Twitchable ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD in West Sussex

With the prospect of a RLB on the menu we spent the day birding around The Burgh and the viewpoint at Peppering Lane, Burpham. The morning still had plenty of low cloud and poor visibility although as the day went on a little blue sky and practically no wind was a real treat. We had a couple of RedKite and 2 ringtail Hen Harriers and 3 Peregrines. The juvenile ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD was found to the east of the viewpoint in Peppering Lane around mid morning before it moved to the north and was watched hunting north of the dew pond during the afternoon . Great scope views were had as it roamed the farmland hovering frequently during its hunting forays. Male and female Peregrine were working in tandem hunting when they swooped on a flockof pigeons knocking one of the pigeons right in front of an admiring crowd of birders with feathers drifting to the ground we were unable to see if the Peregrines retrieved their supper. Also seen in the area Merlin, 3 Raven a single Golden Plover flew over calling as did an unknown number of Crossbill. 2 Redpoll and at least 20 Corn Bunting. It appears that Dick Gilmore found the Rough -legged Buzzard on Monday 7 November although not confirmed until Wednesday 9 November. (Bernie Forbes, Dave Smith & Dorian Mason)