Honey-buzzard in Hampshire

The presence of Honey-buzzard in Hampshire has been studied for longer in recent times than anywhere else in Britain, giving an invaluable store of data from its stronghold there in the New Forest. Some references, particular to Hampshire, are given in full below; other references can be found in the main collection of References to Honey-buzzard Information.

A map of NR's sightings of Honey-buzzard in central southern England, including Hampshire, Sussex and Isle of Wight, from 2012-2019 is available here.

References

Clark, J M, & Eyre, J A, Birds of Hampshire, Hampshire Ornithological Society (1993).

Combridge, Pete, Christie, David A, & Ferguson-Lees, J, Breeding European Honey-buzzards in Britain, British Birds 96(5) 258-260 (2003).

Wiseman, E J, Breeding Honey-buzzards in Britain, British Birds 97(8) 417.(2004).

Mummery, L, Gulliver, J, & Emmett, R E, Honey-buzzards in Britain, British Birds 97(9) 476-477 (2004).

Clements, Rob, Honey-buzzards in Britain, British Birds 98(3) 153-155 (2005).

Combridge, Pete, Christie, David A, & Ferguson-Lees, I J, Breeding Honey-buzzards in Britain: fact, fiction and wishful thinking, British Birds 98(9) 488-489 (2005).

Wiseman, E J, Honey-buzzards in southern England, British Birds 105(1) 23-28 (2012).

Tubbs, C R, The New Forest, Collins, London (1996).

Page, Andy, Honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus, in: Hampshire Bird Atlas 2007-2012, John Eyre (ed), Hampshire Ornithological Society (2015).

Hampshire Bird Reports, Hampshire Ornithological Society (annual series).

Early South Downs Record

The history of the Honey-buzzard in Hampshire has to start with Gilbert White's Selborne (White 1884, original 1789). Selborne is just within the South Downs NP.

p.139 Letter XLIII to Thomas Pennant, Esquire. Selborne.

A pair of honey buzzards, Buteo apivorus sive vespivorus, RAII, built them a large shallow nest, comprised of twigs and lined with dead beechen leaves, upon a tall slender branch near the middle of Selborne Hanger, in the summer of 1780. In the middle of the month of June a bold boy climbed this tree, though standing on so steep and dizzy a situation, and brought down an egg, the only one in the nest, which had been sat on for some time, and contained the embryo of a young bird. The egg was smaller, and not so round as those of the common buzzard; was dotted at each end with small red spots; and surrounded in the middle with a broad bloody zone. The hen bird was shot, and answered exactly to Mr. Ray's description of that species; had a black cere, short thick legs, and a long tail. When on the wing this species may be easily distinguished from the common buzzard by its hawk-like appearance, small head, wings not so blunt, and longer tail. This specimen contained in its craw some limbs of frogs and many gray snails without shells. The irides of the eyes of this bird were of a beautiful bright yellow colour.

Also there's the entry in The Natural History of Selborne, journals of Gilbert White for 27 June 1781: The honey-buzzard sits hard https://naturalhistoryofselborne.com/index.php?s=june+27+1781.

So there are breeding records at Selborne for 1780 and 1781 with a different female in 1781 as earlier one shot.

New Forest Studies up to 2011

The modern study started in 1954 and the results up to 1992 were initially summarised by Clark & Eyre (1993). A flurry of letters was published by British Birds from 2003-2005, seemingly in response to publications by Roberts, Lewis & Williams (1999), Roberts & Williams (2003), Wernham et al (2002), claiming a recent major increase in Honey-buzzard populations in Britain, possibly up to the low hundreds of pairs with an expansion away from traditional breeding areas of southeast and southern England.

The letters start with the establishment view (Combridge, Christie & Ferguson-Lees, 2003), doubting matters such as colonisation of upland conifer forests and incomplete coverage of sites in southern England, concluding:

We believe that, without firm evidence that numbers of Honey-buzzards are increasing, as claimed by Roberts & Lewis, the question of population trends should be considered uncertain, and that, for the moment, the results of the RBBP 2000 survey [Batten 2001, Ogilvie 2003] should be used as the base measure of numbers unless the speculation that ‘low hundreds’ breed can be substantiated.

