Radenborg Nature Photography - Long-legged buzzard

Long-legged buzzards are rare drifters in the Netherlands with the first sighting only in 2007. In the winter of 2013 a first calendar-year bird came to the Maasvlakte and returned in the winters of 2014 and 2015. All of birding Netherlands could see the bird transform from first winter plumage to a beautiful sub-adult. Ik saw this bird in 2014 and 2015.

All my pictures can be found here.

Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Buteo
Species: Buteo fufinus
Dutch name: Arendbuizerd
Common name: Long-legged buzzard
Location: Maasvlakte, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Remarks: My first encounter with this bird was in October 2014. Before work, I drove to the Maasvlakte where it was spotted and saw it on the Slufter vlakte, sitting on a pole and later flying by.

Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Buteo
Species: Buteo fufinus
Dutch name: Arendbuizerd
Common name: Long-legged buzzard
Location: Maasvlakte, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Remarks: My last sighting of this bird was in februari 2016. Together with birding mate Chris we sneaked to the bird as close as we could get.

Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Buteo
Species: Buteo fufinus
Dutch name: Arendbuizerd
Common name: Long-legged buzzard
Location: Maasvlakte, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Remarks: We slinked our way behind a dune, but the minute we raised our head over the edge, we were caught and it took off. Nevertheless it was a great moment!

Field characteristics

Larger than a Common buzzard. Length: 50-58cm Span: 130-155cm
Looks a bit Eagle-like. Flight is comparable to a Rough-legged buzzard. Colour is rusty brown with white. The tail is not banded like the Common and Rough-legged.

Sound:

Silent. Call sounds like Rough-legged but shorter and a melting tone.

: Published: 04 November 2016; Hits: 366

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