On Wednesday (June 25) Marlborough News Online carried a News in Brief reporting that a buzzard had attacked two people on separate occasions near Aldbourne:
“A Marlborough man was cycling near the village when he was hit on the back of the head. From the force of the blow his first thought was that it must be an escaped Golden Eagle.
But he saw the bird flying off and identified it as a buzzard. He was wearing a cycle helmet and though shocked and worried it might attack again, he was able to cycle back to his home.
The second report was of an Aldbourne woman who was walking in the countryside near the village. The force of the talons striking her bare head was painful and she too identified her assailant as a buzzard.
While somewhat shocked that a buzzard should make such an attack, neither victim was much the worse for the experience.”
And we asked anyone else who had been attacked to contact us.
One more person has reported being attacked – twice. A Wanborough cycling enthusiast was attacked last Sunday (June 22.)
He was cycling from Aldbourne up to Snap Hill. Near the top of the hill a buzzard landed on his head making two attacks on him. It then flew off and perched in a nearby tree.
Matt Prior of the Wiltshire Ornithological Society told MNO he had never personally come across such attacks. He is licensed to ring birds and has successfully ringed young buzzards without being attacked.
“Being attacked by them is very unusual – you may get an especially aggressive pair who have a nest and on the odd occasion they may attack.”
Matt has had much more trouble trying to ring young Red Kites or Tawny Owls: “Their parents can be really aggressive.”
That this buzzard, or more likely pair of buzzards are protecting a nest is a theory supported by another correspondent.
Attacks on humans by buzzards made the national newspapers in June 2010 and July 2011 – complete with photos of bloodied heads. It does seem most likely that with chicks in their nests in June and July, it’s the time buzzards may attack people coming too close – rare as such attacks are.
Here’s another request: can someone please provide MNO with a photograph of this buzzard making an attack. There is a bottle of champagne for the first photograph we can publish.
And please report any further attacks to tony@marlboroughnewsonline.co.uk
