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The main aim in the new season is to write a book on Honey-buzzard, using my experience in British Isles, continental Europe and Africa, dating from 1993. Field work in 2025 in Northumberland will complement this task, filling in gaps and reinforcing findings. Broad headings for book are: Motivation, Historical Records, Rediscovery in Britain, Migration Patterns, Arrival and Display, Breeding Activity, Habitat, Dispersal, Wintering Grounds, Four Identification Models, Value of Field Experience, Further Studies, Bibliography. The initial costs of publishing the book in hard copy, running to perhaps 250pp, are well within my means. Some supplementary material may be published online.
Highlights of year from Honey-buzzard home page at https://nickrossiter.org.uk/hbweb/index.html:
The last NB can be found here. Welcome to the new Noticeboard, for 2026!
April 22nd: maximum 20C, minimum 10C, moderate E, sunny spells, dry. We all assembled in the lobby by 10:30 and were off to GdN, Paris, where caught 13:02 €* to London StP, all done in 148 min to time. Then short walk to KGX where caught really fast train train to NCL, only stopping at York and taking 159 min. So very good train journeys. Then Metro up to Airport to collect car where waited ages for bus to Long Stay CP and then exit barrier didn’t work, so not the best! Got home after a marvellous Arts Abroad trip with Opera North. XXXX!! Funds had very positive day, helped by PoO going over $100 again and competing birds for DELT of which hold a little over a million. So +105k wtd and broken over 5m in all!
Here’s mid-month summary from home page:
17/04/2026 Mid-month summary: Black Kite 16 birds at 11 sites throughout study area. Osprey 4 birds at 3 sites, all used last year. Goshawk 1 bird at 1 site. Red Kite 15 birds at 10 sites.
Here we have the first Honey-buzzard in the UK this spring on BirdGuides:
Reported 08:33 19/04 European Honey Buzzard Devon North Molton 19:00 17/04 one reportedly flew over on Friday
Plus a host of Black Kite, particularly in the SW:
13:08 22/04 Black Kite Pembrokeshire Ivor's Pond one flew east towards Dowrog Common
11:46 22/04 Black Kite Devon West Hil l11:28 one reportedly flew WSW
09:15 22/04 Black Kite Cornwall Polgigga 21/04 one along Bosisto Lane yesterday
17:45 21/04 Black Kite Cornwall Ashton, nr Callington 17:37 one reported by minor road at c 50.4826, -4.2652
Overseas10:46 21/04 Black Kite Guernsey Portelet 10:38 two
10:36 21/04 Black Kite Cornwall Trevescan 10:31 one flew west with Red Kites
Overseas 10:22 21/04 Black Kite Guernsey Portelet 10:19 one still showing well
Overseas 09:52 21/04 Black Kite Guernsey Portelet 09:33 one drifted north-east
14:12 20/04 Black Kite Kent New Romney 13:07 one reportedly flew south
Reported 11:44 20/04 Black Kite Cornwall Budock Water one reported this morning
Negative News 11:27 20/04 Black Kite Cornwall Sennen no further sign of reported bird east of Brew Farm late morning
10:49 20/04 Black Kite Hampshire Hook-with-Warsash LNR 10:28 one flew over Hook Links viewed from Hamble Point
10:42 20/04 Black Kite Cornwall Sennen 10:00 one reported following plough east of Brew Farm
Unconfirmed 19:24 19/04 Black Kite Cornwall Carharrack possible reportedly flew over Carn Marth with Red Kites this evening
13:45 19/04 Black Kite Cornwall Skewjack one flew west
11:43 19/04 Black Kite Cornwall Land's End 09:18 one flew north
19:51 16/04 Black Kite Nottinghamshire Radcliffe-on-Trent 14:45 one reportedly flew west over Grantham Road
10:28 16/04 Black Kite Caithness Brawlbin 10:10 still in fields mid-morning then flew leisurely south-east across public road
20:44 15/04 Black Kite Caithness Brawlbin still roosting this evening at 58.50573, -3.61154
18:37 15/04 Black Kite Caithness Brawlbin one this evening
April 21st: maximum 18C, minimum 10C, light E, sunny spells, dry. This morning we visited the house of Victor Hugo showing his lifestyle and artefacts while living in Paris, and omitting the portion of his life in exile in Guernsey after he’d offended the authorities with his socialism. We then walked to the nearby Musée de la Chasse et da la Nature, which gave a history of hunting from the goddess Diana through to the last century; a lot of it looked like rural Northumberland. Interestingly after the French Revolution, quite a few nobleman continued hunting in Britain and returned later to France with English blood-red attire and customs! The evening was spent at the Palais Garnier, where we had a more adventurous opera for most of us of Philip Glass’ Satyagraha, a minimalist work with great dancing by the troupe and constant conducting by Ingo Metzmacher. The soloists were lead by the expressive counter-tenor Anthony Roth Costanzo. The first act was lively with quite a lot of violence and great choral work. Act 2 followed but was a little more subdued. Act 3 was very slow and soft – peace had arrived – but was a little tedious. This ticket was €175. So mixed feelings at the end but can see the potential for minimalist music in opera.
