riohog 5,721 Posted June 2, 2017 Report Share Posted June 2, 2017 Has it always been a common thing with them greg mate? I never new they could do it till I seen it..We have ever Increasing numbers of them here..There nice to see about in numbers ,same as all wildlife....Keepers may not agree though lol.. Myself don't think they course half the bother what's claimed they do ..But I could be wrong? they don't seem to be able to sustain the hovering for vey long like a kestrel but I see it often think they rely more on riding the thermals. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
greg64 2,849 Posted June 2, 2017 Report Share Posted June 2, 2017 In the area I set my cameras out in, there is a massive expanse of flat land surrounded by steep cliffs and rock faces, the buzzards just sit there hovering on the rising thermals as the warm wind comes straight across the flat then rises up the cliff face, it requires little to know effort and yes they can stay there for ages hovering like a kestrel, in hot weather the Tarmac on the motorways gets so hot that it also sends heat thermals up in a straight line which is why they always seem to be hanging along the motorway during the summer they cant keep it up for long under there own wing power, Quote Link to post Share on other sites
socks 32,253 Posted June 2, 2017 Report Share Posted June 2, 2017 Walshie sent me a link to the buzzard he seen ....... https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=sparrow&prmd=ivn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwijnojMi5_UAhXMKcAKHSxQDLcQ_AUICSgB&biw=414&bih=628#imgdii=hzLhQWi8cX1-sM:&imgrc=8CBTJLKEsHGg8M: 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
forest of dean redneck 11,686 Posted June 2, 2017 Report Share Posted June 2, 2017 Walshie sent me a link to the buzzard he seen .......https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=sparrow&prmd=ivn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwijnojMi5_UAhXMKcAKHSxQDLcQ_AUICSgB&biw=414&bih=628#imgdii=hzLhQWi8cX1-sM:&imgrc=8CBTJLKEsHGg8M: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/54/Blackbird_%28male%29.jpgYeah here's pic of the crow 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tilimangro 1,013 Posted June 2, 2017 Report Share Posted June 2, 2017 Do you mean soaring as hovering takes up a lot of effort surely mate?? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
greg64 2,849 Posted June 2, 2017 Report Share Posted June 2, 2017 Do you mean soaring as hovering takes up a lot of effort surely mate?? i think greymans talking about soaring on thermals, not hovering but I could be wrong Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Greyman 28,817 Posted June 2, 2017 Report Share Posted June 2, 2017 Do you mean soaring as hovering takes up a lot of effort surely mate?? i think greymans talking about soaring on thermals, not hovering but I could be wrong I don't think they could hover for long on there own steam but with the thermals rising they can hover for a reasonable length of time just like kestrel,s, but as folk have said they are generally lazy scavenger,s there are 27 pairs in the valley and most of them seem to be either on the fresh plough getting worms or in with the sheep eating afterbirth at the moment they are a very opportunistic raptor as apposed to a specialist like the perigrine,s and the like, I have seen hobby,s and goshawk on my beat witch is a first for me and the red kites are moving ever closer each year 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tilimangro 1,013 Posted June 2, 2017 Report Share Posted June 2, 2017 Thermals play no part in hovering mate That's soaring It's pure the birds energy in hovering Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Greyman 28,817 Posted June 2, 2017 Report Share Posted June 2, 2017 Thermals play no part in hovering mate That's soaring It's pure the birds energy in hovering well they still hover over the cliff like the kestrel looking for mice or whatever, have seen it many times and I would be surprised if the rising thermals don't give some assistance in taking the weight much like most forms of flying, gliders and balloons all do better on rising thermals than in cold air I think ?? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lurcherman 887 13,248 Posted June 2, 2017 Report Share Posted June 2, 2017 Thermals smermals Quote Link to post Share on other sites
greg64 2,849 Posted June 2, 2017 Report Share Posted June 2, 2017 i think even kestrels need a slight head wind to hover Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mushroom 13,186 Posted June 2, 2017 Report Share Posted June 2, 2017 It's the wind.. they're riding it And they glide/ride thermals. Thay cannot hover in the same way a kestrel or hummingbird does. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
greg64 2,849 Posted June 2, 2017 Report Share Posted June 2, 2017 It's the wind.. they're riding it And they glide/ride thermals. Thay cannot hover in the same way a kestrel or hummingbird does. no mush the can hover like a kestrel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Accip74 7,112 Posted June 2, 2017 Report Share Posted June 2, 2017 It's the wind.. they're riding it And they glide/ride thermals. Thay cannot hover in the same way a kestrel or hummingbird does. no mush the can hover like a kestrel Yep Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mushroom 13,186 Posted June 2, 2017 Report Share Posted June 2, 2017 It's the wind.. they're riding it And they glide/ride thermals. Thay cannot hover in the same way a kestrel or hummingbird does. no mush the can hover like a kestrelNot in the same way, as I said sir. They can hover for a short while but they glide on thermals as a way to conserve energy. They do the same thing to stay in one position, using the wind and scout the scene also just like kestrels Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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