News 2025
27/03/25 Black Kite arrival: 1st seen, over territory at Hexham NE.
30/03/25 Osprey arrival: 1st seen, by Tyne, close to territory at Hexham NE.
31/03/25 end-month summaries: Black Kite 2 birds at 2 sites; Osprey 1 bird at 1 site; Goshawk 2 birds at 2 sites; Red Kite 12 birds at 9 sites.
19/04/25 Osprey: pair present at Hexham NE.
30/04/25 end-month summaries: Black Kite 5 birds at 5 sites; Osprey 2 birds at 1 site; Goshawk 3 birds at 3 sites; Red Kite 17 birds at 13 sites.
01/05/25 Honey-buzzard arrival: 1st seen, female descending into regular territory at Ordley.
10/05/25 Hobby arrival: 1st seen, male over a wood at Bywell.
18/05/25 mid-month summaries: Honey-buzzard 7 birds at 4 sites; Black Kite 22 birds at 12 sites; Osprey 4 birds at 3 sites; Goshawk 3 birds at 3 sites; Hobby 2 birds at 2 sites; Red Kite 21 birds at 16 sites.
03/06/25 web site migration: this web site is to be migrated from BT to NameCheap over the next week. There will inevitably be some disruption but it’s hoped to keep this to a minimum. The new site will be https compliant.
14/06/25 web site migration: completed.
17/06/25 mid-month summaries: Honey-buzzard: 19 sites, 16 male, 8 female, by end of display phase. Black Kite: 18 sites, 31 adult, now in rearing phase where at least 12 sites found to be occupied. Hobby: 3 sites, 1 male, 2 female, by end of display phase. Osprey: 3 sites, 4 adult, now in rearing phase where 3 sites found to be occupied. Goshawk: 3 sites, 2 male, 1 female, now in rearing phase where no sites found to be occupied. Red Kite: 18 sites, 24 birds, now in rearing phase where some sites found to be occupied.
30/06/25 end-month summaries: Honey-buzzard: 21 sites, 19 male, 9 female, start of rearing phase. Black Kite: 19 sites, 33 adult, in rearing phase, fledging from 30/6 at 2 sites, 3 juvenile seen.
18/07/25 mid-month summaries: Honey-buzzard: 23 sites, 21 male, 9 female, in middle of rearing phase. Black Kite: 22 sites, 37 adult, fledging from 30/6 at 8 sites, 12+ (4x2, 4x1+) juvenile fledged. Red Kite: 18 sites, 25 birds, fledging is imminent.
31/07/25: end-month summaries: Honey-buzzard: 23 sites, 21 male, 10 female, nearing end of rearing phase. Black Kite: 24 sites, 40 adult, fledging noted at 14 sites, 27+ (2x3, 9x2, 3x1+) juvenile fledged. Osprey: site from last year still occupied, 1 juvenile at new site this year. Red Kite: 20 sites, 29 birds, fledging noted at 2 sites: 4 (2x2) juvenile fledged.
20/08/25: mid-month summaries: Honey-buzzard: 23 sites, 21 male, 10 female, 2 juvenile seen from 20/8, fledging at 3 sites, 3+ (2x1+, 1x>0) juvenile fledged. Black Kite: 26 sites, 41 adult, fledging noted at 18 sites, 33+ (2x3, 11x2, 4x1+, 1x1) juvenile fledged. Osprey: 3 sites, fledging noted at 2 sites, 2+ (2x1+) juvenile fledged.
31/08/25: end-month summaries: Honey-buzzard: 23 sites, 21 male, 12 female, 17+ (5x2, 4x1+, 3x>0) juvenile fledged at 12 sites; juveniles on site still. Black Kite: 26 sites, 41 adult, fledging noted at 21 sites, 40+ (3x3, 13x2, 4x1+, 1x1) juvenile fledged; juveniles mainly on site still. Osprey: 3 sites, fledging noted at 2 sites, 3 (1x2, 1x1) juvenile fledged; birds are exiting. Hobby: 3 sites, 1 male, 2 female, 1 juvenile fledged at 1 site (still on site). Goshawk: 3 sites, no fledging noted. Red Kite: fledging noted at 5 sites.
15/09/25: mid-month summaries: Honey-buzzard: 28 sites, 22 male, 12 female, 40+ (14x2, 9x1+, 3x>0) juvenile fledged at 26 sites; most juveniles on site still. Black Kite: 28 sites, 41 adult, fledging noted at 25 sites, 46+ (3x3, 15x2, 6x1+, 1x1) juvenile fledged; some juveniles still on site. Osprey: have left nest sites. Hobby: 4 sites, 1 adult male, 2 adult female, 3 (1x2, 1x1+) juveniles fledged at 2 sites; adults have left. Red Kite: fledging noted at 7 sites.
17/09/25: close of season: provisional final totals: Honey-buzzard: 30 sites, 22 male, 12 female, 44+ (15x2, 11x1+, 3x>0) juvenile fledged at 29 sites; juveniles exiting. Black Kite: 28 sites, 41 adult, fledging noted at 26 sites, 48+ (3x3, 16x2, 6x1+, 1x1) juvenile fledged; at least one juvenile still on site. Osprey: have left nest sites. Hobby: 5 sites, 1 adult male, 2 adult female, 4 (1x2, 2x1+) juveniles fledged at 3 sites; most juveniles have left. Red Kite: fledging noted at 8 sites, excluding Derwent.
08/10/25-29/10/25: Trip to Costa Rica: attended the international Raptor Research Foundation conference at San José from 14/10-19/10; their field trip to Talamanca Raptor Watchpoint and Cahuita, Limón Province (Caribbean side), from 12/10-14/10; my trip to Puerto Jiménez, Osa Peninsula (Pacific side), from 20/10-28/10. Flights NCL-CDG, CDG-SJO, SJO-PJM return. Stayed at Hilton San José Cariari, Hilton Puerto Jiménez Botanika, Villa del Mar Cahuita. Many raptors and other wildlife seen; full report to follow. Pura Vida!
16/01/26-23/01/26: Trip to Malaga: holiday at Hotel Triton, Benalmadena. Flight NCL-AGP return. Saw 3 raptor types: 2 Common Kestrel, 2 Osprey fishing, 1 Black Kite flying NE off sea. Maybe I fancy the Spanish!!