April 20th: maximum 16C, minimum 10C, light N, sunny spells, dry. Today we made the world-famous Notre Dame and the elegant Sainte-Chapelle with its marvellous stained-glass windows. This evening’s music at the Bastille again was lighter with Jonas Kaufmann tenor singing with Malin Byström soprano and the Orch Phil of Baden-Baden under Jochen Rieder maestro. My ticket upstairs was €175. There were a few pieces by Franz Lehár including some joyful numbers from the Land of Smiles (Das Land des Lächelns) and some more by Emmerich Kálmán. While Malin sang and danced well and the band was focused, Kaufmann was disappointing as his voice appeared to be lacking in resonance, particularly in the quiet bits. We retuned to our hotel for another good social chat.
April 19th: maximum 18C, minimum 8C, calm, sunny spells, dry. Today’s trip was to Chateau de Bourret near Fontainebleau in gorgeous weather. We had a champagne/rw lunch with talented violist Claire Pass-Lanneau and cellist Fiona Robson (both from Quatuor Magenta), giving us some music by Beethoven, Bach, Rebecca Clarke. Had 2 Common Buzzard on the way. Tonight’s magnificent opera was Wagner’s Siegfried at the Champs-Elysées; it was very moving, with great tension maintained between the highlights. I was in row B, close to the cellos, all for €120; I never realised how much work the cellists did in the opening two acts as not seen so closely a concert performance before. This performance was at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées by the Rotterdam Phil with Yannick Nézet-Séguin as the energetic and expressive maestro, Clay Hilley with his tremendous voice as Siegfried, Ya-Chung Huang as Mime, Brian Mulligan as the Wanderer, Samuel Youn as Alberich, Rebecca Nash as Brünnhilde. The performance started at 18:00 and finished at 23:00 with 2 intervals, each spent in a private function room for our party. So a tremendous evening which will remain in the memories. XXXX!!
April 18th: maximum 21C, minimum 10C, calm, sunny spells, dry. Up early at 07:30 for breakfast, then caught 11:20 NCL-CDG with AF. Flight was 20 min late but airport hassle and long drive (part of the bundle) from CDG-Regina Hotel (5-star) meant I didn’t get to hotel in centre of Paris by Louvre until 16:00 (15:00 UK time). Getting €* back which may be easier! The Opera North group c20 had dinner in the hotel (truffle/duck), then we went to Opéra Bastille for Puccini’s Tosca by l'Opéra de Paris with Jader Bignamini Maestro, Sondra Radvanovsky as Tosca, Yusif Eyvazov as the painter Cavaradossi, Gevorg Hakobyan as Baron Scarpia. This was grand opera, beautifully done, particularly like the Te Deum ending to Act 1 – so powerful and moving – but the whole performance was epic. We were sitting in row 4 €180 seats, with laid-on refreshments in the intervals and a coach took us there and back. Back to Regina for some wine with my new mates. A great start. 2Moro sees a trip to a Chateau with a lunchtime chamber concert and Wagner’s Siegfried from late afternoon to late at nite!! XXXX!!
April 17th: maximum 13C, minimum 4C, moderate SW, cloudy morning with rain, brighter later. Did make Hexham for some birdwatching late afternoon. Was rewarded with some great display in the breeze. Had single pairs of Black Kite over Hermitage and over Hexham NE, both pairs going very high and engaging in hanging in the breeze interspersed with some vigorous diving at each other, very much like Honey-buzzard in behaviour. A pair of Osprey were also in active display at Hexham NE and a pair of Common Buzzard were up over Hexham N. Later single Kestrel were at Throckley and Newcastle Airport, with 2 Common Buzzard by side of A69 at Newton. The first Blackcap was heard singing at Hexham Tyne Green. Checked into Hilton at NCL where had good dinner and some nice rw. Funds were -3k after a tumultuous week in oil prices but sold a lot early-on in the week at good prices; have moved funds into high-yielding oil stocks to make positions more resilient. Must say I think there’s massive corruption in the USA with markets selling-off or buying ahead of key social media posts by Trump: it stinks!
April 16th: maximum 16C, minimum 8C, moderate SW, cloudy morning with rain, brighter later. Did a lot of birdwatching at ttime at Ordley, seeing a female Kestrel hunting, a Common Buzzard displaying, a Red Kite floating over the Devil’s Water, plus a Willow Tit in the back field, the first seen here for a while; that brings up 100 bird species in the UK for the year. Around 16:30 had a pair of Black Kite displaying over Slaley W and another pair of Black Kite up in display in the air at Whitley Chapel SE. Went to lunchtime concert at Hexham Abbey with Robert Poyser on the organ; all very good, particularly the Mendelssohn Prelude and Fugue in C minor; also liked the Improvisation! Went with M after good lunch at QHC; we met Gerhard F there an earlier colleague from Computing at Northumbria. Had sports night with R later, paired with S; we won dominoes, snooker and carpet bowls, and lost putting, rabbit hole, so 3-2 up overall. Good fun night. Then took P to G4g4s with L/L on to meet A (R away).
April 15th: maximum 18C, minimum 8C, moderate SW, bright morning, heavy spells of rain late afternoon. Caught up on a lot of tasks today, including publishing piccies form the upper South Tyne a week ago; these show, like the day before 7/4, the underside of the Black Kite, with pale vents, properties of the eastern Black Kite lineatus. I’ve also decided in a long series of piccies to add in brackets which are the clearest for features. Joined Amplify, Opera North’s new subscription for the orchestra and chorus, at the ensemble level of £21 a month plus gift aid. Had haircut by Jd at JG with usual good chat. Did see an old flame: she looked good!! XXXX!!
