Whilst watching a group of 3 Buzzards over Woolston's No3 Bed today, it appeared to me that they were using a bit of team work when it came to hunting.

It seemed apparent these three were a family group, one bird being much bigger than the other two, presumably the adult female.

All three soared high on the thermals, it being a warm sunny day. At one point though the large female flew in low from the North side of the bed, whilst the other two were just above the tree tops

on the South bank.

She flew in about 20-30ft above the reedbed, the 70+ Lapwing and 20+ Snipe on the mud initially ignored her, even as she flew directly above them, but then they seemed to realise that she

posed a threat this time, so they erupted. The waders packed into a tight group and darted around the big buzzard, seemingly being too agile for her to catch one, and not flushing towards the

South bank and the two other raptors.

It certainly appeared to me that she was trying to flush prey towards the other two buzzards, at least one of which must be a youngster, possibly both, as a fourth bird joined them at one stage.

Do Buzzards use family teamwork to hunt, or do parent birds just try to drive prey items towards their youngsters to teach them hunting skills?.

A recent report on Springwatch suggested Peregrines employ similar tactics, and Cormorants certainly co-operate in hunting, so why not Buzzards?.