It is my biggest gallery, along with a White-tailed Eagle. It is caused by the fact that they are often the first quests at the watching spot, before White-tailed Eagles arrive. Undoubtly they are one of beautiful, majestic predators. Its population grows, to the point, where it can be photographed on the outskirts of cities and towns, not to mention their watching points along the roads. Of course, as a predator it is quite timid and has got a very good eyesight. So if we make a move in the forest it will most likely spot us and fly away. As always, with observation and photographing I recommend camouflage and easy moves. While you observe Buzzards you can see how good eyesight they have. From around 100 metres, sitting on a bale of straw, he has spotted a mouse, which life was about to come to an end, in a matter of seconds. After literally small spiring with a sliding flight it fell on its victim and returned to the observation point to eat its prey. Buzzard is our medium sized predator, surely most widespread. Some sources say there are even tens of thousands of couples in Poland. It weighs around 1 kilogram and its wingspan is around 1.2 meters.
Last minute news-10/2013
As early as half an hour before the sunrise, while I was waiting for red deer, I could observe an increased activity of ravens a few dozen meters from the pulpit (some carcass). There were no proper conditions for shooting yet, but nothing stood in my way and I could record the sounds of ravens, and, after a while, two common buzzards, which were flying over my head. The moment you could actually start photographing, the sated ravens flew away, but they were replaced by common buzzards. An early autumn morning gave an intensely yellow light. Two buzzards, without any fears, began to feast. I managed to take a few dynamic shots, thanks to which common buzzards have found their place in the news section of my webpage. After a while a hawk came along, but apparently there was too much hubbub for it, so it flew away after just two circles over the glade, especially after it noticed a white-tailed eagle flying near. This time I didn’t manage to shoot a red deer, but there was a lot going on and you can see for yourself what I photographed (common buzzards, a white-tailed eagle, a fox). I’ve added dozen plus pictures of the common buzzard, which you can find (at least for the time being) at the end of the gallery (the only photos with lush-green grass in the background and morning yellow lighting.).
Last minute news – 03/2016
What I really wanted to shoot were ravens. Unfortunately my coming was noticed by them in the moonlight, eventhough it was 1.5 hours before sunrise. They slept on the nearby trees, at the edge of the meadow. Despite the fact that numerous "goodies" were given “to the table”, ravens were not tempted and did not come closer. Over my head there were buzzards circling for a few hours. The fifth hour of waiting was passing when 4 birds sat very close to the sticks I had prepared for them. Although buzzards came but ravens still did not want to appear in front of my lens. A few days earlier I had laid a bait for the first time and after two hours, hidden in the forest, I approached very slowly to see if any birds already noticed the tasty morsels - there were 4 ravens and 3 buzzards. Well, it is not so easy to outsmart ravens. I did not take many pictures of common buzzards but they made me renew the overloaded buzzard’s gallery.
Last minute news 11/2016
Common buzzards this time were appearing at sunrise and sunset as well. While waiting for a golden eagle I took some interesting shots and the gallery was rebuilt.
Last minute news - 02/2017
It was just like with the reconstruction of fox gallery. Within a couple of days I spent in the lookouts, where I hoped to encounter the northern goshawk and white tailed eagles, there were common buzzards appearing. I shot so many pictures that it was needed to rebuild the gallery of this bird.
Last minute news - 11-2018- United Kingdom
These were buzzards that appeared in front of " the kite" hide first. They sat on the ground or on the trees nearby and they were calmly waiting for a meal. There were not many of them. Three or four buzzards that appeared were a real variation among hundreds of kites. When food for the birds was provided at the feeding point the kites were frenziedly flying up in great number, and the buzzards quietly wanting on the ground to feed were clearly nervous by kite raids. They were irritated to such extend that they sometimes gave up on the meal and waited for the moment to calm down the situation. A few interesting photos were created, which seemed worth adding to the gallery of this species and the gallery was renewed.
Last minute news -05/2021
Taking a few photos of buzzards while waiting for the Greater Spotted Eagle was a pretext for the reconstruction of the gallery. Buzzards and Marsh Harriers competed for food, and from time to time you could see their sky-high skirmishes and scuffles.
Last minute news 04/2022
This time the Common Buzzard's behaviour was a big surprise for me. It is usually the first one at the feeding ground, not counting Eurasian Magpies or Hooded Crows, but not this time. Earlier before Buzzard’s dined Marsh Harrier, Red Kite and he was always a bit distant, but this time it was very shy. Nevertheless I managed to take some photos, which I added to the gallery.