The buzzard, although not a native of the Eastern Counties, is apt to appear in both Lincolnshire and Norfolk from time to time. Basically this, our largest and most graceful bird of prey, prefers wooded hillsides, and is mostly found in Wales and Scotland. However, it does turn up in the most unexpected localities, and it is as well to acquaint ourselves with it.

The buzzard is easily distinguished from all other species of hawk by its size alone. The wingspan may vary between 48 inches to 60 inches with a body length of some 20 inches. Its plumage is a rich brown, with lighter markings beneath. In flight the wings have a ragged, moth-like appearance as this bird glides to and from at a tremendous height.

It is a slow flier, and has little chance of catching its prey on the move. The usual tactics which it adopts is to perch motionless on a branch of a large tree, its markings being excellent camouflage, rendering it almost invisible. It is a patient bird, quite content to sit for hours at a time until a young rabbit, a rat or a mouse chances to pass beneath it. Then it will swoop down on to its unsuspecting prey.

The 'mewing' of the buzzard is unmistakable as it soars in the sky, calling frequently. Wood pigeons and songsters flee at its appearance, yet rarely do they fall prey to this large hawk.

For many years game preservers who believed that it was detrimental to both pheasants and partridges persecuted this bird. However, seldom does it bother with game, although if a poult happens to venture close to where it is lying in wait, it will swoop down on it. Yet, the buzzard does not exist in such numbers for it to be a constant danger to the game preserves, and quite rightly it has been placed upon the list of protected birds.

Fortunately, at this present time, buzzards are on the increase. Extinction was feared during the crisis years of myxomatosis when this bird's staple diet was almost non-existent. However, as the rabbit population re-established itself, so did the buzzard.

The buzzard will also feed on carrion, a fact that often brings the blame on to it for a killing for which it was not responsible. Sometimes a buzzard will attack newborn lambs, particularly if the ewe is unable to defend its young, but mostly it feeds on the natural casualties of a lambing season. All too often the distressed shepherd does not realise that this is the case and unjustly (and illegally!) persecutes this bird of prey.

We now come to the question of why the buzzard should appear in such parts of the British Isles as the Eastern Counties, far from its natural habitat. One main cause is that of sudden strong winds. The buzzard, soaring at a great height, suddenly finds itself caught up in a current of air against which it is impossible to battle. A slow, lazy flier, it finds it easier to drift with the wind, and before very long it finds itself in a strange locality.

It is tired and there is shelter in the form of a conifer wood. Food is abundant, too, so it decides to stay for a while. It soon attracts the attention of the local corvine tribe and is mobbed by rooks and jackdaws. It is a strong bird, though, and apart from the raven (also found in hilly country) these birds are little more than a nuisance.

The buzzard may remain for days or weeks in this new territory. If it so happens that its mate has been blown off course along with it, then it is apt to remain for longer. However, a single bird has a yearning to return in search of a mate, particularly in the early part of the year.

Buzzards are often mistaken for other large birds of prey in localities where they are not normally seen. I have heard varying reports of golden eagles, kites and merlins, but an investigation has almost every time led to the visitor being identified as a buzzard.

I once witnessed a battle between a raven and a buzzard during the early part of the breeding season. Territorial rights were being disputed, and this spectacle of aerial combat lasted for an hour or more. In the end it was the raven who emerged as conqueror, its swifter flight and razor-sharp beak being no match for the more leisurely counter-attacks of the large hawk.

When the buzzard turns up in a new locality we must do our utmost to provide it with security and maintain vigilance in case of indiscriminate shooting by those who still regard birds with hooked beaks as enemies of game and livestock. This hawk should be welcomed wherever it appears. It is an asset to any tract of countryside.

Reprinted with permission of Eastern Counties Network  Top of page

Each September for 10 years or more, I've had the task of taking down the Blue Tit nestbox, cleaning it out and putting in a handful of dried grass, for winter roosting.

Usually the nestbox is empty. Sometimes there are the remains of an infertile egg, but in a bad year, when the weather conditions may have been cold, and food scarce, the desiccated bodies of three or four half-fledged chicks have been found.

Usually all that remains to be done then is to return the box to its site, currently on a large Sycamore tree at the far end of the garden. However, this year, a fair bit of repair work was needed first, and the way this came about was a little unusual.

I first noticed nesting activity in the nestbox on 5^th April, later on the 11^th May. The parent birds could be seen carrying food to the nestbox. During the next week, the calls from the young in the nest could be heard becoming much louder. Then on the evening of 18^th May, I noticed the front removable portion of the nestbox was missing.

