Buzzard spotted in south roscommon

A buzzard has been spotted in the South Roscommon area over the past few days.
The large birds are again repopulating in Ireland, coming down from the north, first Donegal, then Sligo and north Roscommon, and they are now in South Roscommon after one was spotted on the Tuam Road area earlier this week.
The ASPCA has appealed to farmers and anyone with a gun in the area not to shoot the buzzard, as it will not harm lambs.
ASPCA chairman Billy Gallagher said the charity got a number of calls from the public on last Monday afternoon about a very large bird on the side of the road on the Tuam Road, about a mile past the Bealnamulla soccer pitch.
“People were driving by the bird and were worried it was tangled up and trapped in wire or had been hit by a car,” said Mr Gallagher. “Passing motorists had also contacted the Westmeath county council, the Garda,  ISPCA and the RSPCA about this bird so its presence on the road was  causing quite a stir.”
A welfare officer from the ASPCA went out to the reported area to were the bird was spotted but could see no sign of the bird. However, he did see the carcass of a dead fox that had been killed by a car on the side of the road.
The ASPCA welfare officer got more calls about the bird being there again early next morning and when he got there he spotted a large buzzard eating the dead fox. The buzzard flew to a nearby pole and waited until the officer left and then flew down and continued eating the road kill.
“The buzzards eat mainly dead animals but will catch mice and rats as well,” said Mr Gallagher. “With their large wingspan they are a magnificent sight soaring high in the air and a joy to watch for all nature enthusiasts.”