The autumn visible migration season is upon us once more. A time of year that sees me standing stationary at a fixed spot on the new heath, counting all birds passing over. It can be very exciting - not knowing what is going to pass over next, or, it can be extremely dull! My first 'vis-mig' exercise of the autumn was carried out on Wednesday morning, between 07:05-08:35. It was rather windy (14mph SW) so conditions were not optimal, but we experienced some movement nevertheless:
I will post details of future watches on these pages, but why not head for high ground and try it for yourself? It is highly addictive...
ATB,
DOM
Leave only footprints, kill only time.
I wasn't expecting very much this morning, with strong (20mph) westerly winds being hardly conducive to movement. Nevertheless, cloud cover was only about 10-20%.
Last week's Meadow Pipit passage had more or less ground to a halt and the first major push of Redwings replaced them:
Redwing, 148
Meadow Pipit, 7
Siskin, 20
Chaffinch, 32
alba wagtail, 1
Skylark, 2
Greenfinch, 1
211 individuals of 7 species.
Light drizzle becoming rain and low cloud at first light. I suspect many birds were flying above the clouds (we could hear them, but often not see them.) The overnight change to easterlies promised more, but...
245 individuals of 11 species.
And a high-flying black thrush with seemingly silvery wings (although no apparent gorget) was frustrating!
Darren/ Guy Anderson
Thursday 13 October
Visible migration new heath, 12:20-14:10, moving birds only, predominantly south-west through north-west.
Redwing, 203+
Brambling, 5+
Fieldfare, 109+
Chaffinch, 104+
Mistle Thrush, 1
Starling, 1
Meadow Pipit, 8
Crossbill, 31
Woodpigeon, 1
Lapwing, 7
redpoll sp. , 1
Goldfinch, 3
(Great Black-backed Gull, 1) - notable
475 individuals of 12 species (Guy Anderson, 12:20-12:50, Darren Oakley-Martin, 12:50-13:25, Ian Hayward, 13:45-14:10)
Best morning of the autumn so far:
Visible migration, new heath, 06:55-08:30, moving birds only, predominantly south-west. Highlight undoubtedly five Woodlark: two at 07:50 – one SW, 1 N and three at 08:50 perched in silver birch with one singing. Also...
Redwing, 854
Chaffinch, 47
Song Thrush, 2
Meadow Pipit, 26
Reed Bunting, 2
Bullfinch, 1
Fieldfare, 252
Sparrowhawk, 1 (high west in active flight)
Yellowhammer, 2
alba wagtail, 2
Skylark, 24
Crossbill, 2+
Brambling, 1+
Blackbird, 5
Woodpigeon, 960+
2,143 individuals of 16 species (Mark Gurney/ Darren Oakley-Martin/ Guy Anderson)
Sunday 16 October
Visible migration, new heath, (07:00-10:00). Not much quantity, but what a morning for quality; the highlights being:
• HEN HARRIER, 1 (ringtail over north mobbed by the Raven at 09:55)
• Woodlark, 3
• RING OUZEL, 2 (1 SCB, 1 DOM)
• Raven, 1
• Crossbill, 3+
• Wood Pigeon, 775>W
(Steve Blain/ Darren Oakley-Martin)