Latest news with #buzzard
Telegraph
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Dive-bombing buzzard terrorises children's running race
A children's running race was cancelled after a dive-bombing buzzard attacked runners on the route. The junior fell running competition at Foel Fenlli, a hill in Denbighshire, north Wales, was called off over fears the menacing raptor could target participants. Nigel Crompton, a fell runner and organiser of the race, said he was repeatedly set upon by the bird nearby. Attack from above 'I was following a path along the valley when I suddenly felt something hit the back of my head accompanied by a swooshing sound,' he told BBC News. 'Within seconds it circled round and headed straight back towards me. My initial instinct was to run faster and get out of there but several times I felt and heard it swooping down against the back of my head. 'Apparently, you're not supposed to run. I know that now. I was dive-bombed several more times but found that by stopping and facing it the bird was more likely to stay high. 'It continued to circle around menacingly, however, until I was clear of the area. It was magnificent and yet unnerving.' Mr Crompton said he feared young runners would be attacked by the bird if the race, which was due to be held on Sunday, went ahead. 'Thoughts quickly moved from survival to the race in just a few days,' he said. 'I had by now Googled buzzard attacks and discovered them incredibly prevalent in the Highlands, in the Lakes and in Shropshire, especially targeting runners. The advice, after all, is not to run. 'Concerns were obviously for the safety of our junior athletes with fears that more runners in the area may further distress and agitate the birds and concerns for the disturbance of a protected species. 'The main message, for me, is for people to be aware. I have been running in these hills for years and never encountered this before and yet now find that buzzard attacks are not uncommon and runners seem to be most targeted.' Protective parent The race had been held in the Clywdian Hills since 2023. It is one of six events in the English Junior Fell Championships, with others taking place in Seathwaite, Cumbria, Clougha Pike, Lancashire, and Edale, Derbyshire. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said that the buzzard was likely to have been protecting young chicks. 'Although it's no consolation to those attacked, it is unusual for buzzards, or any other bird of prey, to attack humans,' a spokesman for RSPB Cymru said. 'The birds are most likely just being good parents and defending their young.' They added that they advised people to avoid the area for the short period of time until the young leave the nest.
BBC News
03-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Foel Fenlli fell running race cancelled over dive-bombing buzzard
A mountain running race has been cancelled because of a dive-bombing organiser of the junior fell running race at Foel Fenlli in the Clwydian Range, Denbighshire, said he came into contact with the bird while running in the area."I was following a path along the valley when I suddenly felt something hit the back of my head accompanied by a swooshing sound," Nigel Crompton Fell Runners Association said it was not safe for people to take part in the event on Sunday, and that it would not be fair on the protected species. Fell running is a type of hill or mountain running, and often involves routes with no race in the Clwydian Range has been held since 2023 and is one of the races in the English Junior Fell Championships, with participants from seven years Crompton described looking up and seeing the buzzard fly away from him after swooping down."Within seconds it circled round and headed straight back towards me. My initial instinct was to run faster and get out of there but several times I felt and heard it swooping down against the back of my head."Apparently, you're not supposed to run. I know that now. I was divebombed several more times but found that by stopping and facing it the bird was more likely to stay high."It continued to circle around menacingly, however, until I was clear of the area. It was magnificent and yet unnerving." Mr Crompton said he raised concerns about junior athletes being targeted by the bird."Thoughts quickly moved from survival to the race in just a few days. "I had by now Googled buzzard attacks and discovered them incredibly prevalent in the Highlands, in the Lakes and in Shropshire, especially targeting runners. The advice, after all, is not to run."After speaking to the Fell Runners Association and local Rangers in the Clwydian Range, Mr Crompton was then advised the race should not go ahead."Concerns were obviously for the safety of our junior athletes with fears that more runners in the area may further distress and agitate the birds and concerns for the disturbance of a protected species," he said."The main message, for me, is for people to be aware. I have been running in these hills for years and never encountered this before and yet now find that buzzard attacks are not uncommon and runners seem to be most targeted."Knowledge is powerful, however, and if we are aware then we can both hopefully continue to co-habit the hills in harmony."
