Spring migration 2009 UK - post your sightings.

[Graham Etherington]

Hi,
Thought I'd start off a spring migration thread.
News from the pager:
Male Northern Wheatear at Cley/Satlhouse for the past few days.
Male Gargany at Catwade RSPB (Suffolk/Essex border) today (11 March 09)

Graham

[andy22]

hello,

Have'nt had much in the way of spring migrants yet but i did manage a sand martin (my earliest ever) on 2nd march, flying over my garden in hertfordshire!

[tsteve]

The Caspian Tern in Ireland this week has to be the earliest..? And wasn't there Hobby and Yellow Wagtail reports this week too.

White Stork in Grtr Mancs yesterday too.

[Graham Etherington]

Barn Swallow near Docking, Norfolk this morning (from RBA pager)

[Colin Key]

Sedge Warbler this morning and singing male Sub-alpine Warbler this afternoon, both at Ria de Alvor, Algarve. Also large influx of Yellow Wagtails (iberiae) and Woodchat Shrikes since yesterday.

Barn Swallows now with fully-fledged young and also seen a Stonechat taking food to the nest this afternoon. Lots of very early records, despite the abysmal winter weather this spring. But, 27℃ forecast for tomorrow!!

Colin

[Hotspur]

I saw a drake Garganey at Filey Dams, N. Yorks on 12/3. It looked very cold and the call was most out of place without another 10 degrees on the thermometer.

[MichaelF]

Fieldfare today . . . :D

[Joe stockwell]

Sand martins for the last three days at rooksbury and two willow warblers this afternoon

[Colin Key]

Short-toed Lark at Ria de Alvor today. Oddly enough, despite early arrivals, we still have Bluethroat lingering and my wintering Osprey (here since 7th October 2008) was fishing in the Ria this afternoon.

Still no Common or Great-spotted Cuckoo, but now looking out for Collared Pratincoles.

Colin

[Morg]

I'm looking forward to some of these birds up in Scotland - the only migrants that I have seen so far this year are the Lesser Black Backed Gulls!!!

Geoff

[Colin Key]

Saw my first Common Cuckoo this morning at 8.00 am coming in off the sea at Alvor. It landed on the ground at the salinas totally exhausted - I had to put my dog on the lead otherwise she would have had it.

Also saw my first Northern Wheatear (3) this morning.

Although not migrants, I also saw a group of six Slender-billed Gulls on a sand-bar on the lagoon - have seen the odd one or two over the years here (more common in eastern Algarve at Castro Marim), but six is a good record.

Colin

[Hotspur]

Had a Wheatear at North Cave Wetlands, 2 Chiffchaff at Fairburn Ings and 1 at Allerthorpe Common. Also a White Wagtail in amongst Pieds at Black Dyke Ings all yesterday.

[andy22]

I had my first willow warbler today (Hertfordshire), singing in the beautiful sunshine, up near my house.

Andy

[michael23]

1st chiffchaff singing its little heart out most of today, lower kilburn, derbyshire.

[MichaelF]

2 Chiffs (one singing, one not), southeast Northumbs. today.

I'm looking forward to some of these birds up in Scotland
Won't be long now!

[Morg]

Hooray! Chiffchaffs have arrived Edinburgh, Scotland, after some lovely spring weather and I gather there are a few other migrants around like sand martins, wheatears and ring ouzels.

Let the excitement begin!

Geoff:smile:

[Colin Key]

Great Spotted Cuckoo this afternoon on Quinta da Rocha, Ria de Alvor, Algarve.

Colin

[Bobolink44]

They're usually one of the early migrants right Colin? Any sign of your red-rumps yet?

[Colin Key]

They're usually one of the early migrants right Colin? Any sign of your red-rumps yet?

It is not unknown for GS Cuckoo (and Wryneck) to overwinter in Algarve - I have seen both species in every month of the year in previous years; this past winter has been so bad weatherwise that they appear to have moved further south.

The Red-rumped Swallows which nest at my house arrived on 20th February and are now sitting on eggs. They caught me rather unawares and there was a bit of panic (from me and the birds) as I remembered I had plugged the nest entrance with sponge-rubber to keep the House Sparrows out!

http://www.pbase.com/accentor/image/107931796.jpg

Colin

[Colin Key]

This morning, 300+ Bee-eaters came in off the sea and have lingered around my house all day, further progress hindered by the gale-force northerly winds.

If you have never heard that number of Bee-eaters "chattering and crooning" you have missed one of life's great experiences.

