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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 2026 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!
June 9th: maximum 14C, minimum 6C, sunny intervals, heavy, frequent showers, moderate W. No fieldwork today. Northern Powergrid did arrive at 08:00 and replaced my ancient 80 amp main fuse with a modern one: that completes the modernisation of my electricity system. In morning worked on setting up new season for Brundibár 2027 on the web. Made QHC4s4l with good service and food. Then into QHL 4 further work on nervous system in category theory, developing idea of weighted categories for the analogue component of the nervous system; weighted categories were used in neural nets in last ANPA paper. In evening made TC to see Köln 75, a 2025 German music-drama film directed by Ido Fluk. The film follows the true story of Vera Brandes, teenage patron of the 1970s Cologne music scene, as she makes plans to organise a Keith Jarrett concert in Cologne, which eventually became his landmark album The Köln Concert. Jarrett is very temperamental and Vera has much trouble persuading him to play at all at the Opera House. Mala Emde and John Magaro star as Vera Brandes and Jarrett, respectively, and both are passionate about their roles! Vera’s father is a stern conservative dentist who wants her to follow in his footsteps: this provides a strong personality clash. Enjoyed it! Ending to day was a rendezvous with the gorgeous one: lok2tbcp: XXXXXXXX!!!!
June 8th: maximum 15C, minimum 5C, sunny periods, dry, moderate W. Main event of day was R’s Young Employee of the Year award ceremony at Hexham GC in the early evening: all went well, lively atmosphere! Earlier in late afternoon made western part of Dipton Burn in Queen’s Cave area. Here had a female Honey-buzzard coming out of trees well to W of Dipton Mill and soaring high. This brings the Honey-buzzard count of sites to 7 in Devil’s Water, the same as in recent years. A Black Kite was foraging to the west of its site in the neighbouring tetrad. A Red Kite was up over the ridge to S. Interesting sighting was of 5 Common Gull, flying low-down to W, comprising 4 1s and an adult. After a break at home, made G4g4s with R/P, with E/L on!! Early to bed as Northern Powergrid are arriving at 08:00 2moro to replace main fuse, a job due some 6 months ago! They’ve had a cancellation and want to make use of the time. XXXX!!
June 7th: maximum 17C, minimum 10C, sunny spells, dry, moderate SW. Made Tyne Green at lunchtime as rain forecast, which never came! Had a few seconds glimpse of a female Honey-buzzard, slipping out to hunt in quite breezy conditions. Also had a female Sparrowhawk to SW of Tyne Bridge soaring high and a Caspian Gull 1s on the Tyne, which has been seen several times before. Got home to cut some more grass as rain still not here, did 5 bales next to neighbour’s house. Have had Blackcap breeding this year in my garden, showing the value of ll the growing trees/shrubs; a noisy family group was out today. Had 1st Meadow Brown of season in back garden. Northern Marsh Orchid count is up to 14 and a Common Spotted Orchid is at the budding stage. Made G4g4s with the gang and E/L on!! Beautiful time with tmfo: she’s so gorgeous and sensuous: lok2tmfo: XXXXXXXX!!!!
Here’s detailed records for Honey-buzzard in recent trip to Czechia/Poland:
Czechia 16/5-21/5: a male in butterfly-type flight high up at Budčická (c340m asl), Prague E, at 10:32 21/5; a pair up quickly from conifer ridge ready for display at Ústí nad Orlicí (c340m asl), eastern Bohemia, at 11:43 21/5.
Poland 21/5-26/5: a male hanging majestically over conifer wood on edge of rough vegetation near the village at Tyniecka (c200m asl), Kraków SW, at 17:39 23/5; a pair up low-down in frisky behaviour at Jodłówka (c300m asl), E of Kraków at 12:59 25/5.
June 6th: maximum 16C, minimum 9C, light rain showers, cloudy until evening, moderate SE. No raptor fieldwork today in dull weather. Caught up with some records: birds and financial. Made DoW4g4s with D/D/D/C 4 good chat. Called in at Dipton Wood on way back, where in E part had a Nightjar churring around 23:00 with 2 Tawny Owl calling. Near Letah Wood had a Badger and a Roe Deer and at Ordley had a Tawny Owl calling. 2moro weather looks a bit better and may go to Tyne Green in afternoon, where not seen Honey-buzzard yet this year. XXXX to the gorgeous one
June 5th: maximum 15C, minimum 8C, long sunny spells in morning becoming cloudier in afternoon, frequent light showers, moderate W, dry. A dry interlude with some sunshine so made the best of it by visiting Stocksfiled Mount for a bit over 2 hours in the afternoon. Raptor totals were 4 Honey-buzzard at 3 sites, 4 Black Kite at 4 sites, single Osprey, Hobby (male), Kestrel (juvenile). Had a Common Buzzard at home earlier so that makes 6 types of raptor for the day. Am beginning to think that the spring work is now largely done with 23 Black Kite and 19 Honey-buzzard sites found but will keep going, weather permitting, until leave for Wales. Total at the Mount was 27 bird-types, plus 3 butterflies: single Orange-tip, Green-veined White, Painted Lady. Had a Red Admiral at Ordley in the morning. 2moro it’s DoW in evening but no fieldwork as dull all day. Have agreed to take-up Emerald Partnership with the Glasshouse/RNS at 5k a year. Funds on week had another drift-down losing 20k as amazing complacency of oil situation persists. No tech stocks or crypto held so not affected by their crashes. Watched a super-fit Spain beat a sluggish England 4-0 at women's football and the film Nope, which seen before, but is entertaining sci-fi and far less pretentious than the Star Wars series. XXXX!! Started June grass cutting with long area next to dining room, getting 8 bales. Have at least 11 Northern Marsh Orchid in flower in back lawn.
June 4th: maximum 15C, minimum 9C, frequent light showers, brief sunny spells, moderate SW. Had good lunch with M at QHC. We then went to Abbey for concert by Martin Hughes (violin) accompanied by Michael Haynes (piano). Very good playing of Bach’s Sonata in G for violin and keyboard and Mozart’s Sonata in B flat for violin and piano; the Bach was truly inspirational. Back on the quest for raptors today, making Letah Wood at ttime in quite windy conditions. It was a successful visit with a female Honey-buzzard up briefly near Letah Wood and single Black Kite seen going out to hunt at two adjacent squares. At Letah Wood 23 bird Species: 3 Pheasant, 2 Swift, 2 Woodpigeon, 1 Herring Gull (adult), 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull (adult), 1 Honey-buzzard (At 16;23 a female on S side of Burn keeping low-down in strong breeze), 1 Buzzard (Calling at 16:27 from Letah Wood), 1 Jackdaw, 30 Rook, 3 Carrion Crow, 1 Great Tit, 1 Sand Martin, 3 Swallow, 1 House Martin, 1 Blackcap (singing), 1 Song Thrush (singing), 3 Blackbird, 3 Robin, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Pied Wagtail (yarrellii), 1 Chaffinch, 2 Linnet, 2 Goldfinch. To the W: 1 Species, 1 Black Kite (Over pine shelter belt at 16:12 a Black Kite being mobbed by a Rook just above canopy. At 16:16 kite out again over rough wood to NE hunting. Up at 16:43 and 16:45 hunting on ridge to NE of site). To the E: 1 Species, 1 Black Kite (At Dipton Wood N a Black Kite up at 16:50 circling over site). While having late breakfast the local female Honey-buzzard was up over the Devil’s Water looking frisky! Made G4g4s with mates 4 good chat!!
June 3rd: maximum 17C, minimum 10C, frequent heavy showers, brief sunny spells, moderate SW. After good breakfast made GH 4 long chat with T/S on taking on another supportive role, becoming an Emerald Partner at a cost of 5k a year. Said goodbye properly: lok2tbcp!!!! Caught train to HEX and picked up Dave Barden acrylic picture Jazz Quartet from the QH Box Office, which had cost me £650. No fieldwork for raptors today as weather too poor. Hope to restart tomorrow afternoon and have a long session in Tyne Valley W on Friday as have a dry interlude then. XXXX!!
From home page, summary of raptors in recent trip:
16/5-21/5/26 Prague area of Czechia: 4 Common Buzzard, 4 Common Kestrel, 3 Honey-buzzard, 2 Black Kite, 1 Peregrine; 21/5-26/5/26 Krakow area of Poland: 3 Common Kestrel, 3 Honey-buzzard, 2 Hobby, 1 Black-winged Kite, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Buzzard. Total 8 types of raptor, 25 birds. Details of sightings and localities to follow.