Wiseman (2004), who had done tremendous service in studying Honey-buzzard in the field in the New Forest for 50 years, summarised the population trends in the New Forest:

Up to four pairs were present during 1954-60, up to nine pairs during 1961-80 and two or three pairs during 1981-92. The period 1993-2002 saw a recovery to pre-1981 population levels, although in 2003 numbers roughly halved and were then similar to those during 1981-92. It is worth stressing that the above figures include pairs which summered but did not attempt to breed.

Wiseman also questioned the claims that number were increasing in Britain:

I write in reply to the letter by Combridge et al. (2003), and to agree with their view that the claim by Roberts et al. (1999), of ‘a real increase’ in numbers of breeding Honey-buzzards Pernis apivorus in Britain in the last 30 years, has not yet been substantiated.

Mummery et al (2004), from their long experience in the New Forest, give a very interesting insight into the contemporary prejudices at the time concerning the Honey-buzzard breeding in Britain, namely the 'happy' accident by which Honey-buzzard occur in Britain, their insistence in Britain on nesting only in vast wildernesses and their corresponding reluctance to nest in farmland areas in small woods and copses:

In our experience, Honey-buzzards in Britain are simply a ‘happy' accident, and will probably continue to be so. Although they are common on the continent (with, for example, some 8,000-12,000 pairs in France alone; BWP Concise), we believe that if they had the potential to become common here they would have done so long ago.

Once here, their criteria for a desirable territory seem to differ somewhat from those of their French counterparts. In most cases, sustainable annual breeding occurs only in large afforested areas interspersed with wild heathland and rough pasture, which is now rare in Britain. It is unclear why British birds seek such near-wilderness conditions to nest in. Typically, they hunt successfully among the hedgerows and copses of our more familiar, well-ordered farmland, a habitat in which French Honey-buzzards are quite happy to nest, using tiny isolated copses or even lone trees in meadows. If our birds could only adapt to the French pattern, Britain could boast 1,000 pairs, but, as the most recent national survey suggests (Brit. Birds 95: 542), the present population is not certainly more than the 30-50 pairs which we estimated some 30 years ago.

The same authors erroneously state

Already paired when they leave the wintering grounds, these new birds are hell-bent on finding a territory, drifting over the landscape vetting likely looking nest-sites by a trial-and-error process.

The records on BirdGuides show that adult Honey-buzzard migration is usually solitary across Britain.

Clements (2005), who at the time lived in Kent, was unconvinced by many of the claims of Mummery et al (2004), in particular their down-rating of the number of non-breeding birds in a population, their disbelief in a recent increase in numbers nationally, and their insistence that breeding does not take place in Britain in small isolated groups of trees:

Contrary to the quoted experience of Mummery et al. in the New Forest, Hampshire, a significant proportion of birds present at most British Honey-buzzard sites are non-breeders.

From the information given to me by fieldworkers in many parts of Britain, there are at least 60 sites where Honey-buzzards have certainly bred in the past 30 years (some of which may not currently be occupied). In addition, there are around 30 sites where Honey-buzzards have been present in that period but where breeding has not been proven. Add in an unknown number of as yet undiscovered or unreported sites, and an estimate of 100 or more territorial pairs of Honey-buzzards in Britain each year seems reasonable. Mummery et al. are obviously entitled to their view that the population is considerably lower, but they do not explain why the opinions of local fieldworkers with many years’ experience of the species should be ignored.

Finally, Mummery et al. suggested that a limiting factor in British Honey-buzzards is their reluctance to use nest-sites such as isolated copses and single trees. Plates 80 & 81, showing one nest-site in a small group of deciduous trees, and another nest in a hedgerow tree by a busy road, both taken recently in an English county, show that not all British Honey-buzzards are so inhibited. Roberts & Lewis (2003) clearly pointed out that such sites were being occupied in Britain; it is puzzling that Mummery et al. have chosen to ignore this as well.

Combridge et al (2005) commented on the vagueness of the numbers in the letter of Clements (2005), confirming their view that such imprecise quotations do not provide a sound basis for upgrading the population of the Honey-buzzard in Britain. They also were intrigued by whether any Scottish population could be verified and repeated their appeal for all breeding records of Honey-buzzard to be deposited with the RBBP:

We find it no less regrettable that, like Roberts et al. (1999) and Roberts & Lewis (2003) before him, Clements (2005) apparently chose to ignore what few solid details do exist, not even giving totals for those pairs which he has himself found on ‘several occasions in recent years…in upland locations’.

