Population of the Honey-buzzard in Northumberland

Population data for Honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus from 1993-2001 are given in the paper:

Return of the Honey Buzzard by Nick Rossiter, Birds in Northumbria 2001, Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club 169-172 (2002).

Data for later years is appended to Table 1. All the data in the table refers to the study area in south west Northumberland. In 2003 small numbers were found in casual visits to north Northumberland (3 localities, 4 adults, 1 juvenile). In 2004 one adult was found in north Northumberland. In 2006 a single was found in south east Northumberland. In 2007 a pair was found in north Northumberland and singles displaying in west and south east Northumberland. No pairs were found in Northumberland outside the study area in 2008 and 2009. In 2010 in west Northumberland a male was seen in mid-May and a female in display towards the end of July. In 2011 3 birds (pair, male) were seen in the North Tyne valley in mid-July. In 2012 a male was hunting over open moor at Blindburn on 11/8. In 2013 a female was at St Cuthbert's Wood on 11/8. In 2014 there were 3 sightings in north Northumberland in the fledging season: a juvenile at Elsdonburn on 24/8 and, on 7/9, a juvenile at Chillingham Park and 3 birds up in the air over Lilburn Towers at 13:10 with male and female high-up and a juvenile floating a long way below. In 2016 2 sites were occupied in Kidland Forest on 21/7, with a male displaying at one site and a female gliding through a valley at the other. All these sightings, made casually without any systematic survey effort, strongly suggest an established Honey-buzzard population particularly in north and west Northumberland; however, it is not possible to quantify the size of the population.

Year

Number of localities

Number of adults seen in season

Number of juveniles fledged

Number of migrants seen (juveniles)






1993

1

2

?

0

1994

1

2

1

0

1995*

3

3

3

0

1996*

5

7

5

1 (1)

1997*

6

10

6

0

1998*

6

10

5

1 (1)

1999*

10

15

8

2 (1)

2000*

7

11

8

2(0)

2001*

10

19

11

2(2)

2002

15

26

17

9

2003

22

40

21

6

2004

26

41

20

13

2005

23

36

20-21

8

2006

26

42

16

13

2007

28

47

31

11 (8)

2008

35

61

52

21 (14)

2009

39

73

67

7 (5)

2010

41

69

64

11 (6)

2011

46

82

74

29 (12)

2012

51

90

68

35 (27)

2013

53

85

83

13 (8)

2014

56

96

84

40 (20)

2015

57

96

95

16 (8)

2016

Reduction in study area covered: Because of the increasing population, the study area is reduced in size with the elimination of lower South Tyne and Tipalt/Irthing. These areas were responsible in 2015 for 13 sites, 17 adult (11 male, 6 female),12 sites occupied at fledging of 18+ juveniles (6x2, 4x1+, 2x0+) with 1 further site failing (1x0), 2 migrants.

2015 restated for reduced study area

44

79

77

14 (8)

2016

49

74

83

39 (22)

2017

49

72

81

32 (27)

2018

Coverage substantially reduced in 2018 with core area of Devil’s Water and Tyne Valley W

2018

32

50

36

13 (10)

2019

30

50

36

4 (2)

2020

33

59

28

21 (9)

2021

38

57

37

20 (10)

2022

23

35

23

9 (3)

2023

29

43

5 (NR absent in main fledging season)

1(1)

Table 1: Numbers of Honey-buzzard in SW Northumberland from 1993-2023

Note: Revised figures from 1993-2001 Return of the Honey Buzzard, after personal review, marked by *, changed in light of subsequent knowledge and experience; year 2001 survey affected by foot-and-mouth pandemic

See also Honey-buzzard densities in Britain including Northumberland in 2001.

The results of the 1993-2001 breeding seasons, the first noted in the study area, are given in Tables 0.10 to 0.27. For these seasons before the full methodology was developed, display extends up to mid-June (approx 15/6), sit/rear from mid-June to mid-August (approx 16/6-15/8) and fledge from mid-August (approx16/8).



