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Buzzard makes a splash with a quick lake break

A buzzard appears to be resting in a lake, looking ahead with its two wings stretched out. It looks as if it is having a leisurely dip and admiring the view. There is grass in the foreground of the photo.Steve Mason

Bird of prey caught taking a dip

Splish, splash, taking a bath.

A rare shot of a bird of prey taking a quick dip in a lake has been captured by a wildlife photographer.

Steve Mason spotted the buzzard entering the water and snapped a picture.

The bird of prey was said to enter the water, splash about a bit and then continue its journey.

A buzzard in mid-flight above a lake with its large brown and white wings outstretched. Reeds are in the foreground and in the distance.Steve Mason

The buzzard was in the water for about a minute before it continued on its journey

Steve Mason said: "I saw this buzzard and it just dropped in front of me and I thought, 'What on earth is it doing?' It's totally unusual behaviour,"

And unusual behaviour for a buzzard it is.

Mike Pilsworth, RSPB conservation officer for Yorkshire and the Humber, said it was "something I've never seen a buzzard do before. I suspect it was just trying to cool off in the hot weather."

A buzzard has just emerged from a lake. It is brown and white with yellow feet and large brown wings. Steve Mason

Fishing or cooling off?

However, Mike's colleague, Pete Short, the RSPB's Humber reserves site manager, has a slightly different theory on why the buzzard was in the water.

He thought that it was trying to catch a fish.

"Buzzards don't always go in but they will go if there's food there," he explained, adding that "food is probably a bit short at the moment".

Whilst no one knows why the buzzard took a dip, its trip to the water has certainly caught the attention of lots of people.