Honey-buzzard in Greater London

Considering its high coverage by observers, Greater London is not that popular with Honey-buzzard. There are 80 records on BirdGuides from 2011-2020, scattered around London, reflecting opportunistic sightings at established bird-watching areas such as reservoirs and parks. The only slight concentrations are around Walthamstow, where 6 sightings in immediate area with extensive woodland and wetland, and Richmond Park, see Discussion, where 5 sightings. Two of the records are clearly duplicates. Of the remaining 78, 32 occur on spring migration (April-June), 5 in July, 41 on autumn migration (August-October). The best years were 2013, 2016 and 2018, with 10-12 sightings; the worst 2019 and 2020 with 3-4 sightings; the best spring was 2013 with 8 birds; the best autumn was 2016 with 8 birds. There do not appear to be any claims of breeding Honey-buzzard in Greater London until 2021. But a juvenile was ringed in June 2022 from a nest found in NE London and old nests in the vicinity suggested a longer occupation; the cause of failure was human disturbance with night-time parties in the nesting area; Hobby breeding here also discontinued for the same reason (David Davies, pers comm).

The studies of the 2000 and 2008 movements in London shed significant light on the patterns involved. The results for 2000 and 2008 have been discussed in NR's studies of the movement at http://nickrossiter.org.uk/hbweb/movement%20uk.html where it was concluded that:

The highest numbers of Honey-buzzard [migrants] are usually found in SE England, East Anglia and NE England. Clearly regions further south have a tendency to record higher totals as the birds from further north usually pass through them. 2008 is remarkable therefore for the counts in East Anglia and NE England being considerably higher than in SE England. In 2000 SE England recorded the highest counts as birds departed from the south coast of England to France. … So it appears that high numbers passing through East Anglia on 13/9-14/9 [in 2008] did not follow through into SE England.

The London records were considered in more depth in an Appendix to NR's studies at http://nickrossiter.org.uk/hbweb/appendix%20ii%20hb%20regional%20reports%202008.html:

London Raptors: a review of September 2008, Des McKenzie, Inner London Recorder, BirdGuides webzine, http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=1462

The review commences: “September 2008 turned out to be a memorable month for raptor-watching across the London recording area (and elsewhere), the most memorable since the jaw-dropping and unprecedented influx of Honey Buzzards back in 2000, when London amassed 161 records between 21st September and 14th October (Self: 2000)”.

Expectations were raised on 13/9 once it became clear that “'numbers' of Honey Buzzards were clearing east-coast sites and beginning to head inland and south (along with enhanced numbers of Ospreys and Common Buzzards)”. But there was some disappointment in London: “As it turned out, this year's influx wasn't as sustained as that in 2000, nor were there as many birds involved”. It was, however, a noteworthy event wherever it occurred. The review raises the questions 'why?' and 'when next?', but wisely does not attempt to address them.

For Honey-buzzard “the 13/9 saw the first real signs of a national influx, with at least 170 birds reported by dusk, mainly from east-coast counties, the majority over Norfolk and Suffolk sites (but with a further four counties reporting double figures). The largest numbers seen anywhere that day consisted of 18 birds drifting south over Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk, over a 4-hour period. London, predictably, did less well but did score a single bird, a (probably) dark-morph individual that moved high west over Rainham Marshes at 15:50.

The movement continued the next day “the 14/9 saw continual arrivals at east-coast sites and a conspicuous southward movement had became obvious. Some 190 birds were logged before dusk (possible duplication from the previous day's birds aside) with Norfolk in pole position in terms of the number of individuals reported”. The first strong wave of sightings now began to be reported across the London area with a maximum of 13 birds at ten sites by the end of the day. Of these, five were dark-morph juveniles, two were intermediate and one was pale, with 5 unspecified. This was the peak of the movement in London. A further 10 birds were recorded from 15/9-21/9 with 3 lingering birds noted from 28/9-29/9. Three of these birds from 15/9-21/9 were aged as juvenile on BirdGuides with the remainder from 15/9-29/9 unaged.

The summary gives total for Honey-buzzard in September 2008 as: “a maximum of 28-29 (though this probably actually related to 20-23) Honey Buzzards over a total of 24 widespread sites across the London recording area, most notably so on the 14th when reports came in ten sites (maximum of 13 birds)”.

Comment by NR: The relatively low numbers of raptors in London, and SE England generally, in 2008 is very instructive. First, how ever many observers you have, you cannot see what is not there. Second, the poor showing confirms that the birds passing through East Anglia in numbers had 'disappeared' from the UK: they had crossed the southern North Sea to Benelux!

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):

Richmond Park 09/08/2015 13:35 a male soaring high and drifting E from the park in SW London

Turnham Green 21/09/2016 13:58 we went for walk in Southfield Park where at 13:58 had a juvenile dark-phase Honey-buzzard flying S at moderate height over Turnham Green 1 (6180). From the number of records, it looks as if quite a few juvenile Honey-buzzard just fly right over the capital in their due-S migration-plan. For the ones reared in the wild areas of Scotland and NE England, it must be quite a shock passing over the vast city; this bird looked quite skittish. W London.

Horsenden Hill 24/05/2017 12:56-13:00 made Horsenden Hill where had a female Honey-buzzard from 12:56-13:00, soaring very high to N into the base of high altitude fine-weather cumulus clouds. Here's some piccies (7020) 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 showing how high the bird was flying; by far the majority of birds flying this high will not be picked up from the ground. W London.

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

Ruislip Woods 30/08/2014 12:45 1+ juvenile Honey-buzzard were present in the wood. Found 2 areas in this habitat 1  2  3  4 with white downy Honey-buzzard feathers 5  6  7  8  9  of which one also contained many Woodpigeon feathers and best of all heard a juvenile short piped anxiety call at 12:45, when looking closely at the feathers (4110a). W London.

Osterley Park 02/09/2019 16:08 a juvenile brown-phase Honey-buzzard at 16:08 coming up from lake area in E part and moving W at moderate altitude; it had a full crop so may have been feeding by the lake. Here are some piccies 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11 of bird and of typical parkland habitat 12  13  14  15 (9130). W London.

Discussion:

The bias to W/SW London reflects where NR's relations live, in Ealing, Kingston upon Thames, Turnham Green, rather than where the birds are actually found. NR has found juveniles at 2 sites in late August/early September where breeding is probable: Ruislip Woods and Osterley Park. Ruislip Woods, which holds breeding Hobby, could be viewed as a north-easterly extension by c8km of the South Bucks breeding area. Osterley Park is more detached, c18km south-east of Black Park and with no contiguous suitable habitat between them. With no adults seen through lack of observations earlier in the season, it is not possible to be sure that the juveniles were locally-bred. The evidence for local rearing at Ruislip is relatively strong with the call heard and remains found. Looking at the migrant sites as prospective breeding sites, Horsenden Hill does not appear to have sufficient habitat for breeding Honey-buzzard though it also holds breeding Hobby. Richmond Park does have enough habitat, has fairly regular sightings and on the continent, e.g. Berlin and Liège where they breed within the cities, would be likely to hold Honey-buzzard. Turnham Green does not offer sufficient habitat.

The lower range for breeding Honey-buzzard pairs in London is 0 but if there is an extension into NW London from the South Bucks population centre and pairs are also found in the Walthamstow, Romford and Richmond Park areas, than the upper range may extend towards 8-10 pairs or even higher if the bird adapts to the city habitat as in parts of the continent.

[Will be updated with any other historical information available]

Nick Rossiter 2014-2024

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