This year buzzard was seen more frequently than kestrel.I think at least two buzzards stay in Lamma for a period . One is in Yung Shue Long and like to hide on large trees to ambush its prey .One is in Lo So Shing using similiar tactic .And one I cannot confirm is in Hung Sing Yeh .So there may be three in lamma .They also like to go up to the ridge of central lamma hovering on the sky to search their preys.Two hovering together have been seen. Two kind of buzzards was found . Japonicus is usually active in Yung Shue Long area .Vulpinus is usually active in the ridge of central lamma to Luk Chau .But where is the kestrel ? More buzzards,less kestrels ?

Nice shots! I caught sight of one in Yung HSue Long valley yesterday. Can you tell us the difference between the two sub-species?

I am not an expert to tell you the difference between the two sub-species.However I may share my experience to check out this two sub-species after I have taken the photos of them .When I checked the bird books ,I found there were some differences on the saturation of colour and strip patterns .So checked more details and thought they belong to two sub-species.In fact, they are not easy to be distingushed in flight by naked eyes .If we have chance to see clearly their colour patterns on their underpart wing and body , we can find some differences for identification.As you see in the first picture : japonicus ,head,chest,belly and the forewing are less colourful (not too brown),and the more important id i think is the strip patterns from chest to belly .As shown in the photos ,you can only see one direction strips from chest to belly from the body of japonicus , but you can see two direction strips from the body of vulpinus but most strips are horizontal to the wing .The two long strips on two sides from head to chest are absent in vulpinus.The throat to chest is pale-grey to white in color rather than brown as in vulpinus. The only bar on the tail is more conspicuous in vulpinus than in japonicus.
Picture is better than word.You can see the differences in the two new photos attached .

I found a kestrel standing on the wire fence of the old quarry. It tried to expel the buzzard twice which coming from Lo So Shing although the size of buzzard is much bigger than it during my short period of observation ( about 15 minutes before i came too close and frightened it )It seems that they have conflict on feeding ground because their preys , hunting tactic are quite similiar.This may be a reason to explain why when the year i saw more buzzards , less kestrels, and the year more kestrels , less buzzards.I think this is an interesting observation topic to follow .

Nice one! I'm sure there is room for both species on Lamma, although the amount of small prey animals, especially mammals, is severely limited.

Not as close or as good as Harrys shot, but thought I'd post them in the "Buzzard" section - were taken in YSL valley - he seems to perch for quite lengthy poeriods & has pretty much made YSL Valley his temporary residence........



04/12/2005

Hi Guy,

Why say it is not as good !! I think those shots are very good. Today, I witness a real hunting by this buzzard. A chinese pond heron was flying from the end of the valley and landed in the middle. Once it landed, this buzzard just glided down from the tree and landed on the same spot 5 seconds later. I could not see under the bush but I did see some struggle for maybe 30 seconds. Then all returned to calm. A poor CPH became this Buzzard's lunch. Sorry I cound not provide any picture cause the bush is too high.

It has been long while not seeing the clear blue sky. I had these shots on sunday in YSL. The one with the buzzard on the tree was taken by 300f4 + 1.7x. It is not bad though.

Although there was overcast , taking photos with birds still a happy experience .Anyway , I think the buzzard in Yung Shue Long will stay all winter if no serious disturbance occur.I noticed there were buzzards visiting Lamma a few year before but I haven't noticed their status in Lamma . The evidence of this year show that at least one buzzard may become the winter resident of Lamma (may be three including the one in Lo So Shing and Hung Shing Yeh .)So there will be important to keep watching on them in the following years .

Hope no one is bored by my repeated post of this Buzzard. It just keeps on coming back to YSL and stay at the tree in front of my balcony. But the images are better this time.

Much better images - yr lucky to have it appear just outside yr house & get these photo opprtunities - not at all bored with seeing the pics

The buzzard in Yung Shue Long Valley has several places as attack points and footsteps .In general , one place is located at the entrance of the valley . Next is at the two sides of the middle of the valley where one side is Mr Li's house located I think . The last is at thr rear of the valley .He/She has a very good memory and can recognize people that who is just passing by and who is trying to approach him/her .

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