Migration news 17 September 2010
Post categories: Migration news
| 22:27 UK time, Thursday, 16 September 2010
As predicted, migration on the land was much slower this week as the winds turned westerly and increased in strength. These strong winds meant that some of the migrants from last week are still here, grounded until the wind drops.
A that arrived with last week's easterly airflow has spent the week around the entrance track to Winterton Dunes in Norfolk, whilst an has spent 10 days and counting at the , also in Norfolk. A scattering of swallows, and were reported at migration watchpoints around the coast.
Last week it was the east that grabbed most of the attention, this week it was the west, in particular seabird passage off the west coast. were seen in force (335 past Hilbre Island in Cheshire on 15 September). But the prediction of Arctic skua passage increasing in last week's post .
, Arctic skuas, and , and all featured in west coast seawatches, along with a small number of .
Grey Phalarope, Isles of Scilly, 13 September 2010, Joe Pender/BTO
Wintering waterfowl began to arrive. and the first groups of were seen on the east coast.
Birds from America didn't disappoint. Numbers of doubled, and there was an incredible flock of six of these delightful Nearctic waders at Tacumshin in County Wexford. Ironically, it's easier to see buff-breasted sandpipers on migration here in the UK than it is in North America. After breeding in Arctic Canada and Alaska, the migration to their wintering grounds in Argentina and Paraguay is completed in a non-stop flight.
At least two were also found. Although the predicted on the Outer Hebrides hasn't materialised yet, an American passerine did arrive. A was found on Fair Isle in the Shetlands, not a million miles away from the Hebrides.
Swainson's Thrush, Paul Stancliffe/BTO
So what for the week ahead? Weather from the west is going to dominate, arriving in the north during the weekend and the early part of the week, swinging further south later in the week. This should result in more Leach's petrels and other seabirds on the west coast, light swallow and migration as the wind drops between weather fronts, along with increasing t movement, which should be evident on the east and south coasts.
As for the red-eyed vireo - an American passerine in the south-west could still be on the cards later in the week.
Comment number 1.
At 23rd Sep 2010, clivenjen wrote:Just seen loads of Swifts - about 50+ travelling in the wind north-east thru [Personal details removed by Moderator] Hants. Thought they'd have been well south of here by now - 23 Sept 2010
Complain about this comment (Comment number 1)
Comment number 2.
At 24th Sep 2010, unarmadillo wrote:what chance of any
seabirds turninig up inland?
where have they appeared in the past?
is there a hotspot ,perhaps a midlands reservouir to keep an eye out?
there has been a whiskered tern at rutland water last week!
Complain about this comment (Comment number 2)
Comment number 3.
At 30th Sep 2010, BirdTrack Organiser wrote:A timely question, unarmadillo! Since 24 September there have been no fewer than 40 inland reports of Gannets, from 1 Scottish and 15 English counties (including landlocked counties like Berkshire, Leicestershire and West Yorkshire)! Perhaps my favourite report concerns three juveniles circling over the M2 just east of junction 4 near Gillingham last Saturday... someone wasn't watching the road ;-)
Complain about this comment (Comment number 3)