What birds (are you/have you been) watching? What birds have been watching you?

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  • ardcarp
    Late member
    • Nov 2010
    • 11102

    I think it was mentioned somewhere up-thread that swallow (and swift) numbers seemed well down this year. I think I mentioned that the common tern seemed less...er...common than in previous years, certainly as seen in Devon and Cornwall. Having just returned from 6 weeks away in Brittany, Mrs A and I felt there was a smaller number of swallows there too.* However, the common tern was as ubiquitous and noisy as ever. We did notice a marked reduction in insect life and of butterflies/moths in particular. One might have supposed a long, hot, dry spell would have benefited the insects.

    *The reduced swallow numbers may have been because of the prolonged spell of Northerly winds. (UK sailors found few opportunities to return from France during June and July. Quel dommage!)

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    • vinteuil
      Full Member
      • Nov 2010
      • 12797

      .

      ... I think there were at least as many swifts as usual this year in west London.

      Weekend before last in Derbyshire/Cheshire - very many house martins.

      Weekend before that in the Cotswolds (Chipping Campden) - our hosts commented that it had been an abysmal year for bird numbers of all kinds...

      .

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      • Padraig
        Full Member
        • Feb 2013
        • 4231

        Signing up to agri-environment schemes 'can help reverse falling numbers of birds like the yellowhammer'



        ps if only there were brain, heart and courage available at Stormont
        Last edited by Padraig; 21-08-18, 13:08.

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        • Vox Humana
          Full Member
          • Dec 2012
          • 1248

          Originally posted by vinteuil View Post
          .... I think there were at least as many swifts as usual this year in west London..
          The local Swifts that hunt in the valley that we overlook - usually a couple of pairs - left early this year. They normally depart during the first week of August, but this year they were gone by about 25 July. But I did see one presumed migrant passing west yesterday with a group of House Martins, the latest I've ever seen a Swift over the valley. Not much else doing around here, except that we are being visited daily by a flock of eight or so Long-tailed Tits. They are costing me a fortune in dried mealworms (which I hang in our apple tree in a caged metal basket). There are few English birds as cute as Long-tailed Tits.

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          • vinteuil
            Full Member
            • Nov 2010
            • 12797

            Originally posted by Vox Humana View Post
            There are few English birds as cute as Long-tailed Tits.
            ... I agree. Tho' my final preference might go to Motacilla alba yarrellii -

            A small, long-tailed and sprightly black and white bird. When not standing and frantically wagging its tail it can be seen dashing about in search of food



            .

            .

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            • Richard Tarleton

              Originally posted by Vox Humana View Post
              The local Swifts that hunt in the valley that we overlook - usually a couple of pairs - left early this year. They normally depart during the first week of August, but this year they were gone by about 25 July.
              The ones that breed here - very close to me - bred successfully this year, and the perfect conditions ensured that the young only had to spend the minimum time in the nest (this can vary considerably depending on weather and how far the parents have to go for food). The evening screaming party doubled in size as they fledged...and then like vox's they departed. A week ago in the rain we had an evening spectacular of swallows swooping low for insects in our neighbour's orchard - dozens of them, at least half juveniles. Today lots of house martins, in the 100-200 foot zone. But I've no idea what the national picture is, a bit early for the BTO to have pulled survey data together so everything a bit anecdotal just now.

              I'm now waiting for my first returning osprey on my local stretch of estuary - last year my first was around August 16, the year before 2 weeks later, but an annual event.

              Our local grey wagtails, normally here all the year round, disappeared abruptly after the Beast from the East - no idea what happened to them, but in the last 2 weeks they're back.

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              • Richard Tarleton

                Originally posted by Padraig View Post
                https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-45259101


                ps if only there were brain, heart and courage available at Stormont
                Any comment I might make here, Padraig, would spill over well into the political. I'll pm you perhaps

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                • Richard Tarleton

                  Originally posted by Vox Humana View Post
                  There are few English birds as cute as Long-tailed Tits.
                  I wouldn't disagree. Here are a few on our peanut feeder (they seem to like peanuts) - only 8 or 9 here, sometimes a dozen

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                  • ardcarp
                    Late member
                    • Nov 2010
                    • 11102

                    I'm quite fascinated to know about migration routes. I know cuckoos have been closely monitored and there are two distinct routes for their southward journey. I'm speaking from memory here, but I think the ones in the west of the UK take the long sea route (ie due south straight to Spain)) whilst the ones in the east..e.g. the Wickham Fen ones... hop across the short channel route and down the west coast of France. Any details of swallows' and swifts' routes?

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                    • Richard Tarleton

                      Originally posted by ardcarp View Post
                      I'm quite fascinated to know about migration routes. I know cuckoos have been closely monitored and there are two distinct routes for their southward journey. I'm speaking from memory here, but I think the ones in the west of the UK take the long sea route (ie due south straight to Spain)) whilst the ones in the east..e.g. the Wickham Fen ones... hop across the short channel route and down the west coast of France. Any details of swallows' and swifts' routes?
                      Sounds as if you need the BTO Migration Atlas, ardcarp - when's your birthday? (see bottom of page)

                      Swifts - https://www.bto.org/science/migratio...studies/swifts

                      Cuckoos - https://www.bto.org/science/migratio...uckoo-tracking

                      Swallows (from the Atlas):

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                      • Padraig
                        Full Member
                        • Feb 2013
                        • 4231

                        Thank you Richard for your PM re conservation in NI. Maybe we were improving on that front in recent times. I see more relevant items on the News than I used to. Here's another little beauty:

                        Birdwatchers have described the sighting in County Londonderry as 'absolutely extraordinary.'

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                        • Richard Tarleton

                          Terrific - cue another PM!

                          Only - hobby a regular breeding bird in S Britain, not just S Europe! I has one over my garden a month or so ago! Stunning birds.

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                          • Bryn
                            Banned
                            • Mar 2007
                            • 24688

                            Originally posted by Richard Tarleton View Post
                            Terrific - cue another PM!

                            Only - hobby a regular breeding bird in S Britain, not just S Europe! I has one over my garden a month or so ago! Stunning birds.
                            Yes, we sometimes get the odd individual catching dragonflies a couple of miles from my abode. A popular species with table football players.

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                            • Padraig
                              Full Member
                              • Feb 2013
                              • 4231

                              Originally posted by Bryn View Post
                              A popular species with table football players.
                              I was going to say that!


                              PS Richard, I thought it might be the same JW. Oh! The paths that might have crossed!

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                              • johncorrigan
                                Full Member
                                • Nov 2010
                                • 10349

                                For some reason, this article from the New Yorker sprung into my mind today and I thought I would go dig it out. I first read it about 5 years back, about the hunt for illegal egg collectors in the UK. It's lengthy but as with most pieces in the NY, well worth spending some time on, at least I thought so. I thought folk on this thread might find it interesting.

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