A Buzzard or Red Kite?

Again, the Hawk came. To be fair I'm not sure if it is the same one but I suspect it was. I think I'm beginning to know a hawk from a crow or seagull because of the way they flap their wings and glide. Hawks, of all kinds, like to glide and circle. There is a definite signature to this. As I sit in the garden and look out over the fenland, all manner of birds fly over. Swifts, swallows, finches and sparrows. There are also larger blackbirds, crows, rooks and ravens. But then something catches your eye. The strange flap of the wings even if it is a long way off. It catches your eye and makes you stand to attention and lend more intense scrutiny. Sometimes it is a trick of the eye, but usually it is because there is something different. The same thing happened today. Carole and I were siting in the side garden for a couple of hours. We chatted away enjoying the summer afternoon. Then suddenly...

Upon down loading these photos, I'm now wandering if this bird belongs to a falconer. I'm sure there are bells and lace on its talons - or Jesse's as they are commonly known. If so then this is a tame one, but there are so many flying wild. The buzzard population in the Fens as increased by 500% plus since the 90s decade.

It may have something to do with the EU ruling concerning pesticides. Farmers used to lay certain types of poison for rats and mice. Hawk and owls often eat such creatures and become poisoned to. Since scrutiny was paid to this, the populations have began to dramatically increase.

Marsh Harrier Over the Fens?

Wow! At last...

Every time I go out looking for owls or buzzards. They never show. This week, while at work on the refuse lorries I've seen Barn Owls and Buzzards every day. When I take Sasha, our pet German Shepard, for a walk with camera ready, none of the birds of Prey show up.

Then just a moment ago, I was sitting in the garden with Carole. My son Robbie and the Grandkids are down and the summer is coming along nicely after a storm. I'm looking out at the Fens from my side garden and as I'm sitting there all relaxed, a distant bird flies across the field. I can tell by the way it circles that it is no crow or raven.

"Christ," I say, as I run indoors to get my camera, babbling to Carole that I've seen an owl hunting over the Fens. She goes out for a look while I grab my camera. I use the zoom lens but it is some distance but the multiple shots are targeting it well. When I put the disk into the computer and magnify, I find its a Marsh Harrier and that it has something in its talons.

Look at the various shots. There is something clutched in the bird's talons.