Reported Honey Buzzards: Totals by Month 2007 and Comments

Data from:

Birdguides

Notice Board (Northumberland)  (migrants only counted above)

Figures from BirdTrack are not included in the monthly totals. As the exact locations are not known duplication might occur. These figures are compiled by the BTO for site visits only, so casual records are not included.

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:

April: the best showing in this month to date. The first was a possible at Bentley, West Midlands, on 8th. Three were reported from the south west on 16th and six from widely scattered locations from 26th-30th. In the month as a whole the south west led with five, a not unexpected outcome with prevailing E winds drifting the birds westwards up the Channel.

May: a low total of 44 but with the higher total for April this year, 61 had been recorded by the end of the month, very slightly higher than last year. Four on the 2nd was the highest count for a day with three on 13th, 17th, 20th and 24th. Arrival was therefore remarkably steady with no significant concentrations. Regionally most were recorded in the south with 10-11 in East Anglia and the south west and south east regions of England; six were seen in north east England.

June: a higher total of 29 than for the last few years but lower than in 2003 when 33 were seen. By far the majority (23) were noted up to 15th with 14 noted in the first five days alone. Passage continued right through the month though with obvious late migrants at Dungeness on 12th and 14th, Spurn on 15th, Folkestone on 19th and Teignmouth on 26th.

July: most were reported from well-known breeding areas in Yorkshire, Notts and Norfolk. There was a distinct lack of movement suggesting that breeding is under way in its normal secretive mode and the wet weather is not causing significant failures. The running total for the year is similar to last year's. The extent of visible passage in September is a critical factor in annual totals.

August: a high total of 47, equalling the record for 2004, another wet season. Only 15 were reported up to 21st so there was a considerable speeding up of passage in the last ten days from 22nd-31st when 32 were seen. The most favoured regions were south east England with 14, north east England with 11 and south west England with nine. On the south coast nine were seen in Dorset from 22nd-28th and four on the Isle of Wight from 24th-27th. Only four were seen in East Anglia all month. It is thought from observations in Northumberland that most of these early movers were adult males, leaving their territories for Africa soon after the young fledge. In 2004 the high total for August was followed by a low total for September, reflecting a poor breeding season nationally. The breeding season in Northumberland in 2007 has been very successful.

September: a low total of 50 compared to last year's very high total of 122. Maybe breeding success was reduced in some areas in the very wet summer weather. Also September was a great month nationally for sea-watching so the number of observers covering inland areas, over which Honey Buzzard migrate, is likely to have been reduced. Regionally East Anglia had the most with 16 individuals, followed by North East England with ten and the Midlands with eight. From the timing perspective 21 birds were noted by 9th, none from 10th-14th, then 14 on 15th alone, five more by 20th and ten in the rest of the month.

October: the total of 15 was quite high for a season in which no large numbers had been reported in September. Most (12) were noted by the 10th with stragglers in Lincolnshire on 14th, South Yorkshire on 23rd and Northumberland on 27th where a damaged bird flew S.

Overall: the very wet weather in June and July may have affected the breeding success in some areas as numbers noted in September were low. Numbers from April-August were relatively high so it looks as if the overall population level has at least been maintained. Numbers reported in April are increasing suggesting an earlier arrival.

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