Area

No. sites

No. adults

No. nests

found

Observed Occupied (no. sites)

Breeding Category

Number young fledged

Migrants

Display

Sit/

Rear

Fledge


Conf

Prob

Poss

Devil’s Water













Allen













Upper South Tyne

1

2

0

1

0

0


0

1

0



Lower South Tyne













Tipalt













Tyne W













Tyne E













Derwent













Total

1

2

0

1

0

0


0

1

0



Table 0.10: Results for the Honey-buzzard Breeding Season in SW Northumberland by area in 1993





Area

No. sites in season

No. adults in season

Display -15/6

Rearing 16/6-15/8

Fledging 16/8-



Male

Female

Total

Male

Female

Male

Female

Juvenile

Male

Female

Juvenile

Devil’s Water













Allen













Upper South Tyne

1

1

1

2

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

Lower South Tyne













Tipalt













Tyne W













Tyne E













Derwent













Total

1

1

1

2

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

Table 0.11: Number of Male, Female and Juvenile Honey-buzzard found in each phase of breeding season in 1993


The results of the 1994 breeding season, when breeding confirmed for the first time, are given in Table 0.12 and Table 0.13.

Area

No. sites

No. adults

No. nests

found

Observed Occupied (no. sites)

Breeding Category

Number young fledged

Migrants

Display

Sit/

Rear

Fledge


Conf

Prob

Poss

Devil’s Water













Allen













Upper South Tyne

1

2

0

0

1

1


1

0

0

1 (1x1)


Lower South Tyne













Tipalt













Tyne W













Tyne E













Derwent













Total

1

2

0

0

1

1


1

0

0

1 (1x1)


Table 0.12: Results for the Honey-buzzard Breeding Season in SW Northumberland by area in 1994





Area

No. sites in season

No. adults in season

Display -15/6

Rearing 16/6-15/8

Fledging 16/8-



Male

Female

Total

Male

Female

Male

Female

Juvenile

Male

Female

Juvenile

Devil’s Water













Allen













Upper South Tyne

0

1

1

2



0

1

0

1

1

1

Lower South Tyne













Tipalt













Tyne W













Tyne E













Derwent













Total

0

1

1

2

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

Table 0.13: Number of Male, Female and Juvenile Honey-buzzard found in each phase of breeding season in 1994


The results of the 1995 breeding season, when two more areas were occupied, are given in Table 0.14 and Table 0.15.

Area

No. sites

No. adults

No. nests

found

Observed Occupied (no. sites)

Breeding Category

Number young fledged

Migrants

Display

Sit/

Rear

Fledge


Conf

Prob

Poss

Devil’s Water













Allen

1

2

0

0

0

1


1

0

0

2 (1x2)


Upper South Tyne

1

1

0

1

1

1


0

1

0

0


Lower South Tyne













Tipalt













Tyne W













Tyne E













Derwent

1

0

0

0

0

1


1

0

0

1 (1x1+)


Total

3

3

0

1

1

3


2

1

0

3 (1x2, 1x1+)


Table 0.14: Results for the Honey-buzzard Breeding Season in SW Northumberland by area in 1995








Area

No. sites in season

No. adults in season

Display -15/6

Rearing 16/6-15/8

Fledging 16/8-



Male

Female

Total

Male

Female

Male

Female

Juvenile

Male

Female

Juvenile

Devil’s Water













Allen

1

1

1

2






1

1

2

Upper South Tyne

1

1

0

1

1

0

1

0

0

1

0

0

Lower South Tyne













Tipalt













Tyne W













Tyne E













Derwent

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

Total

3

2

1

3

1

0

1

0

0

2

1

3

Table 0.15: Number of Male, Female and Juvenile Honey-buzzard found in each phase of breeding season in 1995


The results of the 1996 breeding season, when two more areas were occupied, are given in Table 0.16 and Table 0.17.

Area

No. sites

No. adults

No. nests

found

Observed Occupied (no. sites)

Breeding Category

Number young fledged

Migrants

Display

Sit/

Rear

Fledge


Conf

Prob

Poss

Devil’s Water

2

2

0

0

0

1


1

0

1

1(1x1)


Allen

1

2

0

1

0

1


1

0

0

2 (1x2)


Upper South Tyne

1

2

0

1

0

1


1

0

0

1 (1x1)


Lower South Tyne













Tipalt













Tyne W













Tyne E












1 juvenile E at Scotswood on 25/9

Derwent

1

1

0

0

0

1


1

0

0

1 (1x1)


Total

5

7

0

2

0

4


4

0

1

5 (1x2, 3x1)


Table 0.16: Results for the Honey-buzzard Breeding Season in SW Northumberland by area in 1996










