Study Area 2020

The pattern of fieldwork will continue as in 2019 Season 2019– Summary for the Display phase. The nest site visits are rested this year, concentrating on national Honey-buzzard survey, looking out from vantage points. The book is still under consideration with a catch up on much earlier material achieved.

Intensive Site Visits: 10 selected sites

Rested this year, concentrating on national Honey-buzzard survey, looking out from vantage points.

Breeding: Final Totals to 21/9 (all data compiled)

Display period: 30/4-17/6 30 sites (25 male, 18 female: 43 total)

Sitting/Rearing period: 18/6-18/8 10 sites (8 male, 7 female, 1 juvenile, 16 total)

Fledging period: 19/8-21/9 23 sites (16 male, 14 female, 27 juvenile: 57 total)

Gangs of juveniles: observer absent this year when likely to occur

Study Area 2020: Migrants

Spring: Totals 9/5 to 17/6

1 male and 1 female moving N at high altitude, Hexham (Tyne Valley W) 9/5; 1 male moving NW at high altitude. Bywell (Tyne Valley W) 16/5; 1 extra male arrived at Ordley (Hexhamshire) 25/5;

Autumn: Totals 9/9-28/10

1 female intruder at Pithouse Fell N (Derwent) 30/8; 1 male soaring high and drifting S from site at Dipton Wood S (Hexhamshire) 9/9; 1 male up very high over Wylam and moving S (Tyne Valley E) 11/9; 1 male soaring high and drifting S from site near Warden Hill (lower South Tyne) 14/9; 1 male and 1 female arriving from N high-up at Warden Hill and drifting SE (lower South Tyne) 14/9; 1 female in power flight SE along ridge to N of Bywell (Tyne Valley W) 15/9; 1 female soaring from site and drifting S at Swallowship (Hexhamshire) 17/9; 1 juvenile near Dotland, suspected feeding at nearby recently excavated wasp nest (Hexhamshire) 7/10; 1 juvenile soaring high and S at Stocksfield Mount 8/10 (Tyne Valley W); 1 juvenile rest Stocksfield E 8/10 (Tyne Valley W); 1 juvenile from rest moving S Merryshields 15/10 (Tyne Valley W); 1 juvenile from rest, soaring high before drifting off to S at Slaley Forest Dukesfield (Derwent) 16/10; 1 juvenile from rest, soaring high before drifting off to S at Ordley (Hexhamshire) 18/10; 2 restless juvenile floating around whole area near Stocksfield (Tyne Valley W) 25/10; 1 juvenile resting at Slaley Forest W (Hexhamshire) 28/10.

Out of Study Area 2020

Northumberland SE (3/6): Prestwick Carr, 1 female up 3/6.

Algarve, Portugal (21/9-4/10): Faro marismas, 1 juvenile off marshes, moving slowly SE 22/9; Vila Real de Santo António wetlands, 3 juvenile off marshes, moving slowly SE; 1 juvenile moving SE further N at Monte Francisco, 24/9; Faro marismas E, 1 juvenile up at moderate height, 27/9; Monte Francisco heathlands, 1 juvenile off heath, moving slowly SE, 28/9; Faro marismas, 1 juvenile off marshes at dusk, moving NE to roost 2/10; Faro marismas E, 1 juvenile soaring high and moving E mid-morning, thought to be same as previous day at dusk 3/10. Summary 22/9-3/10 Faro to Spanish border – total 8 juveniles moving E/SE with marshes a popular feeding area.