My immediate thought that a squirrel was responsible, as I am usually fighting running battles with them in the garden. I quickly put a ladder against the tree, and climbed to the box. I couldn't see into the box, as the lower front was still intact. So I put my fingers in and felt at least two warm half-fledged chicks.

I pushed the damaged part of the box back into position, and went back to the house to find something to fix it securely. By then, my wife had come out to find out what was going on. As I was explaining to her what had happened, the real culprit returned. It was a male Great Spotted Woodpecker. As we looked on, it tugged off the front of the nestbox, reached in and taking a wriggling chick, it flew off into the woods behind the garden.

These woodpeckers are frequent visitors to the garden, and we have enjoyed watching them extract whole peanuts from the feeders. But now, this one had become the villain of the piece.

I quickly screwed the front of the box back into position, making the box woodpecker proof. Having removed myself and the ladder from the scene, I wondered it if it was worthwhile. Would the parents return to the nest? I had seen no sign of them for more than half an hour. But I needn't have worried, within a few minutes both parents had returned, examined and entered the box, and then carried on feeding the remaining chicks, as if nothing had happened.

On the 27^th May, four young blue tits flew from the nestbox. They could be seen and heard around the garden during the next few days, and then one disappeared. Our local Sparrowhawk is of course still active and young bluetits are at the top of his menu.

It's a hard life for young bluetits!   Top of page

As many of you know, the RSPB film shows were organised and ran by the RSPB from Sandy. They toured all the members groups in the country, attracting audiences with their superb bird and environmental subjects. About five years ago, they decided to stop the shows, due to rising costs, and diminishing audiences. West Glamorgan group almost alone decided to carry on with the film shows, getting the films from the RSPB. Alas, now we are on the second time around of showing many of the films, and the cost of putting on the show is proving a considerable drain on resources. Thus, reluctantly, we have decided that the year 2000 will have the last film show as we know it.

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Molly Dawson and Olwen Jones have retired from the West Glamorgan RSPB Members Group Committee this November.

Molly has kept our finances on a tidy and even course as our treasurer. She has also been a fundraiser for the last 12 years. She has also organised the annual film show at the Taliesin for several years now, an event that has successfully drawn RSPB members from all over the county.

Olwen Jones has served as our Hon Secretary for 12 years. Her duties also included membership secretary, and fundraiser and the newsletter editor.

We would like to thank them both for all their hard work and commitment to the work of the committee, which has included many other duties apart from those listed above.

We shall miss them both for their contributions (especially jam and cakes!)     Top of page

We have been very lucky to find Mr Ron Fellows to take over as treasurer. Ron, who has been a long-standing member of the RSPB, worked in British Steel as an accountant, also runs the books of other small groups.   

Blackpill Hut, as you may remember from the May Newsletter, has been made available for the RSPB and Gower Ornithological Society to use during winter months as a centre for the Site of Special Scientific Interest at Blackpill. We applied for a lottery grant to fit out the hut, and have special literature printed about the area. Alas, the lottery

grant was refused, a probable result of too many pressures elsewhere in the UK! "Sketch by Colin Jones"

The site is on the migratory waders route from North to South, (and back again), and is particularly important for Sanderling and Ringed Plover. These birds have chosen this spot in Swansea to rest and feed up for their several thousand mile migration each year. The site also provides many unusual visitors, including the Ring Billed Gull, Glaucus Gull, and Mediterranean Gull. We owe it to the wildlife there to upkeep the integrity of the site, after all, it belongs all forms of life, not just us in Swansea.

Fortunately, Colin and Daphne Jones from Brynamman have taken on the task of managing the centre for the RSPB and GOS. Their initial aim is to open the centre at least once a month, starting in January 2001, They will appreciate help in the form of several hours attendance on the occasional Sunday morning between January and March next year. Volunteers need not be bird experts, but should be prepared to show visitors around the centre, and offer leaflets, and perhaps take donations in return for pin badges etc

GOS members will also be manning the centre jointly. We hope that Bob Howells will be updating a board with his bird counts and with species seen on the foreshore.

To offer help, please contact Colin or Daphne Jones at 65 New Road, Upper Brynamman, Ammanford, SA18 1AG, or telephone 01269-822876.

One cold Sunday Morning, eleven months ago, 19 hardy souls assembled at Kenfig Pool to kick off what was to become an interesting and very enjoyable programme of field trips. Since then, we have visited some new places. I have met some new friends, and hopefully they have seen some new birds. Highlights of the Kenfig trip was a Kingfisher, and Ruddy Duck, plus the long staying female Long Tailed duck at Eglwys Nunydd later that morning.

Later in January, we enjoyed a pleasant mornings birding at Blackpill, where 20 observers witnessed a Peregrine harassing a flock of Dunlin, then coming to rest on the foreshore, offering excellent views.