Daily Mail
09-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Moment dive-bombing buzzard that has terrorised village tries to get into house before being attacked by magpies and crows
A dive-bombing buzzard that has terrorised villagers for months has been captured attempting to enter a house before being attacked by magpies and crows. Residents in Havering-atte-Bower, Greater London, say they are 'living in fear' after being attacked by the menacing bird of prey which has even caused a local primary school to stop their pupils from going outside during break time. The buzzard, nicknamed Brenda by local school children, is believed to be part of a mating pair and was last week captured narrowly missing resident Louise Whittle's head as it swooped down on her. Now, fellow local Nick Woodgate has captured the bird looking to continue its reign of terror on the community by entering a nearby house. The footage shows the buzzard attempting to fly through the closed window before it flies onto the roof of the house opposite Mr Woodgate's property. It is then circled by crows looking to knock the swaying buzzard off its perch, before a group of magpies seemingly arrive to help oust the bird. She is said to be defending her nest in Havering Country Park, and due to buzzards being protected under UK law, Havering Council has said its intervention options are 'very limited'. It is then circled by crows looking to knock the swaying buzzard off its perch, before a group of magpies seemingly arrive to help oust the bird When Miss Whittle was almost hit in the head by the bird earlier this month she said the situation was 'absolutely bonkers'. And after children at Dame Tipping Primary School were forced to stay inside since Easter through fear of injury, Miss Whittle said it was a 'brilliant' way to handle the issue. She added: 'The school have been absolutely fantastic in prioritising the children's safety and finding other alternatives for getting out. 'If anything, it's been a great learning experience for the children - they have learnt all about buzzards that they otherwise wouldn't have done.' However, Miss Whittle admitted being concerned that 'the birds are being prioritised over the children' and said she is 'hopeful that they fly away so everyone can get back to normal'. Headteacher Stella McCarthy said the 'difficult decision' to keep the children inside was made after the birds became 'highly present' in the playground. She said: 'As a school, safeguarding and protecting children is of paramount importance.' The school has decided to use the situation as a learning experience for pupils, who have created posters promoting the protection of birds. Headteacher Ms McCarthy added: 'Luckily, as part of LIFE Education Trust, we have had excellent support enabling us to use the trust mini bus to regularly visit The Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls where our children have engaged in outdoor learning activities, PE lessons and visited the school's farm. 'We have also introduced additional indoor breaks with lots of engaging activities including traditional board games, cup stacking competitions and puzzles.' The bird also dive-bombed on local resident Nikki Dix, 37, as she took a walk in the park. Miss Dix said she was 'dead shocked' when the bird attacked her from behind and left scratches on her head. She said: 'I was scared, I was taken back by it. 'He was giving me an evil eye so then I carried on my journey for quite a while just swinging my bag above my head because I was just like 'hopefully this will deter him from coming to get me, because if he does try again to get me maybe he won't be so nice'. 'Nothing like that normally gets me so I'm a little bit on high alert at the moment, that's why I've stayed away from that area as well.' The school has been liaising with Havering Council and various bird organisations to find solutions to the issue. The council said its health and safety team has provided the school's trust with 'detailed advice' on legal deterrents and the hiring of a falconry expert. A Havering Council spokesperson said previously: 'The RSPCA has advised that the buzzard may be protecting its nest or chicks, which lines up with the information we have received. 'Buzzards are protected under UK law, therefore our intervention options are very limited, and we have advised that warning signs would be the easiest solution at this time. 'We completely understand how difficult and worrying this situation is for the school and local residents and we regret that there is not a quick or straightforward solution.
