2018 VISIBLE BIRD MIGRATION REPORTS (August to November)

COLD WEATHER THRUSH MOVEMENTS REPORTED IN SOUTH OF UK

Yesterday (February 1st 2019) there were several reports coming through of a large cold weather movement of both Redwing and Fieldfare.

First reports from SEATON BEACH (Cornwall) of large numbers, also reports of at least 10000 Redwing and 2000 Fieldfare plus several other species all heading over PORTLAND BILL from a South West direction towards a NW direction. The movement was steady all day long. Also thrushes reported heading NW along Chesil Beach FERRYBRIDGE.

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Log for 6th December 2018

Thursday 6th December 2018 - Taylors Fields (Greenslet), Off Vic Lane, Burton In Kendal 0730 to 0900hrs (LAST COUNT OF THE YEAR)

Wind: SSW 5-15mph, 10c, 0.2mm rain, 100% Cloud, 1008mb pressure. Rain throughout, sometimes heavy. Birds just were not interested. Starlings ex roost were very late at 0817hours but provided a superb spectacle as usual. Chaffinch just odds and sods.  THATS IT FOR ANOTHER YEAR.

Chaffinch: 6 (4w and 2se) (1,3,2)

Linnet: 8w,

Also:

Starling to East ex roost: at 0817hours 17,290 approx

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THERE WILL NOT BE A RECORDED COUNT TOMORROW - WEDNESDAY 5TH DECEMBER 2018 but hopefully resume on THURSDAY

Log for 4th Dec 2018 (Click over to enlarge)

Tuesday 4th December 2018 - Taylors Fields, Greenslet, Off Vic Ln, Burton In Kendal 0730 to 0915hrs.

Wind: SE 2mph, Temp 1c, 49% Cloud cover, 1018mb pressure. First proper heavy frost.  Thought today should be good and it proved so with plenty going on until about 0830hrs then dipped. Still plenty of "Birds on a Mission" going on during this time, although by about 0830 I found it then difficult because the local wintering flock started blogging with many additional birds starting tooing and throwing and you had to be specifically careful to make sure you checked the birds going through were definately of the "on a mission" status.  Once it started getting confusing I gave up. Even the Starling East x roost was a magnificent spectacle today with over 23,107 (approx) birds going directly over my head and has far as I could see both ways and dense with it.

Chaffinch: 354 (318se and 36w) (best parties: 1x30,1x24,1x23,1x15,1x14,1x12,1x11,2x10)

Linnet: 106 se (30,11,8,40,10,7)

Brambling: 2 se

Starling: 6 w (2,1,3)

Woodpigeon: 26 (5se,6se,15nw)

Also: 

Starling East x roost: 23,107 (approx) from 0755hrs, very thick and deep waves continually coming through for first 15 minutes then smaller fragmented parties throughout count. 

Tree Sparrow: Party of 10 in hedgerow, very noisy - local birds. By now I usually see them teamed up with a party of Yellowhammers.

Other records today from near and far:

1053 Redwing and 452 Fieldfare WNW - Tweseldown, Hampshire.

820 Starling W - Black Bank, Staffs. 

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Log for 3rd December 2018 (Click over to enlarge)

Monday 3rd December 2018 - Taylors fields (Greenslet), off Vicarage Ln, Burton In Kendal 0730 to 0930hrs (less short break 0845hrs to 0900hrs)

Wind: virtually little wind at maybe WNW 2-5mph at tops (nem mind the reported 9-20), so still for the birds, but a atmosphere I have found to be of little interest to birds that maybe  "on a mission" especially wind from NW directions. Really noisy from the traffic low down on the Motorway, and you had no chance of hearing "Lapland Buntings going through!!" Some of the birds were on a mission but only a few has you can see from the numbers, lots were obviously bloggers just messing and perhaps getting ready to join the local wintering group! Still good Linnet numbers, Nice Starling ex roost passage today (very high). All movement SE unless stated.

Chaffinch: 86 (46se and 40w)

Linnet: 74 se (6,20,40,8)

Starling: 23 w (1,20,2)

Blackbird: 1 w

Pink Footed Goose: 40 se (one skein at 0910hrs)

Woodpigeon: 9 (7nw, 2s)

Also:

Starling East x roost at 0803hrs 6174 birds (2000,600,1000,500,50,500,100,1000,30,100,50,30,20,6,30,150,4,4)

Tree Sparrows: 5 in local hedgerow (local birds)

Other interesting near and far records:

2245 Redwing W - Tweseldown - Hampshire

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Log for 2nd December 2018 (Click over to enlarge)

Sunday 2nd December 2018 - Taylors Fields (Greenslet), off Vicarage Ln, Burton In Kendal 0730hrs to 0915hrs

Wind: SW 7-16mph, temp 9c, 0.3mm rain, 84% cloud cover, 990mb pressure. Right from the off it was continual light rain throughout accompanied with mist to all perimeters. I did manage to get visibility to about 30 yards, and the birds did just not want to know.  I don't think I was missing much on the edges, this weather seemed to curtail most other than Linnets. All movement SE unless stated.

Chaffinch: 37 (26se and 11w) first Chaffs 4 at 0803

Linnet: 36 se (16,20)

Alba Wagtail: 1

Also:

Starling E x roost at 0809hrs 317

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Log for Sat 1st December 2018 (Click over to enlarge)

Saturday 1st December 2018 - Taylors Fields (Greenslet), off Vicarage Ln, Burton In Kendal 0730hrs to 1015hrs

Wind: SSE 10 to 21mph, Temp 6c, Rain throughout count light, medium and heavy at times, throughout light and medium birds came through in batches. Also 100% Cloud and 1001mb pressure. Good Chaffinch numbers today with record party size counts eg: 138,56,42,42. I have noticed this before that when the whether is damp or light rain, you get larger parties, but can't say I have experienced anything like a single party of 138 before. All SE unless stated.

Chaffinch: 386 (373se 13w) Best parties: 138, 56,42,42,l6,14)

Linnet: 50 w (10,40)

Goldfinch: 12

Alba Wagtail: 3 (1,2,)

Blackbird: 1 se

Starling: 3w

Woodpigeon: 8se

Also: 

Tree Sparrow: 4 (possibly local)

Starling East x roost: 379 (60,200,15,10,6,10,1,1,10,3,1,30,30)

More of today's records from near and far:

15735 Woodpigeon - De Groot, Peel, Netherlands

16225 Woodpigeon - Loozerheide - Bij Weert, Netherlands

1568 Chaffinch S - De Vulkaan, Den Haag, Netherlands

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Log for 30th November 2018 (Click over to enlarge)

Friday 30th November 2018 - Taylors Fields (Greenslet), off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal

0730hrs to 0930hrs

Wind: WSW 17-32mph (actual 15-25mph), Temp 7c, 0.4mm rain off and on (nothing much), 86% cloud down to 50% cloud, 997mb pressure.  Icy Cold feel to hands. Excellent count again for Westerlies, and a shame the Easterly momentum has now been lost (for now). Counts dropped  from 0830hrs but still OK. All birds SE unless stated.

Chaffinch: 215 (151se and 64w) Best Parties: 1x25,1x9,2x8.

Linnet: 68 (53se 15w), 10w,1,7,15,5w,4,20,6)

Goldfinch: 3

Blackbird: 1 se

Starling: 14 w (1,4,1,5,3)

Greylag Goose: 17se at 0803hrs

Also:

Starling East x roost at 0754hrs 14,429 birds (150,10000,2000,2000,50,50,11,6,30,20,7,5,20,40,20)

Also others found in areas close to us or further afield:

395 Chaffinch W - Durlston NNR, Dorset

35 Brambling W - Durlston NNR, Dorset

1548 Pink Footed Goose SE - Winter Hill, Bolton.

1730 Fieldfare S - Heacham South Beach, Norfolk

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Log for Thr 29th November 2018 (Click over to enlarge)

Thursday 29th November 2018 - Taylors Field (Greenslett), off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal. 0715hrs to 0930hrs.

Wind: SSE 21 to 46mph est (on arrival 20 to 30 then freshening to 25-35), Temp 11c on arrival at 0715hrs, 100% cloud at first and down to 80% by 0900. Just a little bit of on/of light rain showers (not much) and only for seconds. 989mb pressure.  To be honest with you I would not have been surprised to have recorded nil birds with todays strong winds, but like I have seen a hundred times before they still came through (obviously less birds) although struggling and getting blown back and arching, but perseverance paid off for them! It quietened right down by 0900hrs. I think I must have missed many birds which will have been low and hedge hopping or blending in with the dark tree background of the sides of Hutton Roof, also many (I think) will have kept low and gone through the village and perhaps eventually veering left and over Dalton Hall Estate onward. WELL DONE TO ALL THE CHAFFINCH AND STARLINGS - WHO WENT FOR IT!!

Chaffinch: 113 (110se and 3w), Best parties: 1x13,2x10

Linnet: 51 se (2,8,1,40)

Goldfinch: 1 se

Starling: 1 w

Woodpigeon: 3s

Also: 

Starling East x roost at 0803hrs 317 birds (200,15,12,60,10,20,80,10)

Also others found in areas close to us or further afield:

Waxwings, 2 recorded from Dalston (Cumbria) yesterday

Waxwings, several reported from Hawes (Yorkshire) yesterday

Waxwings, 12 recorded at Far Arnside on the 24th Nov

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Log for 28th November 2018 (Click over to enlarge)

Wednesday 28th November 2018 - Taylors field (Greenslet), Off Vicarage Ln, Burton In Kendal 0715hrs to 1030hrs

Wind: SE 15-30 on arrival but quickly backed off to about 10-25mph, 7c temp at start, 90% cloud with just a little blue skies trying to peer through towards the SE, 999mb pressure. It looked dire for first 15 minutes but the Chaffinch kicked off at 0750 and continued with good numbers up to about 1000hrs. Well pleased because it was one of those mornings which had on/off squalid showers which did not amount to much. But again (unprecendented counts for me at this time of year), they are still coming through and at this rate we might even go into December!! All movement SE unless stated.

Chaffinch: 363 (336se and 27w) Best parties: 1x24,1x18,2x14,3x13,3x10,1x9,1x8)

Brambling: 5 se (one party and calling)

Linnet: 13se (7,4,2)

Greenfinch: 9w (one party)

Goldfinch: 1 se

Alba Wagtail: 1se

Starling: 10w (3,7)

Also:

Starling E x roost at 0757hrs 297 birds (50,30,2,1,2,30,30,30,30,20,3,20,2,20,10,2,15)

Log for 27th November 2018 (Click over to enlarge)

Tuesday 27th November 2018 - Taylors field (Greenslet), Off Vicarage Ln, Burton In Kendal 0715hrs to 0930hrs

Wind: ESE 15 to 25mph and gusting to 35 at times, Temp 3c but felt like minus 5 with windchill, 84% Cloud cover and 1015mb pressure. Very dark start with Chaffinch kick off at 0743hrs, Picked up with good counts of Chaffinch between 0800 and 0900hrs which by then it dropped suddenly, but excellent count today. the West corridor lacked a bit today, but would because of the strength of wind (eg tail wind, which would not have given the birds much control (and that for most of the birdies is a complete NO! NO!). As far as the SE corridor its always the same, make it a hard battle for the birds with strong head winds etc and they seem to do well! Be kind and have a almost windless headwind day and they don't want to know! (That theory by the way does not stand up on peak migration days - you might say "WHAT PEAK? and you would be right, we have not had any of those this year!! All movement SE unless stated.

Chaffinch: 353 (331se and 22W) best parties: 1x24,1x20,1x17,1x14,1x12,1x11,2x10)

breakdown of counts shown on log above.

Linnet: 57 (1,2,5,5,15,11,8,10) (57 se and also a blogging party of approx 50 not counted in the total)

Goldfinch: 3 se (1,1,1)

Alba Wagtail: 1 se

Starling 17 w (5,12)

Woodpigeon: 6n

Great Spotted Woodpecker: 2 se

Also:

Starling E x roost at 0750hrs 219 birds only which were almost touching the ground

2,50,100,5,10,12,10,15,10,5)

A round-up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Tues 27th Nov 2018

1226 Starling S - De Vulkaan - Den Haag - Netherlands

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Log for 26th Nov 2018 (Please click over to enlarge)

Monday 26th November 2018 - Taylors Fields (Greenslett), Vicarage Ln, Burton In Kendal 0730hrs to 0915hrs.

Wind NE 2-5mph, 3c, 50% cloud, 1016mb pressure. Chaffinch numbers coming down today although still reasonable numbers before the drop off which today was about 0810hrs (so you do get a good half half before the trickles) also Linnet still doing OK, a couple of separate pairs of Brambling as well. All movement South East unless stated.

Chaffinch: 161 (133se 28w), (best parties: 1x30,1x16) breakdown check log above

Brambling: 5 w (2,2,1)

Linnet: 103 (80se 23w)

Greenfinch: 1

Alba Wagtail: 2 (1,1)

Starling: 1 w

also:

Starling East x roost 4707 (100,500,1000,1000,40,100,200,50,200,100,50,50,500,300,20,250,20,20,50,13,10,10,10,100,30,4)

A round-up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Mon 26th Nov 2018

1200 Redwing E - Tweseldown - Hampshire.

51 Brambling NW - Winter Hill, Bolton.

3597 Pink Footed Goose SE - Winter Hill, Bolton

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Log for 25th Nov 2018 (Click over to enlarge)

Sunday 25th November 2018 - Taylors Fields (Greenslett), Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal 0715 to 0945hrs.

Wind: NE 8-18mph, 3c, 38% Cloud cover, 1015mb pressure. Still birds about, but now getting more complicated because the "wintering blogging party" of both mixed Chaffinch and Linnet is well over 200 plus birds and they come down tormenting with flying past one way and then revert back the other way, but if you keep alert to this behaviour you can distinguish against the true migratory birds. Starling roost numbers down again because of the North East Wind today although I still managed a few hundred. Traffic noise from M6 below at "medium".  All movement SE unless stated.

Chaffinch: 362 (243 se 119 w) for breakdown see log above (best parties: 1x17,1x16,1x13,1x12,2x10). Plus over 200 birds (Chaff & Linn) in formed "wintering birds"

Linnet: 131 (94 se 37w) (7,8,10,4,15,7,20,12,20,4,6,10,9)

Alba Wagtail: 1se

Starling: 18w (5,12,1)

Other:

Starling E x roost: 1921 (100,30,300,300,20,400,150,40,200,50,30,20,30,10,505,20,4,4,50,7,12,25,20)

also lots of LBBG and BHG all heading SE.

The fields where I watch from are called "Greenslett" and the one higher up to the East is called "Whiteflatts" - In Cumbria the "Boultry trees" are actually Elderberry trees.

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Log for Sat 24th Nov 2018 (Click over to enlarge)

Saturday 24th November 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal 0715 to 0945hrs.

Wind: ENE 8-18mph, temp 6c, 86% Cloud, 1014mb pressure. Slightly hearing traffic noises from North side of motorway. Chaffinches still doing OK, but also a upsurge in Linnet numbers, thankfully today no blogging parties hindering the counts. Starlings x roost again low numbers on ENE for some reason they tend to go different ways although I did have at least 1333 came directly this way. All movement SE unless stated.

Chaffinch: 283 (205se 78w) (best parties: 1x20,1x15,1x14,1x13,1x11) first birds at 0739hrs
breakdown: 0730 to 0800 = 69, 0800 to 0830=102, 0830 to 0900=69, 0900 to 0930=65 and finally 0930 to 0945=10

Linnet: 220 (183se 37w) 12w,5w,15,15,11,12,20w,60,20,15,8,8,4,15)

Starling: 31w (11,20)

Blackbird: 1se

Redwing: 1se

Woodpigeon: 2se

also:

Starlings E x roost at 0759 only 1333 (100,100,50,30,50,150200,50,30,70,20,150,100,30,5,30,10,7,20,20,10,20,6,30,15,30)

LBBG 34 se

BHG 2 se

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Log for Friday 23rd November 2018 (Click over to enlarge)

Friday 23rd November 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal 0715 to 0915hrs

Wind: East 6-7mph, Temp 2c quickly increasing, 24% Cloud cover and 1017mb pressure. You could not hear any noise from the motorway below which meant you could clearly hear overhead birds without problem.  at 0715 whilst leaving home in the dark small hours I had a nearby Song Thrush singing in "full song" which is unusual for this time of year. Also a friend reported that yesterday he also had a Mistle Thrush singing away. Very dark morning especially to the West - Plenty of Starlings with a initial drop at around 0815hrs then picked up again and good counts up until around the 0900hrs. Starlings from roost heading out East was very good today with up to 21000 birds coming over low and low in 5 separate linear waves which stretched as far as you could see in both directions and was quite deep (30/40 birds deep). At around 0900, you could see Starlings in the far distance (somewhere behind the A6 garage/Leighton Moss direction) doing "Tornado" and also "Spiral-vertical" murmurations which must have involved several hundred birds. Also noted today that two clearl blogging/wintering parties have formed eg: Chaffing 100 plus and Linnet 50 plus.  Today all birds moving SE unless specified.

Chaffinch: 292 (202se 90w) ((Best parties:1x16,1x15,1x9,1x7,4x6 several x 5) plus a blogging party formed of at least 100 plus approx has now formed. Here is a breakdown of Chaff passage this morning -0730hrs to 0800hrs = (55) 0800-0830hrs = (112), 0830-0900hrs  (84) and 0900hrs to 0930hrs = (41)

Linnet: 68 (20 se, 12w, 1w,5se,30se)

Alba Wagtail: 5 se (one party)

Starling: 78 w (9,60,9)

Redwing: 1 se

GS Woodpecker: 2 se (paired)

Woodpigeon: 9 se (2,3,4)

Black Headed Gull 5 se (4,1)

Herring Gull 1 se

Starling E x roost 20839 approx with KO at 0750hrs  They came through in 5 separate deep linear waves in first 10 minutes and stretched from as far as you could see in both directions, then after that just small fragmented parties came through. 

A round-up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Fri 23rd Nov 2018

6401 Chaffinch S - De Vulkaan, Den Haag, Netherlands (up to 1046hrs)

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Log for Thursday 22nd November 2018 (Click over to enlarge)

Thursday 22nd November 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal 0715 to 1000hrs

Wind: ENW 6-8mph, 1c, 1% cloud cover, 1020mb pressure. Still plenty of Chaffinch coming through especially in that first hour and reducing down to 0900 then trickles after. Noticed more Starlings coming in today from the East to West - probably the colder weather is now bringing them through again. Again Excellent Linnet passage -  Kick off with Chaffinch moving from 0730hrs. Movement south-east unless stated.

Chaffinch: 209 (158se and 51w) Best parties: 1x12,1x7) 

Linnet: 179 se (40,11,15,8,20,5,80)

Goldfinch: 1 se

Alba Wagtail: 1

Starling: 36 w (3,4,5,1,1,10,12)

Fieldfare: 1 se

Woodpigeon: 34 w/nw (2,4,3,25)

Stock Dove: 3 w

Greylag Goose 7 se at 0730hrs

Also:

Starling E x roost at 0741 - 9026 with small parties still going through on leaving: (20,20,2000,100,500,100,3000,2000,30,300,300,3,40,40,4,5,30,60,2,3,10,20,30,4,300,15,40,40,30)

LBBG at least 9 ne

BHG: 3 se

A round-up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Thr 22nd Nov 2018

550 Chaffinch NE and 180 Goldfinch NE - Lavernock Point, Glamorgan, Wales

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Log for 21st November 2018 (Please click over to enlarge)

Wednesday 21st November 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal 0715 to 1000hrs

Wind: East 3-7mph, 4c, 60% cloud fill, 1008mb pressure. Very dark to the West. Starlings East ex roost was OK this morning with over 8000. Had a nice 60+ Chaffinch group at around 0915hrs. All movement SE unless stated.

Chaffinch: 253 (177se and 76w) (best party: 1x60, 1x15,1x11,1x10,2x8)

Linnet: 89  (74se and 15w) (3,5,50,10,1,20 - also there is a regular blogging party of approx 40)

Goldfinch: 15se

Alba Wagtail: 2 se

Blackbird 4 e (one party)

Redwing 22 (8nw, 14w)

Starling: 1w

Little Egret: 1se

Also:

Starling E ex roost at 0746hrs 10050 approx (8000,400,70,50,7,300,150,300,30,150,6,7,30,10,100,70,50,100,200,30,30,50) 

Log for Tues 20th Nov 2018 - Click over to enlarge)

Tuesday 20th November 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal 0715 to 0930hrs

Wind: ENE 12-15mph, 6c (though felt like -1 with wind chill) ICY feel, 69% Cloud, 1019mb pressure. Also occasional squally showers. Again not much happening with these North Easterlies, seems to flatten the move, also kills the Starling x roost to the East passage with only hundreds rather than thousands who again this morning must have chosen a different route to pass over (I think it will be over the back side of Dalton Hall and picking up the Lune Valley.  All movement to the SE unless stated.

