----- Original Message -----

From: Phil Luke

To: Wildlife services ; UKwildlife

Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2006 7:26 PM

Subject: [wildlifeservices] Fw: BirdTrack update September 2006

Possibly of interest.

Phil L

----- Original Message -----
From: "BirdTrack" <birdtrack@...>
To: <phil@...>
Sent: Monday, October 02, 2006 4:29 PM
Subject: BirdTrack update September 2006


For many of our summer migrants, September is the peak migration month. Many
of our warblers have now left, with the last few birds still being seen in
many parts of the country. Numbers are boosted by birds drifting in from the
Continent as well, particularly along the east and south coast.

Towards the end of last month, a sequence of easterly and northeasterly
winds helped push migrants on to the east coast. This arrival included good
numbers of Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, Whinchat and Tree Pipit, but
perhaps fewer Redstart than might be expected. Some of the most impressive
migrant counts over that period though included 15,000 House Martins and
45,000 Swallows counted going west over Reculver, Kent in just three hours,
and 9,800 Meadow Pipits heading south over Spurn, East Yorkshire on one day.

Meadow Pipit (note the big increase in sightings in mid autumn)
http://blx1.bto.org/bt-dailyresults/results/s332-20-06.html
Wheatear (have we yet to see the late autumn passage of 'Greenland'
Wheatears?) http://blx1.bto.org/bt-dailyresults/results/s357-20-06.html

More unusual arrivals were several Red-backed and Woodchat Shrikes, Marsh
Warblers and Scarlet Rosefinches. In Shetland, lucky observers on Foula also
counted 13 Jack Snipe, 15 Yellow-browed Warblers (visitors from central
Siberia), 5 Lapland Bunting, Ortolan and Rustic Bunting, along with many
other scarce migrants.

Elsewhere, some of the more unusual sightings submitted included a White
Stork on the roof of the A1 services at Blyth, Nottinghamshire,
cryptic-coloured Wrynecks in several recorders' gardens, and the perhaps
less-than-wild records of a Blue-eared Glossy Starling in Suffolk and a
Sacred Ibis in Surrey!

A more wintry feel to September was provided by the slow build up of flocks
of Golden Plovers and Lapwings in the fields. The plovers will be arriving
from both east and west (as far afield as Iceland and western Russia) and
Lapwings too can come from quite far east. If you do see any flocks do
report them, as your sightings will contribute to this winter's special
survey of these birds.

Lapwing (records seem to be up on previous years)
http://blx1.bto.org/bt-dailyresults/results/s171-20-06.html
Golden Plover (numbers are just now starting to increase, with the peak
expected in late October)
http://blx1.bto.org/bt-dailyresults/results/s167-20-06.html

Also just arriving in good numbers now are various wildfowl, so do keep an
eye out for them on waterbodies near you. The first in (and usually most
obvious) are flocks of Wigeon and Teal, though our Pink-footed Geese do seem
to be slightly late this year.

So what to look out for in October? Well, we should still see some more
warblers arriving, particularly Chiffchaff and Blackcap from the Continent
that will remain here for the winter. An air stream from the east should
also see big arrivals of winter thrushes and finches, and if you're in the
west, keep an eye out for the big build up of wildfowl and waders.

You may have also noticed that we've now also slightly changed how you can
view the species results pages. This makes it easier to see the trends for
most species over the years.  To compare the difference, look at the results
for the three hirundines:

Swallow (good autumn numbers and departure bang on time)
http://blx1.bto.org/bt-dailyresults/results/s322-20-06.html
Sand Martin (early autumn peak but early departure)
http://blx1.bto.org/bt-dailyresults/results/s321-20-06.html
House Martin (have they really departed this early?)
http://blx1.bto.org/bt-dailyresults/results/s325-20-06.html

Well we hope you have good October for birding, and keep the records coming
in.

Best wishes

Mark Grantham
BirdTrack Organiser on behalf of BTO, RSPB and BirdWatch Ireland