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.
PERDIX BIRDER 