Area

No. sites in season

No. adults in season

Display -16/6

Rearing 17/6-15/8

Fledging 16/8-



Male

Female

Total

Male

Female

Male

Female

Juvenile

Male

Female

Juvenile

Devil’s Water

2

2

0

2






2

0

1

Allen

1

1

1

2

1

1




1

1

2

Upper South Tyne

1

1

1

2

1

1




1

1

1

Lower South Tyne













Tipalt













Tyne W













Tyne E













Derwent

1

1

0

1






1

0

1

Total

5

5

2

7

2

2

0

0

0

5

2

5

Table 0.17: Number of Male, Female and Juvenile Honey-buzzard found in each phase of breeding season in 1996


The results of the 1997 breeding season, when Tyne W was first occupied, are given in Table 0.18 and Table 0.19.

Area

No. sites

No. adults

No. nests

found

Observed Occupied (no. sites)

Breeding Category

Number young fledged

Migrants

Display

Sit/

Rear

Fledge


Conf

Prob

Poss

Devil’s Water

1

1

0

0

1

1


1

0

0

1(1x1)


Allen

1

2

0

1

0

1


1

0

0

1 (1x1)


Upper South Tyne

2

4

0

1

0

2


2

0

0

3 (1x2, 1x1)


Lower South Tyne













Tipalt













Tyne W

1

2

0

1

1

1


1

0

0

1 (1x1)


Tyne E













Derwent

1

1

0

0

1

0


0

0

1

0


Total

6

10

0

3

3

5


5

0

1

6 (1x2, 4x1)


Table 0.18: Results for the Honey-buzzard Breeding Season in SW Northumberland by area in 1997










Area

No. sites in season

No. adults in season

Display -16/6

Rearing 17/6-15/8

Fledging 16/8-



Male

Female

Total

Male

Female

Male

Female

Juvenile

Male

Female

Juvenile

Devil’s Water

1

1

0

1



1

0

0

0

0

1

Allen

1

1

1

2

1

0




1

1

1

Upper South Tyne

2

2

2

4






2

2

3

Lower South Tyne













Tipalt













Tyne W

1

1

1

2

1

0




0

1

1

Tyne E













Derwent

1

0

1

1



0

1

0

0

0

0

Total

6

5

5

10

2

0

1

1

0

3

4

6

Table 0.19: Number of Male, Female and Juvenile Honey-buzzard found in each phase of breeding season in 1997


The results of the 1998 breeding season, with solid success in upper South Tyne and Allen, are given in Table 0.20 and Table 0.21.

Area

No. sites

No. adults

No. nests

found

Observed Occupied (no. sites)

Breeding Category

Number young fledged

Migrants

Display

Sit/

Rear

Fledge


Conf

Prob

Poss

Devil’s Water













Allen

2

4

0

2

0

2


2

0

0

2 (2x1)


Upper South Tyne

2

4

0

1

2

2


2

0

0

2 (2x1)

1 juvenile resting at Towsbank on 8/11

Lower South Tyne













Tipalt













Tyne W

1

0

0

0

0

1


1

0

0

1 (1x1+)


Tyne E













Derwent

1

2

0

1

0

1


0

1

0

0


Total

6

10

0

4

2

6


5

1

0

5 (1x1+, 4x1)


Table 0.20: Results for the Honey-buzzard Breeding Season in SW Northumberland by area in 1998










Area

No. sites in season

No. adults in season

Display -16/6

Rearing 17/6-15/8

Fledging 16/8-



Male

Female

Total

Male

Female

Male

Female

Juvenile

Male

Female

Juvenile

Devil’s Water













Allen

2

2

2

4

2

2

0

0

0

2

2

2

Upper South Tyne

2

2

2

4

1

1

1

0

0

2

2

2

Lower South Tyne













Tipalt













Tyne W

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

Tyne E













Derwent

1

1

1

2

0

1

0

0

0

1

0

0

Total

6

5

5

10

3

4

1

0

0

5

4

5

Table 0.21: Number of Male, Female and Juvenile Honey-buzzard found in each phase of breeding season in 1998





The results of the 1999 breeding season, with closer study, are given in Table 0.22 and Table 0.23.

