Have I seen a Honey Buzzard. Mid Sussex UK (1 Viewer)

The-Wanderer

Well-known member

• Nov 9, 2017

• #1

Our bungalow is in the corner of a field and we regularly see Common Buzzards in the trees, in flight and on a power pole some 250 metres away or so. In the summer we had an adult and a juvenile feeding on worms close by.

About a month ago, when we had a warm spell, there was what we thought was a CB on the power pole but, somehow it didn't seem right. I saw that it's head was grey but then, as they do, it flew off into the distance and I thought no more about it.

Yesterday, while my wife was on an errand in the next village, and bored, I flicked through the pages in the bird spotters book that has photographs and which we keep in the car. The buzzards page had a lovely photo of an HB depicting a grey head.

Is this feature sufficient on its own to confirm the bird as an HB?

Never seen one before.

 

nbalblas

Well-known member

• Nov 9, 2017

• #2

Theoretically It is possible you have seen a Honey Buzzard. But these rarely sit on poles though. From the distance you were looking from I don't think we can rule out Common Buzzard. Some CB's have the strangest patterns.
Was the flight in a rowing kind of way?

 

Last edited: Nov 9, 2017

dantheman

Bah humbug

• Nov 9, 2017

• #3

Tbh it is very unlikely it was a Honey Buzzard - Common Buzzards are known for being very variable in colour with pale heads and/or bodies. Plus very much on the late side.

 

The-Wanderer

Well-known member

• Nov 9, 2017

• #4

Spoilsports <g>, I was so wanting it to be an HB!

To clarify, I was using an Opticron 15x70 bin permanently that is permanently tripod mounted, from our lounge. The 250m estimate is courtesy of Google Earth.

Thank you both.

 

esmondb

The fool that MrT doesn't pity

• Nov 9, 2017

• #5

Adult red kite? A far more obvious grey head and more likely to perch looking down into a field

 

nbalblas

Well-known member

• Nov 9, 2017

• #6

Didn't even think of that, very logical possibility indeed.

 

The-Wanderer

Well-known member

• Nov 9, 2017

• #7

Thanks for the kite suggestion. I have seen kites in mid Wales but not around here. It didn't cross my mind. I will watch out for them.

 

The-Wanderer

Well-known member

• Nov 9, 2017

• #8

A reported sighting of an HB a little over 20 miles due east from me, but that was in late August last year.

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=330735

 

Last edited: Nov 9, 2017

M

mark clements

New member

• Nov 9, 2017

• #9

I have seen HB perched in Southern France, and its usually the 'pigeon-shape' to the head that gives it away to me. Red Kites from the Nettlebed/Marlow release have been spreading since the mid 1990s, and I have often seen them in East Hampshire in the last couple of years, so that sounds possible. My family on the South Coast of Mid-Hampshire get them on a near monthly basis now.
Completely agree qith the comments on CB and colour variation others called out.
Harry