Wednesday 10 November 2010

A WINTERING HONEY BUZZARD IN EXTREMADURA

Following a Wallcreeper blog entry published a few days ago we received an old Monfragüe Wallcreeper record. The list of birds furnished by the observer, Alan Parker, included an astonishing sighting of a Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus) at Salto del Gitano on the same day as the Wallcreeper (11 January 1989). The record is 100% reliable. Alan himself mentioned in his notes how totally unexpected it was to see a Honey Buzzard in January. There is no other Extremadura record at a similar date, though we're not sure whether or not the record is unprecedented at national or European level.

In Extremadura Honey Buzzards are summer visitors, arriving in early May and leaving by September. There have been occasional sightings in February (23 and 27/02/2000) and March (13/03/99 and 19/03/99). Source: Anuario Ornitológico de Extremadura.