Any [Scottish records] in 1972 could suggest that (re?)colonisation of upland Britain is not necessarily a recent event, which leads us to wonder whether long-term population data for Inverness-shire may exist; if so, publication of a summary, similar to Wiseman’s for the New Forest, would be invaluable. It is interesting to note that the Honey-buzzard maps in both BTO national breeding atlases and in Hagemeijer & Blair (1997) depict a small summer presence in the Scottish highlands.

Our earlier letter appealed for previously withheld information to be deposited with the RBBP for analysis and, where possible, cautious summarised publication. Fuller knowledge of the Honey-buzzard’s recent history in Britain will soon become even more essential, as fieldwork for a combined breeding and winter atlas of British and Irish birds is to begin in 2007.

A letter from Harvey (2005) did indeed spell out experience with the Honey-buzzard in Scotland, which is to be considered on the Scotland page that I manage for Honey-buzzard.

The editor of British Birds commented at the end of the letters in British Birds 98(9) “The extensive correspondence on this subject in recent months has highlighted the problems with monitoring Honey-buzzards in the UK. We hope that at least some of these can be addressed in future (notably for the next national atlas project) with co-ordinated survey work and improved co-operation and communication among fieldworkers.”

Wiseman (2012) published a short paper on the results for the long-running New Forest survey, covering the period from 1954-2011. Although entitled Honey-buzzards in southern England, the focus is on the New Forest as a study area:

The recording area encompasses the 57,000 ha of the New Forest National Park (created in 2005) and is inclusive of the 37,900 ha of crown and private land within the New Forest perambulation (legal boundary). Of at least 28,150 ha of woodland and unenclosed land there are 8,379 ha of plantation (4,744 ha conifers, 2,744 ha hardwoods and 891 ha mixed); 211 ha of natural pinewood; 3,671 ha of oak Quercus, Beech Fagus sylvatica and Holly Ilex aquifolium ancient pasture woodland; and about 15,900 ha of a mosaic of mire, wet, humid and dry heath and grassland (Tubbs 1986).

Here's a summary of the results. Up to 1997 peak numbers had been in the late 1960s and 1970s with 6-9 breeding/summering pairs. From 1998-2011 numbers of pairs rose to a new high pf 10 pairs and then fluctuated between 7 and 10; in some years as many as 50% of the pairs did not breed. Of 214 nesting attempts in total, 62% were in broadleaf trees, 25% in coniferous and 13% in mixed broadleaf/ coniferous. most nests were 12-15m above the ground though several were 24-27m above the ground. Most nests were in mature trees with some in thin, spindly trees, mainly oak. Nests were in smaller wood or plantations, not just in large wooded areas. Some nests were very difficult to see, particularly when Ivy was available for cover. Nests were generally at least 3.2km apart though on one instance 2 pairs nested 1km from each other. The team measured mean distances of 8.6 km between six nests in 2005 and 7.7 km between seven nests in 2009. For 212 nesting attempts, tree species comprised 147 broadleaf (91 oak, 55 beech, 1 sweet chestnut), 65 conifer (31 Douglas Fir, 26 Scots Pine, 5 Larch, 2 Western Hemlock, 1 Corsican Pine).

Length of occupancy for a particular site varied enormously. It was thought that birds were becoming more mobile in nest selection with time perhaps due to the increasing Goshawk population. Of 214 attempts 194 (91%) were successful with a minimum of 346 young reared (1.78 young per successful nest and 1.62 young per breeding attempt). Successful pairs reared 152 broods (78%) of two young and 42 broods (22%) of at least one young. On two occasions in the study area, at different sites and in different years, newly fledged juvenile Honey-buzzards were observed apparently attempting brief display-type flights over nest territories.

The Hampshire Bird Atlas 2007-2012, published in 2015, does not add anything to the New Forest account as the totals up to 2012 have already been provided by Wiseman (2012). I like the first paragraph of Andy Page's account in the Atlas report, referring to the almost mythical status that the Honey-buzzard has achieved, owing to it being on the edge of its range and its elusiveness in the breeding season; consequently the Honey-buzzard has always attracted a disproportionate amount of interest amongst bird enthusiasts in the UK. During the 5 years of the Atlas, the Honey-buzzard was recorded in 65 tetrads with breeding proven in 19, distributed across ten different 10-km squares. The implication is that the species certainly does breed in the county outside the New Forest and further it is stated that it is likely that some pairs are going undetected in Hampshire in most years. The threat to Honey-buzzard from the rapidly increasing population of Goshawk in the New Forest is emphasised No maps are published for the species in the Atlas.

