Study Area 2019

The pattern of fieldwork will continue to change in 2019, moving towards a more intensive rather than extensive approach with concentration on a reduced number of sites. 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, with a view to writing a book on the matter.

Intensive Site Visits: 10 selected sites

Round: 28/6-21/8 completed, 10 sites visited; nest tree Scots Pine 5, Hemlock Spruce 2, Oak 2, Norway Spruce 1; birds recorded male 9, female 10, juvenile 3: total adult 19, juvenile 3.

Breeding: Totals to 28/9, all sites

Display period: 28/4-19/6 19 sites (17 male, 9 female: 26 total)

Sitting/Rearing period: 27/6-17/8 17 sites (13 male, 14 female, 1 juvenile: 28 total)

Fledging period: 18/8-28/9 22 sites (7 male, 11 female, 32 juvenile)

Gangs of juveniles: none

Study Area 2019: Migrants

Spring: Totals

Autumn: Totals 7/9 to 15/10

1 female soar and float S, Ordley (Hexhamshire) 7/9; 1 female soar and float S, Dipton Wood (Hexhamshire) 7/9; 1 juvenile rest Stocksfield (Tyne Valley W) 12/10; 1 juvenile rest Eltringham (Tyne Valley W) 15/10;

Out of Study Area 2019

Oxford (2/5-7/5): Bagley Wood, 1 male in territory 5/5; Aston's Eyot, 1 male flushed, 6/5; total 2 sites, 2 male.

London (7/5-10/5): Black Park, 1 pair displaying 9/5.

Devon (10/5-13/5): Ottery St Mary SW, 1 pair display 11/5; Bulverton Hill, 1 pair present 11/5, 1 male in territory 12/5; Honiton NW, 1 male present 13/5; total 3 sites, 5 birds (3 male, 2 female).

South Downs (29/5-5/6): Petersfield War Down (Butser),1 male soar 30/5; Petersfield Durford Wood W, 1 pair display 30/5; Midhurst W, 1 pair present 31/5; Colworth Down 1 pair display 31/5; Butser Hill, 1 male foraging, 1/6; Bosham, 1 male N, 1/6; Uppark,1 pair display 2/6; Butser Hill, 1 pair present 3/6; total 6 sites,11 birds (6 male, 5 female), 5 pairs in territory, 1 male N (migrant).

North Wessex Downs (5/6): Harwell E, 1 male up 5/6.

South Cumbria (12/6-13/6): Ulverston N, 1 male in territory, 13/6.

Budapest, Hungary (19/6-26/6): none.

North Yorkshire (22/7): Thirsk, 1 male, dropping into a scrubby wood.

Aquitaine, France (23/7-30/7): Juillac N, 1 male in territory 24/7, 28/7; Marciac W, 1 male soaring 25/7, 29/7; Montesquoui, 1 female out hunting to SW, 1 pair in active display to E 26/7; Courties, 1 male in territory to SW, 1 female close to nest site to NW 29/7. Total 6 sites in Marciac area, 7 birds (4 male, 3 female).

Liverpool/Chester (10/8-15/8): Chester Littleton, 1 male floating over area for 2 minutes 13/8.

South Tyrol, Italy (24/8-31/8): Seis am Schlern E, 1 juvenile in territory 25/8, 30/8, 1300m asl; Seis am Schlern W, 1 female with 1 juvenile in territory 25/8, 1 female with 2 juvenile in territory 27/8, 1 juvenile in territory 29/8, 1120m asl; Bocia de Mont, 1 juvenile in territory 26/8, 1780m asl; Marinzen, 1 juvenile in territory 27/8, 1400m asl; Schmung Schwaige, 2 juvenile in territory 28/8, 1 juvenile soar high and move S 30/8,1810m asl. Total 5 sites in Seis am Schlern area, 8 birds (1 female, 7 juvenile).

Cambridgeshire (13/9): Stilton, 1 juvenile soaring.

North Yorkshire (13/9): Hurworth, 1 juvenile over a stubble field; Darlington S, 1 female moving S.

North Yorkshire (25/9): Dalton/Birkby, 1 juvenile over a stubble field.

North Yorkshire (29/9-2/10): Settle area. 2 juvenile at Langcliffe Scar W, 1 S, 1 rest, 30/9; 2 juvenile S Settle 2/10; total 4 juvenile with 3 S, 1 rest.