More reports from BirdGuides. Plenty of Black Kite reports for midsummer but much duplication:
18:28 03/06 Black Kite Somerset West Buckland 17:45 one flew west along Tone Valley
16:38 03/06 Black Kite Norfolk Holt 09:30 one flew over between Holt and High Kelling this morning
12:41 03/06 Black Kite Norfolk Pensthorpe Waterfowl Park 12:30 one flew WSW then lost to view behind trees
12:29 03/06 Black Kite Norfolk Swanton Novers watchpoint 12:10 one flew SSW from watchpoint on Fulmodeston Road (NR20 5BW) then flew north-east
13:14 30/05 Black Kite Kent St Margaret's at Cliffe one flew south over Westcliffe towards St Margaret's
12:10 30/05 Black Kite Kent Kingsdown 12:09 one flew north over Queensdown Road
11:21 30/05 Black Kite Kent South Foreland again circling over South Foreland Valley with Red Kites
10:37 30/05 Black Kite Kent Ringwould 10:36 one circled back south
10:29 30/05 Black Kite Kent St Margaret's at Cliffe 10:22 one flew north-east over Bockhill Monument and along cliffs
10:06 30/05 Black Kite Kent South Foreland one flew north towards lighthouse
09:40 30/05 Black Kite Kent Langdon Cliffs NT 09:35 one flew over Dover Castle
11:49 27/05 Black Kite Cornwall St Keverne 11:25 one flew north over Zoar Garage
17:09 25/05 Black Kite Staffordshire The Roaches 10:30 one flew north-east
Unconfirmed 16:02 25/05 Black Kite Devon Seaton Marshes15:40 possible circled high over Seaton Wetlands viewed distantly from tramline
10:44 25/05 Black Kite West Sussex Amberley
Masses of Honey-buzzard reports with up to 5 at West Sussex Woolbeding Common:
14:27 02/06 European Honey Buzzard Outer Hebrides Cheese Bay, N Uist 14:25 one flew east over salmon farm
12:44 02/06 European Honey Buzzard Norfolk Swanton Novers watchpoint 12:42 one flew east from watchpoint on Fulmodeston Road (NR20 5BW) then flew north-east
11:38 02/06 European Honey Buzzard Suffolk Hazlewood Marshes SWT 11:30 one dark morph flew slowly north
15:30 01/06 European Honey Buzzard West Sussex Woolbeding Common 15:27 two again from Older Hill viewpoint
12:46 01/06 European Honey Buzzard West Sussex Woolbeding Common 10:44 one again from Older Hill viewpoint
19:20 31/05 European Honey Buzzard Kent Ramsgate 17:35 one flew south-west
18:42 31/05 European Honey Buzzard Nottinghamshire Welbeck watchpoint 12:00 one again
14:40 31/05 European Honey Buzzard Norfolk Cley next the Sea 14:37 one flew south-west over village
22:07 30/05 European Honey Buzzard Norfolk Swanton Novers watchpoint 15:30 two again from watchpoint on Fulmodeston Road (NR20 5BW) then flew north-east;
13:36 30/05 European Honey Buzzard Dorset Poole 12:30 one flew over Poole Quay towards Holes Bay
12:43 30/05 European Honey Buzzard Norfolk Sea Palling 12:41 one flew over
Unconfirmed 12:18 30/05 European Honey Buzzard Norfolk Felbrigg Hall NT 11:53 possible flew over
12:01 30/05 European Honey Buzzard Cambridgeshire Grantchester one flew north-east over Grantchester Meadows
11:35 30/05 European Honey Buzzard Surrey Weybourne one flew north
11:17 30/05 European Honey Buzzard East Sussex Hollingbury 11:15 one flew north over Patcham
09:03 30/05 European Honey Buzzard East Sussex Ashdown Forest four again from Llama Park viewpoint;
15:49 29/05 European Honey Buzzard Orkney Voy, Mainland one flew south mid-morning
15:38 29/05 European Honey Buzzard East Sussex Ashdown Forest 15:19 one again from Llama Park viewpoint
14:34 29/05 European Honey Buzzard West Sussex Ardingly 14:15 male flew over show-ground
13:00 29/05 European Honey Buzzard Norfolk Ormesby St Margaret 12:55 one flew south-west
12:11 29/05 European Honey Buzzard Norfolk Swanton Novers watchpoint two (one male) from watchpoint on Fulmodeston Road (NR20 5BW)
11:49 29/05 European Honey Buzzard East Sussex Ashdown Forest two males again from Llama Park viewpoint this morning
19:38 28/05 European Honey Buzzard Cornwall Ponsanooth 18:35 one flew west
13:25 28/05 European Honey Buzzard East Sussex Ashdown Forest 13:14 four again from Llama Park viewpoint
12:23 28/05 European Honey Buzzard East Sussex Ashdown Forest 12:15 at least five from Llama Park viewpoint between 09:30 and 10:45
10:45 28/05 European Honey Buzzard Cornwall St Clement pale morph flew east over river
08:57 28/05 European Honey Buzzard Aberdeenshire Cruden Bay 08:44 one arrived in off the sea then headed north-west
18:59 27/05 European Honey Buzzard Cornwall Goss Moor 18:45 one flew east
16:58 27/05 European Honey Buzzard Cornwall Carn Brea 16:35 one flew low west over Chapel Carn Brea
14:32 27/05 European Honey Buzzard East Sussex Ashdown Forest at least four from Llama Park viewpoint between 09:30 and 11:00
12:50 27/05 European Honey Buzzard East Sussex Beachy Head 10:45 two flew over; also European Turtle Dove
08:55 27/05 European Honey Buzzard Essex Heybridge, Maldon 08:40 one flew NNW over Wagtail Drive
19:40 26/05 European Honey Buzzard West Sussex Woolbeding Common 13:04 one again from Older Hill viewpoint
Unconfirmed 16:29 26/05 European Honey Buzzard Cornwall Landrake 16:12 probable circling high over A38 with Common Buzzards
12:21 26/05 European Honey Buzzard Cornwall Mullion Cove 12:04 dark morph adult flew north
11:54 26/05 European Honey Buzzard Glamorgan Llanilid one drifted over north-east
11:28 26/05 European Honey Buzzard Cornwall Kynance Cove 11:20 one flew south towards Lizard village
10:44 26/05 European Honey Buzzard Cornwall Windmill Farm NR 10:15 one flew over towards Lizard village
09:47 26/05 European Honey Buzzard Norfolk Sea Palling 09:34 one flew west
19:16 25/05 European Honey Buzzard West Sussex Woolbeding Common five from Older Hill viewpoint
15:44 25/05 European Honey Buzzard Shetland Levenwick, Mainland one at Southpunds
11:46 25/05 European Honey Buzzard East Sussex Ashdown Forest three again from Llama Park viewpoint
17:57 24/05 European Honey Buzzard Norfolk Swanton Novers watchpoint 17:00 one again from watchpoint on Fulmodeston Road (NR20 5BW)
Unconfirmed 17:19 24/05 European Honey Buzzard Staffordshire Chesterton possible flew over early afternoon
13:13 24/05 European Honey Buzzard West Sussex Woolbeding Common 11:09 two again from Older Hill viewpoint
12:28 24/05 European Honey Buzzard Kent Dungeness RSPB 12:23 two circled over Dengemarsh
12:23 24/05 European Honey Buzzard Kent Dungeness NNR
A few relevant reports of Osprey from north Durham:
11:00 30/05 Osprey Durham Derwent Reservoir one
19:20 12/05 Osprey Durham Derwent Reservoir
June 2nd: maximum 18C, minimum 11C, mainly cloudy, occasional showers, light W. Had lunch in Hexham with good service and food. Worked in QHL on forthcoming ANPA talk, looking at the nervous system. Then into NCL where had a male Honey-buzzard up at moderate height over Wylam Horsley Wood, bringing sites up to 15 for the year. Made TC for snack then into Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu for a lot of entertainment; enjoyed it, full of action, marvellous sequences; only criticism is there were no passages of reflection at all; sometimes that’s needed to give some background commentary. The score was by Ludwig Göransson, not quite as incisive as John William’s earlier work but it still uses a large orchestra and makes extensive use of leitmotifs. It uses a wider range of instruments, including synthetics, and fitted in well with the action. Rendezvous was brilliant: she’s very passionate: lok2tbcp: XXXXXXXX!!!! Stayed overnight at 4PF for good comfortable stay, where well-known by staff!
June 1st: maximum 18C, minimum 12C, occasional weak sunshine, rain showers, light S, feeling mild, heavier belt of rain late evening. Made R where had good talk from modern matron of HEX Hospital. Then to C4c4ll where met R for good chat. Next to Corbridge for dental check-up – all good!! Coming over the bridge at Corbridge had a female Sparrowhawk and a Black Kite soaring a little to E. Made Beaufront S for a longer watch where had 4 types of raptor: a Black Kite hunting to W, a female Honey-buzzard and a female Hobby interacting mildly to N, a female Kestrel hunting to S. Made G4g4s with the lively E on: gr8 time!! Beautiful end to day: she’s so sensuous: lok2tmfo: XXXXXXXX!!!! Funds are -4k wtd with mixed movements in oil shares, despite PoO recovering somewhat.
