Close encounter of the Buzzard kind

Wonderful encounter, Beachwalker. I often think that wherever I've been, if I'd gone round a reserve a different way I wouldn't see what I saw (when it's been a good day) or I would have seen much more if I'd gone the other way (if it wasn't so good)!

You are so right. I think some time it is just luck that gets you an encounter like this. I'm learning that with so much of our country side and wildlife under threat any thing I see makes it a good day. Something like this makes it an outstanding day, something to cherish. After a poor year last year a month ago I saw Three White Tailed Eagles at Pulborough Brooks. Hope you always choose the right way round the reserve.
Take care

community.rspb.org.uk/.../finally---the-white-tailed-eagle

Looks like a grey squirrel had been hit by a car. Buzzards are good at collecting roadkill, though can also end up getting struck.

 Thank you for the comment, we hadn't thought of that. I had put my camera away and so when the bird dropped in front of us I only had my phone. This our first sight of the bird and its prey (cropped so you can see what was just a small dot). We interpreted this as the buzzard having taken the squirrel in the trees to the left, it couldn't carry it away and dropped its burden in the right hand side of the lane. What do you think? It was only after a lot of one armed struggling in the back that I managed to get my camera out and take better photos. A lesson for the future :)

.

Beachwalker 66 said:

Last week we had a super day at Pulborough Brooks last week. Lots of geese, mostly Canada but others mixed in. Snipe, Lapwings, SItlduck and Swans on the various ponds. Lots of Robins, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Green and Gold FincIts. White Doves and Wood Pigeons too. We were also lucky enough to spot a squirrel building its drey up in the trees. There was a Red Kite. I have a little weakness for raptors - the way they soar or stoop. The sheer size of some them. So here is a Red Kite just soaring over the river valley. The sun was glinting off his feathers, the reds were really red. You could see that swallow-like tail clearly through binoculars.

However, that's not what this post is about. It's what happened on our way home. We'd had a great day but traffic was a bit heavy with road works so we struck out across country and got stuck behind a slow vehicle. My other half knows this part of the world well so just veered off left into an even quieter country lane. Suddenly something dropped into the middle of the lane. Of course we came to a halt and this is what we saw

A buzzard had just stopped in front of us (about 20 m away). It clearly had taken something and was about to check it out. We watched for quite a few minutes. Please note I am taking photos through a dirty wind screen, so apologies for blurry photos. Every so often the buzzard checked its surroundings, it probably heard. something off to the right

I think we could stayed for hours but unfortunately not long after this shot was taken a car came up behind us. Rather then have car horns blaring we moved forward slowly so as not to frighten the buzzard too much. It did try to take its prize with as It flew off but it was too heavy and in the next shot you can see its claws are empty. It's nice a view of its feathered trousers. It disappeared into woodland on the left. Maybe it came back after we left. The thing is that without that series of coincidences we would never had this amazing encounter.  You just never know what you will meet. Anyone else had any encounters like this? I'd love to know how (un)common these encounters are.

Keep well and all the best

Poss I suppose. Squirrel looked already dead. I would have thought it more likely the buzzard was trying to get airborne from the lane, but found it difficult due to trees & branches both sides. Might be wrong though. Fact it was unable to, or at least didn't take the squirrel away, suggest it was struggling to get away from the lane with it. Would have found it hard to kill it too, if it was alive in a tree moments before phone capture.

Thanks Stealthybutnotthatstealthy that's a good point, certainly later the buzzard had problems lifting the squirrel. It's not easy to see from the photos but the lane was much lower than the ground level either side. So a big bird would have difficulty getting enough room to get up speed with a load. Especially with cars blocking off one end. On the OS map there are hills and woodland either side and ponds off to the left.

Many thanks to everyone who has commented or liked this content. You are a great community to be part of.

Savour the moment. Well captured.