Chaffinch: 126 (61 se and 55 w)

Brambling: 5 se

Linnet: 57 (5,12,40) plus a blogging party of about 60

Goldfinch: 16 (12,4)

Redwing: 14 (2w 12se)

Starling: 11w (3,3,5)

Fieldfare: 1 se

Woodpigeon 10 se (8,2)

Also: 

Starling E ex roost at 0745hrs 310 (30,20,150,60,15,30,5) Again today where have all the Starlings gone!!

A round-up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Tues 20th Nov 2018

940 Chaffinch NE - Lavernock Point, Glamorgan, Wales

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Log for 19th Nov 2018 - Click over to enlarge

Monday 19th November 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal 0715 to 0900hrs (noticed! observations are getting shorter by the day) 

Wind: ENE 5-15mph, 5c, 80% cloud cover, 1028mb pressure.  The sky was a birders nightmare with clouds of all colours. A few birds but quickly dropped off by 0815hrs (think its quickly coming to a close within a day or two now). Never got the Starlings through this morning other than a pitiful 500 approx. Can't understand where they went. 1) Did they come through or hanging on at the roost (doubt it!), were they above the cloud base (doubt it!) certainly no visible signs on high altitude!, I think perhaps they had took a more horitizontal linear path and tucked in low to the right behind Farleton or further down going out by the Lune/Arkholme side. Brambling heard calling. All birds SE if not specified.

Chaffinch: 116 (85se and 31w) best parties: 1x15,1x10,1x7)

Linnet: 23 se (20,3)

Goldfinch: 16 se (1,4,12)

Alba Wagtail: 2 se

Song Thrush: 1 e

Redwing: 38 (2se,6sw,20sw)

Woodpigeon: 22 se (8,11,3)

also:

Starling E x roost at 0741: 608 (10,50,30,40,100,100,30,80,10,20,10,6,15,4,3)

A round up of interesting reports from near and far for Monday 19th November 2018

1525 Redwing E - Tweseldown, Hampshire

"A nightmare sky to watch birds"

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Log for Sunday 18th November 2018
(Click over to enlarge)

Sunday 18th November 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal 0715hrs to 1000hrs

Wind: 5mph throughout, 5c at start and warming up throughout, 0% Cloud, 1031mb pressure.  Things are starting to slow down with the Chaffinch almost finished by 0900hrs but worth sticking out on a nice day.  We may just about have a day or two more yet, but wondering if perhaps the cold spell now being experienced on the continent will drive more finches through in the next day or two, who knows? More Skylarks today. Kick off today at 0721 with Chaffinch. All movement SE unless stated.

Chaffinch: 214 (177se,37w) best parties: 1x20,2x12,1x10

Brambling: 12 se (one party) early doors!

Linnet: 71 (43se,28w)

Goldfinch: 7 (2se, 5w)

Lesser Redpoll 1 nw

Alba Wagtail: 2 se

Redwing: 10 sw (6,4)

Fieldfare: 15 sw (1,4,4,2,4)

Blackbird: 2 se

Skylark: 20 se (one party)

Woodpigeon 154 mainly South (12,40,20,20,4,20,25,6,4,3)

Stock Dove: 3 w (1,2)

also:

Starling E x roost at 0736hrs 2950 (20,300,10,1000,200,1000,300,30,20,10,12,30,5,15)

A round up of interesting reports from near and far for Sunday 18th November 2018

23140 Woodpigeon SW - Painswick Beacon, Gloucs
1510 Fieldfare N - Trigpoint Hill, Timsbury, Hants.

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Log for Sat 17th November 2018 (Click over to enlarge)

VISMIG - Saturday 17th November 2018 - Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal 0700 to 1000hrs

Wind: East 15-20mph at first light and created quite a lot of bird activity, although by about 0750hrs the wind drastically dropped to about 7-10mph and coincidentally the birding dropped at the same time. Also 6c at start, 3% Cloud cover, 1028mb pressure.  Chaffinch are still strong over that first hour.  Again today good Linnet parties. Nice to have a score party of Skylarks and a 11 party of Snipe. Finished by 1000hrs - all movement SE unless stated otherwise. 

Chaffinch: 222 (182se, 27w, 3nw) (Best parties: 1x13,1x12,1x11,1x10)

Linnet: 152 se (6,6,5,15,10,20,9,5,40,30,7)

Skylark: 20 se (one party at 0850hrs)

Starling: 11w (8,2,1)

Fieldfare: 95 se (20,7,1,2,20,8,7,5,20,5)

Redwing: 20 (8se and 12nw)

Woodpigeon: 123 se (10,15,4,60,5,2,20,4,3)

Stock Dove: 4 2nw then 15 minutes later 2se (probably same)

Common Gull: 1se

also:

Blogging party of around 60 birds around the Dalton Hamlet area which includes both Linnets and Chaffinches.

Starlings E x roost at 0733hrs 2853 birds (300,50,800,300,50,400,300,50,3,250,200,50,20,20,10) all though very low in quantity today their disruptive flying patterns because of the wind gust was remarkable and as always prove to be great entertainment, whilst the poor Chaffinch as to struggle whilst they receive a surge of starlings surrounding them!! they must wonder what the ek!

Also interesting to have a Redwing alight in the large tree closeby, he started calling with the rare ROOST call a few times before taking off and carrying on with his journey.  It's several years since I heard that "gruff" call and never heard it called so early on in the day. 

A round up of interesting reports from near and far for Saturday 17th November 2018

2250 Fieldfare E - Lavernock, Glamorgan

2100 Redwing E - Lavernock, Glamorgan

450 Chaffinch E - Lavernock, Glamorgan

182 Brambling S - Winter Hill, Bolton, Lancs

1854 Fieldfare and 1071 Redwing S - Hale Head, Widnes

6931 Starling S - De Vulkaan, Den Haag, Netherlands

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Click over the log pages to enlarge

VISMIG - Friday 16th November 2018 - Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal 0700 to 1430hrs

Wind: ESE 6-7 mph, 9c, 10% cloud cover, 1022mb pressure - 100% cloud at 0730hrs, just trickles throughout morning and early afternoon. Another good day with the Linnet. All movements se unless stated. Kick off at 0733hrs with first Chaffinch.

Chaffinch: 492 (377se,114w,1nw) Best Parties: 1x22,1x16,1x11.

Linnet: 177 se (20,4,10,1,12,40,5,9,16,50,10)

Goldfinch: 15 (one party)

Greenfinch: 2w

Redpoll: 1w

Fieldfare: 35 se (5,3,2,25)

Redwing: 34 se (10,20,4)

Starling: 1 w

Alba Wagtail: 2 se (1,1)

Common Snipe: 1 se

Woodpigeon 133 se (30,16,9,3,16,25,7,9,20,2,2) also odd birds going nw

Common Gull: 1 se

Raven 2 w

Also:

Starling E - ex roost at 0745hrs 7775 approx 

(40,50,600,1600,1000,50,1000,500,550,2000,30,30,120,30,12,15,50,15,80,3)

A round up of interesting reports from near and far for Friday 16th November 2018

5000 Fieldfare ne - Lavermouth Point, Glamorgan, Wales

4000 Redwing ne - Lavermouth Point, Glamorgan, Wales

400 Chaffinch ne - Lavermouth Point, Glamorgan, Wales

8161 Starling s - Ynyslas, Ceredigion, Wales

9093 Fieldfare s - Hale Head, Widnes.

3394 Redwing s - Hale Head, Widnes.

494 Chaffinch s and 348 Brambling s - Hale Head, Widnes

263 Brambling s - Winter Hill, Bolton, Lancs.

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Log for Thr Nov 15th 2018 (Click over to enlarge)

VISMIG - Thursday 15th November 2018 - Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal 1500hrs to 1608hrs

I was returning from a walk and noticed Chaffinch were going over, at first I gave thought to the obvious that they were collecting for roost, but has time went by it became obvious that these birds were ongoing their migration straight through to the SE. Some of the birds were very high and I also had a lot of single birds high. I now wonder if perhaps the migration had been going on all day unnoticed.  Also good to see some of the Starlings returning from the East to West heading to their roosting site over in Silverdale.

Chaffinch: 75se

Linnet: 26w

also:

2510 Starlings W on their way back to roost at 1555hrs (medium height) 250,300,50,40,700,20,300,100,400,50

VISMIG - Thursday 15th November 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal,  0900hrs - 1030hrs (delayed start)

Wind: SSE 9-23mph, 7c, 24% Cloud reducing to 5%, 1017mb pressure. Family duties early so I was late getting to the watchpoint, although I did manage to get a part Starling x roost count from the house.  Other than Woodpigeon there was little about, it was clear the Chaffinch did not like the bright clear blue skies resulting in such a poor count (but that is normal for this sort of situation!) All movements SE unless stated.

Chaffinch: 91 (74se, 14w, 3nw) (one party 20)

Greenfinch: 1

Linnet: 26 (15,5,6)

Goldfinch: 1

Starling: 13w (2,6,5)

Fieldfare 2sw

Woodpigeon 353 nw (1,40,60,6,100,6,2,12,60,60,2,1,3)

Stock Dove: 1 w

Also:

Starling E x roost (over our house at 0729hrs) 6812 approx (500,5000,50,30,80,300,200,200,300,200,12,1,1,2,1)

A round up of interesting reports from near and far for Thurs 15th November 2018

3603 Starling W - Sheringham BO, Norfolk

323 Brambling S - Winter Hill, Bolton, Lancs

935 Fieldfare SW - Winter Hill, Bolton, Lancs

1290 Starling S - Crosby Merseyside

1718 Fieldfare SW - Crosby Merseyside

295 Chaffinch S - Crosby Merseyside

8054 Fieldfare S - Hale Head, Widnes

3479 Redwing S - Hale Head, Widnes

37921 Starling S - De Vulkaan, Den Haag, Netherlands

22000 Starling - De Puinhoop, Katwijk, Netherlands

11490 Starling - Westenshousen, Netherlands

15686 Starling - De Bloedberg, Monster, Netherlands

21781 Chaffinch S - De Vulkaan, Den Haag, Netherlands

18500 Chaffinch - De Puinhoop, Katwijk, Netherlands

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Recording log for Wed 14th November 2018 (Click over to enlarge)

VISMIG - Wednesday 14th November 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal,  0700hrs - 1100hrs

Wind: South 17-37mph (estimated) but I thought perhaps 10-20mph, 11c, 100% cloud, 1013mb pressure. Drizzle at first, damp feel throughout and signs of drizzle spotting on leaving. A very dark start which put birds back. The Starling roost movement came at 0750 (yesterday 0732). Also the Chaffinch moves never really got going until mid to late morning. Even just before leaving some really nice steady 6/7 parties had started to go through.  All movement SE unless stated.

Chaffinch: 286 (248se,28w,10nw) Best parties: 1x12,1x9,1x10,1x8,4x7,6x6.

Linnet: 90 (54se,36w) 30w,8,15,1,6w,30.

Goldfinch: 15 se

Reed Bunting: 1 se

Fieldfare: 48 se (8,6,7,3,3,21)

Woodpigeon: 218 nw (80,30,70,30,4,4)

Other:

Starling to E ex roost: 17460 approx - medium to low height, first wave 10-15000 (mainly Clawthorpe/Farleton) then 15,50,1000,300,60,50,20,50,80,120,300,30,300,50,25,10,15

A round up of interesting reports from near and far for Wed 14th November 2018

21120 Woodpigeon SW - Painswick Beacon, Gloucs

26243 - Starling S - De Vulkaan, Den Haag, Netherlands

16220 - Starling S - De Bloedberg, Monster, Netherlands

11800 - Starling S - De Puinhoop, Katwijk, Netherlands

22756 - Chaffinch S - De Vulkaan, Den Haag, Netherlands

16000 - Chaffinch S - De Puinhoop, Katwijk, Netherlands

1200 -  Brambling - De Puinhoop, Katwijk, Netherlands

*****************************************************************

Recording log for Tues 13th Nov 2018

Taylors Fields, Off Vic Lane, Burton In Kendal

(Click over to enlarge)

A change this morning to "blue ink" which is of no relevance but so nice to have a change

VISMIG - Tuesday 13th November 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal,  0700hrs - 1030hrs

Wind: West 12-15mph then freshening by 1000hrs, 9c, 57% Cloud 1010mb pressure. Cold throughout count. A dark cloud start. Birds seen going through side on with wind behind them whilst they tried to compensate against too much shift. Chaffinch again holding excellent numbers for time of year. Another weak Woodpigeon movement to NW. All movement to SE unless stated

Chaffinch: 333 (164se and 169w) more birds from West today which was to be expected with these winds. (Best parties: 1x17,1x16,1x15,1x14,1x11,1x12,1x10)

Linnet: 99 (mainly SE but also a 36 to W -  7,20,20w,6,16w,20,10)

Goldfinch: 23 (10w all others SE - 4,1,10w,8)

Starling: 2w

Fieldfare: 1w

Redwing: 2w

Woodpigeon: 446 all nw (15,10,90,120,5,30,2,30,20,20,20,20,20,20,9,6,4,5)

Also:

Starling E ex roost 3100+ (100,2000,1000) approx today with being Westerley they came through at a phenomenal height and you needed binos to catch them, so I missed all the Farleton side and just got what went directly over my head. 

Belated records from near and far:

Monday 12th November 2018:

536 Chaffinch S - Spurn Obs - East Yorks (best for many a year, 3rd best Autumn count ever)
283 Goldfinch S - Spurn Obs - East Yorks
310 Skylark S - Spurn Obs - East Yorks

*********************************************

My records book for Mon 12th Nov 2018 (please click over to enlarge)

VISMIG - Monday 12th 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal,  0700hrs -1030hrs

Wind: S 13-28mph, 8c, 47% Cloud, 1001mb pressure. Cold at start but very pleasant sunny morning. Still quite a lot of birds moving especially in that first 90mins. This time of year I would normally record perhaps 50 Chaffinch at best, but at the present we are still getting 300 plus so worth getting up to check. Also good Linnet day. All movement SE unless stated

Chaffinch 316 (289se and 27w) (best parties: 1x35,1x24,1x20,1x15,1x12,1x11,2x10)
Brambling: 12 (one party)
Linnet: 92 (20,12,5,20,5,20,10)
Goldfinch: 30 (10,20)
Fieldfare: 50 all between S and SE (3,3,12,18,14)
Stock Dove: 1
Woodpigeon: 259 all N to NW (17,20,28,9,8,13,50,4,8,9,40,1,30,1,7,14)
Little Egret: 1 se at 0732hrs

Other:
Starling E x roost at 0728hrs - 8208 (bulk (6000) crossing over by Clawthorpe/Farleton

A round up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Mon 12th Nov 2018

3464 Fieldfare - Hale Head, Widnes, Halton
11250 Woodpigeon W - Durlston NNR, Dorset
4810 Chaffinch W - Durlston NNR, Dorset
670 Linnet W - Durlston NNR, Dorset
1115 Goldfinch W - Durlston NNR, Dorset
536 Chaffinch S - Spurn Obs - East Yorks (best for many a year, 3rd best Autumn count ever)
283 Goldfinch S - Spurn Obs - East Yorks
310 Skylark S - Spurn Obs - East Yorks

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Starlings on their way out to the East - Sun 11th Nov 2018 over watchpoint

Click over to enlarge

VISMIG - Sunday 11th November 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal,  0630hrs -0930hrs

Wind: SE 8-16mph, 6c, 85% cloud 991mb pressure, Rain from 0920hrs. Still some Chaffinch having a go.

Chaffinch: 174 (146se and 28w) best parties: 1x10 and several 6s.
Linnet: 51 w (12,20,15,4)
Goldfinch: 18 se (6,6,5,1)
Meadow Pipit: 1se
Fieldfare: 61 all se (29,3,3,5,18,1,2)
Starling: 1w
Cormorant: 1se at 0820hrs
Woodpigeon: 271 n/nw (30,5,11,20,30,3,30,3,3,60,12,30,30,4)

also:
Starling E x roost 5480 approx (2000,200,300,500,2000,70,200,80,80,20,50,10)

A round up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Sun 11th Nov 2018

215- Chaffinch w and 215 Brambling w - Durlston NNR, Dorset

10200 Woodpigeon w - Durslton NNR, Dorset

53 Brambling s - Hunmanby Gap. North Yorks.

VISMIG - Saturday 10th November 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal,  0630hrs - 0930hrs and 1030hrs to 1130hrs 

Wind: s 12-25mph, 9c. 57% cloud, 988mb pressure. Light rain up until 0720hrs then OK. Felt cold and damp. 0845hrs most activity had finished and down to trickles afterwards. All movement SE unless stated. Normally I would finish vismig for the year on November 10th but with good numbers like this I do intend to carry on for at least a day or two.

Chaffinch: 267 (219se and 48w) Best parties: 1x40, 1x19, 2x10

Goldfinch: 48 se (15,1,10,5,15,2)

Linnet: 62 se (30,5,1,12,14) 

Siskin: 4 se

Fieldfare: 35 (20ne,8se,7s)

Blackbird: 3se

Starling: 32w (3,25,4)

Meadow Pipit: 1 se

Woodpigeon: 588 mainly nw (best parties: 170,100,1x60, 2x50)

Little Egret 2 (one extremely high from East to West and also one SE at 0816 - maybe same bird returning? we seem to be getting Egrets on a regular basis.

Pink Footed Goose: 95n (40 at 0730hrs and 55 at 0738hrs)

also:

Starling E x roost 15000 with one party of 10000 plus others (120,2000,10000,60,2000,1000,30,20,7,40,5)

A round up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Sat 10th Nov 2018

1741 Woodpigeon n - Winter Hill, Bolton

2321 Woodpigeon ne - Black Bank, Staffs

1433 Woodpigeon ne - Berry Hill, Stoke On Trent

1082 Woodpigeon ne - Cantlopgrove, Shropshire

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VISMIG - Friday 9th November 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal,

0630hrs - 1000hrs 

Wind: se 13-32 mph, 7c, 93% cloud, 1004mb pressure. Cold feel throughout and wind started freshning at 0900hrs to about 15-25 mph. Very quiet overall - Linnets doing OK. All movement SE unless stated.

Chaffinch: 168 ( 137s and 31w)

Brambling: 5 nw

Linnet: 46 (7nw, 12se, 20se, 7 se)

Goldfinch:  23 se (7,1,15)

Fieldfare: 10 (1se,8sw,1se)

Redwing: 4 se

Starling: 45 w (2,20,20,3)

Woodpigeon: 140 nw (25,60,25,10,30)

Other:

Lots of LBBG, Common Gull and BHG.

Starling: East x roost 2695 approx (50,40,1500,100,70,500,50,15,10) will have been many more but difficult visibility on the margins. Starlings flying from one metre from the ground.

A round up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Fri 9th Nov 2018

2402 Fieldfare S - Hale Head, Widnes, Halton

93 Brambling W - Durlston NNR, Dorset

17946 Starling S - De Vulkaan, Den Haag, Netherlands

12730 Chaffinch S - De Vulkaan, Den Haag, Netherlands

24680 Starling S - Ketelbreg/Kamperhoek, Netherlands

12418 Starling - Westnschouwn, Netherlands

VISMIG - Thursday 8th November 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal,

0630hrs - 1000hrs

Wind: SSE 10- 25mph, 6c, 37% Cloud cover, 1007mb pressure. A nice morning, but a strange morning with very little birds early doors - Hardly any Jackdaws which I normally would have hundreds sqawking all morning, but no corvids in the sky seemed strange!. A moderate call of Chaffinch. The NW line started at around 0905hrs and was completed at 0930hrs with no further birds on that particular line.  Movement SE unless stated.

Chaffinch: 360 (230 se, 98 nw, 32 w) best parties: 1x17,1x16,1x15,1x13,1x12 

Brambling 2 se

Linnet: 16 (11 se 5w)

Alba Wagtail: 1

Starling: 59 w (15,3,6,10,5,10,5,1,4)

Redwing: 10 (8nw and 2se)

Fieldfare: 52 se (16,23,13)

Woodpigeon: 94 n (4,10,14,5,,20,30,11)

Little Egret: 2 se (over Hutton Roof)

Other:

Greylag Goose 22 wandering in all directions

Starlings E x roost - only 594 this morning (100,30,20,100,50,200,50,40,4)

A round up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Thr 8th Nov 2018

2124 Fieldfare SW - Morgans Hill, Calne, Wilts

1145 Starling SW - Black Bank, Staffs.

2144 Fieldfare SW - Caldene Fields, Bradford W. Yorks

198 Brambling SE - Winter Hill, Bolton, Lancs

Starlings on way through this morning ex roost at 0736hrs (Click over to enlarge)

VISMIG - Wednesday 7th November 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal,

0630hrs - 1000hrs

Wind: SE 21-37mph but decreasing by 0900hrs to about SE12, 11c, 99% Cloud cover decreasing to 75%, 989mb pressure.  Did not expect to much today. On arrival and for 50% of watch it was light rain and drizzle but yet a trickle of birds kept coming. By about 0900hrs when things brightened up and the winds started decreasing the birds drastically dropped off with hardly any after that. Great ex roost party with at least 4000 plus (see photo above)

Chaffinch: 104 (99 se and 10 w) no nw birds this morning!!