Also a Wryneck appeared in my garden late this afternoon.

Colin

[dogface]

If we're including non uk sightings here, been a few things here in SW France, mostly from the garden (that I've seen, sure loads of other stuff's been through).

Short-toed and Booted Eagles last weekend (2 ST's hanging around now), Black Kites trickling through of course, 6 Ospreys, and a Common Redstart midweek. Bit windy here too today (northerlies, bah) 2 House Martins battling up high and a Common Whitethroat flew off a mini roundabout by the village. Swallows passing low overhead increasing in intensity (First on the 12th). Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs everywhere.

Agree about the Bee-eaters. And sound like so many small frogs when flocks pass by high overhead.

Dan.

[forktail]

Spring in east Norfolk has been good with a few early spring migrants including several Chiffchaffs, a couple of Firecrests, Black Redstarts, several Wheatears. Siskins north have been evident on several mornings but never more than 40. Corvid movements have been light with a few counts of 300+ Jackdaws but larger numbers of Starlings (including 1200 in several smaller groups in three minutes one morning) on several occasions. Grey Wagtails have been recorded most mornings lately but Rock Pipits have been quite scarce. Stock Dove movements have also been light but Woodpigeons have been predictably numerous. There has been a couple of thrush movements with 40+ Blackbirds appearing overnight and disappearing the next morning. The occasional Brambling and Redpolls have appeared. Raptors have included two Red Kites, Goshawk, Peregrine, several Hen Harriers, escaped Harris Hawk and some very elusive Merlins. Crossbills have moved north twice. Seven Garganey and a few Water Pipits have graced the wetter areas.

Almost daily seawatches (totally addicted to it now!) have recorded a few Sandwich Terns north but diver numbers have lessened following the record Norfolk count of 1810 earlier in the year. A couple of Bonxies and the occasional Pom have been sighted but there has only been a couple of decent Kittiwake/auk movements, albeit very exciting. Duck movements have been largely disappointing (although most regular species have been recorded) so far and there hasn't been a decent chance of Blue Fulmar yet. Cranes have dispersed and rarer species have been represented by Richard's Pipit, Rough-leg and Great White Egret.

Hopefully the first alba Wags, Swallows, Ouzels etc and the first decent scarce / rare are just around the corner...

[MichaelF]

Garganey, Sand Martin, Sandwich Tern (2) today, and also a really weird one - a Marsh Harrier flying north offshore, on a seawatch! The Sandwich Terns were closer in.

[Joe stockwell]

a few more swallows and a wheatear (glamorgan):puzzled:

joe

[andy22]

Had my first House Martin on wednesday.. flew through whilst i was at a local gravel pit (TYTTENHANGER, HERTS) also many sand martins 30+ and a LRP

Andy

[rshill1973]

Things here in Bucks have been rather slow to get off the ground so far. We completely missed out on the substantial (for this early in Spring anyway) Little Gull influx today, and "second wave" migrants such as House Martin, Yellow Wag, Sedge Warbler, etc, have been restricted to a few records.

Chiffchaffs are back in good numbers already, and Sand Martins are starting to push through in half decent flocks, but Wheatear numbers are yet to really take off. Of the non-summer migrants, there seem to be fewer Pied Wags about so far, and no real Mipit flocks, and there has been a worrying lack of Ringed Plovers so far - although their main passage period is April into May, there hasn't been the usual steady flow of early birds.

I'm wondering if we (or maybe me!) have been deceived by the early warm weather into thinking that Spring has sprung earlier than it has. It's still very early April, there's so much to come over the next eight weeks!

[MichaelF]

there seem to be fewer Pied Wags about so far
Some big numbers of these at various sites in Northumbs the last 2 or 3 weeks, mostly Pied but a few White with them. So they're OK up here at least.

PS welcome to the forum!

[SteveE]

Here are some bits & bobs from my local patch in Durham.

31stMarch
4 Sand Martins inspecting breeding colony banks

1st April
First few Swallows straight back in at breeding sites.

2nd April
Couple more Swallows & Steady passage of Mipits & Wagtails inc 2White and female Merlin dashing through north. Single Wheatear & cock Ring Ousel
30+Sand Martins wheeling about at quarry breeding site.