April 14th: maximum 14C, minimum 10C, light SE, sunny morning, then overcast with showers. Had major appointment at Westall at 14:00 with LH to discuss and finalise my fittings for upstairs bathroom. Then onto QHC4t4t b4 settling into QHL to start research for my ANPA 2026 paper, looking into nervous system properties, as perceived in reality and in models. There’s not much on category theory and nervous systems; ct has concentrated on AI not ALife. Funds are +1k wtd; have sold all of the more volatile oil and gas shares, concentrating on ones still to benefit from the energy crisis. Have 41% of funds in bonds and cash, still aiming for around 40%. XXXX!!
Recent Black Kite on BirdGuides, interestingly from Yorkshire, on way to Northumberland.
14/04 18:17 East Yorkshire : Black Kite, Tickton unconfirmed report of possible over village (18:11) [?]
12/04 21:50 North Yorkshire : Black Kite, Skipwith Common one reportedly flew over [R]
11/04 13:32 North Yorkshire : Black Kite, Nosterfield LNR one flew south-west yesterday morning; use reserve car park (DL8 2QZ)
April 13th: maximum 12C, minimum 2C, light S, sunny, dry. Big day for R with Cncl at 11:30, lunch at 12:30 and AGM and business meeting to finish us off up until 14:10, all at the Cnt. In evening went to QH to hear the last concert of the Hexham Music Society’s season, by the Rossetti Ensemble plus Leon Bosch. Highlight was the sparkling and melodic Trout Quintet by Schubert. We also heard a piano quartet by Arnold Bax and a piano quintet by Vaughan Williams, which was intriguing throughout. We had rw at house of M/S b4 and I went to G4g4s afterwards with A/P (fetching latter), with E/L on!!.
April 12th: maximum 12C, minimum 0C, moderate W, sunny, dry. Had 2 Chiffchaff in front garden, looking like migrants with their restlessness. Went to RDM for train into NCL, seeing a Common Buzzard there plus singing Nuthatch, chaffinch and Song Thrush. Went to GH 4 piano concert by Nicholas McCarthy, a pianist with only a left hand, who played a varied programme, including Wagner’s Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde, which was very exciting. Met L there. Paid to GH £1,142 for my packages of concerts for next season 2026/27. Back after a glass of rw, b4 making G4g4s with the gang, with E/L on!! The passionate one was there: she’s gorgeous: lok2tbcp: XXXXXX!!!!
April 11th: maximum 11C, minimum 5C, moderate SW, early rain, also rain in evening, bracing. Had a Red Kite over my house at ttime out foraging. Made DoW 4 good chat with D/D/D/C; they identified a sun-loving little plant with flowers popular with bees as Comfrey. Costa Rica compilation of records completed:
116 species from 315 records, 2 complete lists, 16 places. Around 26 species of raptor. From 11/10-28/10 2025, taking in San José (central), Cahuita (Caribbean), Puerto Jiménez (Pacific). Pura Vida!
Am going to do a review of everything and then post a near final list. 2Moro it’s a piano recital in afternoon at the GH. XXXX!!
April 10th: maximum 11C, minimum 5C, light W, sunny morning and most of afternoon, then more cloud, dry. Had good breakfast in hotel, then back on train to HEX. Made QHC4s4l where met D/D who joined me. We had good chat and I had good tuna crunch. Then home where completed the second of my reviews of ANPA submissions and also wrote-up the Ag seal-top spoon I bought recently – looks like an unascribed maker in the Salisbury area c1630. After the dramatic fall in PoO on Tuesday didn’t do too badly this week with fall in funds of 35k after 1k withdrawal, after just making new peak on Monday; everyone is assuming Hormuz will be open soon and everything will be fine: we’ll see after weekend’s talks and how enduring the production losses are! Denise reported to me a Red Kite at Wylam Horsley yesterday. XXXX!!
April 9th: maximum 14C, minimum 2C, moderate SW, light rain most of day. Off to Leeds again for Opera North’s Amplify, an intimate pleasing concert from their orchestra and chorus with the aim of pushing their venture to existing supporters; will support but probably at basic level for the moment; was great to meet the development staff again. Back on late train at 21:06, in to NCL at 22:44 for checking into 4PtF. Perfectly timed for rendezvous with the beautiful passionate one: lok2tbcp: XXXXXX!!!!
Recent Black Kite records from BirdGuides:
15:24 09/04 Black Kite Kent Seasalter 15:20 one flew west
20:16 08/04 Black Kite Kent Grove Ferry, Stodmarsh NNR one flew west
Overseas 13:03 07/04 Black Kite Alderney Alderney Bird Observatory 12:30 one flew west
Overseas 11:08 07/04 Black Kite Guernsey Le Guet two drifting east from Saumarez Park
Overseas 10:48 07/04 Black Kite Guernsey Le Guet one
Unconfirmed 10:59 06/04 Black Kite East Yorkshire Grimston 10:50 possible flew north but distant
April 8th: maximum 19C, minimum 7C, light SW, mostly sunny, more cloud further W, dry. Another very warm day for early April. Did the South Tyne circuit, stopping at Whitfield Moor Ouston, Gilderdale Bridge, Parson Shields, Towsbank, finding lots of moorland specialities. It’s a great area for raptors and had single Black Kite at Parson Shields on own 1 (and above Red Kite 1) and Towsbank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 (9 is good underside view); a pair of Red Kite at Gilderdale with singles at Parson Shields 1 2 3 4 5 (mobbed by Raven) and Towsbank 1 2 3 4 5 6 (5 gives good underside view); 4 Common Buzzard at Kirkside with 2 at Parson Shields; single Kestrel at Ouston and Parson Shields; so 14 raptors of 4 types. Also had plenty of waders and other moorland birds, including a pair of Red-legged Partridge at Towsbank 1. XXXX!!
