Saturday, 29 September 2018

Rep of Georgia - Batumi Raptor Count - Crested (Oriental) Honey Buzzard


The day after he Big Day still showed plenty of potential with a mixed bag of Eagles and Buzzards. The Eagle eyed specialists are now in situ identifying and looking for something special within the streams of birds. I spent today at station one Saghalvasho with Bart and Phillippe (France) at the helm.

It was going to be a matter of time before something interesting would be identified passing over the station. The second part of this process involved a short dash to grab a camera and seal the moment.
Crested Honey Buzzards have been recorded this season with photographic evidence. The trouble was I had missed some good opportunities for various reasons to get pictures myself. Today maybe fortune had smiled in my favour as I snapped away at a large Honey Buzzard within a kettle of birds in front of the station.

The bird is broad winged with six fingers although some are the worse for wear. There is a distinct lack of carpal patches that are often present in a hybrid bird. 

The rest is a job for the experts who are talking favourably about this bird!

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