Sunday's VISMIG was very rewarding and worth the effort of getting up so early! After a wet start on waking, clear skies and a warm sun were waiting for me when I reached Rye Meads. I was joined by Toby and Jan from the Rye Meads Ringing group and by John, one of our volunteers. Our first spot was a young peregrine carrying a racing pigeon being hounded by a gang of crows. It was a great display that ended with the peregrine and his prey flying off down the valley.
The migration started slowly but was soon in full swing.
Here are the migrating birds we saw:
3 skylarks, 31 goldfinches, 14 snipe, 12 Meadow pipits, 316 starlings, 43 chaffinches, 129 redwing, 3 reed buntings, 3 greenfinch and a wow for Rye Meads, 10 linnets!!
We also saw:
Peregrine, green sandpiper, kestrel, sparrowhawk, long tailed tit, wood pigeon, black-headed gull, robin, blackbird, wren, great tit, dunnock, crow, starling, song thrush, grey wagtail, great spotter woodpecker, green woodpecker, mallard, magpie, collared dove, pied wagtail, cormorant, mute swan, goldfinch, stock dove, blue tit, shoveler, chaffinch, lesser black backed gull, lapwing, pheasant, buzzard, jay, feral pigeon.
A really splendid morning. You can still look out for migrating birds. Try looking up just before dawn and listening for redwing calling overhead.
Cheers
Caroline