30 Northern Observations of Inland Birds 



frosty sunset in the Highlands know well the futility of 

 attempting description, but this was a sunset among 

 sunsets — almost a flashing impression, for the colours 

 faded immediately. 



I have seen a few such sunsets, but one's memories 

 of them have a way of amalgamating, devoid of outstanding 

 incident, but the recollection of this particular sunset 

 was rendered permanent by the presence of three buzzards 

 circling directly over our heads and at no great height. 

 Their romantic, plaintive call notes of *' kew kew " came 

 distinctly down to us on the evening stillness, and as they 

 swerved across the light their backs and under parts 

 flashed alternatively gold and vermillion. Their flight, 

 though majestic, was, however, laboured compared with 

 the flight of the same bird in a high wind. 



Recently I had a unique opportunity of closely ob- 

 serving the flight of the buzzard. Out on the heights of 

 the Achmore Estate late in the season, I had reached the 

 summit of the crags overlooking Glen Ogle when, pausing 

 for a rest, I noticed three buzzards soaring in the wind 

 at approximately the same level as myself. I took up a 

 better view point, and for a very considerable time watched 

 the flight of the birds. Now and then they came within 

 easy stone throw of me, and repeatedly they returned, 

 now above me, now below, wheeling and hovering so 

 near that I could see almost every feather of their bodies. 

 Up till then I had imagined that the buzzard, when 

 soaring, is perfectly steady, but I now observed that the 

 bird is constantly rocking and tipping, like a small boat 

 on a troubled sea. Each feather of their wings and tails 

 seemed to be under individual and independent control, 

 and it was marvellous to watch not only how each wing 

 worked independently of the other, but how a movement 

 was aflfected or a tip corrected by an adjustment of a 

 portion of one wing, by an instantaneous correction of 



