Honey Buzzard, Pernis apivorus

Local status: Rare passage migrant

With a tiny Yorkshire breeding population this is still a true rarity in the York area. With an increased awareness of identification characteristics, an increasing number of birds are being reported on passage. However, with the increasing population of Common Buzzards, Buteo buteo, and Marsh Harriers, Circus aeroginosus, in the area, observers need to be cautious in identifying this rare species. Four records in the 1980s were followed by a further three in the 1990s, before an impressive 14 during the 2000s, which included two notable autumn influxes in 2000 and 2008, when large numbers of birds were blown across the North Sea during their southerly migration. Many Common Buzzards were involved in these movements too, and it is likely that some of the birds reported as Honey Buzzards may have been misidentified

Records:
2022: Nether Poppleton, 9th September. juvenile flew southwest

Honey Buzzard, Nether Poppleton 9th September 2022 © Adrian Hotson


2010: Copmanthorpe, 21th September.
2009: Askham Bog, 28th August. Juvenile.
2009: Rawcliffe Ings, 15th July.
2008: Lower Derwent Valley, 14th to 21st September. 11 birds passed through.
2007: Wheldrake Ings, 28th August.
2007: Yearsley Moor, 23rd June.
2006: Beningbrough, 31st May.
2006: Sand Hutton, 12th September.
2006: Sand Hutton, 3rd September.
2005: Thornton Ellers, 25th August.
2005: Bank Island – Wheldrake village, 2nd September.
1997: Thornton Ellers, then presumably same at Strensall Common, 24th May.
1996: Hagg Bridge, 9th June.
1996: North Duffield Carrs, 15th September.
1992: Thornton Ellers, 28th to 29th May.
1988: Thornton Ellers, 2nd June.
1986: Stillingfleet, 6th June.
1985: Brandsby area, 11th June.
1983: Bishop Wood, Selby, 9th May.


Unsubstantiated Records:
2009: Escrick, 28th May (Birdguides).
2007: Wheldrake Ings, 14th August (Birdguides).
2000: Birds in September at Sutton-on-Derwent and Elvington were rejected by YNU and no description was submitted for a bird at Buttercrambe.
1999: Elvington, 11th July. No description.
1995: Lower Derwent Valley, 13th September.
1995: Lower Derwent Valley, 29th May.