Brambling: 4 nw

Goldfinch: 14 se (8,1,5)

Linnet: 35 (5 nw and 30w)

Starling: 140 w (40,2,10,6,15,15,30,6,6,10)

Fieldfare: 38 se (3,2,16,13,4)

Other:

Greylag Goose: 12 se (2 and a 10 at 0828hrs)

Starling: 4200 approx E (ex roost) Initial 2000 wave followed by a couple of 1000 waves then smaller parties. Difficult to see the bulk which seemed to be coming over Farleton. 

A round up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Wed 7th Nov 2018

20289 Starling S - De Vulkaan, Den Haag, Netherlands

11800 Starling S - De Puinhoop, Katwijk, Netherlands

12345 Redwing S - Dordtse Biesbosch, Netherlands ****REDWING REVIVAL***

2417 Fieldfare S - Dordtse Biesbosch, Netherlands

753 Chaffinch S and 146 Brambling S - Dordtse Biesbosch, Netherlands

Total Redwing today migrating over Netherlands is 389153

Total Fieldfare today migrating over Netherlands is 24357

Total Starling today migrating over Netherlands is 87495

Total Chaffinch today migrating over Netherlands is 27100

VISMIG - Tuesday 6th November 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal,

0630hrs to 1100hrs

Wind: South East 8-18mph, 9c, 97% cloud cover, 997mb pressure. Again just like yesterday a poor visibility day with all perimeters blocked and only a clear view on the SE horizon, but still managed some good numbers.  A better morning with the Chaffinch and Thrushes. The NW line started at about 0900hrs and was strong for about 17 minutes and during that period I had 130 birds in parties of 29,22,20,17 and lesser, also had a 11 Brambling party on that same NW line.. Still some Woodpigeon on the same NW line high above the A6070. 

Chaffinch: 492 (290se,160nw,42w) (best parties: 1x29,1x25,1x22,2x20,1x17) (nw line produced some 160 birds over 17 minutes.

Brambling: 11 nw (one party)

Linnet: 41 se (4,4,25,8)

Goldfinch: 1 se

Greenfinch: 1 se

Starling: 166 w (best parties: 2x25,5x20)

Redwing: 50 all se

Fieldfare:308 (10se,3e,14sw,4se,3sw,20se,15ne,10se10sw,

1se,40se,8se,3se,4se,20nw,10sw,50sw,30se,8se,6se,11se,30se)

Blackbird: 2 w (1,1)

Alba Wagtail: 1

Lapwing: 1 se

Woodpigeon: 260 nw (9x 20 to 40 parties)

Also: Starling E ex roost: 865 (200,400,100,60,70,30,5) main line not seen because of poor vis.

Hello darlings - Starlings,

draught to my hearing senses,

"Wush" you passed in a flicker of a wing

and a split second in our time.

I was held to super-still, 

and felt I could have reached out and touched

A round up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Tues 6th Nov 2018

1764 Chaffinch S - Crosby, Merseyside.

1830 Fieldfare SW and 1202 Redwing SW - Morgans Hill, Calne, Wilts.

2045 Fieldfare S and 1634 Redwing S - Hale Head, Widnes

669 Chaffinch S and 821 Brambling S - Hale Head, Widnes

127 Brambling SW - Harden, Penistone, Sth Yorks.

19859 Starling S - De Vulkaan, Den Haag, Netherlands

16094 Chaffinch S - De Vulkaan, Den Haag, Netherlands

20316 Starling - Ijmeerdijk, Almere, Netherlands

11705 Starling - Ketelbrug/Kamperhoek, Netherlands

Also worth checking nearby and far away VISMIG LINKS:

HEYSHAM  
WALNEY
BARDSEY  (then click on blog tab)
FLEETWOOD
HILBRE 

SPURN
FLAMBOROUGH
FILEY
GIBRALTAR POINT
SANDWICH BAY
DUNGENESS
PORTLAND BILL
FAIR ISLE
ISLE OF MAY
ALDERNEY
STOKHOLM OBSERVATORY

TREKTELLEN (Click over date which is headed "Last Count")

VISMIG - Monday 5th November 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal,

0630hrs-1100hrs

Wind: East 7-12mph, 7c, 91% Cloud cover, 1005mb pressure. Poor visibility all morning with a haze to all perimeters, so direct vis down to about 100 yards. Easterlies blowing at about 12 mph on arrival but did go down a bit and then freshened at about 1030hrs. Lovely to not hear the motorway noise and all quiet from the bottom, would have been perfect for listing to "skylark" the only problem was there was none to listen to!  did get a party of 10 Brambling. A few Starling coming in and just a few thrushes dispersing. All movement SE unless stated.

Chaffinch: 222 (183se, 26w, 13nw) best parties: 1x14, 3x7, 4x5)
Brambling: 10 nw (one party)
Linnet: 58 (9,24,25) se
Goldfinch: 9 se (4,5)
Alba Wagtail: 3 se (1,1,1)
Starling: 216 w (1,12,40,2,11,40,100,10)
Redwing: 26 se (6,14,6)
Song Thrush 8 sw (one party)
Fieldfare: 75 (3sw,3e,4e,7w,3e,2w,28w,25s)
Woodpigeon: 178 n (3,4,20,15,14,40,9,7,30,11,5,20)
Common Gull: 14 se (5,1,7,1)
Great Spotted Woodpecker: 1w

Other:
Starling: 720 e (50,300,50,40,50,50,50,50,30,50)  I knew today would be pretty poor on account of local visibility and only being able to see them within a small corridor.

A round up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Mon 5th Nov 2018

889 Chaffinch S - Crosby, Merseyside
1240 Starling N and 1000 Starling S - Crosby Merseyside
946 Chaffinch S - Hale Head, Widnes, Halton
591 Brambling S - Hale Head, Widnes, Halton
10027 Starling W - Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales
1570 Fieldfare S and 1335 Redwing S - Hale Head, Widnes, Halton.

17196 Starling S - De Vulkaan, Den Haag, Netherlands
11501 Starling - De Boedberg, Monster, Netherlands
5380 Chaffinch S - De Vulkaan, Den Haag, Netherlands

VISMIG - Sunday 4th November 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal,
0630hrs -1100hrs 

Wind: SSW 14-26 mph, 11c, 74% Cloud, 1005mb pressure.  Again all went quiet from about 0800hrs with just trickles throughout (other than a surge with the Chaffinch between 1000hrs and 1015hrs with 69 birds recorded). Thrushes dropped right off. Woodpigeon movement to W/NW All movement South East unless stated. Kick off at 0702 with Redwing and first Chaffinch.

Chaffinch: 285  (202 se,65w,18nw) best parties : 1x25,1x21,1x11,3x10.
Linnet: 1 w
Goldfinch:1 se
Greenfinch: 2 se
Meadow Pipit: 3 se
Starling: 114 w (12,4,4,25,3,12,6,8,40)
Redwing: 14 (12w and 2se)
Fieldfare: 21 se (8,3,10)
Song Thrush: 1se
Woodpigeon: 346 all w/nw (292 prior to 0850 then 54 after)
Greater Spotted Woodpecker: 1w

Also:
Starling: (5000 e from roost in first ten minutes in waves of 2000 or 1000 then balls of 350,500,300,300,40,100,20 following on over the hour) Total: approx 6160.

A round up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Sun 4th Nov 2018

71198 Starling S - De Vulkaan, Den Haag, Netherlands
21710 Starling  Bergen Aan Zee, Netherlands
18800 Starling  Ketelbrug - Kamperhoek, Netherlands
14520 Starling - Diemerpark, Netherlands
13700 Starling - De Puinhoop, Katwijk, Netherlands
13664 Starling - Vijfhoek, Diemen, Netherlands
***359869****Total Starling on migration over Netherlands today

27163 Chaffinch S - De Vulkaan, Den Haag, Netherlands
16890 Chaffinch - De Puinhoop, Katwijk, Netherlands
***686898*** - Total Chaffinch on migration over Netherlands today

5000 Brambling - De Puinhoop, Katwijk, Netherlands

VISMIG - Saturday 3rd November 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal,
0630hrs to 1200hrs

Wind: South 15-30 mph at opening and then by 0900hrs wind freshning, 8c, 94% Cloud cover and 1016mb pressure. The lightest of drizzle in opening 10 minutes from light. A good start but went quiet from 0800 in regards to Chaffinch until 1100hrs when I had a surge of 130 birds over, inside 20 minute period with some large groups and then by 1120 went quiet yet again.  Can only think these birds were from a earlier single population and coming through in fragmented groups (best of these was 26,15,13,11,10). A couple of small Brambling parties, although do suspect in the earlier mentioned 26 I thought I heard a Brambling. Fieldfare coming through to the North East/East. Also nice to have some continental Blackbird passage. Low Starling entry. All movement SE unless stated.

Chaffinch: 307 (260 se, 36 w, 11 nw) (130 of the above came through 1100-1120hrs)
Brambling: 7 (4 nw, 3 se)
Goldfinch: 5 nw
Linnet: 54 se (50,4)
Meadow Pipit: 1
Starling: 97 w (best parties: 30,15,10)
Redwing: 39 (3w,2se,4,2w,15w,6se,2se,1se,4se)
Fieldfare: 468 mainly E/NE (30se,7sw,10se,70nw,18se,80se,70se,1se,10s,80ne,30ne,30e,12e)
Blackbird: 7 (3se,3nw,1se)
Woodpigeon: 82 (3w,8se,8se,30nw,3se,5se,25w)

Also:
3300 Starling E:  ( Ex roost - Kick off at 0715hrs with a 2000 followed by 1000 waves, then small parties up to 300 at various times. All low to 15ft from ground and interesting to watch them negotiate with twist and turns to clear obstacles (trees) Incredible !

A round up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Sat 3rd Nov 2018

88 Brambling SE - Winter Hill, Bolton, Lancs
1513 Fieldfare SW - Ozendyke - North Yorks
290 Brambling SW - Darwen, Lancs.
1290 Fieldfare SW - Anglers CP, West Yorks
44350 Woodpigeon SW - Painswick Beacon, Gloucs
1860 Redwing SW - Painswick Beacon, Gloucs
104 Brambling SW - Steps Hill, Ivinghoe Beacon, Bucks

10016 Woodpigeon S - Kwintelooijan bij Veenendaat, Netherlands
4345 Chaffinch and 7735 Brambling S and 1050 Redwing - Kwintelooijan bij Veenendaat
59179 Starling S - De Vulkaan, Den Haag, Netherlands
17313 Chaffinch S - De Vulkaan Den Haag, Netherlands
9121 Brambling S - De Vulkaan Den Haag, Netherlands
26452 Starling S - Bergen Aan Zee, Netherlands
2693 Brambling S - Bergen Aan Zee, Netherlands
14500 Chaffinch S - De Puinhoop, Katwijk, Netherlands
30696 Starling - Ijmeerdijk, Almere, Netherlands
29139 Starling, Springertduin, Ouddorp, Netherlands
26452 Starling, Bergen Aan Zee, Netherlands
17229 Starling, De Bloedberg, Monster, Netherlands

VISMIG - Friday 2nd November 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal,
0630hrs to 0740hrs and then 0900hrs to 1100hrs

Wind: NW 5-6mph, 1c to 6c, 0% cloud to 50% 1019mb pressure.  Count down a bit because of having to be away at the busiest period, but still OK although Chaffinch numbers still thin on the ground compared to past counts. Starling arrivals gone down, odd thrush dispersal. All movement South East unless stated.

Chaffinch:187 (101 se, 74w, 12nw)
Goldfinch: 29 W (7,12,10)
Linnet: 5 W (1,4)
Starling: 36 W (4,4,2,10,2,3,1,3,7)
Redwing: 61 (6se,30sw,4sw,3,3,5w,10)
Fieldfare: 64 W (4,10,50)
Woodpigeon: 117 (20w,15w,25w,15se,20se,6s,6s,10w)
Common Gull: 1 SE

Also:
Long Tailed Tit: 10 (probably local)
Starling: 5000 E x roost plus lots of small waves following on with up to 500 birds in total.

A round up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Fri 2nd Nov 2018

1666 Redwng SW - Painswick Beacon, Gloucs
32 Brambling SW - Painswick Beacon, Gloucs
660 Brambling NW - Winter Hill, Bolton, Lancs
46 Brambling NW - Bury, Greater Manchester
1307 Starling SW - Ozendyke, Nth Yorks
17180 Starling S - Hunstanton Cliffs, Norfolk

7240 Brambling S - Kwintelooijen, bij Veenendaal, Netherlands
77220 Starling S - Ketelbrug/Kamperhoek, Netherlands

VISMIG - Thursday 1st November 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal,
0630hrs to 1030hrs

Wind: West 3-5mph at first going into NW by 0700hrs, 6c, 93% Cloud, 1003mb pressure - Rain at first light for ten minutes then OK. Lot warmer today -  Chaffinch still poor numbers, Starlings still coming through from the East. Lots of meandering with the Fieldfares.

Chaffinch: 198 (118S, 67W, 13NW)
Linnet: 74 all SE (4,60,6,4)
Redpoll 2 NW
Alba Wagtail: 1NW
Skylark: 8 SE (3,3,2)
Starling: 107 W (a couple of 20s but main 4s to 15s)
Redwing: 56 (6se, 13nw 8se 3sw, 20 sw, 6sw)
Fieldfare: 151 (20nw, 3e, 18w, 3w, 20w, 50nw, 25nw, 12nw)
Blackbird: 5 (4SE, 1W)
Mistle Thrush: 1 W
Great Spotted Woodpecker: 1W
Woodpigeon: 32 (20SE 12W)
Blue Tit: 1

Other:
Cracking Starling E ex roost with up to 18000 at 0712hrs

"Nowt about today, once the reet dollop of shebbies had passed to the East,
18000 of the 100000 o'er my head and nah a got a thumping headache"

A round up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Thr 1st Nov 2018

78 Brambling SW - Painswick Beacon, Gloucestershire
93 Brambling NW - Winter Hill, Bolton, Lancs.

2729 Skylark S - Brobblebied-Noord, fussen uden en oss, Netherlands
21131 Woodpigeon South - Brobblebied-Noord, fussen uden en oss, Netherlands
4251 Brambling South - Brobblebied-Noord, fussen uden en oss, Netherlands
3524 Skylark South - Aan de majoor, Keningsbush, Netherlands
6285 Starling South - Aan de majoor, Keningsbush, Netherlands
4517 Chaffinch South - Aan de majoor, Keningsbush, Netherlands
2855 Skylark - De Kollenberg - Netherlands
71860 Starling - De Vulkaan, Den Haag, Netherlands
54860 Starling Ketelbrug/Kemperhoek, Netherlands
45000 Starling - De Puinhoop, Katwijk, Netherlands
40687 Starling - De Bliedberg, Monster, Netherlands
8690 Fieldfare - Ketelbrug Kamperhoek, Netherlands
74434 Chaffinch - De Vulkaan, Den Haag, Netherlands
48580 Chaffinch - De Puinhoop, Katwijk, Netherlands
15165 Chaffinch - Ketelbrug Kamperhoek, Netherlands
***65950 Brambling S *** - Kwinteloijen bij veenendaal - Netherlands
15845 Brambling - Ketelbrug/Kamperhoek, Netherlands

***361613 Starling*** on migration throughout the Netherlands today
***194384 Chaffinch *** on migration throughout the Netherlands today
***117578 Brambling *** on migration throughout the Netherlands today

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VISMIG - Wednesday 31st October 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal,
0630hrs to 1030hrs

Wind: SSE 9-21mph, 2c to 5c, 54% to 75%, 1002mb pressure.  Strange interesting sky this morning. The previous four days Northerly orientated winds had started to create a good build with super results yesterday, but just has the build had got going it changed completely around today to give us SSE which upset the apple cart yet again. But I guess thats nature for you and you need to have bad days to get the good days. No complaints it was still a reasonable count.  A remarkable flaming tale can be told later about the Starlings (shown below), but first lets get on with the count.  Not much on the Chaffinch north-west line this morning but reasonable numbers on the normal SE or W lines. First decent Siskin party West. Lots of small Woodpigeon parties heading W/NW. Some Thrush dispersal going in all directions. Still plenty of Starlings coming in from the East. All movement SE unless specified.

Chaffinch: 261 (164SE,76W, 21NW)
Siskin: 10 W (one party)
Goldfinch: 5
Linnet: 4 NW (2,2)
Alba Wagtail: 3
Starling: 318 W (best parties 2x100 and 20-30 plus small parties all morning)
Redwing: 42 (3SE,8SW,20SE,7W,4SE)
Fieldfare: 106 (36SW, 62 W or NW)
Common Snipe: 3 SE (2,1)
Woodpigeon: 168 W/NW in small parties from 4s to 30s.

Other:
Starling: 2000 plus Eventually East from roost at 0706hrs. (Check out Starling tale further down page)

A round up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Wed 31st Oct 2018

2840 Starling SW - Berry Hill, Stoke On Trent
210 Brambling SE - Winter Hill, Bolton, Lancs
3 Waxwing SE - Winter Hill, Bolton, Lancs
10200 Woodpigeon SW - Painswick Beacon, Gloucs
81 Crossbill S - Hunmanby Gap, North Yorks.
13 Mistle Thrush S - Hunmanby Gap, North Yorks

16231 Starling S - De Vulkaan, Den Haag, Netherlands
2934 Chaffinch S - De Vulkaan, Den Haag, Netherlands
6250 Starling S - De Horde- Lopik, Netherlands.
20780 Starling - Ketelbrug, Kamperhoek, Netherlands
11864 Starling - Ijmeerdijk, Almere, Netherlands
10580 Starling - De Puinhoop, Katwijk, Netherlands.

This beautiful red sky is what the Starlings were faced with this morning - Wed 31st October 2018 (Halloween) Hutton Roof (from my watchpoint Burton In Kendal)

I certainly experienced something different this morning, which I have never seen before!

About 2,000 Starling came through in one wave (after leaving their roost which is about 5 miles to my West) and normally would continue East to their feeding grounds around Kirkby Lonsdale etc., just has they passed me at about 50ft high they suddenly all tumbled down quickly to the nearest tree or trees of Pickles Wood which lies to the base of Hutton Roof to take cover (never done this before to my knowledge).  There they all started chattering with a enormous collective sound just like you would normally hear if you went along to their evening roost site.  After the red skies on their horizon had almost subsided perhaps 20 minutes later the birds started to leave the temporary holding area in small parties of 50 or more at a time, the evacuation lasted for some 20 minutes.  I can only think that perhaps the sight of that red sky had "spooked" them! or maybe they were showing that they wanted to get into the "Halloween" mood (spooky)......

PLEASE NOTE: The Starling murmurations are not at Leighton Moss this year,

although they are at another nearby "Moss"

******************************************

Just one of the many waves of Starling on their way out East this morning

Click over to enlarge

VISMIG - Tuesday 30th October 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal,
0630hrs to 1100hrs

Wind: North 7-10mph, 1c to 5c, 87% Cloud to 50% and 1000mb pressure.  Nice fresh weather morning cold but OK. Better Chaffinch passage. The "new" NW corridor birds were highlighted today with a couple of nice parties early on but finished almost at 0800hrs then trickles. Single Brambling but probably missing scores!! A Great White Egret heading out SE, Again good Starling from the East and regular. A few early morning Thrush dispersal numbers. Blackbirds showing. All movement South East unless stated.

Chaffinch:  622 (374 SE, 85 W, ***153NW***) Best parties: 1x60, 2x40, 1x24, 2x20
Brambling: 1 SE
Linnet: 30 W (one party)
Goldfinch: 30 SE (one party)
Siskin: Audible only
Starling: 372 W (best parties: 1x70,1x60, lots at 20-30)
Redwing: 121 mainly W/NW (small parties throughout watch)
Fieldfare: 95 all NW parties 15-30 only in first hour - roost dispersal
Mistle Thrush: 3 SW
Blackbirds: 8 W (2,1,2,1,1,1)
Woodpigeon: 95 W (15,30,30,20)
Raven: 6 S
Great White Egret: 1 SE

Other:
Starlings: approx 6000 Starling to the East x roost at 0713hrs - Started with waves of 1000 or more every five minutes then came through in waves or balls of 100 or less for the next hour or two. 1000 Jackdaw left roost and came over at 0656hrs.