Area

No. sites

No. adults

No. nests

found

Observed Occupied (no. sites)

Breeding Category

Number young fledged

Migrants

Display

Sit/

Rear

Fledge


Conf

Prob

Poss

Devil’s Water

2

3

0

1

0

1


0

2

0

0

1 female S at Dipton Wood S on 4/9

Allen

2

4

0

2

2

2


2

0

0

3 (1x2, 1x1)

1 juvenile resting at Staward N on 3/10

Upper South Tyne

2

3

0

1

2

2


2

0

0

3 (1x2, 1x1+)


Lower South Tyne













Tipalt

1

2

0

1

0

0


0

1

0

0


Tyne W

2

1

0

0

0

2


1

0

1

1 (1x1+)


Tyne E













Derwent

1

2

0

1

0

1


1

0

0

1 (1x1+)


Total

10

15

0

6

4

8


6

3

1

8 (2x2, 3x1+, 1x1)


Table 0.22: Results for the Honey-buzzard Breeding Season in SW Northumberland by area in 1999










Area

No. sites in season

No. adults in season

Display -16/6

Rearing 17/6-15/8

Fledging 16/8-



Male

Female

Total

Male

Female

Male

Female

Juvenile

Male

Female

Juvenile

Devil’s Water

2

2

1

3

1

0

0

0

0

1

1

0

Allen

2

2

2

4

2

2

2

0

0

2

2

3

Upper South Tyne

2

1

2

3

1

0

1

1

0

0

1

3

Lower South Tyne













Tipalt

1

1

1

2

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

Tyne W

2

1

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

1

Tyne E













Derwent

1

1

1

2

1

1

0

0

0

1

0

1

Total

10

8

7

15

6

4

3

1

0

5

4

8

Table 0.23: Number of Male, Female and Juvenile Honey-buzzard found in each phase of breeding season in 1999


The results of the 2000 breeding season are given in Table 0.24 and Table 0.25.

Area

No. sites

No. adults

No. nests

found

Observed Occupied (no. sites)

Breeding Category

Number young fledged

Migrants

Display

Sit/

Rear

Fledge


Conf

Prob

Poss

Devil’s Water

2

2

0

2

1

1


1

0

1

1 (1x1+)


Allen

1

2

0

1

1

1


1

0

0

2 (1x2)


Upper South Tyne

3

5

0

2

3

2


2

0

1

3 (1x2, 1x1)


Lower South Tyne













Tipalt













Tyne W













Tyne E












2 male E at Wylam 4/9

Derwent

1

2

0

1

0

1


1

0

0

2 (1x2)


Total

7

11

0

6

5

5


5

1

2

8 (3x2, 1x1+, 1x1)


Table 0.24: Results for the Honey-buzzard Breeding Season in SW Northumberland by area in 2000










Area

No. sites in season

No. adults in season

Display -16/6

Rearing 17/6-15/8

Fledging 16/8-



Male

Female

Total

Male

Female

Male

Female

Juvenile

Male

Female

Juvenile

Devil’s Water

2

2

0

2

2

0

1

0

0

1

1

1

Allen

1

1

1

2

1

1

1

1

0

0

0

2

Upper South Tyne

3

3

2

5

2

1

3

1

0

2

2

3

Lower South Tyne













Tipalt













Tyne W













Tyne E













Derwent

1

1

1

2

1

0

0

0

0

1

1

2

Total

7

7

4

11

6

2

5

2

0

4

4

8

Table 0.25: Number of Male, Female and Juvenile Honey-buzzard found in each phase of breeding season in 2000


The results of the 2001 breeding season, in the ongoing foot-and-mouth pandemic, are given in Table 0.26 and Table 0.27.

Area

No. sites

No. adults

No. nests

found

Observed Occupied (no. sites)

Breeding Category

Number young fledged

Migrants

Display

Sit/

Rear

Fledge


Conf

Prob

Poss

Devil’s Water

1

2

0

1

1

1


1

0

0

1 (1x1)

1 juvenile S 16/9 from site; 1 juvenile SE over Yarridge 16/9

Allen

2

4

0

2

1

2


2

0

0

3 (1x2, 1x1)


Upper South Tyne

3

6

0

3

2

3


3

0

0

3 (2x1+, 1x1)


Lower South Tyne

0

0

0

0

0

0


0

0

0

0


Tipalt

0

0

0

0

0

0


0

0

0

0


Tyne W

3

5

0

2

3

2


2

0

1

3 (1x2, 1x1+)


Tyne E

0

0

0

0

0

0


0

0

0

0


Derwent

1

2

0

1

0

1


1

0

0

1 (1x1)


Total

10

19

0

9

7

9


9

0

1

11 (2x2, 3x1+, 4x1)


