Another fabulous outing with SDOS this week – this time to Woolbeding in Sussex in search of Honey Buzzards.

Led by birding legend Bernie Forbes, we got incredible views of these birds, along with Woodlark, Tree Pipit and Crossbill among others. 💚

Here is Bernie and Sue Miles’ detailed report of what was a fantastic day, both in terms of birds and company!…

On Monday 18 May 8 members of the SDOS who had applied to join the HB workshop drove to the National Trust car park at Woolbeding Common. Settling the group into a viewpoint which has one of the best vistas in the County.

To be honest it was very cold with little raptor movement for the first hour. We had stunning views of Yellowhammers that were breeding on the slope with Linnets and singing Tree Pipit. I walked back to my car to get my flask when I found 2 Crossbills in nearby trees, summoning the group some of us managed brief views. Both crossbills were in very dull brown plumage most likely juvenile birds! Back to the view point we heard at least 2 Garden Warblers singing with Common Whitethroat displaying and Cuckoo calling below. A Great spotted Woodpecker must have had a nest close by as it flew back and forth to the nest.

As it warmed slightly Common Buzzards became active with many up in the thermals with several hovering using the wind. We added a few Swifts and Swallows over as well as hearing calling Siskin plus a Sparrowhawk and Red Kite. Just after 10:00 hrs we found 2 Honey Buzzards rising up to the north, all the group had lovely views as they slowly gained height without flapping their wings. One of the critical ID features noting their flat winged profile with a long tail, all were able to note the short pinched profile of the head, sometimes called a Cuckoo head.

As both birds slowly gathered height they were briefly joined by a third bird causing much confusion in tracking all of them, the third HB soon drifted high and away. It’s always difficult to sex individuals unless they fly close or you can get a photo of the underside plumage. The display flight is just amazing check out the BTO web site for Honey Buzzard display flight, awesome.

After the excitement of the Honey Buzzard sightings we took a walk on Woolbeding Common adding singing Woodlark, Tree Pipit, Garden Warbler and the feint call of Dartford Warbler that remained hidden.

Bird photo: David Park