A round up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Tues 30th Oct 2018

64 Brambling N - Black Bank, Staffs
35585 Woodpigeon SW - Painswick Beacon, Gloucs
48 Blackbird SW - West Common, Lincoln
83 Brambling NW - Winter Hill, Bolton, Lancs
38 Reed Bunting NW - Winter Hill, Bolton, Lancs
2206 Redwing NW - Bury, Greater Manchester
184 Chaffinch and 26 Brambling NW - Bury, Greater Manchester
924 Starling West - Bury, Greater Manchester.
32360 Starling South - Hunstanton Cliffs, Norfolk

Very quiet with no special interesting reports from Netherlands today

VISMIG - Monday 29th October 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal,
0630hrs to 1100hrs

Wind: ENE 6-8mph, 0c - 8c temp, 0%-15% Cloud cover, 1015mb pressure. Good Skylark party heading out to NW (late morning), still lots of Starling coming in to the West and still coming through to close of watch, small numbers of Thrushes still coming through with most Fieldfare early morning pre 0800hrs roost dispersal although the Redwing kept going up to close of watch. Best Snipe party of the year with 11 NW. Chaffinch numbers steady but nothing like how they used to be!! a few did also go on that NW corridor, but again wonder if this has something to do with continentals because lots of stuff seem to go NW today.

Chaffinch: 193 (139 SE, 21 NW, 33W)
Linnet: 4 W
Goldfinch: 3 SE
Greenfinch: 2 SE
Starling: 387 W (best parties: 80, 2x70,60)
Redwing: 344 NW (best parties: 100, 40, 2x30)
Fieldfare: 232 NW (best parties 50,40, 2x30)
Mistle Thrush: 14 W went down in Clawthorpe
Skylark: 32 NW (2,30) approx 1030hrs (could these be continentals?)
Alba Wagtail: 1 SE
Blue Tit: 2 SE
Common Snipe: 11 NW (one party)
Woodpigeon: over 200 mainly NW
Common Gull: 1NW

Other: Up to 5000 Starling left from roost and headed out to East, Interestingly there were a couple of 1000 waves went through at first light 0700hrs and then every 15 mins on another 1000 would go through and it carried on like that for over a couple of hours with small fragmented parties of anywhere between a 1000 down to 10.

A round up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Mon 29th Oct 2018

1854 Redwing SE - Braes of Doune/Boqhapple, Stirling, Scotland
921 Starling SW and 386 NW - Caldene Fields, Bradford, West Yorks.
1814 Starling N -  Bury, Greater Manchester
17 Brambling N - Bury, Greater Manchester

6581 Fieldfare S - Hazewater (Amersfoort), Netherlands
2638 Brambling S - Hazewater - Amersfoort, Netherlands
6606 Redwing S Dordtse, Biesbosch, Netherlands
991 Chaffinch S De Vulkaan, Den Haag, Netherlands
261 Skylark S - Zuidveld, Sellingen, Netherlands
9559 Woodpigeon S - Oelemars, Losser, Netherlands
1226 Starling W - Eemshaven, Najaar, Netherlands
8152 Lapwing West - Eemshaven, Najaar, Netherlands.

INTERESTING BELATED records:
2342 Starlings over Bardsey Observatory on Saturday 27th October 2018
****4110 Chaffinch**** over Bardsey Observatory on Saturday 27th October 2018
245 Brambling over Bardsey.

VISMIG - Sunday 28th October 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal,
0630hrs to 1100hrs

Wind: NNE 10-30mph, 3c 0% Cloud down to 30% cloud, 1026mb pressure. (Clocks turned back one our at 0200hrs this morning) Another cold morning but pleasant once the sun had risen. Quite a lot of Starling movement, a little Thrush and still poor with the Chaffinch. All movement SE unless stated.

Chaffinch: 217 (92s and 125w)
Goldfinch: 4 W
Starling: 450W (best parties: 5x50)
Redwing: 333 NW (best parties: 60,50,40,40)
Fieldfare: 268 NW (best parties: 1x50, 2x40)
Skylark: 12 SE (8,4 within a couple of minutes apart)
Alba Wagtail: 1 W
Woodpigeon: 110 SW (60 and 50 following on in two tight balls)
Blue Tit: 2 (1,1)

Other:
Starlings: 1000 plus E x roost 0656hrs

A round up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Sun 28th Oct 2018

13600 Woodpigeon SW and Starling 3160 SW - Berry Hill, Stoke On Trent
1033 Fieldfare mainly SW - Liberton, Edinburgh.
1671 Fieldfare SW - West Common, Lincoln
1347 Starling SW - Ozendyke, North Yorks.
210 Brambling SW - Ferry Hills, Fife
6235 Starling WNW and 1553 Fieldfare SW - Anglers CP, West Yorks.
1378 Starling SW - Manton Bay, Rutland Water, Leics.
1679 Starling SW - West Common, Lincoln, Leics
1385 Starling SW Iverley, Staffs.

265277 Woodpigeon S - De Hamert, Netherlands
92672 Woodpigeon - Brobbelbies - Noord - Netherlands
92590 Woodpigeon - Oelemars (Losser) Netherlands
84267 Woodpigeon - De Groots Peel, Netherlands
**1,004,739 Woodpigeon **   at all sites throughout Netherlands today.

19825 Starling S - Ketelbrug/Kamperhoek, Netherlands
8006 Fieldfare - De Horde, Lopik, Netherlands
6137 Redwing - De Horde, Lopik, Netherlands
15402 Chaffinch - De Horde, Lopik, Netherlands
10060 Brambling - De Nolle Vlissingen, Netherlands.

VISMIG - Saturday 27th October 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal,
0730hrs to 1030hrs 

Wind: North 10-31mph, 1c (very cold) 20% to 60%, 1017mb pressure. Gone extremely cold. Most of the Chaffinch today came in from the East to the West. My first Brambling of the year, and a pair of Snow Bunting. A few thrushes. All movement SE unless stated.

Chaffinch: 236 (64SE, 172W)
Brambling: 20 W (one party)
Goldfinch: 32
Linnet: 46 (35 SE 11W)
Alba Wagtail: 3 W (2,1)
Starling: 1 W
Redwing: 50 (12 SE, 20E, 14W, 2E 2SW)
Fieldfare: 158 (15SE, 60SE, 5NW, 3W, 15NW, 60SE)
Snow Bunting 2 SE

Other:
Starling ex roost to E approx 1000.

A round up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Sat 27th Oct 2018

933 Chaffinch W - Salcombe Hill, Sidmouth, Devon
447 Chaffinch N - Ynyslas, Ceredigion, Wales
1256 Fieldfare SW - Liberton, Edinburgh
23400 Woodpigeon SW - Berry Hill, Stoke On Trent
19600 Woodpigeon SW - Black Bank, Staffs.
1000's Woodpigeon E to SW - Darwen, Lancashire
74 Crossbill WSW - Darwen, Lancashire.
10735 Woodpigeon W - Salcombe Hill, Sidmouth, Devon
70 Brambling SW - Ferry Hills, Fife, Scotland.
3988 Starling N - Spurn, East Yorks
501 Blackbird NW - Spurn East Yorks
865 Fieldfare NW - Oxenhope, Bradford, West Yorks
1248 Fieldfare NW - Winter Hill, Bolton, Lancs.
72 Brambling SE - Winter Hill, Bolton, Lancs.
10788 Woodpigeon SE - Winter Hill, Bolton
328 Chaffinch East (in 30 mins) at Stokholm Observatory
2342 Starlings over Bardsey Observatory on Saturday 27th October 2018
****4110 Chaffinch**** over Bardsey Observatory on Saturday 27th October 2018
245 Brambling over Bardsey.

100123 Starling S - Havelandweg, Eibergen, Netherlands
6101 Fieldfare S - Leeuwardenbos, Netherlands
25992 Chaffinch S - De Vulkaan, Den Haag, Netherlands
1027 Siskin S - De Vulkaan, Den Haag, Netherlands.
11877 Starling - De Vulkaan, Den Haag, Netherlands

Also worth checking nearby and far away VISMIG LINKS:

HEYSHAM  
WALNEY
BARDSEY  (then click on blog tab)
FLEETWOOD
HILBRE 

SPURN
FLAMBOROUGH
FILEY
GIBRALTAR POINT
SANDWICH BAY
DUNGENESS
PORTLAND BILL
FAIR ISLE
ISLE OF MAY
ALDERNEY
STOKHOLM OBSERVATORY

TREKTELLEN (Click over date which is headed "Last Count")

Mass departure on our bird radar from the north of the Netherlands to UK. Will the vireo also leave Texel and ... pic.twitter.com/p6pmDBqNdH

— Hans van Gasteren (@hvangasteren) October 27, 2018

A small part of the thousands of Starlings on their way through to East x roost this morning

(Click over to enlarge)

VISMIG - Friday 26th October 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal,
0730hrs to 1100hrs

Wind NW 9-25mph, 5c, 30% cloud to 50%, 1010mb pressure.  Lovely skycapes this morning. Nice to have more Whoopers, also strong Starling x roost presence again. First Reed Buntings, also Collard Dove and Magpies. All movement SE unless stated.

Chaffinch: 313 (122 SE 191W) (best parties: 1x23,1x20, 1x16, 1x10)
Linnet: 5 (3,2)
Goldfinch: 30 (20SE 10W)
Reed Bunting: 1 SE
Redwing: 48 (3W,25NE,20NW)
Fieldfare: 99 (70SW, 25SE, 4NW)
Starling: 10 W (3w,5w,1w,1w)
Whooper Swan: 6 SE over Hutton Roof at 0902hrs
Greylag Goose: 49 (16 se at 0823hrs,28ne 0852hrs, 5se at 1110hrs
Pink Footed Goose: 110 SW (40 at 0950hrs, 70 at 1050hrs)
Woodpigeon: 30S
Collard Dove: 4 SE
Magpie: 4

Other:
Starling East x Roost - a 8000 party at 0800hrs followed within minutes by a further 10000

A round up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Fri 26th Oct 2018

942 Fieldfare SW - Manton Bay, Rutland Water, Leicestershire
734 Fieldfare - Spurn - East Yorkshire
41 Blackbird - Spurn - East Yorkshire
28 Brambling SW - Caldene Fields, Bradford, West Yorks
74 Brambling NW - Oxenhope, Bradford, West Yorks.
346 Lesser Redpoll and 122 Crossbill - Sandwich Bay, Kent
185 Goldfinch and 138 Siskin - Sandwich Bay, Kent.

LITTLE QUANTITIVE REPORTS FROM THE NETHERLANDS TODAY

"Report from yesterday 25th October 2018 - from Bardsey Observatory"

Today's Chaffinch passage was one of the highlights of autumn "vismigging" so far. Small groups were first picked up on their faint calls, heading high over the island straight towards the West Coast of Ireland.  As our eyes became adjusted to the blue sky, we started to pick up more and more Chaffinch shaped dots, until it became apparent that they were all part of a migrating super flock containing at least 300 birds.

VISMIG - Thursday 25th October 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal, 0730hrs to 1100hrs
Wind: West 6-10mph, 9c, 84% cloud, 1023mb pressure. Very dark cloud present throughout and at times visibility to parimeters was poor. Good interesting Starling ex roost. Still well short of birds. Goldfinch numbers building. All movement SE unless stated.

Chaffinch: 133 (78SE and 65W) Linnet: 15
Goldfinch: 52 (14se,6se,5w,3se,4nw,10w,10w)
Starling: 42 W (40,2)
Redwing: 97 (5s,12sw,4sw,6sw,15w,16nw,30w,15sw)
Fieldfare: 127 (16sw,30nw,7sw,14sw,40nw, 2sw,8w,10w)
Pink Footed Goose: 150 (120 S at 1043hrs) and 30 to nw at 1048hrs)
Woodpigeon: 100 One tight ball SE then seen checking out Hutton Roof.

Also:
Starling: 11000 E approx - x roost from LMoss with 6000 going over Farleton side and at least 5000 heading East over Majors Nursury - A large number of these were doing a sort of vertical murmuration has they proceeded East eventually forming a large ball.

A round up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Thr 25th Oct 2018

1299 Fieldfare North West and 1072 Redwing NW - Oxenhope, Bradford, West Yorks
65 Brambling North West - Oxenhope, Bradford, West Yorks.
717 Chaffinch West - Salcombe Hill, Sidmouth, Devon,
4210 Fieldfare South - Hunstanton Cliffs - Norfolk
1154 Chaffinch South - Hunstanton Cliffs - Norfolk
1000+ Fieldfare - Pegwell Cliff Top - Sandwich Bay

15203 Fieldfare South - De Vulkaeen -Den Haag, Netherlands
7890 Chaffinch South - De Vulkaeen -Den Haag, Netherlands
8890 Fieldfare - Hoaten-Zuid, Netherlands
7657 Fieldfare - Laaxum (ZW-Friesland) Netherlands
7070 Fieldfare - Ijmeerdijk, Almere, Netherlands
6805 Fieldfare - De Bloedborg, Monster, Netherlands

Here is a old report I remember posting back on 10th November 2002 - Such a large quantity of "Redwing" etc seen so late as 10th November 2002  (just been going through some of our early vismig group emails - really interesting stuff - will post more when I get chance.

Hi all,

Redwings are still about when you see yesterday evenings report from Bardsey Lighthouse

1040hrs on 10^th November 2002 – Redwing – Bardsey Island

40,000 birds attracted to the lighthouse overnight – of these 30,000 still present early morning (200 picked up dead after hitting lighthouse, also overnight 400 Song Thrush, 350 Fieldfare, 300 Blackbirds, 10 Woodcocks, Jack Snipe, Storm Petrel, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Water Rails, 30 Lapwings, 4 Dunlin, 6 Redshank, 6 Golden Plovers and 250 Starlings (3500 of the latter present early morning.

  

***************************************

VISMIG - Wednesday 24th October 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal, 0730hrs to 0945hrs

Wind: West 8 -16, 10c (felt more like 3c with wind chill, 89% Cloud cover breaking down to 50% and 1029mb temp. Starling X roost to E with 5000. Only Chaffinch to West today, a very nice group of Whoopers heading in from the NW and out to the SE. All movement SE unless stated.

Chaffinch: 72 mainly W (11SE, 1NW, 60W)

Linnet: 40 (20 SE, 14 W, 6SE)

Starling: 5 W (1W, 4W)

Redwing: 5 W

Fieldfare: 62 (60NW at 0920hrs and 2 SE)

Whooper Swan: 7 SE at 0900hrs

Pink Footed Goose: 20 SE at 0840hrs

Greylag Goose: 17 from SE then local

Great Black Backed Gull: 1 NW

Cormorant: 2 SE

Also:

Starling: 6000 approx to E (x roost) 

A round up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Wed 24th Oct 2018

4040 Fieldfare NW - Sunk Island, East Yorkshire.

2840 Fieldfare and 330 Redwing - Beltings Herme Bay

570 Fieldfare W/NW and 35 Brambling N - Oxenhope, Bradford, W. Yorks

226 Blackbird/657 Fieldfare/719 Redwing - Spurn Observatory - E. Yorkshire

32452 Fieldfare S - De Vulkane, Den Haag, Netherlands

32178 Fieldfare S - Springertduin, Onddorp, Netherlands

10432 Fieldfare - Zuidfeld, Sellingen, Netherlands

9942 Fieldfare S - Hazewater, Amersfoote, Netherlands

12422 Fieldfare S - De Horde, Lopik, Netherlands

7618 Fieldfare - Dwingelderveld - Netherlands

5379 Fieldfare - Vreeswijk, Nieuwegerie, Netherlands

(Redwings and Starlings very few showing now in the Netherlands with total counts less than 6000 Redwings and Starlings at about 5000 and Chaffinch down to 2000)

VISMIG - Tuesday 23rd October 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal, 0730hrs to 1000hrs

Wind: West 15-30 mph, 10c, but felt 3c with continual wind chill, 100% Cloud breaking less to about 60% on leaving. 1030mb pressure.  Lots of Starling x roost eg: 7000 but certainly nothing like yesterday morning.  It was a struggle today for the small birds especially the chaffinch with the majority (55) choosing to fly into the wind on the westward route and only a few (18) taking the wind behind them which the ones that did rushed past you like a car doing 30 mph and side on! it must have been a nightmare for the poor little fellows and lasses, but I have seen it all before.  It always makes you wonder why on earth did they not chose yesterday to come through when the weather was far kinder!! all movement SE unless stated.

Chaffinch: 73 (55W and 18 SE)

Goldfinch: 40 W (4,5,12,9,10)

Linnet: 16 SE (One party)

Siskin: 1 (audible only)

Starling: 54 W (40,1,6,1,6)

Fieldfare: 42 NW at 0926 (one party)

Redwing: 25 (11 SE, 10W, 4W)

Woodpigeon: 30 SE

Also:

Starling: 7000 approx (6000 party over Farleton at 0810 whilst 1000 over Dalton Hall all E ex roost

A round up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Tues 23rd Oct 2018

Nothing of any special interest to report both in the UK and also in the Netherlands

VISMIG - Monday 22nd October 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal,

0730hrs to 1100hrs

Wind: NNW 3mph, 5c, 1% cloud, 1037mb pressure. Clouding to about 50% by finish. Spectacular opener with no less than 20,000 Starling heading East from roost (could well have been 50,000) in one column which was total from your left and right and very deep which went on for a couple of minutes.  I have seen many a large murmurations etc but never seen such a move with all at one go - incredible!!

Chaffinch: 192 (104 SE 83W and 5 NW) best parties: 2x7, 6x6

Linnet: 6

Goldfinch: 22 (4,18)

Alba Wagtail: 3 (1,2)

Blue Tit: 1

Starling: 94 W (20,4,10,2,20,10,20,3,5)

Fieldfare: 460 mainly W or NW other than a 12 SE and a 40 to SW)

Redwing: 35 (15S and 20 NW)

Pink Footed Goose 140 NW (one skein overhead at 0938hrs)

Lapwing: 38 W (one party)

Woodpigeon: 20 S

Red Admiral Butterfly: 1 S

Also:

Greylag Goose 34NW at 0815 watched til out of view somewhere over Lakes

Starling between 20000 and 50000 heading East from roost at 0742 hours

A round up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Mon 22nd Oct 2018

1465 Goldfinch E - Goring Gap, West Sussex

1375 Fieldfare SE - Winter Hill, Bolton, Lancashire

48 Brambling N - Ynyslas, Ceredigion, Wales

15860 Woodpigeon W - Salcombe Hill, Sidmouth, Devon

25810 Woodpigeon SW - Black Bank, Staffordshire

15300 Woodpigeon SW - Berry Hill, Stoke On Trent

18810 Chaffinch - Ketelbrug/Kamperhoek - Netherlands.

VISMIG - Sunday 21st October 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal,

0730hrs to 1115hrs

Wind SSW 9-18mph, 12c, 95% Cloud, 1025mb pressure. Visibility poor and down to 200 yards. Light continuous rain for first hour or two then off on. First proper day with Chaffinch and they went through whilst raining especially between 0840 to 0900hrs then a large gap whilst rain went more heavy, but soon as rain died the birds came back on and steady until heavy rain at 1115hrs. Some cracking parties see below.  I do think we got a taste of continental birds starting off.  Also of particular interest a few birds went on the North West routing (first time this year). This NW routing was first noted last year and further association with continental birds. Kick off 0824hrs

Chaffinch: 507 (449SE, 33W and 23NW) (Best parties: 2x50, 1x45, 1x34, 1x30, 1x28, 1x23,1x20, 2x16, 1x13. 

Linnet: 28 (8W 20 SE)

Goldfinch: 68 (12,20,15,9NW, 12)

Siskin: 1W

Alba Wagtail: 2 (1,1)

Starling: 100 W (40,4,50,6)

Fieldfare: 18 (2SE and 16SW)

Other:

Starling 60E - x roost at 0807hrs

A round up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Sun 21st Oct 2018

42 Brambling N - Oxenhope, Bradford, West Yorks

3836 Chaffinch S - Hunstanton Cliffs, Norfolk

18830 Starling - Ketelbrug/Kampershoek - Netherlands

20101 Chaffinch S - De Vulkaeen - Den Haag - Netherlands

12433 Starling S - Havelandweg, Eibergen, Netherlands

VISMIG - Saturday 20th October 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal

0730hrs to 1000hrs

Wind: South 7-12mph, 9c, 46% Cloud cover, 1028mb pressure, visibility poor to all perimeters. Still very poor (it will be a year to remember! but in a more negative view) Starling parties still going through West. Little in the way of Thrushes other than those roosting earlier on Hutton Roof and then showing dispersal.

