Reported Honey-buzzard: Totals by Month 2011

Reported Honey-buzzard: Totals by Month 2011 and Comments

month	Total 2010	SW	CI/ Sea	SE	EA	Mid	NE	NW	Scot	Wales	NI/Eire	Total 2011
April	9	1		9	3	3	2	3		1		22
May	65	4	2	19	20	3	13	1		1		63
June	28	5	5	6	8	4	7	1	2			38
July	20	4	4	8	6	4	4	1				31
Aug	62	8	2	24	8	10	5		1	1		59
Sept	91	6	1	19	5	1	25¹	3	3	1		64
Oct	24	3		4	2		10²					19
Nov	0						1³					1
Total	299	31	14	89	52	25	67	9	6	4		297

Data from BirdGuides

Notes for additional data sources:

1: 18 birds from Notice Board; 2: 9 birds from Notice Board; 3: 1 bird from Notice Board.

Notice Board (Northumberland)

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 highest count so far for the month of 22 beating comfortably the previous record of 17 set in 2007 and the long-term average of 8.0 from 1996-2011. Birds started arriving on 15/4 when one N at North Ashton, Oxfordshire, and continued fairly evenly through the remainder of the month with peaks of 4 on 22/4 and 3 on 23/4. Regionally 9 were in SE England and 3 in East Anglia, the Midlands and NW England. Perhaps reflecting the earliness of the season, 2 birds were reported as probable and 2 as possible.

May: a typical total for recent years with a large concentration in eastern counties in a month with prevailing westerly winds, strongly suggesting that the birds were not drift migrants. Thus 20 were recorded in East Anglia, 19 in SE England and 13 in NE England. Arrival was evenly spaced through the month with 18 from 1/5-10/5, 22 from 11/5-20/5 and 23 from 21/5-31/5. However 33 birds were observed on just 6 days: 8 on 14/5, 7 on 25/5, 6 on 21/5 and 4 on 6/5, 7/5 and 10/5. The total of 63 compares to the long-term average of 51.9 from 1996-2011.

June: the total of 38 was a new record for the month, beating 33 in 2003 and 2009, and well above the long-term average of 26.3 from 1996-2011. The running total over the three months April-June of 122 is the highest so far since the current series of record began in 1996 with other high totals of 117 in 2009 and 116 in 2008. There was a very widespread regional distribution with 8 in East Anglia, 7 in NE England, 6 in SE England and 5 in SW England and the Channel Islands. The majority of birds were noted early in the month with 20 by 9/6. A further 8 were recorded by 21/6 and 10 more by 30/6. By far the greatest number of reports was from Wykeham Forest, North Yorkshire, where a healthy population now appears to be established; the maximum count here was 4 birds from 8/6-19/6 and this number has been included in the analysis above. An interesting migration count was of 5 birds over the Channel Islands on 27/6 with 4 at Jersey and 1 at Guernsey.

July: the total of 31 was a new record for the month, beating 28 in 2004 and well above the long-term average of 17.3 from 1996-2011. So for the first 4 months of the season, 3 have made record totals. Regionally numbers were very evenly distributed with 8 in SE England, 6 in East Anglia and 4 in SW England, Midlands, NE England and the Channel Islands. Numbers were also fairly evenly distributed through the month with 12 by 10th, 8 more by 21st and 11 in last 10 days. At breeding sites up to 4 were at Welbeck, Nottinghamshire. Low-level migration appeared to continue throughout the month with singles at Jersey on 2nd, 21st, 30th and 31st, Scilly on 2nd and Prawle Point (Devon) on 3rd.

August: in the last 3 years the species has become more prominent in this month with counts of 63, 62 and 59 from 2009-2011 respectively, compared with the long-term average of 37.5 from 1996-2011. Most reports came from SE England where 24 noted, including 7 in Kent, followed by Midlands with 10 and SW England with 8. The pace of reporting increased during the month with 9 by 10th, a further 21 by 20th and 29 more by end of month. In breeding areas on 14th 4 birds were at Welbeck, Nottinghamshire, and Wykeham Forest, North Yorkshire. Obvious migrants were singles at Guernsey on 19th and 20th, and Scilly on 30th.

