Page 4 - Advertiser, December 25, 1998

MRS MAGGIE KEMP of Caythorpe, Nottinghamshire looks for the Rough-Legged Buzzard at Oxton

Twitchers
flock to
village

by NICK BARBER

HUNDREDS of twitchers have been in Oxton to try to catch a glimpse of a rare foreign bird of prey.

  Birdwatchers throughout the East Midlands rushed to the village after hearing that a Scandinavian rough-legged buzzard was in the area.

  They heard about the buzzard's initial sighting when they telephoned the national Bird Line, which is run by the Bird Information Service.

  The bird was seen flying round woods on the Southwell to Oxton Road, near the top of Oxton Hill, last week.

  The rough-legged buzzard usually winters in Central USA, Southern Europe and Asia.

  It prefers open tundras and mountainsides, and avoids forests unless they contain plenty of open ground.

  The rough-legged buzzard is generally a tame species and usually allows close approach by people, although it can be aggressive close to its nest.

  Nottinghamshire RSPB membership secretary, Mrs Maggie Kemp, of Caythorpe Road, Caythorpe, Nottinghamshire, was among the flock of eager spotters.

Thrill

THE Scandinavian rough-legged buzzard.

  She said she had seen one of the birds abroad before, but never in England.

  She said: "It is a thrill for us to see such a rare bird.

  "People think we are mad, but there is quite a skill in recognising and identifying them.

  "It is an exciting challenge, but a lot of it is down to pure luck and being in the right place at the right time."

  She said the twitchers found out about sightings through word of mouth and there was a rare bird telephone line, which kept them in touch with the latest sightings across the country.

  Mrs Kemp said: "The birds may have been seen in Nottinghamshire before, but this was the first one to be seen clearly by more than a few people.

  "It was quite handy to be able to stand in a layby - normally we have to trample through fields and get very wet."

  Another birdwatcher, Mr David Stevens, had travelled from Loughborough to see the bird.

  He said: "I went to Oxton last Wednesday and Thursday and caught my first sight of the bird. They are very rare.

  "They are about 50cm high and greyer that the common buzzard, with white tail markings.

  "During the day it tends to travel long distances from its perch, so those of us who saw it were very lucky.

  "It was a nice Christmas present for birdwatchers."