May 31st: maximum 18C, minimum 11C, sunny spells, moderate W, dry. Made final trip of month to Viewley on edge of Slaley Forest where had a Black Kite taking on all-comers from a large Common Buzzard to a tiny male Hobby (first of year!); also here were 2 Red Kite and a male Honey-buzzard, plus a family group of 3 Raven. So 5 types of raptor plus some Curlew. On way back stopped at Steel Pond and had a Moorhen, hanging on as pond dries, plus a Honey-buzzard female and a Common Buzzard. Made G4g4s with the gang with E/L on, for good time. Day climaxed with the gorgeous one: hope she’s staying a while: lok2tmfo: XXXXXXXX!!!!
Full list from Viewley: 25 Species of bird: 5 Pheasant, 2 Swift, 5 Woodpigeon, 2 Oystercatcher, 6 Curlew, 3 Black-headed Gull, 1 Caspian Gull (1s), 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Honey-buzzard (At 16:20 a male up with the melee of raptors. At 16:33 a male hanging over main wood on N side briefly.), 2 Red Kite (At 15 55 an adult hunting over area. At 16:17 up again, being chased away by Black Kite.. Out to hunt at 16:24. Piccies showed 2 birds on moult patterns), 1 Black Kite (At 16:17 chasing off Red Kite, then patrolling to W at 16:21 after interaction with Common Buzzard and Hobby. At 16:46 soaring very high hunting over fields on edge of moor), 1 Buzzard (Out to hunt to W at 16:24 after interaction with Black Kite), 1 Hobby (a male Hobby in interaction with Black Kite at 16:21), 14 Jackdaw, 20 Rook, 3 Carrion Crow, 3 Raven (À family party of 3, not sure how many juveniles), 7 Swallow, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Wren, 1 Starling, 5 Blackbird, 1 Redstart (male singing), 1 House Sparrow, 1 Linnet, plus Mole and Butterflies 2 Species 1 Green-veined White, 1 Orange-tip.
May 30th: maximum 23C, minimum 13C, sunny, light S, dry until evening when a few showers. Made Wylam in afternoon to check for Honey-buzzard arrivals. Had good success with a female at Wylam E and a male at Newburn. The Atlantic Grey Seal was attracting much interest, feeding just below the weir: suspect it plays to the gallery! Also had a Goosander female in territory, 2 broods of Mallard, a Grey Heron, 12 Sand Martin. Evening saw further move E to NCL where went to GH to see John Wilson conduct Sinfonia of London in Hollywood film music. Thought it went well with pieces by Max Steiner, John Williams and many others. Miscalculated times but still made the rendezvous: speedy and passionate with the gorgeous one: lok2tbcp: XXXXXXXX!! Funds last week were -39k, as PoO fell quickly back; some oil shares are now cheaper than before the crisis so giving good opportunities IMHO!
May 29th: maximum 18C, minimum 9C, cloudy, moderate SW, dry. Main trip for day was to Haltwhistle North Wood for 3 hours in afternoon, looking for leads on the local Osprey. No progress except have narrowed area for nest considerably. Had lots of bird-types – 35 in all, including 4 types of wader -- 5 Lapwing, 4 Oystercatcher, 3 Curlew, 1 Common Sandpiper (first of year); 9 Swift; 9 Sand Martin; 3 types of warbler -- 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Garden Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff; 3 types of raptor – 1 Black Kite (At 18:02 one hunting over edge of moorland and conifers, up and down several times), 1 Honey-buzzard (At 17 20 a male over wood to E of S Tyne, low-down over wood. Mobbed by crow), 1 Common Buzzard. Did have an Osprey later: At 20:02 an Osprey over Tyne Bridge, Hexham, mobbed by Corvids, before moving towards nest site. Made DoW4g4s with D/D/D/C 4 good catch-up. On way back stopped at Dipton Wood N where had a Nightjar flying through a clearing, calling grrk. 2Moro it’s concert in evening at GH. XXXX!!
May 28th: maximum 23C, minimum 13C, light SW, sunny periods, dry. Had good lunch with M and some of his family. A male Honey-buzzard was displaying at height over house at 11:41. Out late afternoon to Allendale SW where had 21 bird-types, including 3 raptors: a Black Kite (Out to hunt at 15:43 from nest site over the fields back at 16:04, all Curlews alarm calling), a female Honey-buzzard (At 16:09 female up briefly, then dived back as saw me) and a Common Buzzard (At 16:14 out to hunt, more alarm calls from Curlew), plus some interesting waders (10 Curlew (1 chick seen), 1 agitated Lapwing, 1 agitated Oystercatcher)) and butterflies (1 Small White, 16 Green-veined White, 7 Orange-tip, 1 Small Heath). Had a Redstart near Hexham Race Course on way back, first of year. Also had a family group of Tawny Owl near my house on way home, early on 29/5. Took large delivery from W early evening to replenish stores! Met the gang again at G4g4s 4 good chat! She’s so gorgeous and beautiful: such satisfaction: lok2tmfo: XXXXXXXX!!!!
May 27th: maximum 17C, minimum 9C, moderate SE, sunny periods, dry. Kept local today, getting 22 bird-types at Ordley, including 3 Pheasant, 2 Swift, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Stock Dove, 15 Woodpigeon, 1 Oystercatcher, 2 Lapwing, 1 Black-headed Gull, 1 Magpie, 6 Jackdaw, 10 Rook, 4 Carrion Crow, 1 Blue Tit, 3 Swallow, 1 House Martin, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Garden Warbler, 3 Blackbird, 2 Robin, 6 House Sparrow, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Linnet, plus single Rabbit, 1 Brown Hare, 1 Mole, and Butterflies 4 Species: 1 Large White, 3 Red Admiral, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Speckled Wood. No raptors here but at Slaley W had a Black Kite moving W to forage over Dukesfield at 19:30. Earlier much enjoyed my coffee!! 2moro more coffee with M hopefully and later to G4g4s!! lok2tmfo: XXXX!!
For trip from 16/5-26/5 to Czechia and Poland had 40 species from 92 records, 5 complete lists, 14 places, Poland; 36 species from 76 records, 4 complete lists, 17 places, Czechia; 52 species from 168 records, 9 complete lists, 31 places, whole trip. Will publish individual species lists soon, including more details of the raptor sightings as recorded with GPS.
May 26th: maximum 26C, minimum 15C, light NW, sunny periods, strong sunshine, dry. Had a quiet day as wanted to save strength for later! We got taxi at 15:30 to Krakow Airport where son went off to Luton direct with Ryanair and I had two KLM flights Krakow – AMS and AMS - NCL. My first flight was 40 min late but had 90 min in theory to connect, which proved ample as passport control was quick with very little traffic late-on. Arrived a little late. Got car out of long-stay and drove to Hexham. A Roe Deer was on the road at Callerton turn-off; I stopped and flashed my lights at approaching car which also stopped, and the deer gambolled off! Gr8 reception by the gorgeous one: she’s so captivating: lok2tmfo: XXXXXXXX!!!! 2moro might be coffee-time!!
May 25th: maximum 24C, minimum 14C, light NW, sunny periods, strong sunshine, dry. We took the train out to the E today, to Tarnów, about 170km from the Ukraine border. The train we were on was going to a station Premysl, just before that border; it was packed with young people with luggage, presumably going back to Ukraine, after working/studying in southern Poland; there are strong links between Krakow and Lvov. Tarnów is best known for horrific massacres of Jews in November 1939 shortly after the Nazi invasion of Poland. We walked around the town, had a drink, visited the Cathedral, before returning by train to Krakow. In the evening we went to our favourite Polish restaurant (Leliwa) for another great meal. On the way to Tarnów had a pair of Honey-buzzard in low-level display and at Tarnów itself had a pair of Kestrel in territory and a Black Woodpecker in flight. On the train journey back had a female Sparrowhawk up over a small village, bringing raptor count to 8 types. Great trip ends tomorrow: back with KLM on evening flights Krakow – AMS, AMS – NCL. To the gorgeous one: XXXXXX!!!!
May 24th: maximum 26C, minimum 15C, light NW, sunny periods, strong sunshine, dry. Today’s trip was to the Jewish quarter in the SE of Krakow. We visited the site of rebellion against the Nazis, Schindler’s Factory of List fame, a Polish ethnography museum, in the afternoon. The museum was interesting in that it showed most Polish people were very poor until recently, now lifted by more productive agriculture, a market economy and industrialisation, helped by plentiful cheap energy with coal contributing to around half of all electricity generation; coal is to be replaced by nuclear as base load by 2049. Highlight of day was visit to Restauracya Kawiarnia, where we had dinner accompanied by a trio of Klezmer players, a clarinettist, a double bass player and an accordion player. Klezmer is traditional Jewish music, rather jazz-like and often played on joyous occasions such as weddings. It was an inspiring concert! In particular the female clarinettist was superb! Added a Corn Bunting to the bird list at a grassland near the Vistula. Missing the beauties: XXXXXX!!!!
