English Nature do issue a licence to remove Buzzards, but it is very complicated and you cannot just take any, the licence holders needs to prove the birds are doing damage to property livestocks or crops, in fact that goes for any removal or taking or wild birds.
It is a very difficult area of legislation and one that causes a lot of debate, the main thing here, is that the licence holder may be able to do it, but they cannot ask family or friends to help.
it is illegal to take or possess any wild bird or part of a wild bird, its eggs or nest, however if you have a general licence then as long as you apply the strict rules , you may be able to do so, but you may also fall foul of the law, if you stray from the conditions of licence.
It is a extremely complicated area.
Best just to watch, mother nature does a good job of keeping order.
Just met a dark haired young lad circa 16yrs who was out looking for Buzzard nests. Apparently his Dad had got a licence to take a young bird. Fortunately he's in totally the wrong area. Really surprised thought this kind of thing had died out years ago.
Take a young bird for what I wonder? I'm not aware of the existence of such a 'licence' (maybe someone on here is) though of course, while one may now be obtained to 'control' them, Chorlton WP would be extremely unlikely to meet the criteria for one of those! All around very 'fishy' to me
Just met a dark haired young lad circa 16yrs who was out looking for Buzzard nests. Apparently his Dad had got a licence to take a young bird. Fortunately he's in totally the wrong area. Really surprised thought this kind of thing had died out years ago.
As I had an emergency dental appointment in West Didsbury today I combined it with a visit to my old local patch and have a lovely, shortish, visit in the bright sunshine.
Highlights were up to 8 Ring-necked Parakeets, at least two of them 'singing' territorially from trees which they left but kept returning to to carry on repetitively 'singing'. I only checked out the eastern end of the lake but still picked up 3(2 drake) Goosanders and a female Goldeneye amongst the commoner waterfowl. Plenty of Tufted Ducks and a pair of Gadwall too as well as a female Pochard. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was calling on Kenworthy Fields and a few Redwings were flying about. At least 5 Nuthatches were seen, several visiting the feeding station.
Great to be back and a bonus to make up for my pain
25+ goldfinch 7 house sparrow 2 redwing 1 great spotted woodpecker 2 ring-necked parakeet 8 moorhen 30+ coot 8+ gadwall 4 shoveler 44+ tufted duck 19 pochard (one female) 2 goldeneye 4 goosander 6 mute swan 1 little grebe 4 (possibly 6) great crested grebe (two in an almighty scrap) 5 cormorant c130 black-headed gull 6+ common gull 1 lesser black-backed gull
Also what sounded very much like a linnet over the Barlow Tip end; only heard very briefly, and no chance of an ID on sight, so not 100% certain, but still, a pretty distinctive call.
A mixed finch flock of approx 60 birds, mainly Goldfinch with a small number of Siskins and Redpolls, on the Alders at the south side of the lake this afternoon.
Didn't pay a proper visit here today, but 10+ coot, 4 gadwall, 1 tufted duck and 7 mute swan were of the most interest when looking across the lake from Barlow Tip.
Hardy farm and Barlow Tip, from about 2 until dusk:
1 goldcrest Lesser redpolls heard, sounded perhaps five or so, so far as I could tell. 4 goldfinch 2 greenfinch 4 bullfinch c20 redwing 5 jay 6 ring-necked parakeet 1 goosander over 4 cormorant over 17 common gull 1 buzzard heard
Amazing impromptu visit today 12.26 - 14.34, highlights as follows:
SKYLARK (9) flew low east over Barlow Tip calling at 13.32. A patch tick! Willow Tit (1) calling repeatedly and showing occasionally in the area north of the path to the gas station on Barlow Tip. Only my second patch record! Wigeon (4) Gadwall (c13) Tufted Duck (c15) Common Gull (2)
This afternoon, from about 4.20 - 6. Quite quiet, people wise, considering what a nice afternoon it was; a very pleasant stroll around.
1 goldcrest 1 chiffchaff Lots of long-tailed tit (the most numerous small bird throughout the day) 2 goldfinch 1 kingfisher Ring-necked parakeet heard 6 moorhen c80 coot 18 gadwall 3 wigeon (only the second time I've had them here) 2 tufted duck 2 or 3 great crested grebe 7 mute swan 100+ black-headed gull
Usual water birds and an impressive rainbow, too.
Barlow Tip and Hardy Farm (visited earlier) were both pretty quiet; a couple of chiffchaff and a goldcrest were the best I could do here.
Two ospreys (possibly one osprey and something else - only a brief look at the second bird) seen from Chorlton WP area, circled then headed southwest. Sadly, out running so no camera gear to get a snap.
Mandarin Duck (1m) Mute Swan (7, 5juv) Cormorant (1) over BT Great Crested Grebe (1ad) Black-headed Gull (21+) Ring-necked Parakeet (4) Reed Warbler (2+, 1+juv) -the juvenile Reed Warbler was in the reedbed at the eastern end and was very fresh with an obvious gape. This is the first time I've been able to confirm breeding here and I wonder how many other years recently fledged juveniles have been seen.
Young Reed Warblers have been recorded several years in succession this century, though you will have to trawl back through this thread a few a years. I used to watch them from the boat whilst on water safety.
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Mandarin Duck (1m) Mute Swan (7, 5juv) Cormorant (1) over BT Great Crested Grebe (1ad) Black-headed Gull (21+) Ring-necked Parakeet (4) Reed Warbler (2+, 1+juv) -the juvenile Reed Warbler was in the reedbed at the eastern end and was very fresh with an obvious gape. This is the first time I've been able to confirm breeding here and I wonder how many other years recently fledged juveniles have been seen.
Mandarin (1m) under the willows on the western island. Mute Swan (7, 5juv) Great Crested Grebe (1) Common Gull (1) over the Mersey Black-headed Gull (c50) Stock Dover (1) over Barlow Tip