Common Buzzard

I was a bit late to the shop this morning and all the milk had gone. I had to go and get some, if I was to drink my customary number of cups of tea.

I passed this nice herd but as I didn't have my milking stool with me (I don't think they're milkers anyway) I proceeded to Whitfield.

I always look out in case there's anything interesting around, and I noticed a Carrion Crow that was agitated and mobbing a larger bird in a tree.

Unfortunately the Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) was nervous as soon as I tried to get a bit closer and took off.

I headed across the field ans disappeared in a small copse. As usual the very fact that a raptor was in the air made all the Wood Pigeons very skittish.

Buzzards have now repopulated much of Kent, having been extinct since 1820. They have been protected for some time and now that there is greater acceptance that it isn't permissible to kill birds of prey, despite the law (this applies to Royalty as well) they are now doing well. I don't worry too much about year listing and unlike many birders don't feel the urge to do a new years day list, because it means getting up early after a late night, it was still good to watch this beautiful bird on the first day of 2008. White I was watching the Buzzard I did see a couple of Mistle Thrushes, flying off and calling like football rattles, and a Fieldfare, chacking away along the hedgerow.