Buzzard cools off with a quick dip in lake

3 hours ago

Eleanor MaslinEast Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

The bird of prey caught having a dip in Hornsea Mere

Steve Mason A buzzard appears to be resting in a lake, looking ahead with its two wings stretched out. It looks as if it is having a leisurely dip and admiring the view. There is grass in the foreground of the photo. — The bird of prey caught having a dip in Hornsea Mere

A rare shot of a bird of prey taking what appears to be a quick dip in a lake has been captured by a wildlife photographer.

Steve Mason spotted the buzzard entering the water at the eastern end of Hornsea Mere, East Yorkshire, on Wednesday morning, and it was there for about a minute.

"I saw this buzzard and it just dropped in front of me and I thought, 'What on earth is it doing?' It's totally unusual behaviour," he said.

"It splashed about a bit, then emerged osprey-like out of the mere and continued its journey over Wassand Woods."

The buzzard was in the water for about a minute before it continued on its way

Steve Mason A buzzard has just emerged from a lake. It is brown and white with yellow feet and large brown wings. — The buzzard was in the water for about a minute before it continued on its way

Mike Pilsworth, RSPB conservation officer for Yorkshire and the Humber, said: "It is unusual behaviour and something I've never seen a buzzard do before. I suspect it was just trying to cool off in the hot weather."

His colleague Pete Short, the RSPB's Humber reserves site manager, had an alternative theory – while a buzzard's prey is usually mammals and worms, he thought the bird on this occasion was trying to catch fish.