Since then breeding totals have been reported in the annual Hampshire Bird reports. For 2017 the complete report is as follows, from p.55:

Honey-buzzard (European Honey Buzzard) Pernis apivorus

Scarce summer visitor and passage migrant; breeds in small numbers each year. ET, Schedule 1, Amber, HBAP

There were 61 records (including repeated sightings of the same birds) for this scarce summer visitor with 29 from the New Forest including the first record on May 14th. Across the county there followed a further 12 records for May, 18 for June, 13 for July and 14 for August showing a fairly even monthly spread of observations.

Pairs or singles were present at a minimum of nine sites and known to have bred successfully at six of them fledging a minimum of ten young. There were two records of singles that could reasonably be attributed to return migration at Needs Ore on Aug 10th and heading south at Odiham on Aug 29th. In September there were three records of juveniles at a breeding site, the last being on 9th. (AP)

The totals suggest little change from the situation in 2012.

NR's Observations

Havant Thicket S (South Downs) 12/08/2014 12:55: Got out at lunch-time from 12:50-14:00 for walk into nearby Havant Thicket, a pretty wild area, scheduled for a new reservoir to serve Portsmouth. Took 7 minutes to see a Honey-buzzard, a male gliding into a presumed nest site in a concentration of oak trees at 12:57.

Sutton Scotney (North Wessex Downs) 14/06/2015 15:00: Here's shots of Honey-buzzard: Sutton Scotney 14/6 female 1  2  3; male 4  5; pair in very energetic display from 14:55-15:05 E of Sutton Scotney Services, where stopped, on North Wessex Downs. Habitat shots 1  2.

Shave Wood (New Forest) 20/06/2015 19:55: After the meal we stopped for an evening walk from 19:05-20:15 in the New Forest at Minstead Lane, where more mixed habitat of pasture and trees looked more favourable for Honey-buzzard. At 19:55 on edge of rough pasture with tall trees around, a female Honey-buzzard flew low into cover, near Shave Wood; she apparently sneaked out the back as we didn't see her again; suspect she was foraging. So that's our 1st Honey-buzzard record for the New Forest itself. Weather had brightened up after tea with sun coming out. Habitat shots of Shave Wood 1  2  3

General comment: interested in New Forest topology, although experience obviously rather superficial. It appears to be very flat so vital question is: what confidence is attached to the numbers and observed breeding density. Are there convenient vantage points over which the whole of the Forest can be observed? In Holland they used observation towers to survey the forest because the land was so flat; have any such techniques been introduced in the New Forest? In valleys and downs the birds get many more soaring opportunities with orographic lift than over flat forest: how conspicuous are the birds in the New Forest?

Havant Thicket S (South Downs) 11/08/2015 13:30: Did spend lunchtime from 13:00-14:00 walking in Havant Thicket where had fledged Honey-buzzard; a pale juvenile was sitting in a tree 1  2  3  4 heavily mobbed by Corvids before flying off 5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14 towards last year's indicated nests site in oaks; later a dark-phase juvenile was circling rather uncertainly to S 15  16  17  18  19  20  21  22 and the female took off quickly and was flying at low level towards the scene at high speed; couldn't see what happened as trees in the way but looks like a bonny 2 youngsters fledged with female still present; 1st seen this year; don't expect birds in Northumberland to fledge for another week. Here's habitat at Havant Thicket from 2014-2015 23  24  25  26  27.

Havant Thicket S (South Downs) 13/08/2015 13:45: Honey-buzzard (adult male, pale juvenile, so 4 birds altogether at this site); adult male and pale juvenile were up together at 13:45 with the juvenile moving to SE to feed 1, being mobbed on way by Hobby female and Sparrowhawk male.

