Playing by the rules

On this day last year I fulfilled an ambition I had had for years, to photograph common buzzards in the wild, in Kent.  Why?  Well, up until 7-10 years ago they were quite a rare sight around these parts (North Downs) but over the years they have moved further and further east to a point that it’s unusual not to see one while out on the hills.   There are now several hundred breeding pairs in Kent and I personally know of 3 nests which I am dying to work on over the coming years which will invariably require me to build a tree-top hide.

OK, so they are incredibly common in the west and north and hardly golden eagles but there is just something about them, the way they soar, their call…….. and as I visited my feeding station over the years to photograph woodland birds the desire would burn deeper and deeper to photograph this beautiful bird.  I have access to a lot of land within their territory and so the previous October decided to commit the following six months to this project.  But everything, and I mean everything had to be by the book.  Birds of prey are notoriously shy and keen-eyed birds so unlike a blue tit at a nut feeder where you can come and go from your hide without them so much as batting an eyelid, with buzzards, in this part of the world, not a chance!

The following was then carried out.

* 5′ sq wooden hide erected at site under cover of darkness so buzzards didn’t associate it with  humans.

* Hide left alone for several weeks.

* Stockpile of road-kill rabbits stored in freezer.  Thanks Martina!

* December. Once a week.  Rabbit put down pre-dawn in front of hide.  At night, if rabbit not devoured by birds, was taken and put up tree to stop foxes taking it.  Put back down following morning…….

* Wait for hard weather to commence photography

In mid January we had hard frosts lasting a couple of weeks so I took the opportunity to get some shots.  I entered the hide 2 hours before sunrise.  11 hours later one arrived and fed but the light was poor.  It got terribly cold in the hide, very rarely going above freezing.  I would therefore occasionally ignite the stove for a few minutes, wrap a blanket around me and wear a balaclava.  Winter, neoprene lined boots made by Le Chameau helped keep my feet warm (though they froze after 5 hours).  I tried again a few days later and this time one appeared in good light but something was missing….snow!

Then, at the end of January we had heavy snow with poor visibility lasting for several days.  I needed a break in the weather to entice the buzzard’s from where they had been sheltering from the terrible weather.  I then had the forecast I’d been waiting for.  A clear day, blue sky all the way.  Perfect!  This would surely tempt them out to look for food.  I got everything ready the night before and woke at 3.  With all the snow I knew it was going to be tough driving and there was no guarantee that I would reach the hide.  I gingerly made my way to the spot where I needed to park the car but first there was a hill to get up.  I had a bit of a run-up but the Mondeo only made it half way.  Four attempts later it got me to the top.  When I reached the hide, there was over 18 inches of snow.  I staked the rabbit down (this is to avoid it being carried off), set up everything in the hide, took snacks out of wrappers (to avoid noise) and sat back waiting for light.

Then, at about 10 o clock one arrived and fed for over 30 minutes. It took my breath away to be this close (15m) and knowing that all the hard work had not been to avail.  I got the low angle by using a ground-pod pushing the lens through a sleeve about 6 inches above the ground.  I had installed one-way glass so I could see clearly outside without being seen.

Several hours passed and then an immature bird turned up and just like the one previous, spent around 30 minutes feeding, oblivious to the photographer, who at this point, was the happiest man on the planet!

To see a video of what I saw please click here.  It was filmed on my point-and-shoot camera so please forgive the rather poor quality.

All images were taken using a Nikon D2x with 300mm f2.8 and 1.4x converter (sometimes without) with right-angle finder attached.  I ached for days having spent several hours with my head between my legs peering through this!

Of all the projects I have undertaken this has certainly been the toughest but without question the most satisfying.  Hamilton Holt’s quote comes to mind….”Nothing worthwhile comes easily.  Work, continuous work and hard work , is the only way to accomplish results that last.”

Tags: birds, buzzard, common buzzard, hamilton holt, hide, north downs, snow, technique, winter