Honey-buzzard in Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire contains the large AONB, the Chilterns, well known for its massive Red Kite population. Bucks does not seem a hot spot for Honey-buzzard with just 11 records from 2011-2020 at 10 localities on BirdGuides, of which 5 are in South Bucks at Marlow, Taplow, Black Park, Widmer End, High Wycombe, and 5 in the Chilterns, including Steps Hill where 2 sightings. Date-wise the records are spread through the season, including 3 in July at Widmer End and Black Park in South Bucks and 1 at Hardmead, in the Chilterns. However, Honey-buzzard were well recorded in the 2000 national movement with 22 birds accepted between 23/9-2/10, with 3 at Bledlow Ridge on the last date and 6 at Pitstone Hill on 23/9; a total of 26 birds at Pitstone Hill, near Tring, from 22/9-27/9 were not accepted, along with singles at 3 other sites (Buckinghamshire Bird Report 2000). The 2008 national movement was much smaller in SE England, as most of the birds turned E over East Anglia to Belgium/Holland http://nickrossiter.org.uk/hbweb/north%20sea%20south%20hb%20movement%2011-14%20sept%202008%204.pdf. Indeed looking at the records after start of movement on 13/9 from 14/9-22/9, single juveniles were seen at Princes Risborough and Langley Park, both likely breeding areas within the county, and at Steps Hill and Shenley Wood, other potential breeding sites, particularly Steps Hill where a number of records over the years. At Ivinghoe Beacons, near Steps Hill, breeding was confirmed on 9/9 with 2 adult and 2 juvenile present (LGRE, Lee Evans) and the single juveniles here on 15/9 and 21/9 are presumably lingering juveniles from the brood. See Buckinghamshire Bird Report 2008 for the details of the records. More information on the Honey-buzzard in Bucks is found at Going birding in Buckinghamshire? (2021). This gives some intriguing suggestions of breeding for Honey-buzzard in South Bucks with records as follows:

1837 Burnham Beeches, Reported by John Gould to have bred. See Blyth (1837) who expressed a nuanced opinion on the status of the Honey-buzzard: "usually considered very rare...though, in the neighbourhood of extensive beech woods, it would seem to be far from being so...". However, he only cited breeding records in Burnham Beeches (near Windsor) and Gilbert White's already well-known and much earlier record in 1780 (published 1789) of nesting in Selborne Hangar. With respect to Burnham Beeches, Blyth adds "stuffed specimens are not at all unfrequent in the taverns and places about the vicinity".

1995 Buckinghamshire, 1 bird seen regularly from late Apr to mid June. Another bird present on at least one occasion and breeding is a possibility.

2000 South Bucks, A few records from a site in S of the county which was probably occupied. From the Bird Report for 2000: A site in the south of the county was probably occupied, at which there were a couple of single sightings, but 2 birds in August.

2001 Buckinghamshire, A pair present at a possible breeding site [perhaps referring to the site found in 2000].

2005 South Bucks, Possible breeding at 2 sites in S half of county.

This multiple-sighting refers to the Chilterns. The four at Ivinghoe Beacon preceded the high-profile Honey-buzzard movement year and almost certainly refers to a family party, dispersing as the month goes on. In any event the 2008 movement bypassed SE England as the birds moved E over East Anglia to Belgium/Holland.

2008 Ivinghoe Beacon, 9th-21st September, 4 (2 adult, 2 juvenile, LGRE) on 9th Sept. 1 juvenile 15th Sept, 1 juvenile 21st Sept. Further information found in Buckinghamshire Bird Report 2008.

Other records in the Chilterns in the breeding season include:

Wolverton, 1 dark bird, 15/08/2000

Two further 19th century records exist, for the Chilterns::

1842 Chesham, 1 captured in the Chesham/Missenden area.

1882 Shabbington Wood, 23rd September, 2 killed on about 23rd Sep.

In 2019 no Honey-buzzard were seen in the county, either on passage or holding territory (Bucks 2019 report)

References

Blyth, E, Notes on the Pern, or Honey Buzzard. Art. VI. The Magazine of Natural History and Journal of Zoology, Botany, Mineralogy, Geology, and Meteorology. Vol. 1 (New Series): pp 536-541 (1837).

Buckinghamshire Bird Report, published by Buckinghamshire Bird Club, consulted 2000, 2008, 2019.

Going birding in Buckinghamshire? Honey-buzzard: Recent sightings of Honey-buzzard. Available at https://www.goingbirding.co.uk/bucks/species.asp?species_id=114 (consulted June 2021).

Presence in County: NR's Observations

NR's observations are summarised in the table below:

These are very much opportunistic sightings, made in day trips with family-relations to the area.

A map of NR's sightings of Honey-buzzard in south east England, including Buckinghamshire and Greater London, from 2007-2019 is available here.

Details of migrant records (NR):

Cadmore End 17/10/2010 16:20 1 juvenile moving E at moderate altitude.

