Forum Topic

Three buzzards

We went for a walk up to Putney Heath and there, high in the sky, were two, then three, buzzards soaring and circling.  A pair have been roosting on the Common but I’ve never seen three together before, at least not in Putney. At least I think they were buzzards. They might have been vultures.....

Jonathan Callaway ● 2270d11 Comments

Quite! However, nothing more than a dodgy mouse in the end, swapped out.

Les Evans-Hill ● 2269d

"I have no idea why that posted 3 times!!"Separate message for each buzzard? So that they did not need to risk sharing a PC?

David Ainsworth ● 2269d

Jonathan, along with the buzzard there's a few pairs of kestrel and sparrowhawk in the area, peregrines sometimes wander over as do red kite. Hobby is a regular on Putney Heath during the summer. Looking skywards during migration, you may get lucky and see honey buzzard and osprey. I believe one of the Isle of Wight re-introduced white-taile sea eagles overflew very high when it decided to go for a wander last year!

I've not seen or heard the Dartford warbler since January 2019, disturbance is a big issue for them on Putnry Heath, they generally stick to Richmond Park.

Heard the first blackcap (2) this morning; chiffchaff has been here now for about a week establishing territories.

Les Evans-Hill ● 2269d

Thanks for the link, Lee. I get local sightings info from the WPCC site as well as checking the WWT in Barnes. I think Richmond Park (or Friends of) produce an annual checklist of sightings.  I regularly see kestrels there but none of the other raptors - though I have to say I am still very much a novice. Is there still a Dartford Warbler in Wimbledon Common?  I was there on a WPCC bird walk and we were told there was one nearby but I could neither see nor hear it.

Jonathan Callaway ● 2269d

I suspect they are interpreting Government guidelines on social distancing as buzzards and other raptors do — unlike us humans!

Les Evans-Hill ● 2269d

I suspect they are interpreting Government guidelines on social distancing as buzzards and other raptors do — unlike us humans!

Les Evans-Hill ● 2269d

I suspect they are interpreting Government guidelines on social distancing as buzzards and other raptors do — unlike us humans!

Les Evans-Hill ● 2269d

I have no idea why that posted 3 times!!

Les Evans-Hill ● 2269d

Don't they know about social distancing?

Allen Bracchi ● 2269d

Over my bit of Putney Heath, there's a pair of buzzard in residence and the species is now considered 'likely' breeding on Putney Heath and Wimbledon Common — I've yet to find a nest myself however. Every so often I do see 3 in the same patch of sky as well which could be neighbouring birds or passage migrants. Richmond Park has reported over the past couple of months up to 5 buzzard and 7 red kite. You and other interested people may wish to bookmark the London Bird Club Wiki https://londonbirders.fandom.com/wiki/LatestNews if you haven't already done so. Some fabulous stuff passes through an over our area!

Les Evans-Hill ● 2269d

They don't know something we don't.

Barbara Stevens ● 2270d