While on family history, from DNA studies I am a quarter what might be called German from my paternal grandmother, actually Ashkenazi Jew, with a stack of relations (second cousins) in Golders Green, London. My grandmother became a Baptist, joining my paternal grandfather in that faith. I don't consider myself as Jewish but my late wife thought (after an aborted engagement with a practising Jew) that I had many traits associated with Jews. Whatever I strongly support Jews in all their endeavours, including the Newcastle-based Brundibár Arts festival, which commemorates Jewish musicians of the Holocaust period. While my son is also empathetic with Jews, I keep the subject at a low profile with my daughter, who is married to an Iranian. My two granddaughters' DNA are 50% Iranian, 25% British, 25% central/eastern European: quite a mixture, leaning to the E but my paternal line is firmly to the W in Devon and Somerset since 1700, going back to Wexford in Ireland before that.
As part of catch-up, here’s recent data from BirdGuides, starting with a few Black Kite:
Reported 15:03 23/05 Black Kite West Sussex Woods Mill SWT one reported
10:55 11/05 Black Kite Cornwall St Buryan15:39 10/05 one flew east over Boskennel Lane yesterday
10:20 11/05 Black Kite Cornwall Cadgwith one flew north
then many Honey-buzzard:
11:22 24/05 European Honey Buzzard Kent New Romney one flew north
10:46 24/05 European Honey Buzzard Norfolk Swanton Novers watchpoint 10:30 two (one male) displaying from watchpoint on Fulmodeston Road (NR20 5BW) between 09:45 and 10:30
10:46 24/05 European Honey Buzzard Kent Worth 10:37 one flew north-west over church
10:36 24/05 European Honey Buzzard East Sussex Bexhill one flew south-west
14:32 23/05 European Honey Buzzard West Sussex Woolbeding Common14:25 one again from Older Hill viewpoint flew over towards ridge
13:22 23/05 European Honey Buzzard Caernarfon Anafon Valley adult flew south across valley towards Aber falls
12:50 23/05 European Honey Buzzard East Sussex Ashdown Forest three from Llama Park viewpoint
Overseas 12:39 23/05 European Honey Buzzard Jersey St Aubin 12:35 one flew over Mont les Vaux
12:17 23/05 European Honey Buzzard Norfolk Northrepps 12:14 one flew north-west
11:25 23/05 European Honey Buzzard Borders Eyemouth 11:22 one flew in off the sea
10:15 23/05 European Honey Buzzard East Sussex North Chailey two over Red House Common
08:46 23/05 European Honey Buzzard West Sussex Woolbeding Common 08:44 one again perched from Older Hill viewpoint then flew off
07:38 23/05 European Honey Buzzard GlamorganResolven14:32 22/05 one distantly in flight yesterday
11:42 22/05 European Honey Buzzard West Sussex Woolbeding Common 11:33 two again from Older Hill viewpoint
11:01 22/05 European Honey Buzzard Kent Abbot's Cliff one flew in off sea
10:32 22/05 European Honey Buzzard East Sussex North Chailey 10:05 male flew north-west over Red House Common
09:24 22/05 European Honey Buzzard North Yorkshire Wykeham Forest 08:30 one from raptor viewpoint; use Raptor Viewpoint car park (YO13 9EB) then walk 500m north
09:18 22/05 European Honey Buzzard Kent Dover 09:16 one flew in off the sea over eastern docks and continued north-west
17:00 21/05 European Honey Buzzard West Sussex Woolbeding Common 16:45 one again from Older Hill viewpoint
14:34 21/05 European Honey Buzzard Norfolk Swanton Novers watchpoint one again from watchpoint on Fulmodeston Road (NR20 5BW) between 13:35 and 13:45
13:11 21/05 European Honey Buzzard West Sussex Woolbeding Common 12:44 one again from Older Hill viewpoint
12:32 21/05 European Honey Buzzard Kent Ramsgate 12:30 one flew west
12:04 21/05 European Honey Buzzard West Sussex Woolbeding Common12:00 one again from Older Hill viewpoint
10:52 21/05 European Honey Buzzard Kent Langdon Cliffs NT one arrived in off the sea and continued inland
16:20 20/05 European Honey Buzzard West Sussex Woolbeding Common 11:10 at least two still from Older Hill viewpoint
11:53 20/05 European Honey Buzzard East Sussex Ashdown Forest one again from Llama Park viewpoint
10:04 20/05 European Honey Buzzard Norfolk Swanton Novers watchpoint 09:00 one displaying over pines from watchpoint on Fulmodeston Road (NR20 5BW)
16:59 19/05 European Honey Buzzard Norfolk Bodham 16:30 one flew north
14:24 18/05 European Honey Buzzard West Sussex Woolbeding Common 12:15 one again from Older Hill viewpoint (four this morning)
10:45 18/05 European Honey Buzzard Dorset Sandbanks 10:32 one flew north across Poole Harbour entrance
Reported 10:15 18/05 European Honey Buzzard Cambridgeshire Great Chishill 06:40 one reportedly departed roost in poplars
13:32 17/05 European Honey Buzzard West Sussex Woolbeding Common 13:27 three still from Older Hill viewpoint
Unconfirmed 12:30 17/05 European Honey Buzzard Hertfordshire Tyttenhanger GP probable drifted north-east though distant
11:55 17/05 European Honey Buzzard Kent North Foreland one flew inland
11:28 17/05 European Honey Buzzard East Sussex North Chailey 10:46 male flew north-west over Red House Common
10:09 17/05 European Honey Buzzard West Sussex Woolbeding Common 09:50 three from Older Hill viewpoint
14:31 16/05 European Honey Buzzard East Sussex Ashdown Forest 13:18 one over visitor centre from Llama Park viewpoint
11:42 16/05 European Honey Buzzard Cambridgeshire Fen Drayton Lakes RSPB 11:30 female flew north-east; use RSPB car park (CB24 4RB)
10:25 16/05 European Honey Buzzard Norfolk Salthouse male flew south over Sarbury Hill
10:17 16/05 European Honey Buzzard West Sussex Woolbeding Common 09:40 two over NT car park
07:13 16/05 European Honey Buzzard West Sussex Woolbeding Common 06:55 one from Older Hill viewpoint
21:08 15/05 European Honey Buzzard Dorset Middlebere 11/05 male flew over on Monday
16:41 15/05 European Honey Buzzard Surrey Capel 16:40 one flew north-west
14:34 14/05 European Honey Buzzard East Sussex Beachy Head one flew below cliffs at Cow Gap mid-afternoon
13:38 14/05 European Honey Buzzard Norfolk Sea Palling 13:05 one flew north-west towards Eccles-on-Sea
17:22 13/05 European Honey Buzzard Norfolk Norwich 17:10 one flew north-west over Riverside
Overseas 12:29 12/05 European Honey Buzzard Guernsey St Peter Port one flew east over Vauvert
09:43 12/05 European Honey Buzzard Norfolk Swanton Morley GPs 09:30 one flew north-west
11:26 11/05 European Honey Buzzard Dorset Stanpit Marsh one flew east
07:30 11/05 European Honey Buzzard Dorset Portland 10/05 probable flew over yesterday
and a few Osprey in W/S Northumberland:
15:37 23/05 Osprey Northumberland Bywell one over county show field mid-afternoon
11:21 23/05 Osprey Northumberland Grindon Lough 11:20 adult flew low south overhead
21:16 17/05 Osprey Northumberland Cragside NT one late afternoon
16:14 17/05 Osprey Northumberland Riding Mill 16:09
15:00 15/05 Osprey Northumberland Callaly one flew east
May 23rd: maximum 22C, minimum 11C, light N, sunny periods, strong sunshine, dry. Had a lazy morning, then into park for s sit-down studying the local life! Added Long-tailed Tit to the trip list. Then trip by tram 18 and bus 112 to Benedyktyńska, a 12th century monastery to W of Krakow, by the side of the Vistula. This was very impressive and we visited the cafe and the church dating from 19th century. Bird life was good, adding a pair of Hobby to the raptor list in total of 21 species: 1 Mallard, 12 Swift, 1 Cuckoo (female), 24 Feral Pigeon, 12 Woodpigeon, 4 Collared Dove, 1 Black-headed Gull (1s), 1 Caspian Gull (1s), 1 White Stork, 1 Kestrel (female), 2 Hobby (Put up briefly in wild display at 16:37), 1 Magpie, 9 Jackdaw, 1 Hooded Crow, 1 Blue Tit, 3 Swallow, 8 House Martin, 1 Reed Warbler, 4 Blackcap, 9 Blackbird, 4 House Sparrow. On way back had 1st Honey-buzzard for Poland in our trip at Tyniecka: 1 Honey-buzzard (A male hanging majestically over conifer wood on edge of rough vegetation near a village at 17:39). Running total for Poland is: 36 species from 66 records, 3 complete lists, 10 places. For whole trip have 7 raptor-types now, Brought my home page up to date with raptor totals mid-month and concerts. Noticed that Osprey page is not getting many hits; think this may be due to its title so changed to make it “Breeding Population of the Osprey in the Tyne and Derwent Valleys”. This should separate my page more from the Kielder population. We ate well tonight in an Italian restaurant (Santa Caterina); cost around £100 for 3 courses. 2moro it’s a trip to the Jewish quarter and hopefully some Klezmer! Must say the local lasses are very smart. My late wife’s father was born in modern-day Poland in this area near Wroclaw; then it was Germany (Prussia) and the city was called Breslau. She had strong Slavic looks, as found in Czechia and southern Poland. Her father fought with the Luftwaffe, was taken prisoner, was moved to Bristol prison and released at the end of the war to Devon as his homeland was now behind the Iron Curtain. Looking forward to return: XXXXXX!!!!
