Decided on a weekend trip here with a friend. I personally haven't seen a UK Honey Buzzard for a few years and this was our first trip to Wykeham. On RBA the post code is YO13 9EB, I typed this into Google maps, which tried to send me down a very dodgy looking track, complete with Beware of the Bull signs! Clearly this wasn't right and with no 4G signal, I switched over to the car's satnav, which revealed we were on the wrong side of the valley and it was still 9.5 miles away! 

Eventually we arrived at YO13 9EB, but this post code isn't the raptor watch point, its seems to be a post code, covering a few different back lanes in a general area. After driving around blindly for a while, again with no 4G signal, we eventually found the Raptor Watch Point car park. 5 hours later, looking across the valley and no sign, although oddly we were getting messages that birds were being seen? Whilst waiting we had both calling Marsh Tit and flyover Common Crossbills.

Late afternoon, we walked back to the car park and explored the lane on foot, looking for Turtle Dove, which had also been reported earlier in the day. I then picked out a raptor flying quite low over a nearby field, which turned out to be a female Honey Buzzard giving great views! We then bumped into a local birder, who said he'd put the earlier messages out and that the Honey Buzzards, had been showing on and off all day from the road. Apparently 3 females and 1 male are present this year. He also said that in his opinion, the road viewing was generally a better option than the watch point.

Stayed in Scarborough overnight and this morning the plan was to go to Bempton Cliffs for the Albatross, but as it hadn't been seen for a week, we instead headed back to Wykeham again viewing from the road. We soon picked up a loan Honey Buzzard over the same area as seen yesterday. Of interest when leaving Scarborough first thing, I again tried Google maps and again it wanted to send us completely the wrong way. Trust me do not use it to navigate to the watch point!  The lane the watch point is on, appears to have no name (checked it on DEFRA's Magic map site), but it is between Cockmoor Road and Moor Road.

Other birds seen this morning, included Tree Pipit, Garden Warbler, Stonechat, Yellowhammer and Red Kite.

 

-- Edited by Neil Blood on Sunday 19th of June 2022 07:20:42 PM

Saturday 17th July-Tuesday 20th 2021

Question....Why Come ?

After last years miserable failure we just had to return. Saturday morning 09.00/12.15 resulted in one Hobby a couple of Common Buzzard, one Common Kestrel and one Sparrowhawk we then had to depart. On Sunday again 09.00/12.00 Common Buzzard and Sparrowhawk we again had to leave for a lunch appointment.

Monday saw us arrive at 12.30 as we had been to Bempton earlier. At 13.45 Cath saw a raptor briefly I just managed to catch a quick look, a pale bird and longish tail and that was it. Fifteen minutes later the only other birder there shouted "Honey" we looked over and there it was one of our dip birds it glided over back to the right of the view point it was only a short view thirty seconds or so but enough to get some ID features. Our new friend kindly explained one or two features to us Honey virgins and background to this regular bird. We stayed until 17.00 with no other sightings apart from Common Buzzard, our friend departed for Bempton. Monday provided two lifers for us. 

Tuesday saw us arrive around noon after a wild goose chase for Turtle Doves. The view point was busy with all seats taken but we were allowed the end of a seat by a kind chap from Hartlepool who had been on a boat to see the Albatross at Bempton and he had some stunning photographs. We chatted and recounted tales, he left to go to Troutsdale. Another birder approached and he joked that a Honey would turn up soon. In the meantime a call went up "hawk" in the distance a large hawk was gliding towards us it was clear this was a Goshawk, it was right in front of us at one point, it moved over the valley then decided to embarrass a,  Common Buzzard by bombing it and moving away at the last split second its agility was astounding the Buzzard looked like it was be well and truly whipped after a few minutes both went there separate ways. This was our first proper sighting of a Goshawk which totally beats our distant view of a bird at Carburton in 2017

Time was fast approaching then just short of 14.00 two minutes short in fact the Honey appeared as if to order, a pale bird it glided over the valley having appeared from the right hand side of the view point.  We noted how it glided effortlessly over never making a wing beat, its head clearly extending beyond its body and longer tail. My friend assured me this was a regular bird he had seen several times and would have been the bird we saw on Monday and had indeed shown around the same time over the weekend!!