Havant Thicket S (South Downs) 09/08/2015 13:05: Visit was across road from St John's to Havant Thicket, now a country park, and reprieved apparently from being flooded by the water company. It's a good site for raptors. Again, like last year, confirmed Honey-buzzard breeding with a male and a juvenile up briefly on S side of big field 1  2  3  4  5  6 from 13:05-13:12, with the juvenile just getting above the canopy for a few seconds while the male did a little patrolling at low level; this is a 1+; the male was seen again from 13:20-13:32 floating over the woodland to W and the juvenile got up for another brief flight at 13:47; not sure where the female is and of course she might have another juvenile in tow.

Beaulieu (New Forest) 10/08/2016 12:10: Kept on popping out of the Museum to see what was happening in the sky and was delighted at 12:09 to see a family party of 3+ Honey-buzzard up in the air c1km to E of the Hall; the male was up first on his own and was joined by the female for some significant interaction at low level with diving and very close flying; eventually a juvenile appeared above the canopy hanging below the adult pair who went very high 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12. A male Goshawk was in attendance below, appearing on some piccies 13  14  15  16  17  18, but didn't seem to attract any attention from either the juvenile or the adult pair of Honey-buzzard; imagine they would want a surprise attack to increase their chances and not sure the smaller males would risk it. Habitat shots are here 19  20  21  22  23 – typical parkland with some uneven aged tall woodland to E and a tidal estuary.

Havant Thicket S (South Downs) 11/08/2016 13:05: Did manage about an hour at Havant Thicket at lunchtime from 12:40-13:20 and had the juvenile Honey-buzzard up again for a longer flight from 13:21-13:24 with the male in attendance 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15. The juvenile was floating over the wood on E side, keeping a fairly constant medium height; the male flew across the area after a short while and was more conspicuous at the end. The flight started with an attention call from the male to get the juvenile up in the air. Here's a clip with derived stills 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8.

Rowlands Castle Southleigh Forest (South Downs) 07/08/2017 16:05: It was good to see a female Honey-buzzard in flap-flap-glide mode at 16:05 just 1km SE of RLN station: quite a welcome! This could be a new site as Havant Thicket S, the well-established site, is about 4km to the W and flap-flap-glide, as aggressive display, normally suggests strong territoriality to the immediate area.

Havant Thicket S (South Downs) 10/08/2017 13:30: Honey-buzzard were not neglected: got out for walk from 13:10-14:10 in Staunton Park at lunchtime and had a male up over Havant Thicket from 13:25-13:28, a female up at closer range at 13:38 1 and a pair up over same area at 13:42 (7132) – clearly a pair of adults with young below in the tree-tops.

Havant Thicket S (South Downs) 14/08/2018 12:45: Did get out at lunchtime from 12:20-14:00 to Havant Thicket where had 1st (two) flying Honey-buzzard juvenile of the year plus the pair of adults. The older juvenile Honey-buzzard had maybe been fledged a week 1, slightly ahead of Northumberland birds (9/8). At 12:46 the 1st juvenile seen was still growing feathers and was hesitant in the air: it was accompanied closely by the male 2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10 as they retreated from the meadow where I started the walk to the large wood in the distance to NW; the juvenile did manage to fly about 1km in level flight so that was a significant achievement. Later at 13:14 the female Honey-buzzard was up over the Thicket with a juvenile struggling to get up in the air below; this juvenile quickly collapsed back into the canopy so the rule that the male accompanies the older juvenile and the female the younger one held well!

This was my final visit to Rowlands Castle, near Havant, in connection with the annual ANPA conference, held mid-August at St John's, staying at Robin Hood Hotel. I used to escape on the occasional lunchtime to visit the nearby Staunton Park. As I left for the last time took some pictures of the information boards at the Rowlands Castle station: local map  Stansted Forest map  Southleigh Forest map  south coast map  South Downs map  South Downs NP.

Sutton Scotney (North Wessex Downs) 15/08/2018 17:30: an adult male appeared majestically up over hill holding A303/A34 roundabout, at low altitude, just to N of Sutton Scotney, pale phase.

Petersfield War Down (South Downs) 30/05/2019 11:55: from 11:52-11:55 adult male Honey-buzzard soaring to some height over War Down; returned to woods below in gap at end. Presumed to be a male displaying over his territory while female sitting on eggs below, common occurrence at start of incubation (9100).

