Show me the Honey

A 4am start on Sunday was rewarded with some stunning views of migrant Honey Buzzards at Kongelunden. The morning started well with two Thrush Nightingales singing near the point. The Barnacle Goose migration soon got going and, by the time I left at 1200, over 3,000 had passed through. Othe highlights included a pale phase Arctic Skua, a drake Velvet Scoter, 8 Guillemots, 3 fly-past Temminck's Stints, a female Hen Harrier, yesterday's Osprey, the first Grey Plover on the patch of the year and a Bittern. The stars of the show today, however, were the Honey Buzzards. From about 1000 when the first was spotted coming in low over the sea, the flow increased steadily and, by 1200, I had counted at least 25. Some afforded fantastic views with two flying right over our heads - the best views I have ever had of what is a scarce breeder in the UK.

Honey Buzzard plumage is highly variable but the wing and tail pattern, together with the grey head in the male and typical flight (gliding on flat wings) allow it to be identified with relative ease given good views. The photos below show a typical adult male (first two) and a darkish (immature?) female. Ageing of the female is difficult - it definitely has a pale iris (indicative of adult) although it has vertical streaks on the upper breast (indicative of immature). I would be interested in any opinions on the age of this bird...

Photos: Honey Buzzard (adult male); Honey Buzzard (immature? female) and a Bittern pretending to be a reed.