Although buzzards are uncommon throughout the UK as a whole, these
magnificent birds are a common sight on Dartmoor, and their
population is on the increase. Called tysca in old English,
their modern name has been coined from the French busard,
but they have had many other names over the years. Often maligned
as both poor hunters and pests, their very name has been used as an
insult for the slow or clumsy.
They are the UK’s largest hawk, with a wingspan of up to
130cm (5ft), and are easy to identify by virtue of their size
alone. They are usually dark brown in colour, but they have more
colour variation than most other birds, and there are even natural
white variants.
The cache is located in prime buzzard country, on Belstone
Common.
This cache is part of the Heart of Dartmoor Series. Inside
each cache is a clue which will help you to find the Heart of
Dartmoor Bonus