If the 19 at Kenfig were hardy souls, the 11 who braved the elements at Whitford were heroes, and very wet ones at that. High winds and heavy rain put a damper on the day's birdwatching, but not on anyone's spirits.

The sight of 6 Red Kites in the air at once delighted all of us at Dinas Reserve in April, whilst later that month, our now annual weekend trip tipped the scales with 65 species logged. Huge flocks of Whimbrel on the Exe Estuary on the Saturday were supported by Marsh Harrier and Cetti's Warbler amongst others, whilst at Aylesbury Common on the Sunday, a pair of Cuckoo were outshone by the sight some delightful Dartford Warblers. Can't wait for this seasons weekender at Poole Harbour.

Summer came and went pretty quietly with trips to Killay marsh, Lliw Valley Reservoirs, and a (non) nightjar watch in Penlena Forest.

Martin Humphreys butterfly watch at Cwm Clydach in July proved as popular as ever. The 30 people who turned up may have outnumbered the butterflies, but an enjoyable and interesting morning was had by all.

Penclawdd in August produced good counts of Little Egret, but Lavernock Point in September produced very little. Probably due to the adverse weather conditions (it was too nice!).

October saw us on the Aberdulais Canal, getting great views of such gems as Goosander, Siskin, Dipper, and Peregrine.

Finally, I am writing this resume after returning from a great mornings birding on the Taf estuary at Laugharne. Large flocks of Oystercatcher, Curlew and Widgeon were evident on the estuary. The woodland produced amongst others, Goldcrest, Jay and Treecreeper.

Many thanks to all who attended the field trips this year. I hope to see you all again next year, and if you haven't tried a walk yet, you are very welcome.

See you soon, and good birding.

Russell Evans (0797 400 7716)

In April this year, Brian Messent and Russell Evans carried out a bird survey for the Rosehill Quarry Group. The quarry is in the middle of Swansea, and has been restored to a park by the local residents. Margaret Burdett, an RSPB member asked if the group would carry out a bird count for their records. On Sunday 16^th April, Russell and Brian surveyed the site, and counted some 20 species. Amongst those counted were Kestrel, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Dunnock, Willow Warbler, Long Tailed Tit, Wren, Magpie, Robin and Sparrowhawk. This information has been passed onto the Rosehill Quarry Group. It will be interesting to see what we find there next year.              Top of page

On February 18^th 2001, you will note we are once again visiting Gigrin Farm, the Red Kite Feeding Station. On October 27^th, the following e-mail was received from Chris at Gigrin.

We are now staring a new Wetland area, and hope to have built a hide overlooking the flooded meadow before Christmas.

Recently, I was working in the Amman Valley, and had just finished my fieldwork before lunchtime. As I was travelling back home, I decided to pull over onto the grass verge, from where I could see some fields with cows grazing.

Out came the sandwiches, and inevitably the binoculars. I could see a pair of rooks apparently having a squabble over something on the grass. They were engrossed in this argument, occasionally pecking and taking to the air in their fight. A large cow was yards away from them, and was watching the rooks closely.

Suddenly the rooks went hammer and tongs at each other, resulting in a short flight over the top of the cow, and landing a yard from the cow's head. One of the rooks was forced back a couple of feet, and the cow reached its head out to sniff the rook.

The rook felt the breath of the cow, turned around and gave the poor animal a huge peck on the nose, before returning to his opponent.

The cow, surprised by this attack, jumped into the air, and ran off. Just goes to prove that size doesn't matter at all!

Pen-yr-Allt Inn at Altwen has been kind enough to donate a £20 meal voucher to our Christmas Raffle. If visiting the area, join them for Sunday Lunch, and enjoy a complementary glass of wine for RSPB Members.

A small family run inn, in the foothills of the Swansea Valley, with seven en suite bedrooms. Approximately 6 minutes from the M4 junction 45. Renowned for quality and value with an extensive menu (Taste of Wales finalists 1995), within easy reach of the RSPB Reserve at Cwm Clydach. For further illustrations and information, visit our web site at www.nphotels.co.uk/pen-yr-allt-inn/.

The Pen-yr-Allt Inn at Altwen has been endorsed by RSPB Members.           Top of page

Would your company, or someone you know, like to advertise in, or provide sponsorship for the Annual Newsletter? We would like help in several ways. Could you lend us time on your photocopier, perhaps provide cash for postage, or provide discounts for RSPB members, when shopping at your establishment? Raffle prizes are always welcome. Help in this way will allow the group to make more of its funds available to help conservation projects in Wales. The newsletter goes to over 2000 homes in West Glamorgan.