May 22nd: maximum 24C, minimum 13C, light N, sunny spells, some cloud, dry. Today’s major trip was to Wawel Royal Castle by the Vistula River on the S side of the city. The castle is impressive from the outside but we paid for full access to the exhibitions there which gave us a good account of the complexities of Polish history. Rather like Czechia, Poland has spent a lot of time being sandwiched between superior powers to the east, Russia, and to the west, Germany. We saw hundreds of paintings, heavy furniture, porcelain, Delft-ware, and 18th century silver; quite a lot had been stolen by the Nazis in WWII but most recovered now. We had a meal at Restaurant Leliwa, a traditional Polish hostelry, where had Red Borscht (beetroot soup) for starter, bilos with bread (hunter’s stew of meat with sauerkraut, fresh cabbage), apple pie, washed down with 2 large beer! Felt quite bloated at end, had to sit down in the park on way home, to recover my poise! It was a great meal though! Beginning to think of all the joys of life at home: XXXXXX!! Funds lost last week’s gains to be roughly level on the 2-weeks period; there seems to be amazing optimism concerning the US-Iran talks, and looking at Bloomberg TV over here, nobody wants to spoil the AI party.
Here’s today’s bird count in central Krakow, which has a good circular park around the centre: 14 Species 2 Mute Swan (pair adult), 1 Tufted Duck (female), 31 Swift, 107 Feral Pigeon, 5 Woodpigeon, 1 Green Woodpecker, 14 Jackdaw, 9 Rook, 3 Hooded Crow, 1 Coal Tit, 2 Blackcap, 22 Blackbird (one fledged juvenile), 1 Fieldfare (carrying food), 2 Chaffinch. No butterflies though parks are fairly wild. Running totals are: Czechia 36 species from 76 records, 4 complete lists, 17 places; Poland 18 species from 29 records, 1 complete lists, 7 places. Combined total 40 species. 6 types of raptor: Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Honey-buzzard, Black Kite, Peregrine, Black-winged Kite, last-named in Poland, along with Common Buzzard; other 5 found in Czechia.
May 21st: maximum 22C, minimum 12C, light W, sunny spells, some cloud, few very light rain showers. 6 hours 40 min on train today from Prague to Krakow, arriving at 16:40, travelling 1st class in style with meals. Had good views of the countryside, noting the move from arable around Prague to more conifer forest and ponds in Moravia before crossing the Polish border to mixed farming. Had a good range of raptors, with Common Buzzard the commonest, followed by Honey-buzzard at 2 sites (pair displaying, male displaying), a Kestrel and best of all a Black-winged Kite in SW Poland hovering over a field. There are plenty of Swift everywhere over Polish towns and villages. Made Krakow centre for good meal in evening, then back to our apartment, which is well appointed near the centre. XXXX!!
May 20th: maximum 21C, minimum 13C, light SE, cloudy, light rain showers throughout afternoon. Musical highlight was Rusalka, Dvorak’s watery opera with nymphs, gnomes and humans, based on the Little Mermaid story of Hans Christian Anderson, recently popularised through Walt Disney (and Hexham Amateur Stage Society!). This was at the State Opera House and was hugely entertaining. Earlier we had 3-course meal at Al Tagliere near the Opera House and in the afternoon I got close to the Caspian Gull, noting 12 with 2 ad, 2 2s, 8 1s, plus a surprise of a pair of Egyptian Goose. No definite Herring Gull were seen. In the morning we went to the Dvorak Museum in the new city. All going well – onto Krakow by train tomorrow.
May 19th: maximum 19C, minimum 12C, light SE, sunny periods, dry. Had train journey out to Kutná Hora today, taking about an hour each way. The Gothic cathedral there St Barbaras is amazing in scale for a small town, which made its fortune in shallow silver mines from the 1300s but now exhausted. Had a good day for raptors, seeing a Peregrine and 3 Kestrel in the town itself and on the way back near the 4 o’clock soar seeing Black Kite singles at 2 sites and a Common Buzzard at another. No Honey-buzzard yet! Tonight’s concert was again at Rudolfinum and we were treated to two pieces by Bartók, one by Janacek and another by Fiser with soloist Patricia. The whole concert was so lively: we were well impressed. Running total for Czechia is: 30 species from 54 records, 2 complete lists, 7 places.
May 18th: maximum 19C, minimum 10C, light N, sunny periods, dry. Our first concert today at the Rudolfinum in central Prague at the Spring Music Festival, with an American theme, featuring Barber, Copland, Dvorak, Ginastera, in a very dynamic programme under the new conductor of the Prague Philharmonia Soukup. Ate well today at 2 restaurants (Marina, near River Moldau) and made Charles Bridge and the Castle as the highlights. I found some Caspian Gull (2 ad, 8 1s) on the Vltava, as well as smaller numbers of Herring Gull and Black-headed Gull. More to follow … XXXX!!
May 17th: maximum 17C, minimum 7C, light N, sunny spells, dry. Had good local walk in morning around Karlin towards River Vltava and its island to E of city. Had 14 Species: 20 Mallard (including brood of 2 small chicks), 12 Tufted Duck, 3 Swift, 63 Feral Pigeon, 15 Woodpigeon, 2 Herring Gull, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel (in evening at likely breeding site on church steeple, on spires of The Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Prague 8 - Karlin on Karlin Square), 2 Green Woodpecker (1 yaffle by church, 1 seen by river), 5 Magpie, 4 Jackdaw, 1 Carrion Crow, 3 Blackcap, 1 Blackbird, 2 Chaffinch. Then by Uber onto National Museum at lunchtime to meet son at restaurant there. We then spent a couple of hours looking at Czech history, including the horrific last century with WW1 (decline of Austria), WW2 under Hitler, communism with Stalin, rebellion, Russia again, before return to democracy. We also visited the older history section, which was fascinating, showing Bohemia as a world force for some time. Back on the Metro to base where we had a Mexican meal at evening with chicken tacos and a couple of pints of craft beer.
May 16th: maximum 15C, minimum 6C, light NW, sunny spells, dry. Caught 11:50 NCL-FRA and 16:50 FRA-PRA, with 2 hours 30 mins in FRA, one hour of which was spent in passport queue with new EU system. Fortunately it did remember my registration from Malaga in January but final checks were all manual. These hybrid digital-manual systems are much reduced in effectiveness, like supermarket automatic check-outs. But at least got there in time to meet Son at the airport, before getting an Uber into city centre to our apartment at Saldova, which was very well appointed. We had dinner at an Italian Don Carlos, which served very tasty food at reasonable cost £60, including drink and tips. At Frankfurt Airport had 2 Swift and 5 Carrion Crow. At Prague Airport had 7 Species: 1 Feral Pigeon, 1 Woodpigeon, 1 Magpie, 1 Jackdaw, 1 Rook, 5 Carrion Crow, 2 Skylark. Preparing for good nite’s sleep!
