COMMON BUZZARD

The Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) is an impressive raptor with a robust build and a broad wingspan of 110-130 cm. Its plumage is a beautiful mix of brown and white, with a light underside and a dark-striped chest that creates a dramatic contrast. The buzzard migrates south from northern Sweden during the winter months but overwinters in the area around my hides. The combination of its powerful talons, feathered legs, and varied feather colors makes the buzzard a particularly elegant and majestic bird.

Note that the Common Buzzard and Goshawk are photographed from the same hide!

Season for Photographing the Common Buzzard

The season for the Common Buzzard extends from November to the end of April. Note that an extension of the season may be possible. All months are generally good for photographing buzzards, though the winter months are the best. During this time, buzzards have also become accustomed to the activity at the photo hides. If you want to photograph buzzards in snow or a frosty landscape, January and February are recommended, but snow and frost can also occur in November, December, March, and April. November is a great time for capturing buzzards in an autumn landscape with red and yellow colors.

Buzzards are very frequent visitors to the hide and feeding station, where they can stay for a long time and eat. The buzzard tends to come daily from autumn through winter and spring. To get the best photographs of the buzzard, two sessions are recommended, but the chance of photographing them in just one session is also very high.

And don’t worry about the cold! The hide has a gas-powered heater to keep you warm.

Camera & Lenses

The choice of focal lengths is up to you; sometimes you might want to get really close, while other times you may want to capture more of the surrounding landscape. I recommend using 400-600 mm for portraits and around 200-300 mm to include more of the environment around the buzzards.

The buzzards come down to a specially constructed platform where bait is placed to attract them. Sometimes they also fly directly down to the ground. The distance from the platform to the hide is about 10 meters, but buzzards often land on one of the small bird feeding stations, which is much closer—only a few meters from the hide. The platforms are mounted on nearby pine trunks and are carefully planned to provide optimal and clean backgrounds. Perches, stones, and other elements are regularly changed to create new environments for photographers.

The hide for buzzards is also equipped with artificial lighting, allowing for fast shutter speeds even during the darkest early morning hours. There is also a water reflection (when it is not frozen) where the raptors can come down to drink—though there is also bait here. You have good opportunities to capture the buzzard in reflection.

Times for Common Buzzard

You should enter the hide about two hours before sunrise (note that this timing may vary depending on the activity of the buzzards). You will leave the hide approximately one hour after sunset.

Things to Bring to the Buzzard Hide

The buzzard hide has plates where you can mount your tripod head or use available bean bags. This hide is primarily for one or two people, with overnight stays possible for one person. You should bring food and drink with you. A flashlight or headlamp is also useful to have.

What Else Can You See and Photograph?

When you’re observing buzzards, you also have the chance to see a variety of other forest birds and even mammals. The buzzard hide is the same as the one used for the goshawk, so you have an excellent chance to photograph both buzzards and goshawks. Additionally, you may also photograph a range of forest birds. The species that appear will largely depend on the season during your time in the hide.

Forest birds:

This species list is compiled from my own observations in the hide and from other visitors to my photography hides. Please note that the frequency of visits to the hide is an estimate.

  • Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) – Ranges from rare to frequent during the migration period in spring.
  • Coal Tit (Periparus ater) – A very frequent visitor, especially during autumn, winter, and spring.
  • Common Raven (Corvus corax) – A frequent visitor during winter and very frequent in spring.
  • Crested Tit (Lophophanes cristatus) – Not a particularly frequent visitor to this hide. However, it is very frequent and one of the highlights at the forest hide. See Crested Tit.
  • Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula) – A very frequent visitor year-round.
  • Eurasian Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) – A very frequent visitor year-round.
  • Eurasian Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) – Generally a frequent visitor, mainly at the hide during the winter period.
  • Eurasian Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis) – A rare visitor.
  • Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius) – A very frequent visitor, mainly during autumn, winter, and spring.
  • Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica) – A frequent visitor, especially during autumn, winter, and spring.
  • Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) – A very frequent visitor year-round.
  • Eurasian Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris) – A very frequent visitor, especially during the winter period, early spring, and late autumn.
  • European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) – A frequent visitor, especially during autumn, winter, and spring.
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) – A very frequent visitor year-round.
  • Great Tit (Parus major) – A very frequent visitor year-round.
  • Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) – Frequent during the migration period in spring.
  • Marsh Tit (Poecile palustris) – A very frequent visitor, especially during autumn, winter, and spring.
  • Willow Tit (Poecile montanus) – A very frequent visitor, especially during autumn, winter, and spring.
  • Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) – A very frequent visitor year-round.

Are the Hides Only for Photographers?

You don’t need to be a photographer to enjoy sitting in a hide and observing buzzards and goshawks. It’s a fantastic experience even without a camera. However, the hides are designed with photographers in mind, featuring multiple openings for lenses, mounting equipment, and bean bags. All my hides are carefully planned to provide you with the best angles and the most beautiful backgrounds possible.

What can you photograph in the hides?

BADGER

Badgers are fascinating to study and photograph, partly because of their iconic black-and-white facial markings. They are active in the evening and at night, which makes capturing them in photos especially exciting.

COMMON BUZZARD

The Common Buzzard is an impressive raptor that visits my photo hides in pairs. It’s exciting to photograph them as they compete for food, and their beautiful plumage can create fantastic images.

CRESTED TIT

The Crested Tit is a small, lively, and unshy coniferous forest bird. With its distinctive crest and beautiful plumage, it is a fascinating and charming species to get close to and photograph in its natural habitat.

GOSHAWK

The Goshawk is known for its hunting skills and sharp vision. In my photo hides, you have a great chance to get close and photograph this majestic raptor, which is otherwise rarely seen in the forest.

FOREST BIRDS

In my photo hides, you can get close to and photograph species such as the Eurasian Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Coal Tit, and Treecreeper. You’ll capture stunning images of these forest birds with their unique and beautiful details.