April 7th: maximum 17C, minimum 6C, light SE, sunny until evening when high cloud came over, dry. A very warm day for early April. Main event of day was my one-hour talk to U3A at the Mart, Hexham, starting at 2pm. All went well and got many compliments. Here’s the citation:
Rossiter, Nick, Crystal-ball Gazing: The Future with AI [expansion of talk in Dec 2025], Tynedale U3A, 7 April 2026 abstract text presentation pdf (2026).
Made straight to QHC afterwards for a scone with jam and cream and a pot of tea – very tasty and reviving! Then home. At 17:38 noticed a Black Kite almost up over the house so dashed outside with the camera and got some great shots of a pair of Black Kite displaying over the Devil’s Water 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 (last no.11 shows the hybrid as well, 9 gives good underside view, 10 gives topside of the pair); also had a presumed Red Kite x Black Kite hybrid 1 2 3 4 5 and a Common Buzzard in attendance 1. The pure Black Kite showed bold white flashes on the underside of the primaries, protruding P5, dark eye, pale vent, ear stripe, brown head, pale yellow cere, all good features for the West Siberian migrans x lineatus intergrade, which has been spreading W across Scandinavia. The hybrid had a rufous tail but its structure was quite heavy and the tail was not that forked; behaviour-wise it was obviously excited to meet the Black Kite. Piccies tomorrow after a further check! On Thursday have a trip to Leeds in the evening for a concert Amplify. Funds are +1k at new record wtd but if Hormuz is really opened, expect some of my straight oil shares (of which not many left after endless top slicing) to go down, my large holding in an Israeli gas firm to go up and also bonds and Ag to go up: will be an interesting day! XXXX!!
April 6th: maximum 14C, minimum 1C, light W, sunny spells, dry. Much warmer. Did a lot of birdwatching at Ordley, Embley and Letah Wood. Cleaner S was at home at ttime. No more Black Kite but did have 5 Common Buzzard at 3 sites. Finished talk for U3A tomorrow, been quite preoccupied with that. Did make G4g4s with the gang, with E/L on!!
April 5th: maximum 8C, minimum -1C, fresh SW becoming light W by evening, quite sunny, few heavy hail showers, bracing. Had a rest from birdwatching today but did compile the photos for Black Kite in 2025 in Northumberland as highlighted below; need to add the hybrid ones. Back into shorts today, despite the cold. Made recycling centre to deposit the old standard lamp, some shoes and some glass jars. Then to SB4c4ll for relaxation! Still polishing my talk for u3a on Tuesday; added progress of regulations on AI and risks of strong AI. Made Cnt4g4s with P/R, A gone missing! Gr8 end to day with the beautiful one: she’s so passionate: wish she’d stay: lok2tmfo: XXXXXXXX!!!! 2moro there’s no R but will be out at ttime as cleaner S arrives; may go to Grindon Lough again. Much later it’s G4g4s.
5th April 2026: Added photos for Black Kite in 2025 (Population of the Black Kite in Northumberland)
April 4th: maximum 13C, minimum 4C, moderate SW, mainly cloudy, few bright intervals, dry in daytime, stormy with rain later, many twigs and small branches on road. Did make C4c4ll b4 stroll around Sele and Elvaston, recording 19 bird-species, including 11 Blackbird, a Nuthatch, a Grey Heron overhead, 22 Starling, 3 Greenfinch. Then switched to scanning S from home, where at 17:30 had a Black Kite hanging over the usual conifer plantation in the brisk wind, plus a local Common Buzzard as usual. Up to 5 Black Kite sites soon – an unexpected early arrival. Wore new dark woollen long coat for first time, cost £299 from CT – it’s so warm (and good camouflage!). Did meet D/D/D/C at DoW4g4s 4 good chat! The night was wild: so was the passion: gr8 reunion with the gorgeous one: lok2tmfo: XXXXXXXX!!!! 2moro it’s continuing work on u3a talk, looking at current research areas in Strong AI, with trips to the recycling unit and SB in afternoon and with the gang to Cnt4g4s (as G is maniac over bank holidays).
April 3rd: maximum 12C, minimum 1C, moderate W, sunny, few showers, bracing in breeze. Did a lot of work on AI talk to be given next Tuesday at the Mart to u3a; updated financial info on tech and other stocks. Went to Little Mermaid by HASS at QH in evening; standard has gone up, good singing, very well rehearsed dances, quite slick; audience loved it. Later did look in but not on!! Giving desk annual overhaul as installed new digital desk lamp, clearing much paper off it for sorting. 2moro going to C4c4ll and DoW4g4s with D/D/D/C. Hoping the tmfo is back!! XXXX!! The first Swallow of the season was recorded at Houtley at ttime.
