Study Area 2018

The pattern of fieldwork will change dramatically in 2018. With a book in prospect, the author wishes to concentrate on habits of Honey-buzzard where clarification is needed rather than cover an enormous study area systematically, where the distribution of the birds is well-established.

The intention is that only the Devil's Water (Hexhamshire, 6 sites) and Tyne Valley W (8 sites) will be covered through the season systematically, against a total of 49 sites covered in this way in all areas in 2017 and 2016.

However, nest site visits will continue, covering 10 sites in 1 round and other sites will be visited from time to time. The Study Area is notionally as in 2017 but only part will be covered systematically for occupation.

The purpose of the change is to free up more time for creativity in approaching the exciting and largely unknown natural history of the Honey-buzzard.

Intensive Site Visits: 10 selected sites

Round: 3/7-7/8: completed, 10 sites visited; nest tree Scots Pine 5, Hemlock Spruce 2, Oak 2, Norway Spruce 1; birds recorded male 10, female 9: total adult 19.

Breeding: Totals to 26/9, all sites

Display period: 4/5-8/6 17 sites (14 male, 10 female: 24 total)

Sitting/Rearing period: 3/7-8/8 15 sites (14 male, 11 female: 25 total)

Fledging period: 9/8-26/9 24 sites (11 male, 11 female, 31 juvenile)

Gangs of juveniles: none

Study Area 2018: Migrants

Spring: Totals 4/5 to 8/6

1 female arrive on site from SE at Ordley (Hexhamshire) 4/5

Autumn: Totals 24/8 to 19/10

1 male S, Warden (lower South Tyne) 25/8; 1 male soar/glide S, Towsbank (upper South Tyne) 5/9; 3 juvenile rest Bywell (Tyne Valley W) 27/9; 3 juvenile S Dipton Wood (Hexhamshire) 28/9; 1 juvenile SE Stocksfield (Tyne Valley W) 3/10; 1 juvenile SW Hexham Race Course (Hexhamshire) 9/10; 2 juvenile rest Bywell (Tyne Valley W) 19/10.

Out of Study Area 2018

Norfolk/Lincs (12/5-19/5): West Lynn, 1 male W 13/5; Sandringham/Wolferton, 5 birds (3 male, 2 female) displaying, including 1 male in butterfly mode, 3 localities 14/5; Felbrigg Hall, 1 female in territory 16/5; Hickling, 1 male display 18/5; total 6 localities, 8 birds (5 male, 3 female), including 1 male migrant W.

Budapest, Hungary (9/6-16/6): on N side of city, 1 male cross to Margit Island from NW side 9/6; 1 male in territory on middle hill on NW side 15/6; total likely to be 2 sites, 2 birds (2 male).

Auvergne, France (20/6-27/6): Aulnat, a male up high in a swarm of Corvids 20/6; Lherat, male up over wood 27/6; total 2 localities, 2 birds (2 male).

Chilterns/London W (14/7-16/7): Dipple Wood, female overhead, in territory 16/7.

Baden-Baden, Germany (29/7-3/8): Schweigrother Schlag, female over site 29/7, male over site 30/7; Alte Schloss, male up briefly 30/7; Staufen, pair in display, fledged juvenile above canopy, 2/8; Merkur, male up 2/8; total 4 localities, 7 birds (4 male, 2 female, 1 juvenile).

South Yorkshire (13/8): Bawtry NW, 1 male doing flap-flap-glide over a field flying towards a wood over stubble.

South Downs (13/8-17/8): Havant Thicket, male and female up separately, each with juvenile 14/8; total 1 male, 1 female, 2 juvenile.

North Wessex Downs (15/8): 2 sites: female mobbed by Corvids, Larkhill W; male up over hill-top Sutton Scotney N; total 1 male, 1 female.

North Yorkshire (3/9): Beningborough E, 1 brown juvenile doing flap-flap-glide over a stubble field.

Chilterns/London W (14/9-18/9): Lewknor, 2 juveniles up in Beacon Hill area (17/9).

North Yorks Moors (14/10-17/10): Danby 1 juvenile ESE from rest 15/10; 2 juvenile ESE from rest 17/10; 1 juvenile rest 17/10; total 4 juvenile with 3 ESE, 1 rest.

Republic South Africa: Johannesburg, Escarpment, Kruger NP (4/11-17/11): Skukuza Camp, Kruger NP, 1 pale russet juvenile flushed from bush-veldt 16/11.