Buzzard numbers in the south of the UK have (thankfully) increased over twenty-fold since the 1960s (due to reduced persecution, recovery of rabbit populations - a food staple - from myxomatosis, and partly because of better nesting sucess) and are now a common sight in many wooded regions of the country. At this time of year birds are pairing up and defending territories - and calling birds are often involved in displays of various sorts. I looked up and a lone adult (Bird A) was circling high above me - a little too high to photograph, but I reached for my camera just in case...

Seconds later I noticed another Buzzard (Bird B) flying rapidly towards the first bird, which had turned and was drifting towards me. The calling intensified, and I had the feeling that either a territorial dispute or some sort of courtship behaviour (which often contains an element of aggression early in the season) was in the offing - time to get the camera lined up in the hope that I might catch something!

The incoming bird very quickly reached the first bird, and suddenly they both whirled around on each other, 'talon grappled' as they fell through the air, and then split up and flew off in opposite directions. The whole incident took about fifteen seconds, and though these aren't the sharpest images I've ever taken they do show the passion of the 'brief encounter'...

 

 

 

 

 

The whole incident more or less took place in the one area of open sky that I could actually see, and unfortunately once they separated from each other I quickly lost sight of both birds. I'm not entirely sure, therefore, which bird "won": it's difficult even to be sure which bird is which as both are adults and have somewhat similar plumages, though my personal interpretation is that Bird A dominates and it is Bird B that ends up diving away and dropping out of the scene to the left (and therefore back where it came from). Without studying the two birds (or at least watching them for more than twenty seconds!) it's not possible to guess whether the birds were paired, or whether Bird A had strayed into the territory of Bird B. My impression - given how fast and how directly Bird B seemed to be flying at Bird A - is that the latter seems most likely.

I'd be very interested to hear any opinions of course...