I was interested to read the letter headed ‘Predatory birds’ in The Shuttle on Thursday December 22.

Whilst I do not question what the correspondents reported it is very unlikely that a buzzard weighing a maximum of 1.3 kilograms (2.86 pounds) would be able to push a healthy sheep onto its side. A more likely explanation is that the sheep was very ill and showing signs of imminent death. The buzzard, as a carrion eater, was, albeit prematurely, looking for a meal. Buzzards do not impact on songbird populations as they not agile enough to catch them. Their main food items, according to the RSPB are small mammals, young pigeons and crows, insects, earthworms and carrion.

Terry Green Rushock