So Why Come ? twenty two hours looking for Honey Buzzard and Goshawk has produced two Honey observations and one Goshawk. Once they showed we had vey good views with a great aerobatic display from the Goshawk. We had six dips on the trot never fun but that is birding when the hit came it was well worth the wait and now unforgettable.

Whilst we were there on Tuesday  a couple turned up and recounted how their  granddaughter had told them how wonderful the view was across the valley. They then placed their seats with their backs to the valley munching their butties and left after twenty minutes....

At 14.15 we called it a day and moved in search of Turtle Doves. Thirty minutes later we parked up then walked  up a farm track, we had a great chat with a big red faced farmer who supports Sunderland. He advised us to nip down the track where most people see the Doves. As we moved down I caught a bird fly which at first looked like a Collared in a split second it turned into a Turtle Dove it promptly flew into a nearby Sycamore where we enjoyed some great views before it and we departed.

On this trip we found one dead Stoat, one dead Sloworm, one dead cat and we saw one live Stoat in classic Meercat pose.

Our trip had four target birds and for once we got them all....untypical.

   

Youre very lucky Steve, we have been going to Wykeham for a few years now and have not seen that many unusual birds in all that time. We call it "why come" Well done though.

Dave Ousey.

A reasonable couple of hours here this a.m. with a good conclusion, then a quieter afternoon with a scattering of mostly distant sightings.

Common Buzzard 6 minimum (all in the air together) with probably at least 2 more birds. There seemed to be a group of 3 or 4 birds (of clearly different sizes) roaming all along both Troutsdale and Deep Dale displaying and play-fighting, with single birds appearing from time to time from the opposite direction to the one in which the group had disappeared.
Kestrel 2 (M & F)
Sparrowhawk 1 F harassing one of the more distant Buzzards, then chasing after hawking hirundines over Deep Dale.
Goshawk 2/3 1 adult and possibly 2 juveniles. The morning's highlight was a juvenile which came up in front of us from Troutsdale and passed south-west just behind the trees at that end of the viewing area - 2nd best and certainly closest view I've had of a wild bird. Later in the afternoon it or another came south low over the ridge from Deep Dale and interacted with a Buzzard before dropping into the woods. Finally an adult bird got up briefly from the woodland during one of the fly-overs by the 'gang of four'.
There was one distant sighting of a possible Honey Buzzard late in the morning but it was too high and distant by the time we got on it to confirm/count it.

Apart from the usual gulls, crows and Wood Pigeons
2 Tree Pipit
2 Redpoll
2 Siskin
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker heard

Also 1 Painted Lady, 1 Meadow Brown, 1 Speckled Wood

Sunday 6th Aug.
Morning visit with Simon Gough and Chris Chandler. Nice to see Darren Ward and the Yorkshire crew.

Raptor Watchpoint
- Honey Buzzard 1 (at first)
Finally showed late morning, and show it did, in all its glory flying right over our heads at the Viewpoint after being harassed by a Goshawk that in turn was being harassed by a Kestrel at the same time.
It gave a clapping display before flying off, only to return within a short time to display again.

- Goshawk (???)
Not sure how many altogether but we saw 3 up together at one point with 2 displaying and having mid air tussles. We had plenty of sightings all morning that could've been repeat birds, who knows.

- Marsh Harrier 1
Fooled a few people at first and Black Kite was called out, but after watching it for a while we all steered away from that and although I wasn't 100% sure we came to the conclusion it was most likely a Marsh Harrier.

Other birds at the viewpoint included..
- Common Buzzard 4 at least
- Sparrowhawk 1
- Siskin 1
- Bullfinch 3
- Crossbill heard

Cockmoor Road Plantation
- Honey Buzzard 2
Viewed these from the car as we drove through the plantation area.
They didn't look like Common Buzzards so I stopped the car and alerted Simon and Chris, which I'm glad I did as they were indeed Honey Buzzards, 1 of which was the male from earlier with the 'missing feather' from the trailing edge of each wing.