BBC News
04-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
A buzzard named Brenda has caused a school playground ban
A buzzard named Brenda has been causing a bit of chaos in the village of Havering-atte-Bower, in bird of prey has been spotted swooping down at people - so children at the nearby local primary school have been told they cannot play outside while the bird is RSPCA thinks that Brenda's behaviour could be because she is protecting a nest or are one of the most common birds of prey in the UK, and are a protected species under UK law, meaning that the options on what to do about Brenda "are very limited" according to the local council. Havering Council said its health and safety team has given "detailed advice to the academy trust which looks after the school", including things they can do to safely deter Brenda from swooping at people, including hiring a falconry expert who understands the bird's school's Head Teacher Stella McCarthy told the BBC they were trying to figure out a way to allow children to play outside where possible, including taking pupils to a nearby school for outdoor play and finding a different location for sports day."We had to think about how to risk assess this... it's quite an unusual situation, having to risk assess a buzzard," she said. After accepting that "there was nothing we could do" to remove the bird of prey, the school decided to embrace her instead."The children named the bird Brenda and put out posters for protecting Brenda and looking after her... they've been writing stories, reports; next week they'll be doing newspaper articles, they've done artwork."As part of their learning, they even had a bird of prey expert visit the school - bringing with him a Chilean blue buzzard eagle called Ross Hicking said: "Guido (can) help educate the children about what Brenda the buzzard is dong, why she's behaving like this, the natural habits of buzzards, to foster interest in birds of prey and also to teach them about conservation and what we can do to protect birds of prey in the wild."He also said that, while "99% of the time" buzzards would avoid people due to fear, Brenda's swooping could be connected with the nesting also said that living in an area near to people meant that "she's a lot more comfortable around people and lot less fearful than most buzzards would be."
Daily Mail
04-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Terrifying moment dive-bombing buzzard attacks woman in her dressing gown and slippers - as bird of prey's reign of terror forces primary school pupils inside at break times
This is the terrifying moment a buzzard swoops down and attacks a woman in her dressing gown and slippers, as the bird continues to terrorise a village. The bird has terrorised villagers in Havering-atte-Bower for months and has forced one local primary school to temporarily ban pupils from going outside during break time. The buzzard, nicknamed Brenda by local school children is believed to be part of a mating pair. Local resident and parent Louise Whittle, narrowly missed being injured by the buzzard, while in her dressing gown and slippers. Footage shows the moment a buzzard flies down from the roof of a nearby house, appearing to aim for the mum's head. She quickly ducks and manages to run away from the bird, which landed on a fence nearby. Louise said: 'It's absolutely bonkers that there is a buzzard attacking people.' Children at Dame Tipping Primary School have been forced to stay inside since Easter through fear of injury by the bird of prey, believed to be part of a mating pair. But, as buzzards are protected, the school says 'nothing which can be done' beyond the outdoor ban. Louise said the school has handled the issue 'brilliantly'. She added: 'The school have been absolutely fantastic in prioritising the children's safety and finding other alternatives for getting out. 'If anything, it's been a great learning experience for the children - they have learnt all about buzzards that they otherwise wouldn't have done.' However, Louise added that she is still concerned that 'the birds are being prioritised over the children' and said she is 'hopeful that they fly away so everyone can get back to normal'. Headteacher Stella McCarthy said the 'difficult decision' to keep the children inside was made after the birds became 'highly present' in the playground. She said: 'As a school, safeguarding and protecting children is of paramount importance.' The school has decided to use the situation as a learning experience for pupils, who have created posters promoting the protection of birds. Headteacher Ms McCarthy added: 'Luckily, as part of LIFE Education Trust, we have had excellent support enabling us to use the trust mini bus to regularly visit The Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls where our children have engaged in outdoor learning activities, PE lessons and visited the school's farm. 'We have also introduced additional indoor breaks with lots of engaging activities including traditional board games, cup stacking competitions and puzzles.' The bird also dive-bombed on local resident Nikki Dix, 37, as she took a walk in the park. Ms Dix said she was 'dead shocked' when the bird attacked her from behind and left scratches on her head. She said: 'I was scared, I was taken back by it. 'He was giving me an evil eye so then I carried on my journey for quite a while just swinging my bag above my head because I was just like 'hopefully this will deter him from coming to get me, because if he does try again to get me maybe he won't be so nice'. 'Nothing like that normally gets me so I'm a little bit on high alert at the moment, that's why I've stayed away from that area as well.' The school has been liaising with Havering Council and various bird organisations to find solutions to the issue. The council said its health and safety team has provided the school's trust with 'detailed advice' on legal deterrents and the hiring of a falconry expert. A Havering Council spokesperson said: 'The RSPCA has advised that the buzzard may be protecting its nest or chicks, which lines up with the information we have received. 'Buzzards are protected under UK law, therefore our intervention options are very limited, and we have advised that warning signs would be the easiest solution at this time. 'We completely understand how difficult and worrying this situation is for the school and local residents and we regret that there is not a quick or straightforward solution.
