Today had a misty start. around Keeper's Pond, where the atmosphere was, at the least, autumnal with limited visibility and very little activity.The cool and misty September morning gave way to some brightness, as we reached the lower parkland and we saw two jays winging it away from the area around Lucy's Pond, heading towards the trees near the Serpentine. Sudden bird flight and activity are, to Ian and, in an increasing way, to me, indicative of something going on.

We had both heard, only minutes before, a cacophony of mallard on the Serpentine and I saw an avian flash as something flew into the trees there to begin the ducks' racket. A minute or two's patience was soon rewarded as the cause of the disturbance was soon seen leaving. A sparrow hawk had buzzed the ducks - not that he was after a duck. He simply flew into an area where they were and they decided he was not welcome.
But back to the jays. What had spooked them? Ian soon pointed out, for he is eagle eyed for such things, atop of a tall tree close to Lucy's pond the possible cause. A buzzard - the common buzzard. It is a bird of prey. I am sorry that I cannot get used to calling them raptors. From my boyhood at West Dyke Junior school, gazing over the prints in a large colourful edition Birds of Britain, these large, hooked beaked, big birds were birds of prey. Raptors is not the word of choice for me.

Now here was a buzzard. It is the first time I had seen one perched. They are not very graceful when perching. Dumpy and dull, they are just a clump of plumage with a smallish head and a not too threatening beak - but them I am not a small mammal on its receiving end.

For no obvious reason, the buzzard took flight. It just slipped its perch and fell in to the space below and behind the trees. We walked on to find the same buzzard sitting in another tree bit now not alone. But a few crows were not happy about this buzzard being here and were mobbing it until it decided that enough was enough and almost wearily took to flight and away.

This rather frumpy lump of buzzard is not designed for beauty, except when it is in full gliding flight. Once airborne, their lack of grace is no more. The bird is clearly built to soar. Its outline is all for flight, with broad deep wings and large fan tail. The relatively small head is only part of it not deemed necessary for flying.
The wings make a graceful dihedral in flight with the fingertip feathers flexing and stretching to adjust height and attitude. We were not witness to this today, but such sights are becoming quite common in the Parkland. It is certainly something to keep an eye open for.