Anxious Buzzard's Struggle Evokes Empathy in Somerset Country Diary
In the quiet countryside of Frome, Somerset, a remarkable scene unfolded as a buzzard grappled with instability on a precarious perch, sparking a profound moment of empathy from an observer. The large raptor's anxious movements were mirrored by the onlooker, creating a unique bond between human and bird.
Foraging Tits and Weightless Soaring
Earlier, a flock of nine long-tailed tits flitted through hawthorn bushes, with one straggler landing on a berry-laden twig. The tiny bird, weighing no more than seven paperclips, performed a full 360-degree rotation as it pecked for food, its tail moving like a clock hand without disturbing the twig. This ghost-like existence, where leaps and landings leave no impact, contrasted sharply with the scene above.
Overhead, a buzzard, a hundred times heavier, soared weightlessly through the sky. It mastered gravity with the deeply separated primary feather tips on its wings, executing controlled descents with subtle flicks and tilts. The bird began a slow circumnavigation above an oak crown on an old railway embankment before changing course towards a stately conifer.
Precarious Perch and Shared Anxiety
Attempting to alight at the very tip of the conifer, like a post-Christmas fairy, the buzzard thrust its talons forward. However, the tree seemed unprepared for such a burden. Upon landing, the bird tucked its wings away incompletely, with one wing held crooked and the other half-rising and straightening. Despite squirming and shifting its grip, it couldn't find stability on the perch, even without a breath of wind, possibly due to the tree flexing under its weight.
Watching this anxiety-ridden performance, the observer became acutely aware that their own arms had lifted in sympathy, as if trying to balance alongside the bird. In that instant, a warm gush of true empathy flowed, as they could genuinely relate to the discomfort and uncertainty of a fellow creature. The buzzard eventually gave up, peeling away and letting gravity carry it swiftly down the bank.
This encounter, detailed in a country diary, underscores the deep connections possible in nature, where even a bird's struggle can evoke human empathy. For more insights, Under the Changing Skies: The Best of the Guardian's Country Diary, 2018-2024 is available from Guardian Faber, offering a 15% discount through guardianbookshop.com.