Chaffinch: 139 (119 SE and 20W)

Linnet: 20 SE (7,7,6)

Fieldfare: 10 NW

Redwing: 23 (2 SE, 15SE and 6 SW)

Starling: 101W (5,20,2,4,20,20,30)

Common Snipe: 3 SE

Pink Footed Goose: 45 W at 0948hrs

Other:

Greylag Goose: 1 SE at 0818hrs

A round up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Sat 20th Oct 2018

4578 Chaffinch S - Hunstanton Cliffs, Norfolk

1904 Starling SW - Anglers CP - West Yorks

32 Brambling SW - Anglers CP - West Yorks

137 Brambling SW - Steps Hill, Ivinghoe Beacon, Bucks

2076 Starling SW - Berry Hill, Stoke On Trent

22989 Chaffinch S - De Vulkaan, Den Haag - Netherlands

21177 Starling - Bergen Aan Zee - Netherlands

18650 Starling - Ketelbring/Kamperhoek - Netherlands

12869 Starling - Ijmeerdijk - Almere - Netherlands

11902 Starling - De Vulkaeen - Den Haag - Netherlands

VISMIG - Friday 19th October 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal

0730hrs to 1130hrs

Wind: SSE 7-8mph, 5c, 16% Cloud to 75% Cloud and then clearing. 1025mb pressure. Like other days still little in the way of birds.  One species which did OK today were continental Starlings which were coming through in very small 5/6 parties and anything up to about 25 parties all going West. All  general movement SE unless stated.

Chaffinch: 124 (97 SE and 47 W)

Linnet: 8 (4,4)

Alba Wagtail: 2 W (1,1)

Skylark: 3 W

Fieldfare: 311 all NW (10,20,80,40,11,40,9,20,20,3,18,40)

Redwing: 158 mainly South (40 nw, 40 sw, 20 se, 40 sw, 8nw, 2se, 8se,

Mistle Thrush: 1 E

Blackbird: 2W (1,1)

Starling: 400  mainlyWest, 7,40,3,30,20,30,15,30,15,12,2 12,20,1,4,25,9,50,9,20

Blue Tit: 1 SE

Goosander: 1 female SE

Pink Footed Goose: 9 to SW at 1020hrs

Lapwing: 6 SE

A round up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Fri 19th Oct 2018

57 Brambling S - Bury Area, Manchester.

81 Brambling N - Oxenhope, Bradford

1351 Starling - Anglers CP - West Yorks.

116 Brambling - SW - Steps Hill, Ivinghoe Beacon, Bucks.

10725 Woodpigeon - Painswick Beacon, Gloucs

916 Starling SW - Caldene Fields, Bradford, W. Yorks.

1939 Starling S - Ynyslas, Ceredigion, Wales

1013 Fieldfare SW - Winter Hill, Bolton, Lancs

214 Brambling SE - Winter Hill, Bolton, Lancs

1374 Starling S - Heysham Observatory, Lancs

1135 Starling N - Hunmanby Gap, East Yorks

1946 Starling SW - Black Bank Staffs.

11067 Chaffinch S, De Vulkaan, Dentlaag, Netherlands

31835 Redwing S - De Vulkaan, Dentlaag, Netherlands

32454 Redwing S - Bergen Aan Zee - Netherlands

11756 Fieldfare S - Bergen Aan Zee - Netherlands

2687 Brambling S - Bergen Aan Zee - Netherlands

1264 Skylark S - Bergen Aan Zee - Netherlands

19990 Starling S - De Vulkaan, Dentlaag, Netherlands

Also worth checking nearby and far away VISMIG LINKS:

HEYSHAM  
WALNEY
BARDSEY  (then click on blog tab)
FLEETWOOD
HILBRE 

SPURN
FLAMBOROUGH
FILEY
GIBRALTAR POINT
SANDWICH BAY
DUNGENESS
PORTLAND BILL
FAIR ISLE
ISLE OF MAY
ALDERNEY
STOKHOLM OBSERVATORY

TREKTELLEN (Click over date which is headed "Last Count")

VISMIG - Thursday 18th October 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal 0730hrs to 1115hrs

Wind: NE 3-5, 4c, 0% cloud, 1029mb pressure. Although the traffic noise sounds like it comes from the West/North West. Small parties of continental Starlings started coming through from 0900hrs. Early morning dispersal of Thrushes especially from Hutton Roof were hundreds must have roosted. All movement SE unless stated.

Chaffinch: 165 (125 SE and 40 W)

Linnet: 9 (3,6)

Goldfinch: 21 (1,20)

Alba Wagtail: 3 W (2,1)

Skylark: 3 (2 NW, 1SE)

Blue Tit: 6 (2,1,2,1)

Starling: 121 W (6,8,13,5,22,22,6,3,8,30)

Fieldfare: 178 (9s, 8sw, 9sw, 20nw, 30s, 40sw, 25se, 6nw, 5nw, 10se,12nw, 4sw)

Redwing: 643 (6s, 30sw, 6, 100sw, 50sw, 30w, 30se, 10nw, 100sw, 10w, 1se, 10nw, 60se, 20nw 40nw, 30se, 20sw, 5sw, 3w, 30w, 8se, 16nw, 8nw.

Whooper Swan: 5 SE at 0854hrs.

Other:

Starling E x roost at 0749hrs

VISMIG - 1417 hrs to 1500hrs - just by accident I noticed Thrushes going North West through Burton and I then decided to check out from Tarn Lane which I managed to record 6 parties over the hour as follows, but this could well have been going on all morning without detection. Tomorrow I will try and do a sample check out of this (established) corridor just in case they are coming through to the NW

Fieldfare: 140 NW (70,20,50)

Redwing: 93 NW (40,13,40)

Starling: 30 W

A round up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Thr 18th Oct 2018

10525 Woodpigeon S - Oxenhope, Bradford

1320 Chaffinch NE - Severnside, Gloucs

31 Brambling SW - Anglers CP, W. Yorks.

1039 Fieldfare WSW - Bury, Greater Manchester

2185 Fieldfare SW and 574 NW - Winter Hill, Bolton, Lancs. 

183 Brambling SW - Ferry Hill, Fife, Scotland

17138 Woodpigeon S - Hale Head, Widnes.

4800 Fieldfare - Darwen, Lancashire

300 Chaffinch - Darwen, Lancashire

1303 Chaffinch - Zuidveld, Sellingen, Netherlands

28540 Starling S - Ketalbrug/Kamperheuk, Netherlands

22060 Starling WSW - Slikken Van De Heen, Netherlands (could well be heading to UK)

***********************************************

234 Pink Footed Goose heading North over Burton In Kendal at 0825hrs

Click over to enlarge

VISMIG - Wednesday 17th October 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal 0730hrs to 0840hrs

Wind: WSW 5-7mph, 10c, 100% Cloud and breaking down, 1015mb pressure. All SE unless stated. Watching 2 Noctule Bats for about 15 minutes. More Thrush activity, but had to close my count after about one hour. 

Chaffinch: 66 (52SE and 14W)

Goldfinch: 8 (4,4)

Redwing: 153 (2SW,1,30SW,5NW,50SE,20W,30SE)

Fieldfare: 158 (9SW,30SE,40 first NE then SE,9NE,50SE,20SE

Song Thrush: 1W

Blue Tit: 1

Pink Footed Goose: 234 North (one skein - directly over Burton In Kendal)

Other:

Greylag Goose 34 local (included the white goose)

Starling 4 E ex roost 0745hrs.

also 1215hrs to 1300hrs

Chaffinch: 24 (14SE and 10W) 

A round up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Wed 17th Oct 2018

3200 Fieldfare - Darwen, Lancashire.

1920 Chaffinch N - Weston Super Mare, Somerset

1002 Redwing S - Bury, Manchester

82 Brambling - Filey - East Yorks

2092 Tree Sparrow - S - Spurn, East Yorks

5002 Fieldfare SW - Oxenhope, Bradford, W. Yorks

2305 Redwing SW - Oxenhope, Bradford, W. Yorks

86 Brambling W - Oxenhope, Bradford, W. Yorks

3593 Starling S - Heacham South Beach, Norfolk

2948 Chaffinch S - Heacham South Beach, Norfolk

1120 Linnet W - Durlston NNR - Dorset

2875 Goldfinch W and 1430 Siskin W - Durlston NNR - Dorset

29353 Chaffinch S - Hunstanton Cliffs, Norfolk

24019 Starling S - Hunstanton Cliffs, Norfolk

63 Brambling SW - Anglers CP - West Yorks.

1415 Fieldfare SW and 51 NE - Caldene Fields, Bradford, W. Yorks.

4076 Redwing SW and 21NE - Caldene Fields, Bradford, W. Yorks.

73 Brambling SW - Caldene Fields, Bradford, W. Yorks.

1167 Pink Footed Goose NE - Caldene Fields, Bradford, W. Yorks.

3113 Fieldfare SE - Winter Hill, Bolton, Lancs.

5667 Fieldfare SW - Glen Artney, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland

7698 Redwing SW - Glen Artney, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland

1002 Chaffinch N - Ynyslas, Ceredigion, Wales

14655 Woodpigeon S - Hale Head, Widnes/.

343 Skylark SW - Morgans Hill, Calne, Wilts.

27502 Chaffinch- De Vulkaan, Den Haag - Netherlands

14680 Chaffinch - De Puinhoop, Katwijk - Netherlands

23260 Starling S - Ketelbrug, Kampelhoek, Netherlands

22347 Starling - Vijfhoek, Diemen, Netherlands

VISMIG - Tuesday 16th October 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal 0715 to 1000hrs

Wind: South 8-15mph, 10c, 100% Cloud, 1013mb pressure.Drizzle and light rain off and on throughout watch. Still so so quiet!! and dont have any answers! All movement SE unless stated.

Chaffinch: 121 (96SE and 28W) Best parties: 1x9, 2x5

Linnet: 38 (8,30)

Alba Wagtail: 3 (1,2)

Starling: 6W

Mistle Thrush 1 SE

Redwing: 36 (8SW, 2SW, 20SW, 6SE)

Song Thrush: 1 SE

Fieldfare: 4 SW

Blue Tit: 3 (2,1)

Other:

Greylag Goose 24 SE

A round up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Tues 16th Oct 2018

6300+ Redwing - Spurn, East Yorks

406 Chaffinch South - Hale Head, Widnes

139 Brambling South - Hale Head, Widnes

253 Redwing calls Rodwell Nocturnal Listening - Weymouth

980 Redwing N - Whitburn Co. Durham. 

432 Chaffinch SW - Steps Hill, Ivinghoe Beacon, Bucks.

18956 Starling S - Hunstanton Cliffs, Norfolk

3286 Redwing S - Filey, North Yorks.

2156 Starling S - Heacham South Beach, Norfolk

137502 Chaffinch S - De Vulkaan, Den Haag, Netherlands

7124 Fieldfare S - Pettemer Zeechering, Netherlands

50000 Chaffinch - De Puinhoop, Katwijk, Netherlands

16690 Chaffinch - Meijendel - Wassaner, Netherlands

15290 Chaffinch - Castricon Aan Zee (landtrek) Netherlands

14145 Chaffinch - De Bloeberg - Monster - Netherlands

11022 Chaffinch - Pettemer, Zeewering, Netherlands

(Memories of a past Thrush Vismig Day in East Lancs 1980s):

Look up into the sky, high and sometimes higher (binoculars)

To see the black dots, then look further to see the smaller dots

of Thrushes bounding South West between the broken clouds.

In stream after stream and all on one line, and too high to count,

How many hundreds or maybe thousands there could have been. 

(turdus reflections 16 Oct 2018)

VISMIG - Monday 15th October 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal.

0715hrs to 1045hrs

Wind: NE 5-7mph, 6c, 25% cloud, 1015mb pressure. ARE THERE ANY CHAFFINCHES OUT THERE BECAUSE YOU ARE FALLING WELL SHORT THIS YEAR!!!! SO FAR..... Some lovely skyscapes today. Another day with Skylarks coming through and a few Geese on the move. A Few Redwings which seemed to be hanging about Hutton Roof. All SE unless stated

Chaffinch: 187 (127 SE and 60W) Best parties: 1x15, 2x10

Goldfinch: 16 (11W, 5SE)

Linnet: 53 (8SE, 30SE, 15W

Greenfinch: 1

Skylark: 52 (7W, 2SE, 16NW, 12SE, 8SE, 7SE)

Alba Wagtail: 1

Mistle Thrush: 6 (1W 5E)

Redwing: 156 NW (lots of messing about with them over and in Hutton Roof canopies)

Blackbird: 1 SE (very long tailed)

Pink Footed Goose: 280 (50 NW at 0920 (Hutton Roof), 80 S at 1000hrs (Hutton Roof) and a large party of 150 N at 1035hrs (Arnside Knott and West)

Also:

Greylag Goose: 60 (20SE and 40N)

A round up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Mon 15th Oct 2018

183 Brambling S - Filey, North Yorks

18036 Woodpigeon S - Hale Head, Widnes, Merseyside

96 Mistle Thrush SW - Ferry Hill, Fife

129 Goldfinch SW - Ferry Hill, Fife, Scotland.

433 Redwing 232SE and 201NW - Winter Hill, Bolton, Lancs.

894 Redwing N - Bury, Lancashire.

159 Chaffinch N - Bury Lancashire.

143 Goldfinch SW - Caldene Fields, Bradford, W. Yorks. 

Redwing 176 SW and 33 NE - Caldene Fields, Bradford, W. Yorks.

1120 Chaffinch N and 292 Skylark S - Ynyslas, Ceredigion, Wales. 

681 Skylark W - Mull of Galloway, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.

503 Linnet W - Mull of Galloway, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland

1055 Meadow Pipit E - Durlston, Dorset

1455 Linnet E and 760 Alba Wagtail E - Durston, Dorset

183 Brambling S - Filey - North Yorks.

2270 Redwing - Spurn Observatory East Yorks

490 Brambling - Spurn Obs - East Yorks. 

CHAFFINCH   (notes from 2014 and 2017)

 (written in 2017) - numbers have been very poor this year compared to past years and I put this down to the Westerley winds and also maybe the mild weather has also had a part to play.  Just to try and give you some idea I have made up this document showing numbers for comparisons. 

Chaffinch 2014 (counts are made over a approx 3 hour period, although extended to 6 hours or more on the large count days (so treat as approx)

Date and wind direct    Strength Wind  Numbers of birds

Oct 5^th  South                9mph                775 birds

       9^th  SS East             15mph           1310 birds 

     10^th South                18mph             1351 birds

     11^th E/S East              6mph              560 birds

     13^th NE                    13mph               458 birds

     14^th NE                   15mph                411 birds

     15^th E                      10mph               449 birds

     16^th E                         7mph              563 birds

     17^th S                         6mph              571 birds

     18^th S                       15mph            1022 birds

     19^th SW                    25mph              850 birds

     20^th WSW                14mph               574 birds

     25^th S                        10mph            1079 birds

     26^th SW                    20mph               604 birds

So obviously 2014 was a exceptional year which I put down to having a good build of Easterlies and Southerlies winds.  And I guess if you have a prolonged period of good winds (eg E and S) then it does not matter at the end you can take on a few Westerlies (as above) and it will still be OK because of the prior build, but it would not have been OK if you had not had the good run of E and S winds leading up to it.

Today (15th October 2017) The winds have changed over to the South (at long last) and I thought it would have been good, but no it turned out to be awful yet again, and thinking about it, it is probably down to two things 1) you have not had the build of prolonged Easterlies prior, and secondly I also think that perhaps the exceptional mild warm weather this year has not created the same inception interest to the migrants as you would get with the frost you associate with at this time of year. While we were getting Easterlies this year (2017) in the early part of the season (shown below) eg: September 23^rd to October 1^st I recorded good average numbers. 

Chaffinch – Autumn 2017

Date and wind direct    Strength Wind  Numbers of birds

Sept 23^rd  SS East             7mph           344 birds

         24^th  ESEast              8mph           444 birds

         25^th  ESEast              5mph           274 birds

         26^th  ESEast              5mph           477 birds

         27^th  ESEast             15mph          279 birds

         30^th South                 9mph           576 birds

Oct  1^st    SS East               7mph           301 birds

Yet after October 1^st 2017 the numbers of Chaffinch reduced drastically from less than 200 down to 80 with most mornings averaging around the 150 mark over a 3 hour watch.  Its obvious to me that the reason for one definitely is everyday since Oct 1^st this year there have been consistent  Westerlies up until today (15^th Oct) when we had a change to Southerly yet this Southerly still only produced around 150 birds.  Also I am sure that the constant mild wet spells have not helped in the matter. It will be especially interesting to see what this next 7days produce. 

VISMIG - Sunday 14th October 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal. 0715hrs to 1015hrs

Wind: NW 5-7mph, 10c, 100% Cloud, 1007mb pressure. Visibility excellent throughout. Still so quiet especially with the Chaffinch although a little better than the last few days. All movement to the SE unless stated.

Chaffinch: 201 (132 SE and 69 W) Best parties: 1x25, 1x14, 2x11, 2x7, 4x6

Linnet: 9 (3,6)

Goldfinch: 34 (10,7,5,5,7)

Redpoll: 1

Redwing: 33 (3SE and 30 NW) first light roosting birds

Mistle Thrush: 1E

Greylag Goose: 34 W (14,20)

Other:

Peregrine: 1

A round up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Sun 14th Oct 2018

600 Redwing SW and 157 Mistle Thrush SW - Ferry Hills, Fife, Scotland

90 Brambling and 105 Siskin SW - Ferry Hills, Fife, Scotland.

Sorry but there will be no vismig bird counts from Burton In Kendal on both Friday 12th October 2018 and also the following day Saturday 13th October 2018 - My next counts from Burton will be on Sunday 14th October 2018. 

A round up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Sat 13th Oct 2018

135 Swallow W - Durlston, Dorset.

320 Linnet W - Durlston, Dorset

2244 Chaffinch S - Hunstanton Cliffs, Norfolk

1076 Starling S - Hunstanton Cliffs, Norfolk

44 Brambling SW - Steps Hill, Ivinghoe Beacon, Bucks.

1700 Goldfinch and 250 Linnet passed over Dungeness Bird Obs.

1576 Song Thrush logged nocturnal calls in 3 1/2 hrs at Portland Bill, Dorset

A round-up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Fri 12th Oct 2018

692 Redwing SW - Caldene Fields, Bradford W. Yorks.

VISMIG Thursday 11th October 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal

0715hrs to 1000hrs

Wind: ESE 12-20mph and increasing, 12c, 80% Cloud and 1000mb pressure, visibility poor with all perimeters misted out - no traffic noise so good audibles.  Still so quiet throughout - Kick off with Chaffs at 0735hrs. All movement SE unless stated.

Chaffinch: 133 (108SE and 25W) (best parties: 1x15,1x14,1x12)

Linnet: 7 (5W 2SE)

Goldfinch: 5 W

Alba Wagtail: 10 (7,1,1,1)

Blue Tit: 2 (1,1)

Redwing: 59 SE (5,4,30,2,18)

Mistle Thrush: 2 SE (1,1)

Starling: 2 W

Other:

Starling 40 E (x roost at 0911)

Comma Butterfly.

A round-up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Thr 11th Oct 2018

608 Redwing SW - Hardon, Penistone, Sth Yorks. 

896 Redwing SW - Caldene Fields, Bradford, W. Yorks.

50  Song Thrush S - Hunmanby Gap, N. Yorks

1720 Linnet E - Durleston NNR, Dorset

1830 Goldfinch E - Durleston NNR, Dorset

630 Siskin E - Durleston NNR, Dorset

290 Swallow E - Durleston NNR, Dorset

53 Brambling SW - Ferry Hills, Fife, Scotland

2947 Starlings S - Hunstanton Cliffs, Norfolk

2741 Chaffinch S - Hunstanton Cliffs, Norfolk

388 Brambling S - Spurn, East Yorks.

VISMIG Wednesday 10th October 2018  - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal

0700hrs to 1030hrs

Wind: SE 6-8mph, 9c, 0% Cloud, 1014mb pressure. Kick off 0720hrs.  Still quiet for time of year should be three fold these numbers by now. Blue Tit passage today, A few more Skylark moving. Odd butterflies eg: Red Admiral and Small Tortoiseshell. Odd skein of geese from East to West. Dunnocks everywhere and noisy in local hedgerows.  Massive wasp W-E migration involving hundreds (seen daily). Noctule Bat flying around close for first 20 minutes of dark to light. All movement to SE unless stated. 