April 2nd: maximum 10C, minimum 6C, light SW, sunny, dry. This fortnight’s Abbey lunchtime concert was an organ recital by Friedhelm Flamme from Germany. He played a lot of JS Bach, including the well-known Toccata and Fugue in D minor, with a piece by Arvo Pärt in the middle. Then made QHC4s4l b4 setting off to Haltwhistle for check on Osprey. Did indeed have an Osprey flapping towards last year’s nest site which was thought to have failed in 2025: better luck this year! Also had a Black Kite soaring high over the edge of Plenmeller Common plus 2 Common Buzzard displaying. More to follow … Late in evening made Cnt4g4s (not usual G as too busy) with the gang 4 good crack: staff are very friendly there. Funds made new record today in gain on week of 91k. Have cash of 461k and 1,558k in bonds, making up 40.86% of funds, so keeping a defensive posture. Largest holding RKH updated its oil reserves today, prompting a rise to almost 90p, the highest for many years and about 9 times my purchase price. It was confirmed by Navitas (operator, Israeli company) elsewhere that oil production in the Falklands will commence in early 2028. I hold 0.128% of the company!
Sea Lion Independent Recoverable Reserves and Resources Evaluation
Rockhopper Exploration plc (AIM: RKH), the oil and gas company with key interests in the North Falkland Basin, is pleased to announce the results from an updated independent technical report conducted by Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. ("NSAI") on behalf of Rockhopper on the Company's Sea Lion field (the "Report"). The Report is effective as at 31 December 2025.
The Report shows that overall gross resource volumes are consistent with the Company's previous independent resource evaluation, also conducted by NSAI, dated June 2025 (the "June 2025 Report").
Importantly, the Report has reclassified volumes contained in the Sea Lion Field Northern Development Area ("NDA") Phases 1 and 2 from the Contingent Resources classification to the Reserves classification. This reclassification has been possible following the Company's Final Investment Decision ("FID") on the Sea Lion field, made in December 2025. Phase 2 of the Sea Lion development is expected to be financed from cashflow generated by Phase 1. Later phases of the Sea Lion development have remained within the Contingent Resources category.
Following completion of the placing, the Company had, as at 31 December 2025, a cash balance of approximately US$179 million (unaudited) which is anticipated to be sufficient to fund Rockhopper's proportion of the capex required for the Phase 1 development plan for the Sea Lion field. https://www.londonstockexchange.com/news-article/RKH/sea-lion-reserves-evaluation/17531918
April 1st: maximum 13C, minimum 3C, moderate W, sunny, dry. Had trip to dental hygienist at 11:00 in Corbridge private dentistry; all good, just 2 minor sore spots on lower gums, which are reducing. Then CRB-NCL to make In Harmony which was a concert performance by Bridgewater and Hawthorn schools in Newcastle. Was impressed with the enthusiasm, the multicultural collaboration, the RNS players willingly helping and inspiring, and the end product. Back home, collected a new floor-mounted (standard) lamp, digitally controlled, from the doorstep (£70) to replace my ailing standard lamp, which has loose connections. Trip finished beautifully: scintillating looks and passion: lok2tbcp: XXXXXX!!!! Have finished Cahuita 14/10 with 16 raptor types, now on Talamanca restaurant with raptors pouring overhead while we ate lunch!
Watched with enthusiasm Sky’s complete coverage of the Artemis space launch for a sling-shot around the moon. Always fascinated by the technology as my PhD research in chemistry into the hydrogen-oxygen reaction was funded by the US Air Force as a small part of their rocket research. Glad the launch went well: such power and control!
March 31st: maximum 14C, minimum 6C, moderate W, sunny intervals, dry, breeze made it feel cool. The first Goshawk of the year was a male in flap-flap-glide display over Slaley Forest Dukesfield at 16:00. Bathroom designer G arrived from Westall arrived at 10 to finalise design for revamp of upstairs bathroom. Had new specs fitted at Specsavers in Hexham in morning – varifocal, reading. All good for vision! Then into QHL for work on 2 papers I’m reviewing for ANPA: sorted one on I-Thou in AI, approving it; still reading other one, long at 54pp. Made QHC4s4l – good service and tasty food. Funds are +38k wtd as oil crisis continues: I’m still top-slicing but some stocks are almost sold out. XXXX!!
Costa Rica trip is now up to: 115 species from 291 records, 2 complete lists, 14 places. 24 raptor-types.
March 30th: maximum 10C, minimum 5C, moderate NW, sunny intervals, few showers, very bracing wind. Made Grindon Lough while cleaner S arrived, from 17:00-19:00. Fantastic roost of gulls including 1600 Black-headed Gull, 30 Common Gull, 5 Caspian Gull (ad, 2 2s 2 1s), 75 Herring Gull, 1 Yellow-legged Gull (michahellis, 1s), 1 Great Black-backed Gull (ad), 6 Lesser Black-backed Gull (all ad). So that’s 7 types of gull! Also had 250 Golden Plover, 3 Redshank, 3 Shelduck, 4 Shoveler, 1 Goldeneye (redhead), 2 Grey Heron, 4 Skylark, in total of 27 bird species. Earlier made R at Cnt4m4l where had 3 new members inducted, followed by C4c4ll. Much later made G4g4s with the gang and E/L on!! Fantastic end to day with the dynamic, beautiful one: lok2tbado!!!! XXXXXX!!!! Have bought a picture in exhibition at QH by Dave Barden – paid £650 for Jazz Quartet; it will hang in QH until end of May.
