Wednesday, 18 January 2017

ROADSIDE BUZZARD


On Monday 16th this common buzzard was seen in Haycocks Lane dropping down onto the ground after something.

The dark silhouette of the common buzzard after it returned to a telegraph post beside the Lane, sadly against the light. Couldn't quite make out if it had a small mammal in its talons along with some grass stalks.

A walk along the Maydays seawall on Monday morning provided views of a few birds of prey including a pair of kestrels with this female perching up after a noisy encounter with a male kestrel.
Two sparrowhawks were seen over Maydays and a third bird on Langenhoe, while a common buzzard was seen over the fields and two on Langenhoe. At least four marsh harriers were seen hunting over the Maydays and Reeveshall fields with a couple of others on Langenhoe too.
No sign of short-eared owls on Langenhoehall though.

Of note along the Pyefleet channel were 1000+ knot, 500 teal, 80 avocet and 100 black-tailed godwits. A kingfisher flew off the Maydays seawall sluice and a rock pipit called nearby.
Grazing the Reeveshall fields were 700+ brent geese, also 1000 starlings in the area and at least 2 Mediterranean gulls with a group of gulls beside some sheep.

Small birds at Maydays included 5 yellowhammer, 50 linnet, 25 chaffinch and 10 reed bunting while 4 fieldfares were also noted.

The tawny owl was peering out of its cavity in the tree near Shop Lane mid morning on Monday 16th.

A Lapland bunting was seen along the Strood on Sunday 15th by Daryl Rhymes.

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