Chaffinch: 189 (161SE and 28W) Best parties: 1x10,1x8,1x7, 2x6, 3x5

Linnet: 55 (9,4,14,124,9,3,1,1)

Goldfinch: 25 (12,6,7)

Siskin ? (audible)

Blue Tit: 13 (2,1,1,1,2,4,2)

Skylark: 10 (6,3,1)

Mistle Thrush: 2 SE

Redwing: 6 (2SW and 4SE)

Song Thrush: 1 SE

Fieldfare ? (audible)

Pink Footed Goose: 80 SW (one party at 1024hrs)

Alba Wagtail: 2 (1,1)

Meadow Pipit: 5 (2,1,1,1)

Cormorant: 1S at 0754hrs

Red Admiral Butterfly 1S

also:

Woodpigeon: 99 (in bits and bats to W/NW)

Starling: 130 (in bits and bats to E x roost at 0720hrs)

Magpie: 3 SE

A round-up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Wed 10th Oct 2018

515 Siskin S over Hunmanby Gap - North Yorks.

1005 Chaffinch S over Hunstanton Cliffs, Norfolk

1350 Starling S over Hunstanton Cliffs, Norfolk

424 Linnet SW - Morgans Hill, Calne, Wilts.

11 Dunnock SW - Ferry Hills, Fife, Scotland

1760 Pink Footed Goose S - Walney, Cumbria

250 Skylark S over Spurn E. Yorks. 

VISMIG Tuesday 9th October 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal 0715hrs to 1100hrs

Wind: SW 10mph to 20mph, 12c, 100% cloud, 1011mb pressure. Still quiet with the Chaffinch, first proper Fieldfare. All movement SE unless stated. Kick off today 0758hrs

Chaffinch: 106 ( 87SE and 19W)

Linnet: 7

Goldfinch: 17 (4,7,6)

Common Snipe: 1SE

Raven 8 (one party SE)

Redwing: 25 (23NW, 2SE)

Fieldfare: 24 SE

Song Thrush: 1 SE

Blue Tit: 2

Pink Footed Goose: 4 SW

Other:

Starling: 90 E (60,30 x roost from Leighton Moss)

A round-up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Tues 9th Oct 2018

Small Redwing passage throughout country all going SW

361 Skylark SW - Morgans Hill, Calne, Wiltshire.

1489 Chaffinch S - Hunstanton Cliffs, Norfolk

8 Brambling SW - Iverley, Staffs

958 Starling S - Hunstanton Cliffs, Norfolk

43 Brambling S - Hunstanton Cliffs, Norfolk

1199 Linnet - Spurn, E. Yorks

596 Goldfinch - Spurn, E. Yorks

1220 Tree Sparrows - Spurn, E. Yorks. 

150 Siskin - Dungenesss

Also worth checking nearby and far away VISMIG LINKS:

HEYSHAM  
WALNEY
BARDSEY  (then click on blog tab)
FLEETWOOD
HILBRE 

SPURN
FLAMBOROUGH
FILEY
GIBRALTAR POINT
SANDWICH BAY
DUNGENESS
PORTLAND BILL
FAIR ISLE
ISLE OF MAY
ALDERNEY

TREKTELLEN (Click over date which is headed "Last Count")

VISMIG Monday 8th October 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal 0715hrs to 1100hrs

Wind: WSW 12-20mph, 13c, 100% cloud, 1014mb pressure.  Yet a even more quieter day with the Chaffinch. Nice bonus with Whooper Swans.. All movement SE unless stated.

Chaffinch: 132 (90SE and 42W) Best parties: 30, 12, 1x6,1x5

Goldfinch: 20 (one party)

Linnet: 15 (10,5)

Blackbird: 1 W

Redwing: 20 NW (one party)

Starling: 4W 

Common Snipe: 1W

Cormorant: 1 NW

Pink Footed Goose: 4 NW

Whooper Swan: 5SE at 0828hrs

Woodpigeon 23N

A round-up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Mon 8th Oct 2018

2830 Redwing SW and 253 Fieldfare SW - Berry Hill - Stoke On Trent, Staffs. 

2940 Redwing SW and 55 NE - Tweseldown, Hampshire

233 Linnet W - Weybourne Camp, Norfolk.

707 Brambling S - Hunstanton Cliffs, Norfolk

2114 Chaffinch S - Hunstanton Cliffs, Norfolk

******************************************************

Over Hutton Roof this morning at about 0715hrs

VISMIG - Sunday 7th October 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal.

0715hrs to 1030hrs

Wind SSW 5-7mph, 4c, 94% Cloud cover, 1022mb pressure. Yet another quiet day with the Chaffinch and other passerines.  Although did well with the Skylark (in fact the best ever!!) when from 0908hrs and through to about 1010hrs They came through with three really good parties. Odd Redwing (first of the year), although over in Bradford they really did well with over 1700 birds.  All movement SE unless stated. Kick off with Chaffinch at 0721hrs

Chaffinch: 93 (75SE and18W) best parties: 2x7, 1x6.

Alba Wagtail: 6 (4,1,1,)

Goldfinch: 9 (5,4)

Skylark: 94 SE (1, 30 @ 0928hrs, 3, 20 @0935hrs, 24 @0940hrs, 11@1002hrs, 5@1016hrs

Redwing: 11 (10SE, 1SE)

Mistle Thrush: 1 SE

Blue Tit 4 (2,2)

Woodpigeon: 76 SE (50,20,6)

Goose species 3 to NW at 0715.

Other:

Starling: 90 E (60 and a 30 x roost (prob Leighton Moss with kick off at 0727hrs)

Also: Whilst at the Blackburn/Darwen Services, I saw a party of 40 Redwing to the West at 1220hrs.

A round-up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Sun 7th Oct 2018 

1734 Redwing N and101 Fieldfare N - Oxenhope, Bradford

151 Skylark SW and 842 Redwing SW - Steps Hill, Ivinghoe Beacon, Bucks

939 Redwing SW - Fieldfare 315SW and 71 NE, and 2 Brmbling - Caldene Fields, Bradford

3 Brambling - Ferry Hill, Fife, Scotland

268 Redwing SW - Swillington Ings, W. Yorks.

149 Skylark SW - Anglers CP - W. Yorks.

275 Redwing S and 55 Fieldfare S - Rawmarsh, Rotherham, S. Yorks.

132 Skylark SW and 71 NE - Morgans Hill, Calm, Wiltshire.

2 Brambling SW - Black Bank, Staffs

142 Skylark SW - Purton Gloucs

Skylarks 374N and 48S - Hunmany Gap, N. Yorks

448 Redwing N and 35 Fieldfare N - Hunmanby Gap, N. Yorks

267 Redwing SW - Ozendyke, N. Yorks

399 Redwing SW + 88 Song Thrush SW and 33 Fieldfare SW - Tweseldown - Hamps.

21 Brambling SW & 223 Redwing SW and 70 FFare SW - Redmires Res, Sheffield, Sth Yorks

413 Skylark SE - Bempton Cliffs, East Yorkshire.

Fieldfare 3SE & 29NW plus 121 Redwing SE - Winter Hill, Bolton, Lancashire.

BELATED 6th October 

1450 Pink Footed Goose - Walney, Cumbria

575 Skylark - Walney, Cumbria.

VISMIG - Saturday 6th October 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Ln, Burton In Kendal 0715hrs to 1100hrs

Wind: N6-14mph, 6c (very cool throughout), 100% Cloud, 1014mb pressure.  Today there was movement but very little, again like recently it has been slow starting and only in regular trickles, nothing goind mad. Nice to see Swallows again. All movement SE unless stated.

Chaffinch: 155 (99SE 56W) (Best 1x9, 1x7, 2x6, 3x5)

Goldfinch: 16 (10,6)

Linnet: 9 (one party)

Swallow: 3 (one party)

Starling 2W (1,1)

Mistle Thrush: 2 SE

Alba Wagtail: 4 (1,3)

Common Snipe: 1 W

Other:

Starling: 115E (10,20,80,5) presumed X roost from W (Leighton Moss) to East

A round-up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Sat 6th Oct 2018

37 Redwing in 4 small parties to S - Oxenhope, Bradford, Yorks.

22 Redwing - Nocturnal calls - North Cambridgeshire.

Pink Footed Goose 1890 SW and 150NE - Ferry Hills, Fife, Scotland

385 Chaffinch - Ferry Hills, Fife, Scotland.

263 Skylark - Ferry Hills, Fife, Scotland

300 Starling NW - Rawmarsh, Rotherham, Sth Yorks.

76 Swallow - Ynyslas, Coredigion, Wales.

14 Redwing - Nocturnal calls - Biggleswade, Beds. 

1450 Pink Footed Goose - Walney Island, Cumbria.

575 Skylark - Walney Island, Cumbria

BELATED: (3rd October) 200 plus Redwing and 10 Fieldfare in 30 mins - Craig Thomas - Flamborough

VISMIG - Friday 5th October 2018 - SORRY THERE WILL BE NO COUNTS AT BURTON TODAY

A round-up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Fri 5th Oct 2018

5 Redwing - Noct Calls - Chesterton, Cambridge

87 Redwing SW - Steps Hill, Ivinghoe Beacon, Bucks.

21 Redwing S - Rawmarsh, Rotherham, Sth Yorks.

16 Redwing SW - Ozendyke, Nth Yorks.

15 Redwing SW - Hartshill Haze, Warks.

5 Blackbird, 4 Fieldfare, 11 Redwing - Spurn E. Yorks.

23 Snipe - Bury, Greater Manchester

112 Starling N - Bury, Greater Manchester.

14 Redwing SE Winter Hill, Bolton, Lancashire. 

1st continental Blackbird at Hilbre Bird Observatory

4 Redwing and 1 Fieldfare at Gibraltar Point

1st Redwings over Portland Bill Observatory.

VISMIG - Thursday 4th October 2018 - SORRY THERE WILL BE NO COUNTS AT BURTON TODAY

A round-up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Thr 4th Oct 2018

26 Redwing SE over Winter Hill, Bolton, Lancashire.

64 Greenfinch SE over Winter Hill, Bolton, Lancashire.

177 Chaffinch SE over Winter Hill, Bolton, Lanashire.

294 Pink Footed Goose NW over Calderdale, W. Yorks.

4 Redwing SW - Swillington, Ings, W. Yorks.

104 Snipe over Rubha Ardvule, S. Uist, Outer Hebs, Scotland

2 Redwing SW over Berry Hill, Stoke On Trent.

VISMIG - Wednesday 3rd October 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Ln, Burton In Kendal 0715hrs to 0945hrs 

Wind: WSW/SW 2-3 mph, 11c, 99% Cloud 1024mb pressure. On arrival just the slightest of mist drizzle together with mist on all perimeters which closed down visability to about 200 yards, but within 10 mins it was continuous light rain up until around 0840hrs when the mist started clearing from the South West and the light rain stopped. Little trickles came through at that point and continued up to me leaving. But of interest was that some the Chaffinch parties were numbering 4s,6s,7s. All movement to SE unless stated.

Interestingly Mr. Jay was had it again passing by at regular intervals collecting his "whopper sized this year Acorns" then flying back over 200 yards and repeating this collection process.  In fact to be honest he has been going had it now for about ten days to the same productive Oak.  I am sure he must be burying these and before long we will have a increased Oak tree yield!

Chaffinch: 42 

Goldfinch: 43 (16,20,7)

Linnet: 45 (25,20)

Other:

Starling: 138 E (30,30,70,8) presumed to have left roost (maybe Leighton Moss) and swelling by the day)

A round-up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Wed 3rd Oct 2018

16 Redwing S over Hunmanby Gap, N. Yorks

3 Redwing W over St. Catherines Point, Isle of Wight

2050 Swallow W over Durlston NNR, Dorset

5 Song Thrush SW over Tweseldown, Hampshire.

80 Skylark SW - Painswick Beacon, Gloucs 

4 Fieldfare SE - Bempton Cliffs, E. Yorks.

18 Redwing - Bempton Cliffs, E. Yorks.

3 Brambling - Bempton Cliffs, E. Yorks

200 plus Redwing and 10 Fieldfare in 30 mins - Craig Thomas - Flamborough

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Corridors to the SE of Hutton Roof this morning, but created by a different sort of bird

VISMIG - Tuesday 2nd October 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Ln, Burton In Kendal 0715hrs to 0830hrs

Wind: WNW 15-25mph, 11c, 99% down to 75% Cloud, 1017mb pressure.  Yet again quiet but it was no wonder because most of the time the wind was blowing at 20mph and the few that did have a go to the SE were blown through side on as though they were going at about 30mph with no control, yet a few were so determined.  Obviously today more took advantage of the Westerly direction but again even these birds struggled and were seen to try and hold on a side on flight. So quiet so give up early on so I could try and catch up on "banked" material for the blog. All movement SE unless stated.

Chaffinch: 26 (22W 4SE)
Linnet: 20 SE
Starling: 6 W
Song Thrush: 1 SE
Common Snipe: 1W
Alba Wagtail: 1 SE
Geese 9 (probably Greylags?) low to SE far on Hutton Roof horizon

A round-up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Tues 2nd Oct 2018

213 Goldfinch SW - Painswick Beacon, Glous.
3 Redwing NW - Trigpoint Hill, Timsbury, Hants
351 Skylark - Elie Ness, Fife, Scotland.
1 Redwing - Rawmarsh, Rotherham, S. Yorks.

Also worth checking nearby and far away VISMIG LINKS:

HEYSHAM  
WALNEY
BARDSEY  (then click on blog tab)
FLEETWOOD
HILBRE 

SPURN
FLAMBOROUGH
FILEY
GIBRALTAR POINT
SANDWICH BAY
DUNGENESS
PORTLAND BILL
FAIR ISLE
ISLE OF MAY
ALDERNEY

TREKTELLEN (Click over date which is headed "Last Count")

Skyscape this morning - looking from Burton over Hutton Roof to the East

(more skyscapes will be put on the normal blog later and accessed by clicking here) 

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Not many birds about this morning but a nice "Hot Air Balloon" straight above

VISMIG - Monday 1st October 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Ln, Burton In Kendal
0700hrs to 0830hrs

Wind: NW 3-5mph, 3c, 0% Cloud increasing later to 80%, 1026mb pressure. Absolutely superquiet First birds 0711hrs all movement SE unless stated. Also went off doing work up on Whinn Yeates after 0900hrs and even worse there with literally Nothing on the move.

Chaffinch: 25 (17SE 8SW)
Meadow Pipit: 1
Goldfinch: 10 (one party)
Mistle Thrush: 1

other:
Starling: 160 E x roost at 0720hrs

A round-up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Mon 1st Oct 2018

358 Chaffinch S over Ferry Hill, Fife
600 Meadow Pipits S over Walney, Cumbria
160 Skylarks S over Walney, Cumbria
2 Brambling S over Spurn

VISMIG - Sunday 30th September 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Ln, Burton In Kendal
0700hrs to 0945hrs

Wind: WNW 7-15mph, 8c, 75% to 100% Cloud cover, 1018mb pressure.  Dry although lots of dark clouds. Very dark start to the morning with first birds after 0730hrs. In fact if ever I need to use the word "dire" then today was probably the day.  It was so quiet with just occasional trickles of birds. All SE unless stated otherwise.

Chaffinch: 100 (49 SE 51W)
Goldfinch: 6 (one party)
Meadow Pipit: 6S (one party)
Alba Wagtail: 7 (6,1)
Common Snipe: 2
Song Thrush: 1
Greylag Goose: 47 SW (7,40) (one party of 7 to SW which included a full "white albino" bird)
Pink Footed Goose: 40 S (noticed W of Arnside Knott)

A round-up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Sun 30th Sept 2018

1 Brambling - Lon Las, Rhiw, Gwynned, Wales.
46 Redwing - Tweseldown, Hampshire
265 Pink Footed Goose (North) - Long Nab, Burniston, Nth Yorks.
415 Pink Footed Goose 81SW and 334NE - Ferry Hills, Fife, Scotland
290 Skylark - Elie Ness, Fife, Scotland.
5 Redwing NE - Trigpoint Hill, Timsbury, Hants
892 Linnet S through Spurn, Yorks.
3 Redwing calls only -nocturnal listening - Chesterton, Cambs
149 Pink Footed Goose (113 NW) - Spurn, Yorks
3 Redwing and 3 Song Thrush - Fair Isle Bird Observatory

Some really interesting notes on Pink Footed Goose migration in particular to "Northern Movements and PFG entry into the UK" kindly sent to me by Clive McKay.

I’ve also been following the PFG migration since the first big arrival on the early date of c.10,000 on 15 Sep – the earliest UK arrival of this scale on Trektellen (15 Sep MAP - here )

The September total is also the highest on Trek – 65,000 up to this morning (Sept 2018 Pink-feet GRAPH here)

Since the first arrival on 15th, most of the counts have been of birds moving down the east coast, although good numbers also went south over Heysham. But from fairly early on there were also records of birds crossing W over the Pennines… seemed like the birds were “re-orienting” to e.g. Martin Mere from the east side.  

Two sat tagged birds did this in 2017 – direct 12 hour flight from Iceland to Lindisfarne (almost passing over my old patch at Lintrathen!), then rested for a night or two before heading SSW over the Pennines to Martin Mere. It seems that the first ports of call for the Pinks on arrival are major roost sites – with Lindisfarne being an important one. From there they re-orientate to where ever they will spend the autumn – sometimes going back the way they came.

There has been a lot of criss-crossing of the Pennines in both directions, but a lot more going W than I would expect at this time of year (unfortunately can’t easily separate these out on Trek). Your and Jean’s sightings of birds going N yesterday seem to fit with this idea – presumably birds ultimately aiming for the Solway that may have come in down the east coast, crossed the Pennines to Martin Mere and then back north to the Solway? This seems odd to us but is probably neither here nor there to a Pink-foot. Also, it’s maybe not surprising that a lot of birds were “drifted” over to the east side of the country in this September of unrelenting westerlies.

I imagine the birds are fairly flexible about what they do in each autumn depending on the weather that they encounter. But I do think that your west coast birds (Solway/Lancs) initially arrive into the country via SE Scotland and NE England – and then cross over to the west. I’ve never found any evidence for birds arriving directly down the west coast of Scotland in the autumn.

Cheers

Clive

VISMIG - Saturday 29th September 2018 - Taylors Fields, Off Vicarage Ln, Burton In Kendal 0700hrs to 1100hrs.

Wind: SW 6-7mph, 6c to 12c, 62% Cloud and down to 50%, 1029mb pressure. Dry, Sunny and warm. Not a fantastic amount of passerine movement, yet a little better than of past. I think tomorrows forecast with less pressure might be interesting. Crazy with the Geese eg: Another big movement from over the Bay area towards Levens North and then lost (up to 0900hrs), Also some went overhead and then there were some went on a Southerly movement. A nice Siskin party. All movement SE unless stated otherwise.

Chaffinch: 206 (177 SE, 29 W) (Best parties: 1x12, 2x8, 1x7)
Linnet: 12 (one party)
Goldfinch: 51 (12,20,15,4)
Siskin: 20 (one party)
Alba Wagtail: 11 (7,2,1,1)
Meadow Pipit: 4 (2,1,1)
Song Thrush: 1 W
Mistle Thrush: 4 SE (2,1,1)
Common Snipe: 3 SE
Canada Goose 7 SE at 0838hrs (overhead)
Greylag Goose 3 SE at 0854hrs (over Burton)
Pink Footed Goose: 2160 (from 0804 to 0845hrs numerous skeins were see out far west heading in a North direction over areas to the far west of Arnside Knott towards Levens area (or further back to the west) were they seemed to then go out of vision from that line. 6 skeins made up 1000 plus, then a 200+, 50+, 200+,200+ 50+,200+100+, 100+,50+, (1877 total North) then there were two large skeins with 100+ 100+ 50+ which went directly overhead crossing Farleton and onward North. Now then from about 0900 to 1045hrs started getting pinks going South with a 70+,3, 100+, 80+, 30+ (283 total South)
Cormorant: 1 N

A round-up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Sat 29th Sept 2018
3 Redwing SW over Tweseldown - Hampshire
1010 Mipits SW - Anglers CP - West Yorks
1014 Pink Footed Goose (580SW and 434 NE) Anglers CP - West Yorks
863 Pink Footed Goose (538S and 325N) Oxenhope, Bradford, Yorks
1500 Pink Footed Goose (all 1500 NE) over Darwen, Lancashire
3865 Pink Footed Goose (North) over Heysham, Lancs
387 Pink Footed Goose (127SW and 260NE) Ferry Hills, Fife.
2160 Pink Footed Goose (1877 North and 283 South) Burton In Kendal, Cumbria (Birds already counted within the Heysham totals.
1187 Pink Footed Goose (all North) Spurn, Yorks.
WHY ARE ALL THESE PINK FOOTED GOOSE HEADING NORTH TODAY AND THURSDAY LAST?

VISMIG - Friday 28th September 2018 - Taylors fields, Off Vicarage Ln, Burton In Kendal.
0700hrs to 0745hrs and later at 0900hrs to 1000hrs

Wind: NNE 6-7 mph, 4c, 0% Cloud, 1032mb pressure. Another day with high pressure and obviously the passerines dont like it for migration with just trickles of birds. All SE unless stated otherwise.