March 29th: maximum 10C, minimum 3C, moderate W, sunny intervals, heavy rain in morning, heavy showers with hail in afternoon, bracing wind. Went to a guitar concert at Hexham Abbey in afternoon – very varied programme including two Scottish folk songs – played well by Eva Schokmel from Luxembourg. Filled up petrol tank as fear shortages might emerge in next week. Went to Sb4c4t. Much later made G4g4s with the lads and E/L on!! XXXX!! Working hard on Costa Rica 14/10, c75% covered and analysed now; still a bit to do; have finished most of Cahuita.
March 28th: maximum 9C, minimum 2C, moderate W, sunny intervals, bracing wind. At Wylam E had 12 Goosander (9 ad male, 3 redhead) and at Hexham NE around noon had an Osprey flying low NE towards its site. At Ordley at 14:10 had 2 Common Buzzard (1 over site, 1 hunting in my field), 2 agitated Lapwing and 2 Greenfinch. Welcome return to DoW4g4s where met D/D/C/D 4 good chat. XXXX!!
March 27th: maximum 9C, minimum -1C, moderate NW, sunny, bracing wind. Made Westerhope to pick up Ag spoon bought at A&G’s sale this week. Then into Wylam for birdwatching from the Tyne Bridge, with break at BH4st4l with A from the G and his former workmates. Had another Black Kite in distance to E during afternoon and a Common Buzzard much closer near the old hospital. A Sand Martin was feeding over the Tyne, a Little Egret and a Grey Heron were on a bank and 4 Goosander (2 pairs) were fishing the Tyne. Left car at WYM and got train to NCL where checked into 4PtF. Concert had star pianist Stephen Hough in Brahms PC1, marvellous to watch. Beethoven 7 was the other work, brilliantly and enthusiastically played by all, particularly the woodwind. Day ended on a crescendo with the gorgeous one: she’s so beautiful: lok2tbcp: XXXXXX!!!! Funds finished the week -33k (after 1k withdrawal) with profit taking in North Sea oil stocks on disappointment with Milliband’s reckless ideology.
March 26th: maximum 8C, minimum -1C, light W, sunny morning, cloudy later, light shower in evening; brightness and much less wind made it feel much better outside. A great day with visit to Bywell midday yielding first 2 Black Kite of season, up over Cottagebank and Tofts Hill, as singles: gr8 to see them back. An Osprey at Tofts Hill in territory was another impressive sight. Also had 4 pairs of Common Buzzard: Cottagebank (two), Peepy and Tofts Hill plus a pair of Red Kite at Tofts Hill; one of the latter was dived at aggressively by the Black Kite. Also had a Sand Martin N and first Linnet of the year, in total of 19 types with also 4 Skylark, 45 Common Gull (44 ad, 1 ad), and a Grey Wagtail S. Celebrated at QHC4s4l where gr8 service and food as usual! Made G4g4s with the gang plus R, with L/L on!! XXXX!!
March 25th: maximum 8C, minimum -1C, moderate NW, sunny spells, bitterly cold in the wind, occasional hail showers. Not out today, saving energy for later in the week. Working on the Costa Rica remaining day to process: 14/10 with the big raptor migration at Cahuita. Had 10 types of raptor in the first hour! Next up is the second hour. Busier 2moro with some fieldwork in morning, lunch out and the G! XXXX!!
March 24th: maximum 13C, minimum 2C, moderate SW, cloudy morning, heavy driving rain afternoon. Fieldfare passage continued with 65 N at Ordley in the morning. Attended Ag sale at A&G on the Internet, securing one item, a Chard trefid spoon 1698. Also bought a Salisbury seal-top spoon c1630 at an online shop. Had Westall around to survey my upstairs shower; later they said they’d send around their bathroom designer with appointment fixed for next Tuesday. Made QHC4s4t, bit late, after all this activity. Then home to complete the UAE report, now published as below. Funds are -47k as profit-taking sets in; I’m doing the same!
Published Trip Report for UAE (mainly Dubai) visits in Oct/Dec 2024 (Dubai 2024)
March 23rd: maximum 11C, minimum 8C, moderate SW, cloudy, dry except for a few spots late-on. Made R4m4l where had a rather anodyne talk on the Israeli/Palestinian problem! Then made C4c4ll. Back home to get ready for cleaner S, than out to Slaley Forest Ladycross for a walk from 17:30-19:10 into the darkness on the moorland edge. Had 115 Fieldfare NE/E, 20 Redwing, 11 Meadow Pipit, 36 Common Gull, all migrants on the move, some to Scotland, most to Norway. Total was 14 bird-types, including a Tawny Owl on a fence. Major event was completing Dubai piccie processing, thus finishing 2024 record handling completely. Will complete a page dedicated to 2 Dubai visits in 2024 as the Oriental Honey-buzzard and gull records should be highlighted somewhere. Made G4g4s with the gang, with E/L on!! Satisfaction later with the beautiful fancied one: lok2thpo: XXXXXX!!!!
