Naturally it was the magpies that noticed. They never miss anything. Looking through my writing-room window, I saw the black-and-white birds making a mighty rumpus in the trees. Then I realised why. It was a buzzard. Its body is about 2ft long, with wings up to 4.5ft wide, and every time I see one, for a split second I am looking at an eagle. What surprised me now from up close was the bird’s beauty. Common buzzards have a very varied plumage; like zebras, no two are alike, and this one was a froth of dappled fawns and white.