23rd July 2016 (Hampshire)

Drove up to Norfolk today to visit relatives. I didn't do the driving through the M3/M25 area so I kept an eye open for red kites. The first bird of prey I saw was on the M3 near Basingstoke (Hampshire), and it obviously wasn't a common buzzard. It soared on long flat wings like a gull so from the first head-on impression I assumed it was a kite, as I ussually see several when I travel through here. However, when it turned and I saw the underside, I immediatly knew it was a Honey Buzzard! This is the first HB I've seen for at least a couple years but always exciting to find one! Oddly, I never did see a red kite on the journey.

Some pretty messy field sketches.