Butser Hill (South Downs) 01/06/19 10:20: Most bizarre record of day was a Honey-buzzard male photographed 1  2  3 (9039) from our moving car on the A3, as passed near Butser Hill at 10:22; he was foraging low-down over the chalk embankment, with underwing under-lit by the reflected light from the ground.

Butser Hill (South Downs) 03/06/19 11:00: We went to Queen Elizabeth Country Park from 10:45-16:45, including Butser Hill 270m asl, which we climbed for 1st part of day. In part 2 we did a woodland walk, doing 8km overall for day with some climbing. Had superb view of a male Honey-buzzard at 10:59 crossing the valley low 1  2  3 (9045). At 11:26 the female Honey-buzzard was gliding up the valley to E, before coming down at the E end of the big deciduous wood 1  2  3  4  5  6 (9046). This site is thought to be the same as Petersfield War Down (30/5) so one site in total in Hampshire this year. Further sites were recorded in the South Downs in Sussex on this trip, based in Petersfield.

Selborne (South Downs) 04/06/19 (negative report): Today went to Gilbert White House in Selborne, Hampshire (just in South Downs): very uplifting experience with, under the microscope, the lives, achievements and collections of the naturalist Gilbert White, the zoologist Thomas Bell, the artist Edward Lear of 'nonsense' fame, the southern Africa explorer Frank Oates, his nephew the Antarctic explorer Captain Lawrence Oates 'I am just going outside and may be some time', all in the context of exploring the natural world. Gilbert White did find the Honey-buzzard breeding at the Hanger, Selborne, a steep wooded bank on S side of the estate; this area of woodland was an oasis at the time in an area largely denuded of timber. Weather was dry and cloudy in morning with no wind, not good for raptors and no Honey-buzzard were seen in walk from 10:30-12:00 up the Hanger to Selborne Common, now well-wooded. We stayed until 16:35 as it turned quite wet, looking at the fascinating collections: very inspirational with the valuable lesson: you have to put it into print to have an influence!

These are very much opportunistic sightings. The 6 sites comprise 2 in New Forest (Beaulieu, male, female; Shave Wood, female), 1 in North Wessex Downs (Sutton Scotney, male, female); 3 in South Downs (Havant Thicket S, male, female; Rowlands Castle Southleigh Forest, female; Butser Hill/Petersfield War Down, male, female). So minimum of 10 adults: male 4, female 6. Juvenile comprised 1 at Beaulieu in 2016, 2 at Havant Thicket S in 2015, 1+ at Havant Thicket S in 2016, 2 at Havant Thicket S in 2018, total 6+.

NR's comments

Studying your key species in other areas provides variety in terms of habitat, climate, adaption, social attitudes, competition and predation, facilitating comparisons between one study area and another. Such increased breadth of knowledge is indeed sometimes framed in the context of requisite variety: the notion that a certain amount of diversity in viewpoints and perspectives is required for groups and organizations to address complex problems as they emerge.

When I first found Honey-buzzard in Northumberland in 1993, I never expected that the population in this northern corner of England would soon exceed that in the legendary place in Britain to see them, the New Forest. Historical studies do indicate the presence of Honey-buzzard in Northumberland (Wallis 1769, Hancock 1874, Holloway 1996, Rossiter 1999, available at historical). But intensive game management in the 19th and 20th centuries led to the extinction of all broad-winged raptors in the county, even including the Common Buzzard. Matters improved during the 1990s with game estates relaxing persecution under strong social pressure. The habitat in the game estates is ideal for many raptors, comprising much heather moorland, rough pasture, scrubby woods and woods with timber grown towards maturity. The Common Buzzard quickly recommenced breeding in the 1990s but not all raptors were welcome: the Goshawk and Hen Harrier were still readily exterminated. Goshawk did however establish a breeding population in the vast coniferous Kielder Forest. Such forests seem to have had less appeal for the Honey-buzzard, which prefers the more mixed habitat in the game-rearing areas.

The Honey-buzzard quickly took advantage of the new situation, liking the habitat which gave feeding and nesting opportunities, and also benefiting from the limited numbers of Goshawk, which prey on Honey-buzzard in Holland and probably elsewhere. The study area of SW Northumberland to the W is a mixture of habitats with heather moorland and rough pasture, broken up by dales, used for sheep farming with woods, usually coniferous, acting as shelter belts and for cover of old mineral workings, which are abundant in the area from earlier lead and coal mining. If deciduous the woods contain much scrub birch and larger oak trees. The landscape is predominantly open, broken up by woods, rarely exceeding a square kilometre in size. To the E the study area does contain larger woods, such as Dipton Wood and Slaley Forest, but is still very much mixed habitat with again extensive old mineral workings.

