The Steppe Buzzard arrives each year after an epic journey from the grasslands of Eurasia. These medium-sized raptors are a familiar sight perched on fence posts and telephone poles along the backroads around Riviersonderend, scanning the wheat fields and fynbos for prey with their keen eyes.

Marathon Migrants – Steppe Buzzards undertake one of the longest raptor migrations in the world, travelling up to 10,000 km from their breeding grounds in Russia and Central Asia to spend the southern African summer here in the Western Cape.

Variable Plumage Masters – No two Steppe Buzzards look exactly alike. They exhibit extraordinary colour variation ranging from almost white through rufous to dark brown, making field identification both challenging and fascinating.

Thermal Surfers – These raptors rarely flap their wings during migration, instead riding thermal air currents to gain altitude before gliding southward — a fuel-efficient strategy that allows them to cover vast distances with minimal energy expenditure.

Opportunistic Hunters – While they prefer small mammals and reptiles, Steppe Buzzards are adaptable predators that will hunt everything from locusts and beetles to road-killed carrion, making them well-suited to the agricultural landscapes of the Overberg.

Seasonal Timekeepers – Local farmers and birders alike mark the seasons by their arrival (September-October) and departure (March-April). Their presence is so reliable that spotting the first Steppe Buzzard of spring is a celebrated event in rural communities.