Details of records of birds in breeding habitat (NR):

Bledlow/Chinnor Hill 09/09/2007 2 juveniles playing together in air at 13:30 when sun fully out; earlier seen flapping around area; no adults seen, close to area where Hobbies seen. See clip at https://vimeo.com/574214222 with description: Honey-buzzard in Buckinghamshire, Bledlow-Chinnor Hill, 9 Sept 2007, 2 juvenile display with 2 Red Kite juvenile, Ref: 290. Red Kite from 0:00-3:00, Honey-buzzard from 03:00-6:37, Red Kite from 06:37-08:23, Honey-buzzard from 08:23-08:34.

Bledlow/Chinnor Hill 23/09/2013 Had to wait until 15:17 for a juvenile Honey-buzzard to get up above the canopy on a finger of trees running into the farmland, not far from where 2 juveniles seen playing up in the air by us, 6 years ago, on 09/09/2007; this bird didn't stay up long, going on a circle at low altitude, before returning to the same spot, perhaps disturbed by a walker. Here are some habitat shots 1  2  3 and 3 derived stills from a distance as the bird comes down between 2 trees into the canopy 4  5  6 (from the clip 4300).

Bledlow/Chinnor Hill 23/05/2014 In a frantic period at 16:29 on clearance in weather a male Honey-buzzard was up low-down over the canopy over site, in contention with Red Kite, where noted twice before in earlier years; here are derived stills 1  2  3  4 from brief appearance on a clip (4200).

Ibstone Turville Fingest 01/09/2014 2 Honey-buzzard juveniles on the edge of the large stubble field to W of the village at Turville. Got the 1st, generating juvenile anger calls as entered a copse for a comfort break on E side of field at 13:50. On the other side of the field (SW) at 14:30 had the 2nd juvenile, again calling from trees on the edge; calls this time were petulant, as on clip. Here are some habitat shots 1  2  3 showing a large stubble field in which juveniles like to forage (4201).

Farnham Common/Egypt 25/05/2014 At 11:25 real action started with 2 Honey-buzzard up in full display 2-3 km to WNW (from Stoke Park), over Farnham Common/Egypt/Burnham Beeches where had look in poorer weather on 22/5. The birds were very energetic, soaring to a great height, then diving back down in chases before soaring again; the process was repeated several times until 11:35. Inside to get changed for wedding of daughter at 11:40.

Dipple Wood 16/07/2018 broke new ground today in Bucks by visiting a fairly typical area of South Bucks, looking for Honey-buzzard from 13:00-15:00. Area selected was near the M40 J2 at Dipple Wood not far from the enormous flock of Red Kite seen on 14/7. Weather was hot at 30C, with a little breeze but basically dry and stifling. Mission was highly successful, having a female Honey-buzzard overhead from 13:46-13:53 at Dipple Wood; she was quite low-down, moving a bit higher before gliding off to N and was carrying a full crop so maybe her nest was a little to N; whatever, it was 3.0km to the Burnham Beeches site which conforms to regulations! Here's many piccies 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  21  22  23  24  25  26  27  28  29  30  31  32  33  34 (8105).

Black Park 29/05/2018 at 12:44 while in heathland area, noted a male Honey-buzzard pursued closely by a Carrion Crow, the raptor making a few squeaky calls; the Honey-buzzard escaped moving into a pine wood on the edge of the heath at low level, just off the ground. Here's piccies of habitat 1  2  3  4.

Black Park 09/05/2019 had a male Honey-buzzard up over the heathland, at 11:16 following a pair of Red Kite climbing in a thermal. A pair of Honey-buzzard then appeared at 11:41, at moderate height in the sky; the male moved rapidly S in power-glide at 11:42 before turning around at 11:43, climbing to a great height and doing 3 decisive butterfly display flights, diving rapidly with tightly furled wings before climbing rapidly, clapping wings at top of climb and sinking again 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  21  22  23  24  25  26  27; 21-27 show the high altitude butterfly display (9006): marvellous spectacle!! They came up over the heathland where from previous observations think they are nesting in Scots Pine on the edge.

Discussion:

Buckinghamshire has some attractions for Honey-buzzard, particularly in the well-wooded areas of South Bucks and areas of the Chilterns, which have sufficient woodland to provide cover for the species. Recent finds by NR from 2014-2019 include birds in the vicinity of Burnham Beeches and Black Park in South Bucks with vigorous display noted. For South Bucks in the 1830s and from 1995-2005 there are records in the literature, certainly for Burnham Beeches, and maybe for other sites. For the Chilterns NR found regular occupation from 2007-2014 at Bledlow/Chinnor Hill and fledged juveniles at Ibstone in 2014. In the literature there is confirmed breeding at Ivinghoe Beacon in September 2008 The overall impression is that there is a contiguous area of regular breeding in South Bucks centred on Burnham Beeches and Black Park, which may have historical significance, and a more scattered population over the Chilterns, in areas of particularly suitable habitat, maybe centred on the middle section of the Chilterns along The Ridgeway from Bledlow to Turville to Ivinghoe/Steps Hill. The Ridgeway lies along the escarpment, attractive for raptors in downland, as it provides orographic lift for hunting. Pitstone Hill on the same escarpment may attract migrating raptors looking for the same lift to facilitate their movements. The nearby Ashridge Estate near Tring offers suitable wooded territory. A county breeding population of 10-15 pairs may be the current position, about half in South Bucks and half in the Chilterns.

[This account is to be expanded when earlier material on Bucks birds has been received and analysed]

Nick Rossiter 2007-2021

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