Table 0.26: Results for the Honey-buzzard Breeding Season in SW Northumberland by area in 2001










Area

No. sites in season

No. adults in season

Display -16/6

Rearing 17/6-15/8

Fledging 16/8-



Male

Female

Total

Male

Female

Male

Female

Juvenile

Male

Female

Juvenile

Devil’s Water

1

1

1

2

1

1

1

1

0

1

1

1

Allen

2

2

2

4

2

2

0

1

0

2

2

3

Upper South Tyne

3

3

3

6

3

3

1

2

0

2

1

3

Lower South Tyne

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Tipalt

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Tyne W

3

3

2

5

2

1

3

1

0

0

1

3

Tyne E

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Derwent

1

1

1

2

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

Total

10

10

9

19

9

7

5

5

0

5

6

11

Table 0.27: Number of Male, Female and Juvenile Honey-buzzard found in each phase of breeding season in 2001


A detailed summary is presented in Table 2.5 from the second full season (2005) with the benefit of the disturbance permit from English Nature. The study area is large comprising 16,600 hectare in the south west of the county.

Area

Number sites

No. nests

found

Breeding Category

Number young fledged

Conf

Prob

Poss

Hexhamshire (Devil’s Water)

5

3

5

0

0

5

Allen

5

1

3

0

2

3-4

South Tyne

7

1

4

1

2

7

Tyne

5

1

4

0

1

4

Derwent

1

0

1

0

0

1

Total

23

6

17

1

5

20-21

Table 2.5: Results for Honey-buzzard in SW Northumberland by area in 2005

A significant majority of the sites are in private woodland on shooting estates. This is indeed deeply ironic in view of the history of birds of prey in the county. Reasons suggested for the success in such areas are the tendency for timber to be grown on to maturity, the habitat mosaic with heather moors adjacent to meadows and woods and the quietness of the land. Last, but not least, losses to their main predator, the Goshawk, are likely to be low because of ample numbers of easier targets for the hawk, such as corvids and pigeons. The highest numbers are found on land owned by the Allendale, Featherstone and Whitfield Estates and the National Trust. 11 of the 23 sites are in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Eight types of call have now been analysed and related to behaviour and over five hours of video were taken this year during routine visits to the breeding sites.

In 2006 the survey of nest sites was intensified and ten nests were found. Five of these were in Norway Spruce Picea abies, two in Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris, two in Common Oak Quercus robur and one in Douglas Fir Pseudotsuga menziesii. In Holland Norway Spruce was also a popular choice with 36.5 % of nests in this species compared to 33.7% in Douglas Fir, 15.4% in Scots Pine and 12.5% in Larch (Bijlsma et al 1993, p.72) . The results for 2006 are summarised in Table 3.

Area

Number sites

No. nests

found

Breeding Category

Number young fledged

Conf

Prob

Poss

Hexhamshire (Devil’s Water)

6

3

5

0

1

5

Allen

6

2

4

1

1

4

South Tyne

7

2

5

2

0

5

Tyne

5

3

4

0

1

2

Derwent

2

0

0

1

1

0

Total

26

10

18

4

4

16

Table 3: Results for Honey-buzzard in SW Northumberland by area in 2006

The detailed results for 2007 are summarised in Table 4.

Area

No. sites

No. adults

No. nests

found

Breeding Category

Number young fledged

Conf

Prob

Poss

Hexhamshire (Devil’s Water)

6

12

3

6

0

0

6

Allen

6

9

2

5

0

1

7

Upper South Tyne

6

11

2

5

0

1

8

Lower South Tyne

2

3

0

2

0

0

3

Tyne

6

9

3

5

0

1

6

Derwent

2

3

0

1

1

0

1

Total

28

47

10

24

1

3

31

Table 4: Results for Honey-buzzard in SW Northumberland by area in 2007

In 2007 the survey of nest sites continued and ten nests were found. Four of these were in Norway Spruce Picea abies, three in Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris, two in Common Oak Quercus robur and one in Douglas Fir Pseudotsuga menziesii.

Migrants are not included in the tables above. Table 5 shows the visible migration noted in 2007, together with comments on the overall picture.

Date

Time

Locality

Age/Sex

Count

Movement

28 Apr

13:20

Tyne Valley

Adult male

1

W up Tyne, into site

24 Aug

10:05

Tyne Valley

Adult male

1

To SE, exiting site (presumed same as on 28/4, stayed only 119 days or almost 4 months!)

