Hello, new poster here. Could anyone possibly identify this bird of prey for me. I thought Buzzard at first, but it was hovering, not the usual Buzzard glide I've seen before. This short clip is all I could get as it was so far away the camera kept going out of focus. The clip is slowed down to half speed.
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Can anyone id this bird of prey please. Cumbria, UK (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Mam
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pianoman
duck and diver, bobolink and weaver
Possibly it's not officially called hovering if it is just facing into the wind and not flapping. I think in the UK, Kestrel is the only bird that can truly hover in a still wind.
Also don't necessarily take my word on the ID, I'm only a hammerchewer...
Also don't necessarily take my word on the ID, I'm only a hammerchewer...
Hi Mam and a warm welcome to you from all the Staff and Moderators.
Yes, Buzzard for me too. They don't really 'hover' as such, but hang on the wind or thermal.
I'm sure you will enjoy it here and I look forward to hearing your news.
Yes, Buzzard for me too. They don't really 'hover' as such, but hang on the wind or thermal.
I'm sure you will enjoy it here and I look forward to hearing your news.
Sangahyando
Well-known member
Common Buzzards also have a habit of hovering by flapping their wings, although they don't do it as often as e.g. Kestrels or Rough-legged Buzzards. I guess it's less commonly observed in the UK because of the prevailing winds that make it easier for the birds to just "stand in the wind" instead of actively having to flap.
Thank you
Welcome to BirdForum. I agree with Common Buzzard.
Rich
Rich
Joern Lehmhus
Well-known member
Welconme to BF!
While your bird is not hovering, Common bussards do hover -
but only occasionally, much, much less frequently than a kestrel.
Here are two examples , one in slow motion, the other not slowed down
Edit: Ah, I see sangahyando beat me to it
While your bird is not hovering, Common bussards do hover -
but only occasionally, much, much less frequently than a kestrel.
Here are two examples , one in slow motion, the other not slowed down
Edit: Ah, I see sangahyando beat me to it
Thank you
Thank you
Those are very helpful videos, thank you
Michael Billerbeck
Active member
Interesting video of a drifting buzzard!
That hovering buzzard which I filmed was doing this several times and it felt like he did it for about 20 mins.
Many times, he was not successful when dropping down to catch prey.
I have even seen an osprey hovering over a lake. Kingfishers, Black Birds and Goldcrests can do that for a short time.
Here is a Red-tailed Hawk “taking advantage of the strong early summer winds streaming down from the Rockies, hovering in midair” by Billy Bryant:
That hovering buzzard which I filmed was doing this several times and it felt like he did it for about 20 mins.
Many times, he was not successful when dropping down to catch prey.
I have even seen an osprey hovering over a lake. Kingfishers, Black Birds and Goldcrests can do that for a short time.
Here is a Red-tailed Hawk “taking advantage of the strong early summer winds streaming down from the Rockies, hovering in midair” by Billy Bryant:
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