Buzzards at the caravan hide and birds in flight.

I have to confess to feeling more than a little bit down in the dumps this last few days and when I got up this morning it wasn't getting any better. I am about to retire after 16 years from my role as Musical Director of Lympstone Band, now known as the SWComms Band and frankly, with one more rehearsal and 2 gigs to go, I hadn't envisaged how upset I was going to be. But the other parts of my life, my wildlife blog and photography are just as rewarding and enjoyable so after pulling myself together I left for my caravan hide where I had, over the last week been baiting the buzzards with rabbit carcasses.

Sulking like a little boy, I made my way up the edge of the woodland and as I reached the gate a massive Buzzard flew from the carcass, 30 feet in front of me. That's an exciting wow moment as you can imagine, I reserve my "wows"for special occasions as you probably know. As it lumbered in to flight it called and was joined by another buzzard from the trees above, two Buzzards on the bait! I investigated the carcass and noted that they had removed the head and stripped it of skin and flesh right down to shiny bone….. thats weird do you agree? In the caravan, I set up the camera directed on the rabbit remains and waited for their return. I was very excited and depression was replaced by euphoria! To add to the excitement, a magpie was chattering from the bushes nearby and was definitely attracted by the carcass, it will be good if a tussle occurs between the buzzards and the magpie. In all my time at this hide, not once as a magpie been down to take any of the bait so this in itself is quite a new thing.

As I sat there waiting I wondered what the Buzzards would look like, they vary in plumage pattern and colour and I am quite excited to imagine what they will be like this year….. incidentally, even if they don't return today, it's going to be just a matter of time before I get some more magnificent Buzzard pictures. Peregrine watching is over for the year now so bring on the buzzards.

As I sat there waiting I ammused myself by photographing the comings and goings of the small woodland birds to the feeders, hoping to get some nice inflight photographs.