Buzzard Circling Over Dog

[shivvy]

I was walking my 2 dogs over fields at dusk tonight when I noticed a buzzard pausing above the smaller dog!
The fields are all around our house which is in the countryside and we see buzzards all the time so I have seen them flying over the fields, perched in trees and standing in the fields, but not eyeing up my dogs! Might it have thought about having a go at her?

[Baldric]

If it was hungry, maybe

[frugalfred]

I once witnessed a buzzard swooping on a smallish rabbit. It carried it off to the top of a nearby telephone pole. Do buzzards have habitual feeding posts?

[shivvy]

The dog isn't even that small, maybe about a foot tall but perhaps it looked smaller in the longish grass.
I wonder if the buzzard decided to fly on past because it realised that Lola was bigger than it thought or whether it had something to do with me shouting and waving my arms like a halfwit!!

[shivvy]

I don't know about habitual feeding posts but the ones round here definitely have favoured hunting perches that they use again and again.

[Baldric]

Probably a good move on your part.

[frugalfred]

Buzzards are wonderful fliers, using minimum energy to glide about the sky. Every time I hear one "mew" I look up and admire the flying skill. I think buzzards actually enjoy flying!

[shivvy]

They are so graceful in flight particularly for being so big. Their wings are fantastic.

[ladybirder]

And they are very curious. I have had a buzzard hovering just over my head, looking down at me, as I walked across a field by Harewood House. It followed me for at least 7-8 minutes. Wonderful.

[Clanad]

I was on the verge of asking if you were sure the bird was a "buzzard" since buzzards (also known as vultures here) are not birds of prey but feed only on carrion.

Thinking the better of it, I see on our friend Wikipedia, that your English Buzzard ( Buteo buteo seen here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_buzzard) is a bird of prey… never stop learning!

Our buzzard looks like this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey_vulture and is a much larger bird than yours...

[Baldric]

///and is a much larger bird than yours...///

typical Yank reaction, sad but true!

[Clanad]

Sorry Baldric… I was just quoting from Wikipedia and surprised at once again the differences in our "common" language… no offense meant...

[Ringlet]

Buzzards regularly take small cats and kittens in the fields around where I live. there are a lot of feral cat colonies in this area and although we try to trap them and get them neutered there are always strays coming around and having kittens. i am sure if they can manage an adult cat they could manage a small dog. Foxes would take a small cat, too.