Honey Buzzard as a Scarce Migrant in Britain in 1999
Reference: Fraser, P A, & Rogers, M J, (2001), Report on Scarce Migrant Birds in Britain in 1999, British Birds 94(12) p.567
The initial report showed only 116 Honey Buzzards were recorded compared to 166 in 1998. By recent standards this was regarded as a low total.
The highest counts were for Norfolk (16), Dorset (9), Devon, Suffolk and the Isle of Wight (8) and Surrey (7).
Five were recorded in October, the last being seen in Buckinghamshire on 11th.
There was an easterly bias in spring and a concentration along the south coast in autumn.
Comments:
A drop in the total while the British population is by all accounts rising is very surprising and may result from unusual weather patterns during migration or under-reporting.
In the report on the 2000 season, the 1999 total was revised sharply upwards to 200 as a result of late reports, confirming the latter as the more likely reason.
