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       #Post#: 404--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Recent birds.. rough legged buzzard.
       By: George Date: January 13, 2011, 12:47 pm
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       its back, probably never left.. going tomorrow to see if i can
       get better pics.. Mark is going as well, possibly Hugh might go
       as well..
       [IMG]
  HTML http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz193/georgeg_photo2/BIRDS/RLBUZZARD-10_filtered.jpg[/img]
       george..
       #Post#: 407--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Recent birds. R.L.Buzzard..
       By: George Date: January 14, 2011, 1:01 am
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       I think i'll look for road killed rabbits for baiting the track
       up in Toft, if I get one or two for da Buzzard to feed, I know
       it was feeding on two dead rabbits behind a croft a few days
       ago. so hopefully i'll find one for bait..
       george..
       #Post#: 408--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Recent birds. Rough Legged Buzzard..
       By: George Date: January 14, 2011, 7:27 am
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       R. L. Buzzard..
       Medium sized, broad winged raptor. They frequently soar high up
       using rising warm air [ not today, it was freezing ] hover or
       sit motionless watching for prey which is taken on the ground..
       Todays sighting was witnessed by three birders including me..
       the other three birders missed it..
       It was soaring and hovering not too far off from us. Then it
       moved northwards, unfortunatly, the only photos I got, were
       through the windscreen, of course they were terrible..
       Then the rain reached us, and rain stopped play..
       They all left, but I remained for another half an hour, but
       did'nt spot it..
       I'll try another day when the weather is a bit better..
       I know where to find it now, it seems to favor the high moor
       near Toft..
       Then sits on the fence post when not hunting..
       george..
       #Post#: 413--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Recent birds
       By: Aitch Date: January 15, 2011, 4:53 am
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       Good luck with the Buzzard spotting George.
       #Post#: 415--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Recent birds
       By: George Date: January 15, 2011, 12:03 pm
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       Thank you Aitch..
       I spotted it this morning, got two pics, but it was far off..
       then Hugh Harrop, the wildlife photograher arrived..
       But the buzzard kept its distance, I then went home for a bit of
       food, when the phone rang, it was a friend reporting it, just
       over the field from his house, it was getting mobbed by gulls,
       so I gave him Hughs mobile number [I don't get a signal at my
       house] and Hugh went to his location, I finished my meal and met
       up with Hugh, he said they got views of it, but no pics. he also
       saw a short eared owl near the same location..
       I told Hugh, a red kite was spotted at the south end of the
       island, and another raptor was spotted south again, it was
       larger, so it might have been another R.L.buzzard..
       I'll try again tomorrow, its ment to be a better day [weather
       wise]
       george..
       #Post#: 416--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Recent birds
       By: Hugh Harrop Date: January 15, 2011, 3:18 pm
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       Thanks for all your help today George - much appreciated by both
       Russ and I.
       May see you again tomorrow.
       Hopefully this fantastic bird will hang around for a few more
       weeks yet.
       Best wishes
       Hugh
       #Post#: 418--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Recent birds
       By: George Date: January 15, 2011, 3:37 pm
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       I'm sure it will Hugh.. its been about there for a week, problem
       is, nowhere to hide to watch it, apart from the car..
       I'll be there the back of nine.. light should be getting better
       by that time..
       what we need is road killed rabbits to bait the track..
       george..
       #Post#: 420--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Recent birds
       By: George Date: January 16, 2011, 9:08 am
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       Todays birdwatching..
       It started fine, I found a dead rabbit at the junction of the
       track leading up to the moor.. almost as if it had been left for
       me ?  I preceded up the track, and unloaded my gear..
       I followed a fence till it ended at a sheep pen..
       I used my kagoul to make a tempory bird hide, it was quite
       difficult to erect, as it was quite windy on the hillside..
       I then put the rabbit about 100 feet from my hide, I pegged it
       down with two tent pegs..
       After that, I phoned Hugh and explained what I had done..
       Then the wind really strenghened, followed by heavy rain..
       Hugh arrived and we came to an agreed plan to contact each other
       by mobile, if either spotted the R.L.buzzard..
       After a couple o hours with no sightings, Hugh left for Lerwick,
       I sat in the hide for a bit longer, then gave up..
       I waited for the rain to go past, eventually it did, I then
       stripped the hide, and made my way back to the car, there i met
       another birder, he told me that the buzzard was at my back..
       And sure it was, flying ower the hill.. I phoned Hugh again and
       told him, he turned back and arrived a short time later.. but by
       this time the buzzard had travelled about a half mile, and had
       landed on the moor..
       So I made my way home, I was starving [ no breakfast ]
       I left the rabbit where it was, no rapture or raven would lift
       it, I had secured it firmly with long tent pegs.
       So i'll try again tomorrow..
       george..
       #Post#: 423--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Recent birds
       By: Hugh Harrop Date: January 16, 2011, 2:35 pm
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       George
       Left a message on your mobile - had the Rough legged perched on
       fence posts and viewed from the Brough road near John
       Laurensons. house. It headed back in to the hill and drifted
       west. Distant but nice views through the 'scope. This was around
       1.45pm.
       Cheers
       Hugh
       #Post#: 424--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Recent birds
       By: George Date: January 16, 2011, 2:46 pm
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       Thanks Hugh.. I did'nt go back as light was not good, i'll try
       again tomorrow, hopefully it will find the rabbit I pegged.. I
       hope you got a good pic of it on the fence, if John sees it he
       will phone me..
       george..
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