Month: July 2025

A light SSW meant again that I was in place for Raptor O’clock above the Harbour (Im sure you’re getting tired of this, though I’m certainly not!)

A thick Sea fog cleared by 10.40, revealing crystal clear viewing conditions South to Calais. The First Honey Buzzard of the day came in high at 10.55am, arrving from the Langdon Hole direction and picked up over the Eastern docks/Tramway, a female.

The Second Honey, another female, arrived at 13.15. Again from a South Easterly direction and picked up over the Eastern docks, in perfect blue skies whilst Amy and I had a picnic lunch.

Both similar ‘types’ of female HB, although the outer primary bars are distinctly different and the second bird was missing a tail feather.

That puts me on 15 so far this year.

Ive seen several juvenile Yellow–legged gulls so far this july, but mostly whilst fishing, so no camera to hand! Surely more to come though.

Light Southerly winds again and plenty of time for staring out to sea. A long stint from 09.30 – 16.00 with all of the raptor action from 11.30 – 14.05.

Starting off looking from Langdon hole I picked up the First two Honey Buzzards perhaps 2km out over the water, coming in together from the direct South. Wing beats in tandem they arrived over the Eastern Docks and continued North over the Tramway and National trust car park.

This female was closer than the male below. They arrived at a good height, barely needing to gain any elevation once above ground and not a single Gull alarm call heard.

Next a Marsh Harrier arrived from the SE at 12.10, characteristically in constant active flight as they all seem to be when over the water here. 2 more Honey Buzzards at 12.25, appearing over the breakwater perhaps 100m apart. I ran west along the tramway to intercept them but both birds (females, one dark one paler & barred) were heading more West than North so fairly distant views only.

Another Marsh Harrier and a Hobby came in fairly low between then and 14.05 when I picked up the 5th and final Honey Buzzard of the day, way out to the South.

The later the day gets – the better the light is for viewing over the channel and this bird was far out enough to take nearly 10 minutes even to get into Harbour airspace.

A cracking pale morph male, eventually coming in straight over my poistiton above the harbour 500m west of where I’d been standing previously.

Very happy with that and excellent views ensued as the bird circled over the headland behind me. 5 birds in off the sea is my best day count to date, beating several days of 3 in the past. I believe the day record here is 6 birds, held by Colin ‘hook beak’ Johnson. This bird is the 13th Ive seen this year, my best previous year’s total being 8.

45 Swift, 15 Swallow and 3 Whimbrel flew SW earlier in the day, Once birding near the harbour begins its eyes only as the noise does stop you hearing other birds.

It should be noted that I am spending alot of time looking, but it does seem to be a good Summer for Honey Buzzard arrivals, or at least a prolonged period of the correct weather. Another day of light winds but this time even better direction (SSW) resulted in another female HB arriving in off the sea, this time making landfall over the Eastern docks.

Picked up out over the Channel (just how I like them) it cruised in fairly low and gave distant but prolonged views as it avoided the usual Gull protest.

I also had a female Honey Buzzard over Dover the day before, picked up over the old Marina it came in over Snargate street and circled over st James before heading North, I texted Colin J who managed to see it over his House in Temple Ewell. This and today’s bird puts me on 8 for the year. A heatwave on the continent could be a reason for this push but I also believe that many birds are just late migrants, non breeders and not attached to any particular territory – these birds are opportunistic and with the correct conditions they will make the sea crossing. Also with woodlands in Calais being fairly chocka block with HBs they will likely be escorted away by the territory holders.

In other news my first Green Sandpiper of the Autumn flew SW at first light, 3 Flocks of Crossbills (10,3,c20) also flew the same direction during the morning. 15 Swallow, 5 House martin and c250 Swift also SW.

Sadly it seems to be a poor Year for Peregrines with at least 2 of the Nests I watch failing to produce young and the only successful nest fledged only one juvenile.