Also here...
- Goshawk 1
- Common Buzzard 2
- Crossbill 2 (1m 1f)
- Lesser Redpoll 5
- Siskin 1
- Spotted Flycatcher 3
- Goldcrest 1
- Willow Warbler 1
- Treecreeper 1
- Yellowhammer 2 (100yds down the road)
...and a Field Vole ran out infront of the car and turned back again along Cockmoor Road.

A quality day all round

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 7th of August 2017 12:24:33 PM

Rob Creek and I headed up on Saturday 8th July. I'm posting on this thread so that people can see the sightings from this year [2017] in the context of the sightings from previous years.

2 Honey Buzzards, 1m and 1f, the male displaying. We had one long sighting of both birds for around 5-10 minutes in around 3.5 hours at the Watchpoint.
4 Goshawk, 1f, 2m and one distant probable male. Really enjoyed the business of ID'ing these birds, and one which lifted up from just in front of the viewpoint showed beautifully as it quickly circled and gained height.

Other raptors were predictably Buzzard, Kestrel and Hobby. Also from the viewpoint Spotted Flycatcher, Bullfinch, Siskin.

We certainly benefitted from the great conditions. When you are limited to birding at the weekend you really want the weather to help, and it really did on Saturday.

No sign of Turtle Doves for us and a suggestion that no more than 1 or 2 were present in the Forest. Thought-provoking when posts from a few years back talk about double-figure sightings

Answers on a postcard why a visit in the same week in 2016 with similar weather produced a single Goshawk and no Honey Buzzards. It was great to connect well this year.

It's been about 10 or 15 years since I've been to Wykeham, so thought I'd give it a go today.

Better weather over there than we had in Manchester. No rain and about 50/50 cloud and blue sky, plenty of sunshine and a decent breeze.

Disappointing, as no Honey Buzzard. Saw about half a dozen Common Buzzards, a Peregrine and a couple of Goshawks, including an aggressive female that was scrapping with a party of 3 Buzzards. Good opportunity for size comparison at close range.

-- Edited by Richard Would on Sunday 4th of August 2013 08:09:59 PM

Watchpoint only - 10.00am - 3.30pm

At least two Honey Buzzards knocking about (we had two up at once), had distant prolonged views of a Goshawk mobbing one of them. In the afternoon a single bird flew right over the watchpoint about 50yds up.

Several gosses, at least two juveniles - if every bird I saw had been a different individual I'd have seen twenty two!

Many Common Buzzards, two Kestrels and a single Sparrowhawk. I picked up a very distant Hobby, later another flew right over the watchpoint.

Other birds around the watchpoint, heard only in most cases, were Willow Tit, Treecreeper, Crossbill, Siskin, Goldcrest, etc.

Hi Chris

Well done on getting the nightjar and Goshawk. I was surprised how many common crossbills there were which is always good to see. Just wish I couldve got a honey buzzard. Nice to meet you Chris.

Rob

An OK morning's birding at the raptor viewpoint:

1 Hobby close to the viewpoint
12 Crossbills flying from the woods behind and out in front of the viewpoint
2 Common Buzzards
Goldfinches
Chaffinches
No sign of Honey Buzzard but they had been seen before we got there
No sign of Goshawks but they had been seen before we got there

Nursery Area:
No sign of Turtle Doves
1 Spotted Flycatcher

A good days birding but not much look on finding the rarities. Plus was limited on time.

late report for saturday, 5 common buzzards, 2 honey buzzards 1 showed really well with a low flyby in the valley, a distant goshawk, 7 crossbills flying past, mainly females, 1 male,

from the nurserys area around 10 turtle doves minimum, probably more, all feeding and sunbathing in the feilds

I agree with paul re Montys, but there is another rule of thumb you can use wheen seperating problem species such as Common & Honey Buzzard, Sparrowhawk & Goshawk and Hen from other Harriers, provided that you are fairly familiar with the commoner bird, if you think it is the rarer one it probably isn't, you'll just know when it is. Sounds simplistic, but it does work!



-- Edited by Rob Smallwood on Thursday 16th of June 2011 12:41:16 PM

Thanks Doc, very interesting and informative. I hope I get the chance to put the information to the test !

Great day in beautiful country, must go back for the Montagu's ( not sure looking at the reference books though how you would tell a female from a female Hen Harrier at distance )
Any tips ?