May 15th: maximum 11C, minimum 1C, moderate NW, cloudy, few brighter spells, a shower in evening, still bracing. A day at home as got ready! Cut all grass in front and also shaved the front yard. Did go once into HEX to W to get some cleaning supplies for S, who’s looking after the place. Did a count at home, getting 23 Species: 4 Pheasant, 2 Swift (in habitat), 15 Woodpigeon, 2 Lapwing (agitated), 1 Black-headed Gull, 1 Honey-buzzard (Female floating in from E low-down into site at 14:49), 1 Magpie, 2 Jackdaw, 5 Rook, 4 Carrion Crow, 3 Blue Tit (nest in wall), 3 Swallow, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Garden Warbler, 1 Wren (nest in wall), 3 Song Thrush, 3 Blackbird, 4 Robin (carrying food), 2 House Sparrow, 1 Pied Wagtail (yarrellii) (carrying food), 3 Chaffinch, 1 Linnet, 1 Goldfinch, plus 1 Rabbit, 5 Brown Hare. So plenty of productive activity. Funds were +56k on week, getting close to record, as PoO stays stubbornly high and £ falls against $, which boosts my funds in £ terms. XXXX!!
May 14th: maximum 12C, minimum 2C, moderate NW, sunny spells with frequent heavy showers, bracing. A Large White butterfly at Ordley in the morning was the first of the year. Made QHC4s4l with M 4 good chat! Out at ttime as usual, this time making Dipton Wood S for a walk. Here had 20 Species: 2 Pheasant, 3 Stock Dove, 22 Woodpigeon, 1 Curlew, 4 Black-headed Gull, 55 Common Gull (52 1s, 1 ad, 2 2s), 1 Herring Gull, 2 Honey-buzzard (From 16:50 to 16:52 a pair up in subdued display over Dipton Wood SW. Female out to forage 17:07), 14 Jackdaw, 46 Rook, 13 Carrion Crow, 7 Swallow, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 2 Song Thrush, 7 Blackbird, 1 Tree Pipit, 4 Chaffinch, 7 Linnet, 1 Yellowhammer. Nearby at Dipton Wood E had 2 Species: 1 Black Kite (At 16 07 over Dipton Wood E a Black Kite up mobbed by a Crow), 1 Carrion Crow (mobbing the Black Kite). At Riding Mill had 1 Species: 1 Red Kite (At 16:31 a Red Kite up over wood N of Eastwood Common). Took P to G4g4s where met A. Much later at Letah Wood had a Tawny Owl and a Hedgehog. Completed evening in ‘Shire with passion: lok2tsyo!! XXXX!!
May 13th: maximum 11C, minimum 2C, moderate NW, sunny spells after showers in morning, bracing. Brilliant afternoon visit to Thornbrough, catching the pick-up in the weather as ttime approached. First-up was a pair of Osprey, doing low-level display, possibly a fish pass, marvellous stuff. Then a pair of Honey-buzzard were up near Prospect Hill in full diving display. Finally 3 Black Kite were seen, a pair in low-level display over Tofts Hill, and a single in a tree near its nest site in the tetrad being surveyed. Two local Common Buzzard (paired) were also seen and heard. Also had a calling Cuckoo, 2 Whitethroat. In evening made Mart to hear Jasmine tell us about her brave rowing, swimming and sailing adventures around the world; it was very well done with Carol Malia chairing a q&a session. 2Moro meeting M at qh 4 lunch and making G4g4s with the gang. XXXX!!
May 12th: maximum 13C, minimum 3C, moderate W, sunny spells with a few showers, bracing. Made Letah Wood for 2 hours around noon in quite windy conditions, not ideal. Did though have good sightings at Swallowship of 1 Honey-buzzard (Adult female soaring high at 12:22, not up for long in brisk wind), 2 Black Kite (At 13:10 a pair up on active display , other sightings of singles during observation period). At Letah Wood itself had 22 Species: 3 Pheasant, 3 Swift W, 14 Woodpigeon, 1 Black-headed Gull, 4 Herring Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Jay, 12 Jackdaw, 22 Rook, 4 Carrion Crow, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Woodlark (Flying out of Letah Wood to scrub by West Dipton Burn), 9 Swallow, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 9 Blackbird (first fledged young), 2 Robin, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Tree Pipit, 1 Chaffinch, 2 Linnet, 1 Yellowhammer, plus Mole and a hardy Green-veined White butterfly. The first Woodlark of the year was the highlight here. Made QHC4s4l: very tasty!! Then into QHL for some work on nervous system and category theory, writing most of the abstract for the talk at ANPA 2026 at Manchester in early August. Finally home at ttime, getting trip details finalised for coming tour of central Europe. Funds are +20k wtd, mainly on BOR gaining on prospects for a Falklands deal. Did first grass cutting of the year around the back where cut some rank grass, growing vigorously. XXXX!!
May 11th: maximum 10C, minimum 2C, light N, sunny spells today, but cool, dry. Went for walk on edge of Hexhamshire Common at King’s Law towards Westburnhope at ttime for 2 hours in the chilly weather. It was very rewarding, including many moorland specialities, with 24 bird-species: 5 Greylag Goose (2 ad + 3 young), 4 Red Grouse, 6 Black Grouse (all cocks), 10 Pheasant, 1 Swift N, 2 Cuckoo (chased by 2 Meadow Pipit. Later male calling), 2 Stock Dove, 17 Woodpigeon, 10 Lapwing, 15 Curlew, 2 Snipe, 1 Herring Gull (1s), 3 Jackdaw, 1 Rook, 1 Carrion Crow, 4 Willow Warbler, 2 Wren, 2 Mistle Thrush (very agitated), 3 Blackbird, 2 Robin, 2 Stonechat (agitated pair), 5 Meadow Pipit, 7 Chaffinch, 2 Goldfinch, plus mammals 3 species: 13 Rabbit (4 dead on road, 9 live), 8 Brown Hare, 5 Mole. Added 3 types to my year list: Black Grouse, Cuckoo, Snipe. No raptors seen at all. A small brood of Greylag Goose was at Steel Pond. Later had 2 Oystercatcher at Ordley giving 4 wader types for the day. A large Hedgehog was in my front garden at 20:00. Made R where had an interesting talk on military sniping; didn’t know that the term does come from the bird, the Snipe, a very difficult bird to shoot in flight with a bullet. Made G4g4s with P/A, hope R is back soon to give P lifts; L was on!! XXXX!!
May 10th: maximum 12C, minimum 2C, light W, ground frost overnight, sunny spells today, but cool, dry. Made Warden for raptor watch in late afternoon. Had 4 types of raptor: in total of 28 bird-types 1 Honey-buzzard (male) wide-ranging over area, 1 Black Kite hanging over hillside to SW, 1 Red Kite coming off hill to forage to S, 1 Common Buzzard over hillside to SW hunting. Earlier at lunchtime had a Black Kite over Whitley Chapel site, and had single Common Buzzard over the Ordley site in the morning and the evening. A Barn Owl was on the fence at Ordley at 21:50. Took P to G4g4s where also met A, with E on!! End of day was terrific: return of the gorgeous one: so pleased to see her again: lok2tmfo: XXXXXXXX!!!!!
Updates from BirdGuides on 3 core species:
10:49 10/05 European Honey Buzzard Warwickshire Alvecote Pools 10:12 one flew north-east over Mill Pool; park along Polesworth Lane (B29 0HF). Access over gate is for permit holders only
10:08 10/05 European Honey Buzzard Dorset Swineham GPs one flew north
15:26 09/05 European Honey Buzzard Dorset Portland one flew north over Freshwater Bay mid-afternoon
13:41 07/05 European Honey Buzzard Somerset West Coker 13:35 one circled high over and drifted north-east
15:30 06/05 European Honey Buzzard West Sussex Crawley 14:30 one flew high north over garden
Reported17:59 04/05 European Honey Buzzard Dorset Arne RSPB 17:53 one reportedly flew south
19:11 02/05 European Honey Buzzard Cork Shanagarry one flew over this evening
Unconfirmed 16:33 25/04 European Honey Buzzard Dorset Brownsea Island NT possible male reportedly flew towards Poole Harbour
Reported 08:33 19/04 European Honey Buzzard Devon North Molton 19:00 17/04
14:34 10/05 Black Kite Cornwall Skewjack 12:45 one flew over with Red Kites
10:06 09/05 Black Kite Meirionnydd Bala Lake/Llyn Tegid 09:36 one flew south-west towards Llanuwchllyn
12:19 08/05 Black Kite Oxfordshire Otmoor RSPB 10:30 one over Greenaways then drifted north over first screen; use car park at end of Otmoor Lane (OX3 9UR; £2 or free for RSPB members)
14:59 07/05 Black Kite Somerset Priddy 14:52 one flew north
11:28 07/05 Black Kite Somerset Steart WWT one flew east over Stockland Marsh late morning
Unconfirmed 10:16 05/05 Black Kite Dorset Seacombe Cliff 09:25 probable flew east over Seacombe viewed distantly from St Aldhelm's Head
15:38 02/05 Black Kite East Sussex Polegate 15:21 one flew north
16:38 07/05 Osprey Northumberland Ovingham 13:30 one from Ovingham Bridge
15:43 07/05 Osprey Northumberland Hexham 11:30
09:38 26/04 Osprey Northumberland Whittle Dene Reservoirs 09:32 one flew east
13:27 25/04 Osprey Durham Derwent Reservoir 13:19 one flew through
May 9th: maximum 9C, minimum 2C, light NE, rain and gloom all day until late-on when frost might occur. No birdwatching today. Watched the Gulls lose 3-2 to Hornchurch on DAZN in their play-off final; went to extra-time where we lost at 117 after being ahead until 90+2 in normal time. Wondered whether the gorgeous one had returned but apparently aqotwf! XXXX!!