March 22nd: maximum 10C, minimum -1C, light NW, cloudy until late afternoon when sun broke through. Visited Hexham Tyne Green/Hexham NE in afternoon where had major first highlight for season of 2 Osprey displaying around 15:30 over the Tyne to E of Tyne Bridge; this is the first News item of 2026 on the home page. Had 18 bird-types here, not as rich as Alnmouth! No other birds of prey were seen in the cool conditions. Had a marvellous sight at Ordley earlier of 50 Common Gull (with 5 Black-headed Gull), kettling to the NE: Norway here we come! Made G4g4s with the gang, with E on!! Black Kite are on their way with recent records from BirdGuides:
22/03 10:41 Northamptonshire : Black Kite, Evenley two reported at Evenly Woods with Red Kites and Common Buzzards (three reported yesterday) viewed from main entrance before car park late morning [R]
20/03 13:00 East Sussex : Black Kite, Rye probable circling above town (12:52) [?]
20/03 13:35 Kent : Black Kite, Tenterden one flew north-west early afternoon (13:11)
12:00 19/03 Black Kite Kent South Foreland 11:59 one flew north over South Foreland Valley towards Deal with 4 Common Buzzards
5/3-11/3 Eurobirdnet 1 Black Kite in Sussex
12/3-18/3 Eurobirdnet 1 Black Kite in Yorkshire
18:31 28/02 Black Kite Kent Wye 16:45 one over Coldharbour Lane
March 21st: maximum 16C, minimum 1C, light NW, sunny all day, another lovely spring day. A Chiffchaff was singing at home and some Kittiwake have returned to the Quayside to breed: it’s a lovely time of year. Left 4PtF after gr8 breakfast, catching the train back to HEX. Had restful afternoon in garden, loving the warm sunshine, in shorts for first time this year. Highlight of day was The Soldier’s Tale by Stravinsky in H2 at Sage. This had a top cast, including Toby Jones as narrator and Scott Turnbull as the soldier, with 7 marvellous players from RNS. It was lively throughout with a dark plot, involving the Devil! Stayed for drink and lively chat with 3 other partners L, M, J. Later on, someone looked stunning, so tempting: lok2tbcp: the gorgeous one: XXXXXX!!!
March 20th: maximum 16C, minimum 4C, light W, sunny all day, lovely spring day. Busy day. Off to Alnmouth by high-speed train for birdwatching on salt marshes, getting 43 bird-types, 2 butterfly-types, 1 mammal-type. Great to see so many ducks and waders. A flock of 39 Whooper Swan N was the highlight. Details to follow. Back to hotel for tea, b4 out to Pani’s to meet L 4 dinner, b4 making TR for Peter Grimes. Plenty of famous people in the music world there: LC from ON, DS from RNS, F from Sage. Performance was very dark but very satisfying with the gravitas moments done better than at Leeds with tension maintained without dragging. Dashed off to see the gorgeous one: she’s so beautiful: lok2tbcp: XXXXXXXX!!!! Funds are still being worked on, definitely up but profit-taking was more fierce today than anticipated. Final figure on week was +35k with 27.1% of total in bonds and 8.5% in cash. The general market as measured by the ftse 100 is now about 10% off its recent high and still looks unattractive in view of our idiotic energy policy.
March 19th: maximum 12C, minimum 5C, light NE, cloudy, cool. Had good lunch at QHC4s4l with M, followed by organ recital at Abbey. Had ANPA Zoom session at 17:00 for 40 min: keeping the show on the road! Start of mini opera season, making TR for Opera North receptions x2; good to meet Opera North reps E/L/B again. Show was Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro: seen in Leeds a few months ago: this was more relaxed and smoother, very good!! Went with L: she’s staying at same hotel 4PtF but out late on own. She’s so passionate and hot: lok2tbcp: XXXXXX!!!! Funds are at record today on rise in gas prices! Expecting some profit taking tomorrow.
March 18th: maximum 17C, minimum 3C, light E, sunny spells, dry, not quite so nice as yesterday. Did a complete bird record for Ordley getting 22 bird-types, plus 2 mammal-types: Grey Squirrel and mole. A quiet day at home after Tuesday’s good time.
March 17th: maximum 15C, minimum 5C, moderate SW, sunny, dry. Breeze is affecting comfort but a lovely spring day! Completed labelling of all piccies for Abu Dhabi 28/12/2024, including the large gulls, which sorted in QHL. Gr8 2 c someone again!!! Had eye-test at SS in HEX; first in 3 years; more correction needed on short sight; long sight is still good; eyes are healthy; spent £290 on the full test, new varifocals and new reading glasses, delivered in 2 weeks. Made HA in evening 4 concert with L by Handel Players: very high quality playing with plenty of Bach and Handel. Made B4rw4s, meeting P there. Completed evening in ‘Shire with passion: lok2tsyo!! Main memory of day is tmfo!!! Funds are +9k wtd with cash at 867k after continual sales of North Sea oilies. Gain ytd is +693k (16.2%, gross). First butterfly of the year: a Small Tortoiseshell in Elvaston.