4 Sept

11:40

lower South Tyne

Adult female

1

To SE, exiting site

20 Sept

11:50

Stocksfield (Tyne Valley)

Juvenile

1

To SW, exiting area

25 Sept

10:10

Stocksfield

Juvenile

2

To SE, exiting area

26 Sept

11:50

Stocksfield

Juvenile

1

To E, passing through

2 Oct

12:50

Corbridge (Tyne Valley)

Juvenile

1

To SE, passing though

5 Oct

11:10

Stocksfield

Juvenile

2

To E, moving out after stop

27 Oct

13:30

Eals (upper South Tyne)

Juvenile

1

To S, bird with damaged right-wing

Summary/

Comments:






Apr: 1

Aug: 1

Sept: 5

Oct: 4

10-11: 3

11-12: 5

12-13: 1

13-14: 2

Tyne Valley: 9

lower South Tyne: 1

upper South Tyne: 1

Ad male: 2

Ad female: 1

Juvenile: 8

11

IN: 1 W

OUT: 5 SE, 3 E, 1 SW , 1 S

Most records are for migrating juveniles, hence late in season from 20/9-5/10 and even 27/10

Mid-morning is always a good time for aerial activity in this species

Tyne Valley was good this year, may vary from year to year with winds

Juveniles are weaker fliers, so more obvious

A fairly typical annual total

Birds tend to follow Tyne Valley, rather than go due S

Table 5: Visible Migration Movements noted for Honey-buzzard in SW Northumberland in 2007


The detailed results for 2008 are summarised in Table 6.

Area

No. sites

No. ad-ults

No. nests

found

Breeding Category

Number young fledged

Conf

Prob

Poss

Devil’s Water

6

14

3

6

0

0

9 (3x2, 3x1+)

Allen

7

13

2

5

0

2

9 (4x2, 1x1)

Upper South Tyne

6

10

2

6

0

0

9 (3x2, 3x1+)

Lower South Tyne

2

3

0

2

0

0

4 (2x2)

Tyne

9

15

2

9

0

0

16 (7x2, 2x1+)

Derwent

5

6

0

3

0

2

5 (2x2, 1x1+)

Total

35

61

9

31

0

4

52 (21x2, 9x1+, 1x1)

Table 6: Results for Honey-buzzards in SW Northumberland by area in 2008

Overall the outcome for 2008 was of a very successful season, the weather perhaps turning wet too late in the season to affect productivity. However, the strain of rearing 2 young did seem to delay fledging with the first signs of fledging on 16th August and the first family party in the air seen on 22nd August. On 7th September two groups of 4 birds (adult male and female, 2 juveniles) were seen at 2 sites after the great floods on 6th September. So many birds were still on site at this stage. Juveniles continued to be seen in numbers through to 28th September when significant passage out of the area was observed.


The counting of fledged young was adjusted slightly this year: 2 juv indicates 2 juveniles raised; 1+ juv indicates that one juvenile seen but no family group was seen in the air so that there may have been another juvenile fledged; 1 juv indicates one juvenile seen in a soaring family group suggesting that no more young were raised.


More effort was put in fieldwork into the Derwent area where numbers of raptors are rising rapidly in response to a perceived drop in persecution levels. The eastern end of Tynedale around Prudhoe and Wylam was also studied more intensively than before. This perhaps added 5 extra confirmed sites in 2008 with 2-4 more to come in 2009 from a better understanding of these areas. Such areas are within the existing disturbance permit.


Productivity on existing sites was well up on previous years with 21 broods of 2, 9 of 1+ and only 1 of 1.


Survey effort was maintained throughout the season. In the 3 phases of display, nest/rear and fledge the number of sites at which the species was recorded was 33, 21 and 31 respectively. The dip in the middle is because of the greater secrecy of the species when nesting and with small young and the greater effort under the canopy in the middle phase with less opportunities for scanning.


In 2008 the survey of nest sites continued and nine nests were found. Four of these were in Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris, two in Norway Spruce Picea abies, two in Common Oak Quercus robur and one in Douglas Fir Pseudotsuga menziesii.


Migrants are not included in the tables above. Table 7 shows the visible migration noted in 2008, together with comments on the overall picture.