The accounts, including the letters, of fieldworkers in the New Forest from the period 2003-2012 are unfortunate in that, far from welcoming new studies from areas of recent colonisation, they dismiss new findings and are generally downbeat about the prospects for the Honey-buzzard in Britain. Such pessimism, the 'happy' accident of Honey-buzzard presence, has been shown to be totally without foundation. The New Forest workers certainly did not want to move towards a requisite variety in experience, indeed behaving more like intensely territorial raptors!

The numbers of pairs in the New Forest now form quite a small part of the British population, maybe 15 out of 500 pairs, or just 3%. However, the Hampshire population may be significantly larger, as NR has found 4 sites in the South Downs and North Wessex Downs within the County in very brief opportunistic visits and of course Gilbert White's Selborne is in the South Downs. The fact that breeding was proven in 19 tetrads across ten 10-km squares in Hampshire as a whole in the Atlas from 2007-2012 suggests a more widespread population than is generally believed. The South Downs population extends into Sussex as will be reported shortly and the North Wessex Downs into Wiltshire, also in press. So central southern England is a good area for Honey-buzzard. To my eyes the Downs with their relief to aid in soaring and gliding look better habitat than the flat New Forest. I did wonder how it was possible to survey completely the New Forest without platforms, as used in Holland.

A point of discussion in the breeding cycle is the behaviour of juveniles post-fledging. It was very interesting to see family parties of Honey-buzzard in the air, about a third of the way through August, at Beaulieu in the New Forest and Havant Thicket S in the South Downs. This is exactly as seen in Northumberland a little later in the year. Ringers are notorious for terminating their study of a nesting attempt after ringing the young. It may also be that as in Wales the juvenile Honey-buzzard were not identified as such because of their quite different appearance to the adults. Whatever gamekeepers have known for a long time about the lack of attention after the ringing event, even for sensitive species such as Hen Harrier, and have been known to dispatch the young at this stage.

We can compare some statistics for the New Forest and Northumberland. Breeding success is quoted as 91% for the New Forest and is almost 100% in Northumberland; failures in the early stages of the breeding cycle may not be picked up in the methodology adopted for Northumberland. In the New Forest 1.78 young were raised per successful nest and 1.62 young per breeding attempt, presumably equating raising with being ringed; in Northumberland in 2019 (a typical year) 1.60 young were fledged per successful nest with no failures noted. In the New Forest 78% of broods comprised 2 young and 22% at least 1 young; in Northumberland in 2019 60% comprised 2 young and 40% at least 1 young; some of the family parties above the canopy in Northumberland may have concealed the weaker-flying younger juvenile. These statistics are held in Northumberland for many more years so an update can be made in due course providing a larger sample.

Minimum inter-nest distance in the New Forest of 3.2km can be compared with that of 2.5km in Northumberland, applied over a large area. In the New Forest 69% of nests were in broadleaf, mainly oak, and 31% in conifer, with Douglas Fir and Scots Pine favoured. In Northumberland the ratios are reversed with c80% in conifers, mainly Scots Pine, and c20% in broadleaf, all oak. The choice of tree species presumably depends on what is available and perhaps also on the type of tree in which the adults were raised.

Habitat-wise Honey-buzzard in SW Northumberland do not nest in vast wildernesses. Many sites are close to farmland and villages, just like in France. So the New Forest is not typical habitat in Britain, maybe not even typical for Hampshire with its extensive downland away from the Forest.

The post-fledging display in Hampshire was about a week earlier than in lowland areas of Northumberland, roughly around 10th August as opposed to 17th August. It can be reasonably deduced that the Honey-buzzard season runs a week earlier in Hampshire than in Northumberland at low altitudes.

There are worries in the New Forest about the rapidly increasing Goshawk population, which seems to be motivating the Honey-buzzard to move their nests more often to avoid being too close. The SW Northumberland population in the game-rearing areas does not have this problem and chosen nest sites are changed infrequently, usually in response to timber operations.

Nick Rossiter 2014-2021

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