The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Yellow Wagtail new in the area today. The most surprising sight was Common Buzzard catching what appeared to almost certainly be a Sand Martin, then lost its capture to a pair of Magpies. Highlights from this afternoon/evening,

Blackmoor Bridge
Buzzard 4
Oystercatcher 2
Lapwing 25
Little Ringed Plover 1
Redshank 2
Barn Owl 1
Kestrel 2
Sand Martin 8
Swallow 1
Chiffchaff 2
Yellow Wagtail 2

Regards,

Ben.

An interesting record, Ben. I've not heard of a Buzzard taking hirundines before, but they are certainly very adaptable. I had a similar experience involving corvids between Stonebridge and Pye's Hall at Donna Nook on 10th April. A female Merlin was pursuing a Redshank low over the outmarsh and after many twists and turns the Merlin managed to knock the Redshank to the ground and dropped onto it immediately. Within about 3 seconds, 2 Carrion Crows also descended whereupon the Merlin departed inland and one of the crows seized the hapless Redshank in its bill. The Redshank flapped furiously and managed to break free and flew slowly, but apparently normally, past me and onto the realignment area. It seemed alright, although the bill was gaping wide open, and it would have surely been fortunate not to have received some form of injury.

Steve.

Hi Steve,

It is certainly extremely fascinating to witness such behaviour; the Buzzard was obviously lying in wait, alongside a drainage ditch that a group of Sand Martins were feeding over. I did not see how the capture was made but it was noticed that the Buzzard was on the ground next to the drain appearing to be tearing into something, it then flew up to an adjacent fence post with a bird which I am sure was a Sand Martin which it again starting tearing into, sending up dark and white feathers into the wind. We were just remarking how well the Buzzard had done to catch the bird and I was also thinking that it was very well deserved when the Magpies turned their attentions to the Buzzard, joining it on the fence, edging closer and closer until one was right alongside it at which point the Buzzard dropped its meal and flew back down to the drain!

Regards,

Ben.