Rare UK visitor is rescued from the Solent (courtesy of Hawk Conservancy Trust)

11th June 2009

A Honey Buzzard, rare to the UK, was found floating in the Solent and saved in a dramatic rescue by a couple in an inflatable dingy. It is thought that the bird had become exhausted en route to Britain from its migratory route in Africa.

Amy Lester and her fiancé Richard Fawson saw the bird floating in the sea and, even though they were in a busy shipping lane, knew that they had to rescue it. Amy said ‘We were worried that being a wild bird of prey it would struggle and burst the dingy but I really couldn’t leave it to die. The Isle of Wight ferry was bearing down on us and it was quite a scary experience. In the end I just scooped the bird up in my hands and it was too exhausted to struggle.’

Amy took the bird to her father who is an experienced birds of prey handler. Tim Lester runs NBC Bird and Pest Solutions, which uses specially trained hawks and falcons to disperse and deter nuisance bird populations. He said ‘As soon as I identified the bird as a Honey Buzzard I realised that it would need professional care, as these birds have a specialised diet, and that’s when I called the Hawk Conservancy Trust.’

The Hawk Conservancy Trust has a specialist birds of prey hospital in its visitor centre, at Andover, Hampshire, where it’s staff were able to treat the Honey Buzzard, which was believed to have lost approximately two-thirds of its body weight.

Chief Executive of the Hawk Conservancy Trust, Ashley Smith, said ‘This Honey Buzzard has been incredibly lucky, firstly to have been spotted at all in the Solent but then to have been found by such a knowledgeable family. Their quick reactions undoubtedly made a big difference to its survival chances. We were able to place the Honey Buzzard in a special recovery aviary at our hospital and were encouraged as it began eating virtually straight away. Our staff at the Trust, particularly Kim Kirkbride who cared for the bird, have been absolutely marvellous.’

The bird was kept at the Hawk Conservancy Trust where it received treatment until it had gained enough weight to be able to be released back into the wild. The Honey Buzzard was successfully released at a secret location on Wednesday 10th June by Hawk Conservancy Trust staff.


For details of The Hawk Conservancy Trust click here.