March 16th: maximum 10C, minimum 3C, moderate SW, cloudy, light showers in afternoon. Made R at Cnt4m4l followed by C4c4ll, getting indulgent! Resized most of piccies for Abu Dhabi but am still finalising the id of the large gulls: it’s quite a complex area. So 2moro hope to publish the piccies not of gulls and to finalise the gull id! The large-gull scene is complicated by the presence of gulls from a wide area in the winter from NE Europe, the Middle East, Siberia, the Steppes, and even NE Asia. Late-on made G4g4s with the gang and E on!! Missing tmfo: XXXX!!
March 15th: maximum 10C, minimum 1C, moderate SW, sunny intervals, showers. Interesting journey back: a taxi Welwyn to Stevenage, 2 buses – to Hitchin and then to St Neots, a Thameslink train St Neots to Peterborough, a real LNER train from Peterborough to Newcastle but via coast from York to NCL; a slight blessing was HEX train was a few minutes after arrival in NCL so whole journey took from 10:45-18:00! Had plenty of Red Kite, plus 1 Common Buzzard, up to Sandy but none afterwards as weather got worse and had poor views from LNER train. Had quick supper. Then off to G4g4s with the gang, with E/L on!! Completed labelling of piccies for 29/12/2024 Abu Dhabi; need to check carefully and index to complete the whole UAE adventures over 2 visits. XXXX!!
March 14th: maximum 10C, minimum 3C, light SW, sunny all day. Went to Red Lion pub for lunch with son and daughter’s family, so 6 of us there for good meal in Hatfield. Then we made Hatfield Park for a good walk of over an hour around the extensive grounds, with beautiful woodland and amazing daffodils. Main birds were a Common Buzzard, 4 Red Kite displaying here, a pair up nearer the motorway on leaving Hatfield by Uber and 4 up displaying at Welwyn S, back at son’s place later. So very good day of family reunion. Daughter’s family move house in Kingston in April, buying a £3.5m mansion! They did well in completely exiting Dubai last year, with £2.5m for their house there. Daughter has sold her flat in Kingston, which I helped her buy before she got married. Back 2moro by bus and train.
March 13th: maximum 10C, minimum 4C, light SW, sunny afternoon and clear, cool evening. Journey NCL-SVG was 16 min late due to signal troubles N of NCL but otherwise a smooth one; got taxi to Welwyn for £23 including tip. Good to see son again; we had meal at Red Lion my favourite place in Welwyn as it’s fairly down to earth; had steak and g pie with a couple of g to wash it down. We watched a couple of Destination X before calling it a day. Funds are +19k on week with PoO up to $103.8 but much uncertainty over how long the war will last; in company with many other investors, have been massively top-slicing and have 616k in cash which with bonds at 24.11% of funds gives 36.82% in bonds+cash; still have a lot of oil shares left if there’s another leg-up! 2moro we have full family reunion at Red Lion, Hatfield, followed by visit to Hatfield House. Did some work on Abu Dhabi piccies from 29/12/2024 on train. XXXX!!
March 12th: maximum 10C, minimum 4C, fresh SW with a few strong gusts, heavy rain all day and into night. Vigorous sensuous session: lok2tsyo!!!! Made QHC4s4l with M 4 gr8 chat! Much later made G4js4s with the gang, with L on! Tidied up home page as suggested yesterday.
March 11th: maximum 10C, minimum 7C, moderate SW, heavy rain overnight, bright morning, cloudy later. Fairly bracing. Main event of day was funeral of R Bobbie M, with a service at St Andrew’s Corbridge, followed by a wake at Corbridge Cricket Club. Over 20 members attended from R: she was a highly respected member. Next task with new raptor year approaching is on the home page to save the 2024 study area results to a new web page, move the 2025 results to the 2024 slot, clear 2025 results in preparation for 2026’s data; needs a clear head! XXXX!!
March 10th: maximum 11C, minimum 6C, moderate SW, bright morning and early afternoon, damper later. Did another site today in a full visit: Letah Wood and West Dipton valley, from 11:53-13:10. Had 20 bird species, including: 3 Stock Dove, 1 Lapwing (displaying), 3 Black-headed Gull, 10 Common Gull, 1 Red Kite (floating over hillside to N), 4 Common Buzzard (displaying), 1 Kestrel (1 female/immature), 1 Chiffchaff (calling), 1 Mistle Thrush (singing), 3 Greenfinch, 3 Goldfinch, 2 Yellowhammer. So that’s another Red Kite site, up to 4 now. Then made QHC4s4l for good lunch and service!, followed by QHL 4 work on Dubai piccies for 28/12/2024, covering Jumeirah and Kite Beach with a big gull roost. Completed processing the piccies and account for this day so just one day left now for both Dubai trips: 29/12/2024 to Abu Dhabi. XXXX!! Funds are -22k wtd after reaching new high at +63k up on Monday: oil is very volatile, not surprisingly; sold a lot yesterday and smaller amounts today as prices of stocks eased.
Recent relevant references: (more reading here)
Mark Mallalieu, The 2024 European Honey Buzzard season in Sussex, BirdGuides (2024).
Shaw, KD, McInerny, CJ, Little, A, Little, K, Nadin, JS, & Goater, R, An exceptional season at a central Scotland Honey-buzzard study area, Scottish Birds 37(1) 3-13 (2017).
Forsman, Dick, Separating Common Buzzard and European Honey-buzzard, at p.302, in: Flight Identification of Raptors of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, Christopher Helm (2016).