Date

Time

Locality

Age/Sex

Count

Movement

11 May

11:25-12:35

Haltwhistle (upper South Tyne)

Adult male followed by adult female

2

To NE/N over Hadrian's Wall

15 June

11:18

Gilderdale (upper South Tyne)

Adult male/female

1

To N, very high up

13 Sept

11:38-13:17

Stocksfield (Tyne Valley)

Adult female

4

To SE, singles exiting area at 11:38 and 12:52; to E of two birds arriving from NW at 13:17 and passing through

28 Sept

11:30

Stocksfield

Juvenile

1

To S, exiting area

28 Sept

13:40-14:30

Kiln Pit Hill (Derwent)

Juvenile

11

To SE/S, one SE at 13:40, 3 SE at 14:00, 4 SE at 14:20 and 3 S at 14:30. All passing through.

11 Oct

11:40-12:05

Greymare Hill (Derwent)

Juvenile

2

To S/SW passing through

Summary/

Comments:






May: 2

June: 1

Sept: 16

Oct: 2

11-12: 5

12-13: 3

13-14: 6

14-15: 7

Derwent: 13

Tyne Valley: 5

Upper South Tyne: 3

Ad female: 5

Ad male: 1

Ad male/female: 1

Juvenile: 14

21

IN: 2 N, 1 NE

OUT: 10 SE, 5 S, 2 E, 1 SW

Most records are for migrating juveniles, hence late in season from 28/9-11/10; also significant exit of adults on 13/9

Mid-morning is always a good time for aerial activity in this species

Tyne Valley was again good this year; Kiln Pit Area looks very promising for further study

Juveniles are weaker fliers, so more obvious

A high annual total, boosted by counts in Derwent area

In autumn birds tend to follow Tyne Valley, rather than go due S; in spring birds have strong northerly orientation

Table 7: Visible Migration Movements noted for Honey-buzzard in SW Northumberland in 2008


Table 8 below shows the visible migration noted in 2009, together with comments on the overall picture.

Date

Time

Locality

Age/Sex

Count

Movement

14 Sept

15:30

Warden (lower South Tyne)

Adult female

1

Drifting S under low cloud

17 Sept

13:15-13:25

March Burn (Tyne Valley)

Adult female

1

soaring to great height eventually flying around in base of grey cloud and disappearing to sight to SE

20 Sept

12:54

Barhaugh Hall

(upper South Tyne)

Juvenile

1

on migration, coming high from N, reaching bottom of glide near observer and then gliding a short way S before soaring very high to SE

26 Sept

11:45

Bywell

(Tyne Valley)

Juvenile

3

total 6 in funnel of which 3 went high into sun S as migrants and never seen again; 2 moved W at moderate altitude to feed and did not apparently migrate and one went back into regular wood; at 12:00 this weakest juvenile was still over this wood

15 Nov

10:40-10:45

Snope Burn

(upper South Tyne)

Juvenile

1

up over Eals Fell gliding around, then flew off S purposefully up the upper South Tyne valley

Summary/

Comments:






Sept: 6

Nov: 1

10-11: 1

11-12: 3

12-13: 1

13-14: 1

15-16: 1

Tyne Valley: 4

upper South Tyne: 2

lower south Tyne: 1

Ad female: 2

Juvenile: 5

7

IN: none

OUT: 5 S, 2 SE

Most records are for migrating juveniles, hence late in season from 14/9-26/9 with late record on 15/11

Mid-morning is always a good time for aerial activity in this species

Tyne Valley was again good this year; upper South Tyne is rewarding considering smaller amount of time spent there

Juveniles are weaker fliers, so more obvious

A much lower total than in 2008

In autumn birds tend to go S/SE

Table 8: Visible Migration Movements noted for Honey-buzzard in SW Northumberland in 2009


The detailed results for the 2009 breeding season are given in Table 9.


Area

No. sites

No. adults

No. nests

found

Breeding Category

Number young fledged

Gangs of juveniles post-breeding

Nests found in

Conf

Prob

Poss

Devil’s Water

6

12

3

6

0

0

12 (6x2)

1 (6)

Scots Pine (2), Norway Spruce

Allen

7

14

2

7

0

0

13 (6x2, 1x1)

1 (5)

Norway Spruce, Oak

Upper South Tyne

6

12

2

6

0

0

10 (4x2, 2x1+)

1 (6)

Norway Spruce, Birch

Lower South Tyne

3

6

0

3

0

0

6 (3x2)

0


Tyne

11

17

3

9

0

2

16 (7x2, 2x1+)

1 (6)