May 8th: maximum 15C, minimum 8C, light N, sunshine and showers. Made Dotland over lunchtime, seeing a Honey-buzzard female up briefly on a foraging trip; they’re very restless on arrival, not spending long in any one location. No Black Kite were seen: they’re on eggs at the moment so very secretive; it’s really the only stage they’re not easily visible. Had a Lapwing E, later at Quayside had an Oystercatcher E, so maybe failed breeders going back to the coast. Sold some Ag scrap small spoons, 20 in all, to Whites in their visit to Cnt. Made GH to see Mahler 9 played by RLPO under Domingo Hindoyan, over 100 in orchestra to play this mammoth 90 min piece. Very moving: a great contrast between the massive climaxes and the very quiet periods including the ending, which was beautiful. Had a drink with some partners. Gr8 end to day: lok2tbcp: she’s so sensuous: XXXXXX!!!! Had a Badger at Letah Wood and a Fox at Ordley on way home. Funds recovered somewhat to -13k on week, mainly due to takeover bid for DELT.
May 7th: maximum 13C, minimum 5C, light N, sunny spells, cloudier afternoon, dry, cool. Made QHC4s4l with M and D 4 gr8 chat. Then HA with Cristo Harijan (piano) playing music by Brahms, Liszt, and Mompou. He was very good, particularly with the Liszt. Then to Westerhope to make A&G to pick up my lot, which looks like a small Ag French dognose fork, possibly made in Montpellier c1700; still working on it! Then to Throckley N where had a Red Kite foraging low-down over fields, a male Honey-buzzard hanging over its potential nesting site for 10 min, a Black Kite keeping very close to the trees at its nest site in the plantation, a female Kestrel hunting. Also had a Common Buzzard at Newton, a Kestrel male hunting at Rudchester. A bid had been made and agreed with Deltic of 7.7p a share by the solid Neo Next+; quite happy with that! More to follow … XXXX!!
May 6th: maximum 11C, minimum 0C, light N, sunny spells, dry, cool. Polar air today, splendid visibility, always good for raptors. Made Bywell in afternoon where had first Whitethroat of season: 3 birds including a pair displaying. Raptors comprised a female Honey-buzzard up from Bywell foraging at Styford N, floating low over the canopy. Had single Black Kite towards Shilford (new site for year) and over Tofts Hill, but none at Bywell itself so assume this pair is incubating. Two Common Buzzard were over Shilford N. So 5 birds of 3 types. Highlight was a flock of 16 Swift moving slowly N. Total was 23 bird-types including 3 Skylark, a Common Gull 1s and a Herring Gull adult. Also had a Common Buzzard at Dilston on way home. Funds had a bad day -40k on Trump’s latest moves towards peace. My 3 RNS on Deltic were published today on the London Stock Exchange, last one at https://www.lse.co.uk/rns/DELT/form-83-deltic-energy-plc-69q0xaqos18253u.html; all looks a bit heavy! Have assembled some old coffee and tea spoons for scrap for visit by jewellers to Cnt on Friday.
May 5th: maximum 12C, minimum 2C, light N, overcast, some light rain showers, cool. No birdwatching today. Made QHC4s4l 4 usual good lunch. Then into QHL for final work on changes to ANPA paper; have added changes to the Overleaf version for publishing and proof-read the changes several times. Will have a fresh look in morning and then send copy to editors. Have chosen Opera North events to attend, including insight and opening night for Sound of Music and all bar one of next season’s opening nights (cannot make Orpheus, but seen it before!). Have sent off 3 RNS to London Stock Exchange RNS service for DELT; may be published tomorrow. Set up new Google Form for our Young Employee dinner on 8/6. Cleaner S came this afternoon while out: all spick and span! XXXX!!
May 4th: maximum 11C, minimum 5C, light NE, overcast, rain all day, quite heavy at times. At Ordley had the male Honey-buzzard up over the Linnels in the morning, along with a Black Kite up briefly over Slaley W. Avoided my care home duties tonight by going to Star Wars music concert at GH in the evening, much to the annoyance of my mates! I love film music in general but this is something special with 18 opus from the masterful composer John Williams (now 94 and still writing), with Stephen Bell conducting. I was on Level 3 as late booking and sold out at lower levels. But the sound from the large orchestra carried beautifully and really enjoyed it all. Parked at Prudhoe for the evening trip as did a visit to Dukeshagg in the afternoon. This was very exciting with 6 types of raptor. Much more to follow!! Best part of day was with the passionate one: she’s gorgeous: lok2tbcp: XXXXXX!!!!
The list at Dukeshagg comprised 24 bird-types and 4 butterfly-types. Birds were 3 Pheasant, 1 Stock Dove, 12 Woodpigeon, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Honey-buzzard (At 16:09 a male soaring high above usual nest site near meadow), 1 Goshawk (Male out hunting through top of canopy), 1 Red Kite (Gliding high up from S to N towards W of houses), 1 Black Kite (At 16:00 soaring off 4-tree nest site and going very high before off to hunt. Returning at 16:06), 2 Buzzard (Soaring over E side of site), 1 Kestrel, 71 Jackdaw, 25 Rook, 7 Carrion Crow, 1 Blue Tit, 4 Skylark, 5 Swallow, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 2 Garden Warbler, 1 Song Thrush, 4 Blackbird, 1 Robin, 1 Chaffinch, 4 Linnet. Butterflies were 1 Green-veined White, 10 Orange-tip, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Speckled Wood.
May 3rd: maximum 11C, minimum 5C, light NE, overcast, rain all day, quite heavy at times. No birdwatching today but had a lot of nocturnal wildlife to/from pub: a Roe Deer, 2 Tawny Owl and 2 Rabbit at Ordley; a Badger and 2 Rabbit at Letah Wood. Caught up on a lot of work: published end-month totals for raptors and reported first Honey-buzzard; did paragraph on data structures for categories representing layers in neural nets and another one on the free functors between these layers; arranged car and house insurance for coming year, renewing house with Hastings and changing car to Hastings; LV had quoted £704 for renewal but got insurance from Hastings for £584, including additionally NCD protection (currently 7 years) and courtesy car in event of repair needed. So cheaper price and better cover. Also progressed my application to make RNS on London Stock Exchange. Tried to get to G late-on but so crowded we (A/P/me) went to Cnt4g4s; cannot say I enjoyed it, bit like a care home outing!
May 2nd: maximum 17C, minimum 9C, light W, sunny intervals, dry. After yesterday’s false dawn, today did see the Honey-buzzard arrive at my local site near Ordley. From 11:33-11:35 a pair of Honey-buzzard were displaying over the site; the female did not stay up long before retreating to the canopy; the male stayed up longer departing to the SW on a foraging trip. Did ParkRun marshalling at Tyne Green from 08:15 – 239 runners, such good turnout. Good sociable morning! 6 Blackcap were singing on Tyne Green plus a Garden Warbler. Watched the Gulls beat Dorking 4-2 on DAZN: very convincing display. Made DoW4g4s with D/D 4 usual gr8 chat. XXXX!! Here’s end month update:
01/05/2026 End-month summary: Black Kite 23 birds at 15 sites throughout study area. Osprey 4 birds at 3 sites. Goshawk 1 bird at 1 site. Red Kite 15 birds at 10 sites.
May 1st: maximum 23C, minimum 6C, light SW, sunny morning, more cloud in afternoon, then rain. Got in some sunbathing in the morning. Then had an unusual site of 3 Common Buzzard up over the local nest site with considerable aggravation. I wondered whether one was a Honey-buzzard at first being greeted but all 3 were clearly Common Buzzard. Later at N tip of Dipton Wood had another suspected Honey-buzzard as it was migrating N very smoothly and again causing aggravation with the local Common Buzzard but it turned out to be a Common Buzzard as well. I suspect frustrated Common Buzzard without territories are becoming a little desperate and are moving around. Had a Tree Pipit in Dipton Wood, first of season, plus some warblers -- 3 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 4 Garden Warbler – and 2 Linnet, a Redpoll, plus 2 Peacock, first Green-veined White of the year and 2 Brown Hare. 1 Barn Owl was hunting in daytime and a pair of Black Kite were in territory on N edge of wood. Grand total for birds was 24 types. Funds finished -31k on week, still searching for direction after sharp earlier rise on the Iran crisis. XXXX!!
