Buzzards are large birds of prey, not unlike miniature eagles, with which they are sometimes confused. Their plumage varies in pattern and hue but is predominantly brown. They have a habit of soaring on thermal currents and often give a cat-like, mewing call while doing this.

ONCE persecuted to extinction here, the buzzard, a bird of prey, seems to be making a comeback and we’ll probably be seeing more of it in southern parts, writes Donal Hickey