifly. again I apologise for the lack of quality.. they seem to prefer to sit quite a ways up the field and out of my cameras ideal range.

[Neil Rigby]

I think it quite likely a Buzzard Buteo buteo.

Our experts will come in with confirmation on this and more information about Buzzards in Wales.

[frogflyer]

hi,
It does look like a common buzzard as the honey buzzard has more white on the breast. they are prone to soar at this time of year as the thermals have picked up and also its getting to that special time of year again for them to start pairing up.
Do not fear for your dog as buzzards are mostly scavengers they dont really want to fight anything live unless the pickings are really really slim. so live in safety.
good luck for future spotting.

tony

[clydebirder]

Yes definately Common Buzzard, Frogflyer is right, Buzzards are more scavangers than hunters. When sitting in the field they were most likely looking for worms, a favourite food with Common Buzzard

Cheers, John

[Destrike]

Thanks for the responses guys may sound silly, but its nice to know what I'm looking at and puts me at ease for the times I catch our dog imitating a rabbit across the grass :P

[Neil Rigby]

Hi Destrike,

I'm glad everything is cleared up. I noticed that Llanelli Wildfowl and Wetlands Centre is quite near to you. Is that somewhere you get along to?

In case you're interested Spoonbills have been seen there recently by one of our Forum members.

Check out this thread...

Spoonbills at Llanelli in Wales