0700hrs to 0745hrs (first bird 0703hrs)
Chaffinch: 22 (14 SE 8W)
Alba Wagtail: 1
Swallow: 7 (2,4,1)
Starling: 1 W

Other:
Starling: 30 E x roost (probably Leighton Moss) at 0722

0900hrs to 1000hrs
Chaffinch: 25 (21 SE 4W) mainly singles or pairs
House Martin: 5 SE
Goldfinch: 12 (one party)
Mistle Thrush: 3 N
Pink Footed Goose: 26 (10 NW at 0925hrs (Vic Lane) and 16 N to S 0953 (Vic Lane)

A round-up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Fri 28th Sept 2018

1217 Pink Footed Goose - South - Caldene Fields, Bradford, Yorks.
131 Goldfinch - Caldene Fields, Bradford, Yorks
2117 Pink Footed Goose - mainly South - Ferry Hills, Fife, Scotland.
434 Chaffinch - South - Ferry Hills, Fife, Scotland
70 Skylarks - Ynyslas, Ceredigion, Wales
88 Alba Wagtail - Ynyslas, Ceredigion, Wales
950 Pink Footed Goose - Anglers CP, West Yorks.
1121 Meadow Pipits - Winters Hill, Bolton, Lancs.
3000 Meadow Pipits - Walney, Cumbria
2290 Pink Footed Goose - Walney Cumbria
810 Skylarks - Walney, Cumbria
470 Swallow - Walney, Cumbria
330 Linnet - Walney Cumbria
155 Alba Wagtail - Walney, Cumbria

VISMIG - Thursday 27th September 2018 - Taylors fields, Off Vicarage Ln, Burton In Kendal 0700hrs to 0945hrs.  "FIRST WHOOPERS"

Wind: SSW3-7 mph and freshenng, 11c, 70% Cloud at first, 1025mb pressure. Again never got going really if anything perhaps a slight gathering of pace from 0830hrs into a trickle of movement. Overcast with light on the horizon (west coast), midges everywhere! but sadly no Swallows to sort them out. Several nice bonus included my first of the year WHOOPERS (x10) also over 1K of Pink Feet which I can only presume were lifting off the bay and heading N/NW (on the far horizon eg: Barrow, Ulverston approx) and a small party of Common Snipe. All SE unless stated otherwise.

Chaffinch: 103 (23W, 80 SE)

Linnet: 20 (5,7,8)

Goldfinch: 17 (5,5,7)

Meadow Pipit: 3 (1,2)

Mistle Thrush: 3 (1,1,1W)

Song Thrush: 1 SE

Alba Wagtail: 1

Redpoll: 4W

Common Snipe: 6SE (one party)

Pink Footed Goose: 1110 (100S and 1010 N) (3SE at 0815hrs (Arn Knott approx) , 30S at 0914hrs (Grange approx), 50S at 0920hrs (Arn Knott approx) 17 S at 0935 (Hutton Roof).

Whooper Swan: 10 (one party) came in overhead from the SE and carried on NW (to approx Ulverston, then turned left and continued South which should have eventually taken them over the Bay)

Other:

PINK FOOTED GOOSE: 1010 (Heading over Bay direct N or NW to Ulverston etc), all between 0815 and 0830hrs (presumed lift off from Morecambe Bay area: 200,60,200,200,100,250

Peregrine

Starling: 113 E (presumed x roost LMoss) (80,30,1,2).

Woodpigeon: 26 all directions (7,3,2,1,9,1,3)

A round-up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Thr 27th Sept 2018

3500 House Martins - Sandwich Bay, Kent

797 Meadow Pipits over Winter Hill, Bolton Lancs.

126 Linnet over Winter Hill, Bolton, Lancs

1109 Pink Footed Goose (281SW, 828NE) Anglers CP West Yorks.

643 Meadow Pipits over Oxenhope, Bradford.

995 Pink Footed Goose (335 S, 960N) Oxenhope, Bradford.

612 Siskin - Hunmanby Gap, Nth Yorks.

176 Pink Footed Goose (70 SE, 106 NW) - Calderdale, Yorks.

268 Pink Footed Goose (38S, 230N) Hale head, Widnes

2280 Pink Footed Goose (all North) Heysham

1110 Pink Footed Goose (100S and 1010N) Burton In Kendal (probably included within Heysham)

VISMIG - Wednesday 26th September 2018 - Taylors fields, Off Vicarage Ln, Burton In Kendal 0700hrs to 0930hrs.

Wind SW 15-30mph, 13c, 100% cloud cover, 1027mb pressure. Very dark morning with first bird recorded at 0727hrs. Never got going again this morning with just the occasional trickle. All SE unless stated.

Chaffinch: 50 (25 SE and 25 W/SW)

Goldfinch: 9 (5,4)

Linnet: 4

Swallow: 1 NW

Common Snipe: 2 SE

Pink Footed Goose: 2 SE

A round-up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Wed 26th Sept 2018

1150 Swallows at Trigpoint Hill, Timsbury, Hants

55 Skylark at Marriage Hill, Wiltshire

1 Redwing (nocturnal calls) Chesterton, Cambs (25th/26th Sept) 

1100 Swallow - Painswick Beacon, Gloucestershire

5030 House Martin - Painswick Beacon, Gloucs

9 Common Snipe - Caldene Fields, Bradford. 

VISMIG - Tuesday 25th September 2018 - Taylors fields, Off Vicarage Ln, Burton In Kendal 0700hrs to 0930hrs

Wind: South 5mph, 5c, 25% cloud, 1036mb pressure. "For me this morning there seemed to be far more action counting migrating "WASP" which were continually going from a West to East just like they do most years - some are so big they look like hornets.  Now seriously things are only going worse with this high pressure and I think we need something to clear this dire stuff, like some nice Easterlies!!. Did have some Geese this morning which were seen head to the NW which I guess my be approriate with the winds being in the South. The Goldfinch started off well.

Chaffinch: 112 SE 

Meadow Pipit: 11 SE

Goldfinch: 49 (7,8,4,5,5,20)

Linnet: 5

Alba Wagtail: 9 SE (5,3,1)

Mistle Thrush: 3 SE (1,2,)

Blue Tit: 5 SE (3,2)

Swallow: 16 SE (2,11,3)

Pink Footed Goose: 62 NW (2 at 0729 Hutton Roof) (60 NW at 0818 - Arn Knott)

later checking out the Stints, Holme Park Fell and Farleton - DIRE eg: over two hours had

Skylark 2 to SW

Meadow Pipit disturbed 3 which were grounded.

Golden Plover (heard a single or maybe pair overhead)

also a couple of Willow Warblers in the Stints. 

later Farleton Fell approx 3pm to 5pm

Wheatear 3 on Farleton Fell

Meadow Pipit about 20 held up on Farleton

A round-up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Tuesday 25th Sept 2018

Redwing - (2 separate calls - nocturnal) - Stonar Kent (24th/25th)

1362 Pink Footed Goose - Whitburn - Co. Durham. 

Redwing - (1 call - nocturnal) - Sandwich Bay, Kent (24th/25th)

145 Siskin - Winter Hill, Bolton, Lancs.

VISMIG - Monday 24th September 2018 - Tayors fields, Off Vicarage Ln, Burton In Kendal 0700hrs to 1045hrs

Wind: NNW 2mph, 3c, Cloud 25%  and later to 50%, 1036mb pressure. First proper frost and having to take ice of windscreen.

Cold first thing but pleasant and it was not long before the sun starting shining making it a very nice morning to be out and about. Again the movement never got going probably because for one NNW is not the best wind together with very high pressure tends to block, well that has always been my experience.  I think we will need to get some Easterlies to get things moving here! Skeins of Pink Feet were again showing. All movement SE unless stated otherwise.

Chaffinch: 167 (best: 1x10,1x8,2x5)

Goldfinch: 13 (4,5,4)

Linnet: 20 (one party)

Meadow Pipit: 3 (2,1)

Alba Wagtail: 4 (1,1,2)

Swallow: 13 (1,1,3,4,4)

House Martin: 24 (9,2,8,5)

Mistle Thrush: 3

Raven: 1S

Pintail: 2 W then off to SE

Pink Footed Goose: 281 S (60 at 0840 Grange) (150 at 0905 W of Arn Knott), (21 at 0952 Farleton), 50 at 0957 high over Grange)

Other:

Starling: 52 E (40,12) Probs x roost at LM 0705hrs

Woodpigeon: 13 (4,2,5,2 West)

A round-up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Monday 24th Sept 2018

296 Skylark - Elie Ness - Fife

300 Linnet - Sandwich Bay

44 Skylark SW - Leighfield, Rutland, Leics

1208 Pink Footed Goose - Heysham

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Also worth checking nearby and far away VISMIG LINKS:

HEYSHAM  
WALNEY
BARDSEY  (then click on blog tab)
FLEETWOOD
HILBRE 

SPURN
FLAMBOROUGH
FILEY
GIBRALTAR POINT
SANDWICH BAY
DUNGENESS
PORTLAND BILL
FAIR ISLE
ISLE OF MAY
ALDERNEY

TREKTELLEN (Click over date which is headed "Last Count")

****************************************************

One of the many "Skyscapes" from this morning (Sunday 23rd September 2018  (more on Snippets of Wealth - September)

VISMIG - Sunday 23rd September 2018 - Taylors fields, Off Vicarage Ln, Burton In Kendal 0700hrs to 1015hrs

Wind NNW 5-6mph, 5c, 90% Cloud then down to 30% and decreasing, cold at first then becoming sunny, warm and pleasant from about 0900hrs. Movement just never got going yet again, in fact it was far worse than yesterday with just the occasional single or pair (Chaffinch) going through. 3 Skeins of Pink Feet with one directly over and other went N to SW, and one far off high above Farleton when came into view (N and out West to what looked like the Western Lakes before turning down and going over Grange/Barrow to a direct S over the Bay. Nice party of 9 Raven. All Swallows out to the NW. Yet another Cormorant SE, exactly the same flightline as the last two morning birds. 

Chaffinch: 83 (74SE, 9W) (best 2x5, 4x4)

Meadow Pipit: 7 (1,1,1,4)

Swallow: 38 NW (7,1,28,2)

House Martin: 3 (1 NW, 2SE)

Mistle Thrush: 2W

Raven: 9 SSE

Cormorant: 1 SE at 0850hrs

Pink Footed Goose: 172 S (52 at 0755, 40 at 0844, 80 at 0920)

Other:

Starling: 1E

A round-up of interesting vismig reports from near and far - Sunday 23rd Sept 2018

1469 Pink Footed Goose - Ferry Hills, Fife, Scotland

13 Whooper Swan - Hunmanby Gap, North Yorks

1125 House Martin - Painswick Beacon (Glos)

1496 Woodpigeon - Painswick Beacon (Glos)

205 Linnet - Painswick Beacon (Glos)

709 Pink Footed Goose - Bury, Lancs.

1070 Pink Footed Goose - Walney, Cumbria

170 Skylark - Walney, Cumbria

1736 Pink Footed Goose, Heysham

70 Wheatear - Portland Bill

0100hrs on Sunday 23rd Sept 2018 - pressure chart

"One of the small skeins from this morning" - all in North and out to SE,S,SW

Another round-up of interesting vismig reports for Saturday 22nd September 2018

3910 Meadow Pipit - Oxenhope, Bradford, W. Yorks.

2284 Meadow Pipit - Berry Hill, Stoke On Trent, Staffs

1625 Meadow Pipit - Ozendyke, North Yorks.

1151 Meadow Pipit - Hunmanby Gap, Nth Yorks

1197 House Martin - Hunmanby Gap, Nth Yorks

370  Siskin - Hunmanby Gap, Nth Yorks.

1470 Meadow Pipit - Culver Cliff, IOW

2340 Meadow Pipit - Redmires Resv, Sheffield, Sth Yorks

1854 Meadow Pipit - Bury, Lancashire

1286 House Martin - Bury, Lancashire

1482 Meadow Pipit - Black Bank, Staffs

7151 Meadow Pipit - Spurn, East Yorks

5253 House Martin - Spurn, East Yorks

742 Linnet and 516 Siskin - Spurn, East Yorks

1297 Pink Footed Goose - Spurn, East Yorks

10414 Meadow Pipits - Winter Hill, Bolton, Lancs

1600 Meadow Pipits - Durleston, Dorset

2076 Meadow Pipits - Caldene Fields, Bradford, W. Yorks

11169 Meadow Pipits - Anglers CP, West Yorks

1058 Pink Footed Goose, Ferry Hill, Fife.

4 Whooper Swans arrived back in Scotland

VISMIG - Saturday 22nd September 2018 - from Taylors fields, Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal.  0700hrs to 1030hrs

Wind: West 9-15mph, 8c, 90% cloud cover 1016mb pressure.  Really strange sort of sky, very milky appearance. Just the slightest of trickles up to about 0830hrs then things got going to a point but nothing going mad, then just steady through to about 1030hrs. Pink Feet moving a bit this morning all from the North to SE,S,SW, Cormorants still moving through, 2x2 Song Thrush and first direct Starling to the W, Hirundines still reasonable. All movement SE unless stated otherwise

Chaffinch: 281 (232 SE 49W) (best parties: 1x11, 1x8, 2x7, 3x6, 7x5, 8x4)

Swallow: 112 SE (1x20, 1x11, 1x10, 1x9, 3x7, 1x6)

House Martin: 14 SE (13,1)

Meadow Pipit: 10 (1,1,6,2)

Goldfinch: 9 (4,1,4)

Linnet: 16 (6,10)

Song Thrush: 4W (2,x2)

Mistle Thrush: 1W

Starling: 1W (first of the year directly West)

Alba Wagtail: 2 (paired)

Cormorant: 3 (1 at 0734, 1 at 0905, 1 at 0935 all SE)

Pink Footed Goose: 154 SE,S,SW - (22 SW- 0758, 9 S- 0830, 11SE - 0840, 25 S -0844, 33 S - 0850, 25 S - 0854, 6 S - 0856, 23 S - 0925 

Other:

Sparrowhawk: 1 

Another round-up of interesting vismig reports for Friday 21st September 2018

2288 Pink Footed Goose over Spurn 

1048 House Martins over Spurn

2200 Pink Footed Goose at Tiumpan Head, Lewis, O Hebrides

2437 House Martin over Hunmanby Gap, Nth Yorks

1148 Meadow Pipit over Tweseldown, Hampshire.

"There is no chance of a lie in with true vismiggers - YOU MUST BE UP WITH THE BIRDS"

"Rainbows every ten minutes today"

Friday 21st September 2018 - Taylors Fields, Vicarage Ln, Burton In Kendal. 0700hrs to 1115hrs 

Wind: W 16-30mph 7c, 20% cloud, 999mb pressure. Gone very cold. I have made a note at the top of my notebook "PUT GLOVES IN BAG NOW!!"

Squally on and off showers throughout watch.  I have seen more rainbows or part rainbows this morning than I have ever seen in the last 20 years put together!  The wind was pretty strong and all the finches were coming through side on whilst they tried to compensate. All birds had no problem getting through but travelling at such a pace (with having wind almost behind them!) A distant Jackdaw call can sound very much like a Chaffinch! The Chaffinch passage today was a slow trickle movement throughout and still going through on leaving, still plenty of mixed hirundines showing and another Hobby witnessed in the area which obviously would be on the hirundune trail. No Linnets today and little in the way of Goldfinch! All recorded movement SE unless stated otherwise.

Chaffinch: 247 ( 178SE and 69W) Best parties: 2x7, 2x6, 2x5, 7x4.

Meadow Pipit: 10 (1x3,1x2)

Swallow: 134 (1x32, 1x26, 1x11, 1x10 2x8)

House Martin: 9 (1,1,3,1,2,1)

Hobby: 1

Goldfinch: 9 (4,5)

Alba Wagtail: 1

Mistle Thrush: 1W

Blackbird: 1 W (high)

Pink Footed Goose: 13 SE at 0839hrs

Other:

Redwing audible only

Another round-up of interesting vismig reports - Thr 20th September 2018

1000 Swallows over Dungeness

7376 Meadow Pipit over Winter Hill, Bolton, Lancs. 

7555 Meadow Pipit and 889 Linnet - Spurn - East Yorks

1230 Pink Footed Goose - Butt Of Lewis - O. Hebrides.

1458 Meadow Pipits - Anglers CP, West Yorks

1200 Meadow Pipits - Bury, Lancs

2917 Meadow Pipits and 372 Linnets over Hunmanby Gap (Nth Yorks)

1422 Meadow Pipits - Berry Hill, Stoke On Trent

1213 Meadow Pipits - Ozendyke, Nth Yorks. 

Click over to enlarge - watchpoint this morning with birds maybe coming down from the Lythe Valley (South Lakes) and over towards the "Trough of Bowland" (approx) via Burton In Kendal,

Taylors Fields off Vicarage Lane

It really is interesting that we get such a large incidence of Chaffinch coming through Burton In Kendal at this time of year compared to anywhere else and this is generally the case or has been for the past few years, although looking at the "Trek" list the top five positions are held by "North of England" candidates. This will remain the case yet for another week or two, but only until the "Continental Chaffinch" start pouring in and then Southern areas get the higher build and take over the leader board. eg: places like Hunstanton etc

Thursday 20th September 2017 - Taylor's Fields, Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal - 0700hrs to 1100hrs  "Chaffinches"

Wind: SW10-15 mph (odd gust to 20), 9c, 83% Cloud and then down to 50%. 1009mb pressure.  It kept dry but forecast heavy rain from about 1400hrs on.  All movement SE unless stated otherwise

It seemed pretty good with the weather, but the birds seemed very hesitant at first, some good build with the Chaffinches with several parties in the 10s and 11s but quite a few between 6 and 8.

Now then is it MADNESS, BADNESS OR SADNESS when one is rambling on to ones self, maybe not out loud but inwardly talking to ones self eg: (this mornings conversation included: "It's so bad to get on um! (on them), "Better checking them from back when they have passed - tu bright tuther way", "It's hard to see um (them) on approach, very bright at times and the patchy cloud is the saving grace!" "Sat here in my collapsible portable chair with about 80 Swallows constantly going past and so close at times before sharply veering off and there is me saying to them "safe return mi darlings" - Tha can't beat a morning like that can ya.

Chaffinch: 360 (best: 1x14, 2x11, 1x10, 1x9, 2x8, 4x7, 2x6, 7x5)
Swallow: 87 (best: 1x50 1x15)
House Martin: 10 (one party)
Meadow Pipit: 18 (best 4x3)
Alba: 3 (1,2)
Goldfinch: 27 (best: 15, 2x4)
Blue Tit: 4 (2,1,1)
Red Admiral Butterfly: 2s 

Other:
Cormorant: 2 SE at 0730hrs

Another round-up of interesting vismig reports: Wednesday 19th September 2018

2010 House Martins South over Tweseldown, Hampshire

772 House Martins South over Bury, Lancashire.

726 Meadow Pipits S over Winter Hill, Bolton

Wednesday 19th September 2018 - Taylors Fields, off Vicarage Ln, Burton in Kendal 0700hrs to 1000hrs

Wind SSE/S 15 to 20 to 25 to gust of 30 - 35 and increasing, 12c, Visability 75% at first down to 50% later, 1004mb pressure. It kept dry, looking at the radar there was plenty of rain just missing us. It was exceptional winds

Why and how birds want to get through when the winds are so strong! even the corvids and pigeons were struggling to keep going.  But the Chaffinch (as they do) persevered come what may and did get through, a lot (perhaps several score) would have been held up in the saviour of trees just at the top of Vicarage Lane (at the pinnacle before everything opens up), which can in these conditions act as a temporary refuge for these brave souls.  The remnants of Swallows came through and seemed to have little problem with the wind, although at times they were arcing, and came through at times in tight squadrons or bullet groups like you come to expect with Starlings or Goldfinch. Chaffinches today all SE, no West moves.  All passage to the SE unless specified.

Chaffinch: 188 (best: 1x8, 6x6, 5x5, 4x4)

Goldfinch: 43 (9,1,8,14,12,1,2,1,4)

Meadow Pipit: 12

Alba Wagtail: 3 (one party)

Song Thrush: 2 (1,1)

Another round-up of interesting vismig reports: Tuesday 18th September 2018

2778 House Martins over Spurn, Yorks

551 Swallows over Spurn, Yorks

1559 House Martins over Hunmanby Gap, North Yorks

1088 Swallows over Burton In Kendal, Cumbria

Tuesday 18th September 2018 - Taylors Fields, off Vicarage Ln, Burton In Kendal 0700hrs to 1115hrs and 1500hrs to 1600hrs  "Swallows"

Wind: South 20-40mph then swinging around by 0900hrs to SW, 100% Cloud, 994mb pressure. It was light rain throughout the morning watch which made things really difficult (especially if you wear specs). Also the visibility was closing in all the time and went all the way down in increments from 200 yards to 75 yards. I was surprised to see birds coming through but the Swallows came through and regularly being blown back and arcing, but got through with little problem also the Chaffinch kept going as well throughout the continual rain and strong intermittent winds. All movement SE unless stated otherwise. Also interesting to see a Hobby clearly following the route of the hirundines.

