Reported Honey-buzzards: Totals by Month 2003 and Comments
|
month |
Tot-al 2002 |
SW |
CI |
SE |
EA |
Mid |
NE |
NW |
Sc |
Wal |
NI |
Total 2003 |
|
April |
5 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
May |
64 |
2 |
|
17 |
13* |
12* |
6 |
2 |
2 |
|
|
54 |
|
June |
32 |
4 |
|
7 |
7 |
2* |
7 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
33 |
|
July |
19 |
1 |
|
7 |
7 |
2 |
4 |
|
|
|
|
21 |
|
Aug |
42-50 |
2 |
1 |
10 |
10 |
6* |
5 |
1 |
|
1 |
|
36 |
|
Sept |
76 |
5 |
9 |
26@ |
16 |
19* |
16 |
7 |
4 @ |
1 |
|
103 |
|
Oct |
4 |
1 |
|
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
|
|
8 |
|
Nov |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
Total |
242-250 |
15 |
10 |
69 |
54 |
43 |
39 |
14 |
9 |
3 |
1 |
257 |
Figures from Birdguides with additions: * from Birdwatch, @ from Roy Dennis's web page
These totals are not directly comparable with the presumed migrant totals compiled by British Birds. The records above are unchecked and may include breeding sites, though each breeding site will only feature once per month. On the other hand not all records are submitted to the Birdguides and other reporting systems.
Notes:
May: The arrival was later than last year with about half the records coming in the last seven days from 25th-31st. A marked eastern bias was apparent as usual in England with 36 of the total of 54 records coming from the south east and north east and East Anglia. 12 were seen in the English midlands.
June: A significant final movement on 1st with seven noted on this day including one in Northern Ireland. The majority of records (21/33) came from south east and north east England and East Anglia.
July: As usual a quiet month with birds in breeding areas and very little movement noted.
August: The first part of the month was very quiet. This has been a late breeding season in Northumberland – about one week later than normal and two weeks later than the exceptionally early 2002. At least seven of the 36 noted were seen in the last two days of the month.
September: As expected with the late breeding season this proved to be easily the peak month of the autumn with over 100 reported. About 75% were from south east England, the Midlands, east Anglia and north east England. There could be debate about the origin of nine at the Channel Islands but the species was rare there before the recent re-colonisation of Britain and tired migrants from the south coast of England would readily make landfall there. Many juveniles appear to have left their breeding areas from 19th-23rd September with the exodus from north west England, south west Northumberland and possibly Dumfries & Galloway being marked on the sunny morning of the 21st. Over Britain as a whole, clear skies and light winds facilitated a clean exit. It has been a late but productive season in Northumberland. Only a few pairs have raised two young but nearly all located were successful in raising at least one young.
The figures for September have been challenged with a claim that only 37 birds were recorded all month. Checking the Birdguides Extra database for September reveals 67 reports for Honey-buzzard as the principal species and 12 in notes as secondary species. Some reports were of more than one bird. This challenge is refuted.
October: another clean end to the season with all but one recorded up to 7th and one straggler on 14th.
November: no late reports.
Overall: a further increase in the yearly total, albeit a small one with 257 in 2003 against 242-250 in 2002. A late arrival with many coming in the last week of May and early June. Departure was also late with high numbers, over 100, in September. Highest numbers were as usual in south east England and east Anglia but the Midlands overtook north east England. Limited field experience, in identifying this species over woodland, may be reducing the numbers reported from northern Britain.
