For those who take an interest in this bi-annual event i thought i'd make a start on the passage and arrival of birds seen off and around Exmouth on there way north or to stay with us for the breeding season.
I'll try not to bore you with every bird! but hopefully once something different is seen in the south we could see how quickly the country is populated with different species i.e. Swallows, Martins, and Swifts. Some migrants will travel over night where they won't be seen until they drop in further north or first seen at their breeding grounds, which would be good to mention them to.
Some of our winter visitors have started to move on. Last week our Avocets numbered 200+ down from 600+ in January, yesterday an observer counted only 30+ so birds are on the move.
The first Sandwich Tern was seen fishing over the sandbars off of Exmouth yesterday morning.
If this is of interest to you and want a day by day account of what is arriving or moving then the Portland Bird Observatory and field centre Dorset may be worth a visit. http://portlandbirdobs.blogspot.co.uk/search they get some great birds passing through. They also trap Moths on the Bill which will be of interest to some of our bloggers. There is alway a good photo or two on this website to.
I'll do it just for fun!
Between Leeds & Huddersfield. A little bit too low down for Wheatears. Blast. :-)
p.s If I ever try to record birdsong,all I get is the noise of the M62. Double blast.
Taken in Exmouth last Saturday....
Put my name down on the housing list,devonotter. Please.
Great image DO!
Be sure to open B&B for us all EB, preferably with Kestrel Box in garden!! Lol
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
Hobbys and Swifts are showing well on the Exe Marshes. Ham Wall on the Somerset Levels had Seven Hobby's over the reed beds one day this week.
Great bird the Hobby
Lovely capture (again) DO, the Hobby has such a sweet face, I usually watch the live cam via Carnyx from New Forest nest but it was ill-fated last year, such a privilege to be able to study these birds in the wild at such close quarters
Brilliant bird & photograph,devonotter.My Swifts should be here before next week is out.
The whitethroats arrived on Monday.It`s nearly June!
They are great to see on their territory, singing and reeling. Interest how long they take to occupy various parts of the UK. We have had Whitethroats since the second week in April....where are you again Edge? Do they normally arrive earlier than this?
I log a 1 sq.mile patch between Leeds & Huddersfield.They`re about 2 weeks late but at least they`re here...unlike the Whinchats that didn`t turn up at all last year! I usually have loads.The habitat hasn`t changed and I know every sq.inch of it.And.....No Flycatchers - Never has been. It`s one of the greatest mysteries of the known universe to be solved,btw. :-)