5th April
an early Yellow Wagtail went through West
First Willow Warbler occasionally singing

6th April
First 3 male Blackcaps in song

7th April
First House Martin around rooftops (3 or 4 days early)
Couple more Willow Warblers singing from most sheltered spots only
Couple more non-singing male Blackcaps in

8th April
My earliest ever combination of the 3 hirundines together :- 1House Martin, 6Swallow, 20Sand Martin feeding over R.Wear at Ch-le-Street.
1Green Sandpiper, 2House Martin over another breeding site.
Now several Willow Warblers, but Blackcaps keeping a low profile.

9th April
A second pair of Avocets returned.
Whilst 10mile away a pair of Yellow Wagtails & a Red Rumped Swallow added a touch or two of colour.

[MichaelF]

Still seems more like winter here . . . load of these in my garden today . . . :ohdear:

[michael23]

Heard a willow warbler sing just beyond my garden, 1st for the year, still waiting for swallows and martins. Only had 1 sand martin few miles down the road over the river derwent (a38) Even Had a lingering fieldfare the other day!
Upto about 6 chiffchaff singing just beyond my garden and into surrounding firelds/walks.

[michael23]

Not long had about 12 birds mixed with Swallows and and a couple of house martins.:smile:

[MichaelF]

Still 35 Waxwings here . . . this one's having a bad hair day . . . :laugh:

[michael23]

nice image michael, he also looks annoyed as well! :spinny:
I cant remember much from last year, but is it me or are waxwings hanging around longer?

[MichaelF]

Not very late for them up here yet - several years I've had them in late April, and one year I had a flock of ~40 on a dawn chorus event on 4 May.

It'll be fun sticking this lot on my BTO Atlas data . . . under the guidelines one could argue they fit in the "probable breeding" category :D

[Colin Key]

Still 35 Waxwings here . . . this one's having a bad hair day . . . :laugh:

That is a nice image Michael - is this digiscoped?

Waxwing would be a lifer for me!!

Colin

[MichaelF]

is this digiscoped?Yep, through the bedroom window too :ohdear:
Cropped from the original, with the 'scope focussed about as close as it can be, and slightly brightened to compensate for the greyness of the window

Oh, and they're here again as I type :smile:

[Colin Key]

Yep, through the bedroom window too :ohdear:


That makes it even better - most digiscoped shots look as thought they were taken through the bathroom window!! :laugh::laugh:

Colin

[SteveE]

Still seems more like winter here . . . load of these in my garden today . . . :ohdear:

Yes, what a difference a few miles & a River make Michael.
(15km between the 2 of us ?)

A nice mix of Summer & Winter species on our patch here at present.
Still got small no's of Redwings & flocks of Fieldfare, overwintering Redpoll flock of 80+ birds, Jack Snipe, Goldeneyes etc.

Earliest ever County D'ham Grasshopper Warbler ! found by one of our keener fieldworkers close to home today.

Reports of singing Common Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler; also Redstart in far south of County.

[MichaelF]

Yes, what a difference a few miles & a River make Michael
Yep - your side always does get summer arrivals quite a while before Northumbs does. I suspect it's because you've got more in the way of large, deeply incised river valleys giving warm microclimates in north Durham, whereas on this side, it is all ~50m altitude plateau with a fairly high degree of exposure, and therefore colder. Even such small temperature differences can have quite an effect on leafing out times, migrant arrival times, etc. It gets even more conspicuous when you get into the Cheviot valleys - the alders there don't leaf out until 6 weeks after the lowland ones have done; it is bleak and wintry up there until mid May.

[MichaelF]

Maybe it is spring after all . . . just been watching my Waxwings courtship feeding . . . so definitely categorisable as "Probable Breeding" according to the BTO Atlas rules :wideeyed:

And now there's a Blackcap singing in the garden as I type, but is it a 'new' one fresh in or just the one that's been wintering??

[Colin Key]

The weather here in Algarve is dreadful; after the worst winter on record we are now having an awful Easter weekend with exceptionally low temperatures (minimum of 5℃ last week which is about 10℃lower than it ought to be), gale force northerly winds and today it is raining (but still the Brits are wandering around in shorts and T-shirts looking for hypothermia!).

Out walking my dog this morning at Abicada (for a brief visit go here: http://aves.team-forum.net/birds-of-portugal-in-english-f10/birding-localities-t1032.htm and scroll down the page) just after dawn and heard my first Golden Oriole plus three Nightingales (seen as well as heard) singing their hearts out to compete with the ubiquitous Cetti's Warblers.

Colin

[SteveE]

Whitethroat & Grasshopper Warblers this morning on local patch

(very early inland records of Pied Flycatcher male singing on territory in upland oak wood & male Whinchat in western gateshead)