Honey buzzard

 

Honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus)




Dear reader,


Twice a year about 80 000 honey buzzards are crossing the Strait of Gibraltar. The springtime migration to the nesting areas starts end of April/beginning of May.

Well, yesterday, 2nd of May, the wind had the right direction and the guys came home from Africa!

Again and again on the southern sky ...

... new groups appeard and ...

... using the thermal circling to the north! Well and the mountain on the photo is not at all at the strait of Gibraltar but near the homey biotope. We were so lucky that the honey buzzards flying path yesterday was just above the biotope!

Surely you can imagine how enthralled and full of emotions we were! More so as some honey buzzards flew lower than the others until they reached the next thermal bubble:

Wespenbussard

So we had out of our deckchair in the garden the opportunity to gaze in amazement the different patterns of the honey buzzards:

Wespenbussard

Impressing ...

Wespenbussard

... what a variety ...

Wespenbussard

... of couloring and patterns are to be seen:

Wespenbussard

Well to recognize the cuckoo-like head:

Wespenbussard

Just beautiful ...

Wespenbussard

... as always new groups extremely fast ...

Wespenbussard

... appeared and some ...

Wespenbussard

... of the honey buzzards ...

Wespenbussard

... flew low enough to ...

Wespenbussard

... catch some details:

Wespenbussard

Still I don't dare to identify, which were males and ...

Wespenbussard

... which were the females. This I have to study much more exact in the book about raptors:

Wespenbussard

This splendid specimen flew an extra loop above us. Such a beautiful day in the homey biotope!

Wespenbussard

4.9.2010 - Tarifa:

4.9.2010 - Tarifa:

2.9.2011 - Río Grande:

3.9.2011 - Río Grande:

7.9.2012 - La Janda:

7.9.2012 - La Janda:

7.9.2012 - La Janda:

27.8.2016 - La Janda:

27.8.2016 - La Janda:

27.8.2016 - La Janda:

27.8.2016 - La Janda:

27.8.2016 - La Janda:

Enthralled greetings

Birgit Kremer

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