Scots Pine (2), Norway Spruce

Derwent

6

12

0

6

0

0

10 (4x2, 2x1+)

0


Total

39

73

10

37

0

2

67 (30x2, 6x1+, 1x1)

4 (23)

Scots Pine (4), Norway Spruce (4), Oak, Birch

Table 9: Results for the Honey-buzzard Breeding Season in SW Northumberland by area in 2009


It was yet another record-breaking season for Honey-buzzard in SW Northumberland. All the main measures increased with 39 occupied sites, 37 confirmed breeding pairs and 67 young fledged. Productivity was very high with 30 of the 37 successful sites raising 2 young; at 6 of the other 7 sites it is also possible that 2 young were raised but evidence was lacking for any more than one juvenile raised. Additional sites were found in 3 areas: Tyne Valley (2), lower South Tyne (1) and Derwent (1).

Fieldwork was performed continuously in the study area from end April – late September, except for the following absences in other parts of England, Isle of Man and Scotland: 16-19 May, Norfolk; 23-30 May, Isle of Man; 12 June, North Yorkshire; 17-22 July, Devon; 29-31 August, North Yorkshire; 30 September–3 October, Perthshire, Scotland.

Coverage was similar to previous years except in September when retirement from university on 31 August meant that more time could be put in to determine breeding success with more certainty. This extra time may have contributed to the higher figures for breeding success this year but of course the higher figures from better coverage will be a more accurate portrayal of the underlying picture. The extra time was also used to monitor more closely the gangs of post-breeding juveniles which form after the adults have left. Four such gangs were found this year, comprising 23 juveniles in total. Monitoring migration is more of an opportunistic activity than a serious vismig study. This year only 7 migrants were noted at 5 sites.

Some sites were colonised early in May but the main arrival was later. The season seemed to start on time but fledging was late with many birds not rising above the canopy until early September. The weather was fine in May but for the rest of the breeding season was wet with some very heavy downpours at times. The poor summer weather may have delayed fledging but has not affected breeding success. Another factor in delaying fledging may have been the high productivity itself with 2 young raised in nearly every nest stretching the adults' foraging ability.

In the target area 10 sites were searched for nests with 100% success this year. Scots Pine and Norway Spruce are the most popular trees with others in Oak and Birch. Nests are much easier to find in Scots Pine than in Norway Spruce because of the structure of the crowns of the trees with Scots Pine being open and Norway Spruce closed. This year a series of photographs was taken from the ground of each nest in each site visit. Comparison of the photographs between visits showed a clean nest and an expansion of the structure between June/early July and late July/August confirming that the nest was in use. This comparison supports the nests being assigned to Honey-buzzard as a species because it is exactly what would be expected with a tidy late nesting species. Common Buzzard nests always appear very much more used near fledging in early July and are indeed already starting to decline in structure at this point.

Next season the plan is similar except that the number of nests to be found will be increased from 10 to 13. The populous Tyne Valley area is to be split into two: Tyne Valley west and Tyne Valley east. There will then be 3 areas in which no nest has been located: Derwent, lower South Tyne and Tyne Valley east. The intention is to find a nest in each of these 3 areas. Work in winter of 2009/2010 is involving looking for old nests of Honey-buzzard in these areas and last year's nest has already been found in Tyne Valley east. Besides the size of the current Tyne Valley area, another reason for the split is the difference in habitat with the eastern part being more built up and closer to the sea, both factors which warrant investigation as they might reduce breeding success on current knowledge.


The detailed results for the 2010 breeding season are given in Table 10.


Area

No. sites

No. adults

No. nests

found

Breeding Category

Number young fledged

Gangs of juveniles post-breeding

Nests found in

Conf

Prob

Poss

Devil’s Water

6

10

3

6

0

0

9 (3x2, 3x1+)

0

Scots Pine (2), Norway Spruce

Allen

8

14

2

8

0

0

13 (5x2, 2x1+, 1x1)

0

Norway Spruce, Oak

Upper South Tyne

6

10

2

6

0

0

8 (3x2, 2x1+, 1x0+)

0

Norway Spruce, Birch

Lower South Tyne

4

6

0

4

0

0

7 (3x2, 1x1+)

0


Tyne W

7

13

3

7

0

0

12 (5x2, 2x1+)

0

Scots Pine (2), Norway Spruce

Tyne E

4

7

1

4

0

0

6 (2x2, 1x1+, 1x1)

0

Scots Pine

Derwent

6

9

1

6