Greg Roberts wrote:
Baumber 14.9.08. 14.30-16.00hrs. treated to three Honey Buzzards circling overhead and calling quite vociferously and then drifting off north towards Stourton,1 Common Buzzard in company at lower level which moved south. Also Hobby 1, Green Woodpecker 1,Great Spotted Woodpecker 1,Willow Warbler 3,Chiffchaf 1,Swallow c30. Kestrel 1 Also Eve - Cormorant 3 W, Tawny Owl 1. Cheers Greg.
This sounds most unlike Honey Buzzard, one of the quietest raptors in N Europe; to quote from the Collins Guide Voice Silent except in breeding season.
On the CD accompanying Raptors a field guide to survey and monitoring the only calls are alarm calls of a female near the nest
BWP ii under Voice:
Used less than in sympatric Accipitridae of similar size, e.g. Buzzard Buteo buteo, even in breeding season. Most individuals call comparatively seldom even when disturbed at nest (see Glutz von Blotzheim et al. 1971) except during middle and later stages of nestling period (C R Tubbs)Birds of Prey Benny Gensbol Voice Seldom heard
To hear juveniles on autumn would be particularly strange indeed ---