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.
PERDIX BIRDER 