A quick visit around lunchtime gave me good views of 2 Honey Buzzards including a male indulging in some wing-clapping.

Also seen:

5 Common Buzzards
1 Goshawk
1 Kestrel
1 Garden Warbler
1 Turtle Dove

Bumped into Messers Ashton, Barber and Isherwood in the car park who must have only just have missed the Montagu's Harrier by minutes (presumably the same ringtail bird that was reported last week) and was again seen by several birders at the watchpoint who mentioned it to me on my arrival there.

Good to chat with one or two familar faces at the watchpoint and I will certainly be revisiting soon.

Quick late evening visit after dipping that bloomin Robin yesterday saw:

At least three pairs of Turtle Doves
Tree Pipit
Crossbill
Siskin
Woodcock roding
and a fantastic male Nightjar at around 8.50am so plenty of light to observe it by.

Also two Roe deer, one rat [!], a few Hares and bats and plenty of rabbits on the access road back out of the forest at dusk.

Too late for raptors sadly - and beware if approaching the viewpoint from the North with satnav - we had an interesting long reverse down a tarmac track which suddenly ran out... probably best just heading for the main road and the village then heading back north.

Today, 09.00 - 11.00 - weather damp

Visited the Viewpoint on the way to Filey/Bempton - apart from hearing Honey Buzzard calling a couple of times we had no sightings of any raptors . We did have overflying Crossbills and in the forest Willow Tit and Siskin but otherwise very quite.

A little disappointed with the Viewpoint this visit, looking at some photos from two years ago the trees to the right of the viewing area have grown, as trees do, obscuring the valley in that direction which was where we had great views of the Honies on that visit and from where today's calling was taking place. There was also evidence of camp fires and on one, the remains of one of the benches .



-- Edited by sid ashton on Friday 23rd of July 2010 11:45:12 AM

Mark

The HBs will (probably) still be there but call the warden Brian Walker 01751 472771 to confirm. The Goshawks will definitely be about - they live there!!!

Cheers

Sid

Finally managed our first visit to the watchpoint yesterday (Sunday) - got there about 10.00 and stayed to 2pm. Weather conditions seemed ideal and we were well pleased to see (several times) a Goshawk soaring up from the trees behind us, best views I've ever had, and then from midday onwards, the HBs came out, with 2 at quite close range, and another 2 at a greater distance further up the valley. Several Common Buzzards also present for comparison, as well as Crossbills, Siskins, Jay, Kestrel. Apparently someone reported a Red Kite but we missed that. Did see 2 Hobbies from the A170 on the way home though.

Loads of people there yesterday - just 3 others when we arrived, but nearer 40 when we left!

Ended the day at Blacktoft with Marsh Harriers, another Hobby, Green, Curlew and Common Sandpipers, 1 Bearded Tit, several Yellow Wags, usual Tree Sparrows etc.

No further details I'm afraid - but you would not expect anyone to report 7 individual sightings as 7 birds - but who knows!

BG's were reporting 3 HB's and a staggering 7 Goshawk yesterday - quite amazing.

Mike Baron and myself arrived at the view point this morning just after 0830 and within 5 minutes we had our first views of the Honies - a local lad reckoned they were the best views he had ever had. Then a Gos appeared over the hill - fantastic two lifers for me within half an hour. So that was it target birds ticked - what to do for the rest of the day? We gave the Crossbills and the Turtle Doves a fair chance to come out to play but no joy so off to Bempton - although quite good - with the young Puffins chucking themselves into the sea and Gannets galore - this spot does not compare for me with South Stack as a location - then off to Flamborough Head where Mike found Arctic and Great Skua and I may have done so as well had there not been two oil platforms next to one of which the Skuas were making Sandwich terns cough up their dinner! I of course was looking at the wrong platform.

A cracking day's birding and thanks to the driver for a safe journey and the good company - cheers Mike

Nice one Geoff. It sounds like a great spot.
I've been looking for years for Goshawk and not got lucky so far, so well done and I'm very jealous!
Thanks. Henry.

The latest report says no sign but Red Kite present.

2 bird theory, or perhaps just a grubby red Kite - watch this space!