April 30th: maximum 15C, minimum 2C, light E, sunny all day, dry. Had leisurely morning on Quayside before making QHC4s4l with M for great chat. Continued success with Black Kite in the ‘Shire, today at Dipton Mill late afternoon where had a pair up low-down near usual shelter belt in which they breed at 17:15 in an afternoon visit where had 20 bird-species including a Common Buzzard, a Curlew, 6 Swallow, 2 House Martin, a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, 2 Garden Warbler, and first Pied Flycatcher of the year, a singing male. Much later made G4g4s with A (R in Germany, P shattered after trip to Durham City); all very lively with Young Farmers out in force.
Very impressive show of Black Kite on 29/4 with 10 reports (6 from SW, 3 from East Anglia, 1 from Wales). All from BirdGuides:
17:46 29/04 Black Kite Essex Liston one over fields near Mill Road this morning
16:51 29/04 Black Kite Cornwall Hayle Estuary 16:05 one flew north-east
Reported 16:28 29/04 Black Kite Pembrokeshire Skomer one reportedly flew over this morning
14:11 29/04 Black Kite Dorset Lytchett Matravers one flew over late morning
14:11 29/04 Black Kite Dorset Lytchett Minster 11:00 one flew over A35 roundabout at The Baker's Arms pub
14:05 29/04 Black Kite Suffolk Hintlesham 13:20 one flew over
13:41 29/04 Black Kite Cornwall Polgigga 12:45 one flew west
10:51 29/04 Black Kite Dorset Upton, Poole 10:30 one flew NNE
10:50 29/04 Black Kite Dorset Wareham 10:00 one flew over Carey Secret Garden
10:28 29/04 Black Kite Suffolk Glemsford one flew over
10:52 28/04 Black Kite Lincolnshire Manby one flew low south-east through Manby Flashes
13:25 23/04 Black Kite Argyll Sanaigmore, Islay one reportedly flew towards Ardnave this morning
April 29th: maximum 13C, minimum 2C, light E, sunny all day, dry. In to NCL to TR to see Red Shoes, a ballet produced by Matthew Bourne, with recorded music by Bernard Herrmann (Psycho fame!) and adapted for film by Michael Powell from the original story by Hans Christian Andersen. The production was very slick and the story of a ballet dancer (danced by team led by Cordelia Braithwaite), driven through her passion to dance for ever with the red shoes, was told well. Following her conflict between love for Julian and her obsession with dance, she (Vicky Page) falls in front of a train and dies in the arms of her lover Julian Craster, after asking him to take off the cursed red shoes Stayed for a change at Leonardo’s on Quayside near Baltic: great location by the river but further to walk from the station. Had to get bus 684 in as all trains cancelled through a signalling failure: took ages (80 min) but free and a nice scenic tour of the villages N of the Tyne into NCL. Had 10 bird-species on Quayside: 1 Mallard, 120 Feral Pigeon, 1 Woodpigeon, 510 Kittiwake, 23 Herring Gull (An adult eating a feral pigeon on a grassy feeding area for the pigeons), 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Magpie, 3 Jackdaw, 1 Carrion Crow, 1 Goldfinch.
April 28th: maximum 11C, minimum 2C, light NE, cloudy morning, brighter later, cool, dry. Made Slaley Forest Viewley for raptor study at ttime. Had 22 bird-types: 4 Greylag Goose, 2 Mallard, 7 Pheasant, 2 Stock Dove, 28 Woodpigeon, 1 Collared Dove, 1 Lapwing, 2 Curlew, 1 Common Gull (1s), 2 Red Kite (displaying with pair of Black Kite at 17:34), 2 Black Kite (displaying with pair of Red Kite at 17:34 and at 17:15 with an agitated Common Buzzard), 2 Common Buzzard, 6 Jackdaw, 14 Rook, 2 Carrion Crow, 3 Sand Martin, 4 Swallow, 1 House Martin, 1 Garden Warbler, 5 Blackbird, 4 Chaffinch, 2 Linnet, plus a Brown Hare. Stopped at Steel Pond where had a male Sparrowhawk displaying, 6 Mallard, 2 Greylag Goose, 1 Moorhen. So 4 types of raptor today. Earlier made QHC4s4l for tasty lunch. Not out tonite. Worked on ANPA paper revisions, completing reviewer 1’s suggestions, still got to produce worked example for reviewer 2. Watched Paris vs Munich football on Amazon Prime: very exciting 5-4 result. Funds are -21k wtd. Bought £50k ENQ2 bonds today at just under 9% interest to boost ISA income. Also bought an Ag seal-top spoon London 1633 at an auction house over the web. XXXX!!
April 27th: maximum 16C, minimum 7C, light N, sunny morning, cloudy later, warm, dry. Another Blackcap was singing, in Hexham Elvaston. Two Oystercatcher were displaying at Hexham at 23:00 and a Roe Deer was later at Lamb Shield. Made R at lunchtime 4 good chat but we had a quiz as no speaker from the ambulance service. Then made QHL where worked on ANPA paper to deal with a referee’s comments on how Strong AI might be approached. Much later made G4g4s with E/L on!!
April 26th: maximum 19C, minimum 7C, light E, sunny morning, cloudy later, warm, dry. This afternoon we had “The Rhossili Duo (comprising Gabriella Alberti and Cai Charles) are a vibrant guitar and flute pair who explore the passionate world of dance and tango music” from the IGF for their final spring performance in Hexham Abbey. They played a lot of Piazzolla, which was very dynamic, based on tango rhythms. Concert was well-supported and vivacious! Did some birdwatching on Tyne Green, after quick visit to SB4c4t, seeing my first Swift of the year and at Hexham NE had “A pair of Osprey soaring very high over site with a Black Kite well below”. Much later made G4g4s, fetching P from his home, to meet D/A. D’s daughter is still in Dubai: it’s hard there after all the attacks causing much disruption: thank goodness my family got out last year before the troubles started. Daughter and family have just moved to their new abode in Kingston, costing 3.5m; looking forward to a visit! XXXX!!
April 25th: maximum 13C, minimum 3C, light E, sunny all day, dry. Spent much of day sunbathing in the glorious weather on my patio, but keeping an eye on the birds, where had 27 types, comprising 5 Pheasant, 1 Stock Dove, 10 Woodpigeon, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Lapwing, 4 Black-headed Gull, 2 Common Buzzard, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6 Jackdaw, 4 Rook, 4 Carrion Crow, 4 Blue Tit, 1 Great Tit, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Wren, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Mistle Thrush, 3 Blackbird, 4 Robin, 4 Tree Sparrow, 6 Chaffinch, 2 Greenfinch, 1 Yellowhammer, plus an Orange-tip female. At Slaley W had 3 Species (2 extra to list just given): 1 Grey Heron, 2 Black Kite (both flying out from nesting area to W on foraging trips), 1 Common Buzzard, and at Juniper had 2 Common Buzzard. Was looking out for Honey-buzzard which expect in next few days but no signs today. When the first ones arrive the birds already here become edgy! Made DoW4g4s where pleased to see the gang and E again!! Had a Barn Owl at Corbridge on way home. Booked next season’s opera tickets at the Theatre Royal with Opera North for £321.20. XXXX!!
April 24th: maximum 19C, minimum 2C, light NE, sunny all day, dry. Into NCL on train for trip to GH in afternoon and evening for RNS rehearsal and performance. Thomas Zehetmair retuned as conductor and soloist in Mendelssohn VC in D (not the better known one in E!). The VC was very easy on the ear; remarkably Felix was only 13 when he wrote it! We also heard some Sibelius: Finlandia and S2. The S2 is magnificent, conjuring up images of great storms in the far north. Enjoyed social life with lunch, tea, supper there along with the odd rw. Had a displaying Black Kite at Farnley on the way in. For funds gain on week is 71k, with gains early in week reduced by 1/3rd on Friday: oilmen like to get their money out on Fridays to count over the weekend! So passionate end to nite: she’s fantastic: lok2tbcp: XXXXXX!!!!
April 23rd: maximum 14C, minimum 0C, light E, sunny spells, dry. Met M at QHC4m4l 4 good chat. Then to Prudhoe where did some birdwatching from Ovingham Bridge at ttime, hearing a Willow Warbler sing, first of year. Caught train to NCL where went to Hancock Museum for presentation on Rothbury Estate fundraising; fairly inspired, will contribute more! Later made G4g4s to meet the gang with L/L on. Nite finished well with the gorgeous one: lok2thpo: XXXXXX!!!! Raptors included a Tawny Owl at the Sele and 2 Tawny Owl back at Ordley. Accepted Westall quote of 13k with VAT for my bathroom update.
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 Hill 11:28 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).