September: the total of 64 was the lowest since 2007 when 50 were noted and well below the 91 of 2010. Southern UK populations may be breeding earlier so more move in August as indicated by the increasing numbers noted this month. Northern UK populations though still mainly move in September from experience in Northumberland. This year 15 were noted in the first 10 days, 31 in the second ten days and 18 in the final 10 days. The middle period was boosted by an exceptional count of 14 birds migrating in Northumberland on 15/9 with 13 adults exiting (12 S, 1SE) from the Devil's Water area of the Honey-buzzard study area between 11:27- 12:50, in a highly synchronised exodus, perhaps encouraged by limited opportunities in the stormy weather of the period. Another migrating adult in the upper South Tyne at 18:00 brought the total for that day to 14 adults. This day was, excluding the Northumberland records, the equal busiest of the month with 6 further singles in Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire, Suffolk, Kent, Isle of Wight and Jersey. The other busy day was 2/9 with 6 south-coast records: 5 in Kent and 1 in Dorset. Many birdwatchers go to the coast in September to search for autumn migrants. This year the effect was exaggerated by the stormy westerlies, including the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, which encouraged many to go sea-watching. Evidence for this comes from the BirdGuides BirdMap which shows the rarities of all bird species plotted on a map of the UK each day. For the 16/9 and 17/9, when the migrating Honey-buzzard would have been going S through the UK, it can be seen that the great majority of observations are made on the coast with a particularly obvious void between Northumberland and the South Yorkshire/Nottinghamshire border. Indeed not until the birds reached the south coast in Hampshire would they have been crossing the path of significant numbers of observers. The map for 14/9 shows concentration of observers on the west coast; that for 15/9 shows a movement to the east coast. Seeing Honey-buzzard inland on migration, particularly of the adults, is a difficult task because they fly so high in good weather. The kettle of 7 birds seen in Northumberland on 15/9 when the birds are starting their journey shows the difficulties of observation, in spite of the birds setting off from a known breeding concentration in fine weather. On route the birds are likely to scatter, certainly there is no evidence for pairs or family groups to keep together. So it is a difficult task for observers to pick them up at random. So the suggestion is that the great variability in Honey-buzzard numbers recorded in the UK in September is an artefact: when the birds move SE to the east coast they are picked up very quickly by the relatively large number of observers there, when the birds move S they pass over areas less populated by observers particularly for the first day's flight into the north Midlands. Other factors may be that observers on the coast are more skilled in bird identification than patch workers toiling away inland. Also the linear nature of the coast concentrates the stream of birds into a narrow front, which is much more easily picked up, than the diffuse movement at high altitude over a broad front inland. So why, in September in the two years 2000 and 2008, did many more birds move SE onto the east coast rather than moving S inland? Obviously this question is being given high priority: the answer is likely to be in the weather and its effect on navigation and aerodynamics. Indeed it's thought that because of relatively weak thermals by mid-September, Honey-buzzard use orographic lift to facilitate their autumn migration, moving generally down the Pennines on W winds and exceptionally the coast on E winds. Regionally, as usual, the highest counts this month were on the E side with 25 in NE England and 19 in SE England; very few (5) were seen though in East Anglia suggesting the movement kept well inland.

