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

[ardcarp]

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!)

[vinteuil]

.

... 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]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-45259101

ps if only there were brain, heart and courage available at Stormont

[Vox Humana]

.... 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.

[vinteuil]

There are few English birds as cute as Long-tailed Tits.

... I agree. Tho' my final preference might go to Motacilla alba yarrellii -

https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/pied-wagtail/

.

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[Richard Tarleton]

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.

[Richard Tarleton]

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

[Richard Tarleton]

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

[ardcarp]

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?

[Richard Tarleton]

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):

[Padraig]

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:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-45291298

[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.

[Bryn]

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.

[Padraig]

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!

[johncorrigan]

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.

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/07/22/operation-easter