October: a total of 19 is very typical for recent Octobers, which have been in the range of 15-24 since 2006. A long-staying bird was recorded on the Isles of Scilly from 1st-6th. Numbers declined as the month progressed with 12 up to 11th, a further 5 by 19th and the last 2 by 23rd. Regionally 10 were noted in NE England and 4 in SE England. Some late passage of juveniles was noted inland in Northumberland from 10th-22nd with 8 in the upper South Tyne and 1 in the Tyne Valley. As many as 4 juveniles were concentrated at Towsbank on 11th. It is suspected that these late birds are Scottish-bred moving S from the Tay Valley and using orographic lift on SW/W winds to move S through the Pennines. Indeed the first 2 sightings below were of birds in active migration using ridge lift; the third sighting shows a bird arriving from the N at the northern end of the upper South Tyne; the fourth sighting shows a bird moving on a more SE route so it could end up on the coast. A satellite-tracked Scottish-bred youngster was indeed in north Northumberland on 5/10 (Highland Foundation for Wildlife, Honey Buzzard Migration 2011).

16/10 2nd Honey-buzzard juvenile for day moving S just after arrival at Towsbank, to the N of Parson Shields, at 15:28. Here's the video 907 with many derived stills 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 as it came right overhead after approaching from the N, then drifting off to S, where a brief interception was attempted by a Common Buzzard. Could time this bird: it covered 2.5km in the 2 minutes 27 seconds it was on the video, so roughly 60 kph (38 mph), with hardly a flap! It was using the updraught from the W breeze on the E side of the valley to maximum effect.
16/10 1st Honey-buzzard juvenile for day moving S at Parson Shields at 14:47. Here's the video 908 with derived stills 1 2 3 4. Not as close as the Towsbank bird but shape and structure very clear. This bird covered about 1km in 1 minute 17 seconds so a little slower at 41 kph. This bird moved S along the ridge on E side of valley, riding the updraught from the W breeze.
15/10 Honey-buzzard juvenile arriving from N at North Wood at 15:50. The bird looks quite weary, perhaps having flown all the way from the Tay Valley, Scotland. These older juveniles show structural features closer to those of adults with fuller wingtips, longer tails and more obvious longer necks. By time they get going on migration, these older birds should be readily identifiable. Here's the video with derived stills 1 2 3 4 5 6 7.
10/10 Honey-buzzard juvenile soaring up from Tyne at Bywell Castle at 15:12, mobbed by Jackdaw and Crow. Here's first video with derived stills 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12, showing the bird moving off apparently decisively SE but then it turns and comes back right over the Mount as captured in the second video, with derived stills 1 2, showing the bird finally moving off SE at 15:23 but with some reluctance.

November: for the second time since 2001 a Honey-buzzard was recorded in the SW Northumberland study area in this month. A juvenile was up over a conifer plantation near Harwood Shield on 1st for 5 minutes, without a real flap, from 13:45-13:50. The juvenile floated around for a while, including a dive, and then soared high before skittishly flying off S. As not seen again, suspect it was on migration but care-free behaviour suggested it was not going too far! Here's video with derived stills 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19.

Overall: the fifth best year on record after 2008, 2000, 2009 and 2010 with total of 297 birds reported. So four of the five best years have occurred since 2008 indicating a continued increase in numbers. It was a rather strange year with high numbers in spring and summer and low numbers in autumn. This might suggest a poor breeding season but anyway in Northumberland it was another successful season with many pairs fledging 2 young and no failures. In spring the count in April was a new record and May was typical of recent years. In summer the counts in June and July were new records and that in August almost so, suggesting an increasing breeding population. Counts in September and October away from NE England were surprisingly low and the situation was assessed with respect to likely migration routes under different weather conditions. Hence the preferred migration model ‘Southward’ was revised to take into account the benefits to the birds of using orographic lift. The suggestion is that many birds went S through the Pennines in the moderate to fresh W winds which predominated this autumn, using ridge lift to facilitate their migration in the early stages. Such birds may not have been detected as they progressed further S inland to the English Channel with many observers on the E and W coasts of England. In October an exceptional number of late-moving juveniles were located in Northumberland. These were thought to be Scottish-bred, an idea supported by the presence of a satellite-tagged bird from Aberdeenshire, located in north Northumberland on 5/10 this year. There is much to learn about Honey-buzzard migration through the UK.

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