0700hrs to 1115hrs:
Swallow:  827 (best parties: 2x80, 2x70, 2x50, 2x40, 3x30, 6x20)
Chaffinch: 92 (best parties: 1x12, 1x6, 2x5)
Meadow Pipit: 22 (5,3,1,4,3,3,1,2)
Siskin: 9 (one party)
Goldfinch: 38 (20,5,12,1)
Linnet: 9 (one party)
Greenfinch: 4 (one party)

Other:
Starling: 20 E (x roost LM? at 0743)

1500hrs to 1600hrs
Swallow:  261 (best parties but straggling: (65,63,52,41,10,20)
House Martin: 1
Chaffinch: 15 (best 4,3)
Goldfinch: 4 (one party)
Hobby: 1 SE

TOTAL SWALLOWS ON DAY: 1088 (and how many did I miss between 1115hrs and 1500hrs?)


Another round-up of interesting vismig reports: Monday 17th September 2018

200 Pink Footed Goose - Walney Island, Cumbria.
900 Meadow Pipits - Walney Island, Cumbria
1615 Meadow Pipits - Ferry Hills, Fife
780 Linnet S through Sandwich Bay
228 Siskin - Ferry Hills, Fife
769 Meadow Pipits - Cold Edge, Halifax
978 Meadow Pipits - Oxenhope, Bradford
3 Song Thrush - Ozendyke, North Yorks
1140 House Martin - Tweseldown, Hamps

Monday 17th September 2018 - Taylors Fields, off Vicarage Ln, Burton In Kendal
0630hrs to 1200hrs  "Chaffinch"

Wind: SSE 6-7mph, 11c, 96% Cloud cover, 1013mb pressure

The best migration day so far this year and what a difference when you have light South Easterlies, it was obviously from 30 mins in that the birds were going to take advantage of these great conditions. The Chaffinch excelled and we also had good numbers (for here) of Meadow Pipits and great numbers of Swallows with majority a low level but one particular group were so high they were just dots in the skies so presume I missed many. Also with a slow but steady build of both Goldfinch and Linnet, plus a bonus with a small party of Siskin. First Mistle Thrush of the year and also yet another Song Thrush were seen heading West. Thought I heard Crossbill, but never saw the bird so this has to be yet another maybe! Interestingly also Blue Tits tree hopping. All movement SE unless stated otherwise.

Chaffinch: 454 (416 SE, 38W) (best parties: 1x13, 1x11, 1x10, 1x8, 2x7, 5x6, 6x5, 13x4)
Meadow Pipit: 87 S/SE (best parties: 1x14, 1x12, 1x8, 4x6, 2x5)
Swallow: 296 S/SE (best parties: 1x43, 1x33, 1x21 (very high), 1x13, 1x12)
Goldfinch: 51 SE (1,9,8,1,8,15,9)
Siskin: 5s
Linnet: 34 SE (10,6,8,2,8)
Mistle Thrush: 1W
Song Thrush: 1W
Alba Wagtail: 4 SE (1,3)


Other:
Sparrowhawk: 1
Starling: 40 to E (ex roost Leighton Moss) at 0703hrs.
Blue Tits: 9 (8,1) tree hopping to SE (possibly on migration)


Another round-up of interesting vismig reports: Sunday 16th September 2018

2600 House Martins S over Tweseldown, Hampshire.
660 Pink Footed Goose over Heysham (similar line to earlier Burton report)
875 House Martins S over Anglers CP - West Yorks
1000 Swallows S over Dungeness

Also worth checking nearby and far away VISMIG LINKS:

HEYSHAM  
WALNEY
BARDSEY  (then click on blog tab)
FLEETWOOD
HILBRE 

SPURN
FLAMBOROUGH
FILEY
GIBRALTAR POINT
SANDWICH BAY
DUNGENESS
PORTLAND BILL
FAIR ISLE
ISLE OF MAY
ALDERNEY

TREKTELLEN (Click over date which is headed "Last Count")

Sunday 16th September 2018 - Taylors Fields, off Vicarage Ln, Burton In Kendal
1115hrs to 1230hrs  "Pink Footed Goose"

Wind: SSW 10-15mph, 14c, 75% Cloud, 1011mb pressure.

Unable to do a early watch because of other commitments, but did get there eventually and noticed lots of activity with the Pink Footed Geese. Some was following the usual cross over path from somewhere behind Farleton but more probable say Killington, and making their way west over to Grange then down South crossing the mouth of Morecambe Bay.  A lot of the skeins were not seen until crossing the far West horizon which I would estimate to be further back than Grange and probably from North through Barrow and onward South. I really have no idea how many may have crossed over prior to me arriving, but it certainly was good from 1115hrs to 1200hrs. Other local movement SE unless specified.

Swallow: 74 (best parties: 40,20,7)
Meadow Pipit: 1
Chaffinch: 17 (best party 5)
Goldfinch: 35 (9,6,20)
Pink Footed Goose: 637 (some E to W then S, majority South) (approx 10 skeins) (best: 100, 3x80, 1x70, 1x60,4x40.

Saturday 15th September 2018 - Taylors Fields, off Vicarage Ln, Burton In Kendal
0630hrs to 0845hrs

Wind: W/WSW 3-5mph, 8c, 75% Cloud, 1020mb pressure.

Quieter side of things and had to finish for 0845hrs. All movement SE unless stated otherwise

Chaffinch: 73 (12W all the rest to SE)
Linnet: 25 (5,20)
Swallow: 22 (4N 18SE)
Goldfinch: 21 (15,6)
Alba Wagtail: 1
Pink Footed Goose: 50S (0835hrs)

Other:
Mallard: 3 SE
Woodpigeon 16 (6SE,10NW)
Starling: 40E x presumed LMoss roost at 0704hrs

Another round-up of interesting vismig reports:

Saturday 15th September 2018

1000 Meadow Pipits S over Walney
3522 Swallow over Painswick Beacon (Glos)
3254 House Martin over Painswick Beacon (Glos)
2452 Pink Footed Goose over Carnoustie (Scotland)
4510 Meadow Pipits over Carnoustie (Scotland)
224 Albas over Carnoustie (Scotland)
2226 Meadow Pipits over Anglers CP, West Yorks
840 Pink Footed Goose South over Heysham
1088 Meadow Pipits South over Oxenhope, West Yorks.
800 Meadow Pipits over Spurn
1000 House Martins over Dungeness
1644 Meadow Pipits over Fair Isle

Friday 14th September 2018

607 Pink Footed Goose (1st big push of the year) over Spurn (14th Sept)
300 Pink Footed Goose (approx) over Heysham (14th Sept)

5 Song Thrush (nocturnal calls) Sandwich Bay (13th/14th Sept)
2 Song Thrush (nocturnal calls) Stoner, Kent (13th/14th Sept)
4 Song Thrush (nocturnal calls) Chesterton, Cambs (13th/14th Sept)

52 Chiffchaffs through Sandwich Bay (14th Sept)
35 Chiffchaffs through Dungeness (14th Sept)
1000 Swallow and 2000 Hse Martins through Dungeness (14th Sept)

Thursday 13th September 2018

1135 Meadow Pipits S through Winter Hill (Bolton) (13th September 2018)
1612 Meadow Pipits S through Spurn (13th September 2018)
2406 House Martins S through Painswick Beacon (Glos) (13th Sept) also
1542 Swallows, 177 Linnet, 255 Goldfinch.
856 House Martins S through Bury (13th September)

Wednesday 12th September 2018

1 Fieldfare at Bardsey (12th Sept)
62 Wheatear at Bardsey (12th Sept)
12 Whinchat at Bardsey (12th Sept)

Friday 14th September 2018 - NO COUNT

Thursday 13th September 2018 - Taylors Fields, Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal
0630hrs to 0930hrs "Song Thrushes"

Wind: WSW 9-24mph, 9c, 21% Cloud cover, 1021mb pressure. Dry throughout, Lots of distant blocking visability over the Lakes (so could not view the regular Pink Feet to the NW corridor).
Again most Swallows exit to the NW. Chaffinch numbers picking up now. Strange to have Song Thrush coming in SO EARLY but definitely was happening this morning with 3 separate records to the West. All movement to the SE unless stated otherwise.

Chaffinch 83 (61 SE and 22 to SW/S) Best parties: 3x5,1x4,5x3,17x2 rest x1
Meadow Pipit: 19 all S Best 1x3,5x2
Swallow: 22 mainly to the NW Best 2x4,4x2 rest singles
Linnet: 12 SE (7,5)
Greenfinch: 1 SE
Song Thrush: 5 W (1,3,1)

Other:
Canada Goose: 2SE (0728hrs)
Greylag Goose: 6SE (0826hrs)
Cormorant: 2SE
Starling: 15 E (x LM roost at 0730hrs)
Buzzard: 5 (3,2, presumed local)
Red Admiral Butterfly: 1

Another roundup of interesting vismig reports:
1383 Swallow exiting NE through Lon Las, Rhiw, Gwynned, N Wales (13th Sept)
706 Meadow Pipits South through Swillington Ings, West Yorks (13th Sept)
2679 Meadow Pipits South Through Spurn (12th September)
1073 Meadow Pipits South through Winter Hill (Bolton) (12th September)
2148 Meadow Pipits South through Spurn (11th September)
1291 Meadow Pipits South through Hunmanby Gap (11th Sept - Keith Clarkson)
1000 House Martins out to North from Sandwich Bay (11th September)



Wednesday 12th September 2018 - Taylors Fields, Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal
0630hrs to 0930hrs  "My first Pink Feet"

Wind: W 8-12mph, 9c, 50% Cloud cover, 1020mb pressure - Still so quiet with absolutely nothing up until about 0800hrs then just trickles after. At one time I was having more luck counting passing aeroplanes heading to the SE (more planes than Chaffinch!!), but in all seriousness it was grand to be out and hopefully getting some of the Vitamin D!  Wi this bird watching caper "Tha nus, tha has to have bad days to have good days" About 0800hrs I had my first 35 skein of Pink Footed Goose heading to the SE which I reckon would eventually end up later in the day at Lincolnshire or maybe Norfolk. Thats what I think goes on whilst our local stuff always comes heading to the South West. Another one of those days with the majority of Swallows heading out to the North West. All movement SE unless stated otherwise.

Chaffinch: 55 (best parties, 6,4, 6x3, 10x2 rest in singles
Meadow Pipit: 9 (7,2)
Swallow 52 (majority out to NW best party 20)
House Martin: 8 SE
Goldfinch: 8 (4,4)
Linnet: 12 (one party)
Alba Wagtail: 3 (one party)
Pink Footed Goose: 35 (one skein to SE at approx 0800hrs)

Other:
Starling 4 (one party) ex roost (Leighton Moss?) W to E

Tree Pipit migration (British birds at least) almost over. Less than half

as many on Trek UK this year compared to 2017. Western route through Great Britain, and commoner at Calf of Man than Spurn – (Clive McKay - Vismig)

Tuesday 11th September 2018 - Whinn Yeates (Hutton Roof and then Taylors Fields, Vicarage Lane, Burton In Kendal 0915hrs to 1015hrs.

W 15-26 mph, 11c, 47% cloud, 1014mb pressure.  Absolutely no go this morning with nothing moving at all and that seem to include most of the local corvids and gulls as well, but obviously something was heavily blocking and it had nothing to do with the strong winds. I can only think perhaps the winds were changing direction or something like that. I gave it about half hour at both sites and the only birds I had were from Taylors Fields as follows:

Swallow: 2 SE (1,1)
Chaffinch: 1 SE
Goldfinch: 2 W
Red Admiral Butterfly: 1 SE


Another round up of interesting recent records:

3621 Meadow Pipits and 400 Siskin through Hunmanby Gap (Yorks) (10th Sept 2018)
3030 Meadow Pipits south through Spurn (10th Sept 2018)
2116 Meadow Pipits south through Long Nab, Burniston, Nth Yorks (10th Sept 2018)
4675 House Martins SW thru Painswick Beacon, Glouc (9th September)
1020 House Martins through Tweseldown, Hampshire (8th September)
1200 Meadow Pipits through Spurn (8th September)
10900 House Martins all exciting North through Sandwich Bay (7th September)
8200 Swallows all exciting North through Sandwich Bay (7th September)
2600 Sand Martins all exciting North through Sandwich Bay (7th September)


Monday 10th September 2018 - Taylors Fields, Vicarage Ln, Burton In Kendal 0630 to 0745hrs

Wind: WSW13-24mph, 11c, 98% Cloud cover, 1017mb pressure Site: GPS SD5283176990

Things only started getting going from 0700 onwards. Another day with medium wind strength, rain held off throughout, Chaffinches definately starting off now, had to leave at 0745hrs just when it seemed to be getting going. All movement SE unless stated otherwise. Snipe was interesting I could see it coming down from about 50 yards high and seemed to be making straight for me and veered on reaching about 3 yards from me, never had that one before!!

Swallow: 32 SE (best parties: 8,5)
Meadow Pipit: 16 (1,4,3,1,3,2,1,1)
Chaffinch: 27 (1,1,3,3,1,2,1,3,1,4,3,2,1,1)
Common Snipe: 1 SE
Greylag Goose: 16 SE


What moves through our skies at night:  "Portland Bill Observatory" last Tuesday

As a reminder of the sort of volume of passage that ought to be a feature at the moment we'll skip back to earlier in the week when Nick Hopper sampled nocturnal passage for us on Tuesday night (4th/5th September):'It was really busy night, predominated unusually by Yellow Wagtail calls with regular waves of birds through the night, often accompanied by Tree Pipits; in total 507 Yellow Wagtail calls were logged along with 212 Tree Pipit calls.

Sunday 9th September 2018 - Short walk up Vicarage Ln, Burton 1130hrs to 1200hrs

Very surprised to see a little bit of vismig so late in the morning (1140 to 1200hrs) but here we are.  The Mipits and Chaffinch usually follow the preferred routing to the SE but occasionally (like today) they need to compensate on a Southerly route.

Swallow: 5 (4,1) to SE
Meadow Pipit: 3 (2,1 all South)
Chaffinch: 2 (paired) to South  (First record of the year for Chaffinch moving through) So I guess it won't be long now!

Sunday 9th September 2018 - "Shore Road, Carnforth" 0630hrs to 0930hrs
Wind SW 15-28mph, 14c, 98% Cloud, 1011mb pressure (Site gps SD4866671029)

Another one of those poor weather and poor vis days with rain moving through on and off all the time, mainly drizzle to light rain together with the strong wind did not help at all. Just a meagre migration count over the 3 hours.  The albas did OK, but not good with the Swallows, Mipits or others. All movement South unless stated otherwise.

Swallows: 26 (2,8,3,3,1,5,4)
Alba Wagtail: 21 (2,1,2,5,1,3,5,2)
Meadow Pipit: 4 (2,2)

Others:
Little Egret: 28 (7,5,1,9,6) to SW - local Estuary feeding
Starlings: Over 500 backwards and forwards again, as though a raptor was upsetting them.
Lapwing: 96 (16,80) presumed local.
Dunlin: 3 using Keer estuary channels.

Saturday 8th September 2018 - "Shore Road, Carnforth" 0630hrs to 0930hrs
Wind: SSW 6-8mph, 10c, 95% Cloud, 1014mb pressure.  (Site gps SD4866671029)

Would have been a cracking count today but sadly the weather messed up" Got a nice 30 minutes then heavy rain moved in. On off drizle from 0800hrs until 0930hrs then heavy again so packed up.
In between Mipits and Swallows went through. Mipits definately starting to show well. All South unless stated otherwise.

Swallow: 167 (best parties: 30,16,15,11,10)
Meadow Pipit: 52 (best parties: 10,8,3x4)
Alba Wagtail: 12 (best party: 7)
Common Snipe: 2 N

Other:
LBBG: a couple of hundred to the East
Starlings too-ing and throwing N-S and back S-N (maybe 200 plus)
Lapwing: 59 (again too-ing and throwing N-S and back)
Little Egret: 23 (3,7,1,12) Local Estuary birds
C. Redshank: 1 - local?

Another round up of interesting recent records:

6 Pink Footed Goose South through Spurn (7th September)
800 House Martins in one hour through Spurn (7th September)
2525 Swallows through Bardsey (6th September)
16 Pink Footed Goose South at Crosby, Lancs (5th September)
35 Spotted Flycatcher at Bardsey (3rd September)
38 Whinchat through Spurn (3rd September)
25 Whinchat through Spurn (2nd September)
2125 House Martin through Painswick Beacon, Glouces (2nd September)
1187 Swallows to S through Bury, M/cr (1st September)

Friday 7th September 2018 - 0915hrs to 1100hrs "Shore Road, Carnforth"
Wind: NW 12-21mph, 11c, 4% Cloud, 1013mb pressure.

The wind had increased and it was a lot cooler today. 99% of the Swallows were exiting to the North rather than the South, this has been witnessed on several occasions before. I can only presume it must be something to do with wind direction.

Swallow: 161 all N (best parties: 2x10)
Meadow Pipit: 6 S (2,1,2,1)
Linnet: 10 W
Alba Wagtail: 14 S and N

Other:
Greylag Geese: 8 S
Kestrel: 1 local
Peregrine: 1 S
Little Egret: 2 local
Lapwing: 2N

Friday 7th September 2018 - 0615hrs to 0730hrs "Taylors Fields" Burton In Kendal
Wind W3-6mph, 7c, 24% Cloud, 1013mb pressure.

Still not really ready for vis, this place is at its best for the "Chaffinch" passage which will start off in about another week to ten days. Although did have a few Mipits this morning but no hirundines. Going much colder in a morning now - that sort of frosty cold feel to it! All movement to SE unless stated otherwise.

Meadow Pipit: 9 (1,2,2,2,2)
Linnet: 8 (one party)

Other
LBBG: 34 all in small groups heading E
Starling: 2E ex LM roost
Jay: 1S
Woodpigeon: 2SE


Thursday 6th September 2018 - 0640hrs to 1000hrs "Shore Road" Carnforth

The move today never really got going and just odd sprinklings of hirundines, however I think that was about to change on leaving, having met two good parties going overhead whilst I was on my way back through Warton and at the commencement of the A6070 near the new "Twin Lakes". I will be going out local shortly to see if that can be confirmed!

Wind: NW 5-7mph, 10c to 15c, 1017 pressure, excellent visability, mega cloud at first blocking with odd sprinklings of drizzle showing on the windscreen, but generally fine from 0700hrs. Movement all South unless stated otherwise.

Swallows: 153 all S best parties: 1x11, 4x10 and small parties
Meadow Pipit: 8 (1,2,3,1,1)
Linnet: 29 (20,5,4)
Goldfinch: 6 (one party)
Alba Wagtail: 17 (12N 6S) probably some movement and some local feeding on sewage farm.
Redpoll: 1 audible but no fix

Other:
Reed Bunting calling from hedgerows
Little Egret: 15 (9SW,6SW) presumed local
Hundreds of LBBG West to East
Lapwing: 30 presumed local to W
Greylag Goose: 40 (one skein) SW presumed local but also saw perhaps 200 in 5 small skeins further back (not identified)
Mute Swan: 3 moving up estuary in low down on the Keer - presumed local
Goosander 6W


Wednesday 5th September 2018 0915hrs to 1100hrs "Shore Road" Carnforth

Steady flow of Swallows up until about 1000hrs then dead just trickles afterwards, not sure whether they were at higher altitude! Also trickles of Meadow Pipits starting up. Everything South unless stated otherwise.

Swallows: 156 all S (best parties: 21,20,3x10, and 2x9)
House Martin: 1
Meadow Pipit: 21 all S (1,2,1,3,2,5,2,1,3,1)
Alba Wagtail: 4 (1,2,1)
Linnet: 6 (one party)
Lapwing: 43 (9,26,8) S but could be local!)
Peregrine: 1 (directly through S but could be local!)
Buzzards: Up to 6 soaring could be local!)
Red Admiral Butterfly 1 S


A round up of interesting recent records:

1250 Meadow Pipits S through Walney (31st August)
1000 Swallow S through Walney (31st August)
100 Pied Wagtail S through Walney (31st August)1

165 Swallows to S via Bury, Manchester (30th August)
203 Meadow Pipits through Calf Of Man (30th August)
94 Swallows through Crosby (30th August)
82 Swallows through Caldene, Bradford (30th August)

101 Swallows to S via Bury, Manchester (29th August)
1 Fieldfare at Spurn (29th August)
51 Whinchat at Spurn (29th August)

4891 Swallows S through Portland Bill (22nd August)
1665 Swallows S through Sunk Island (Yorkshire) (20th August)
1 Redwing on Fair Isle (10th August)
2247 Swallows S through Painswick Beacon (Gloucestershire) (10th August)
489 Swift S through Winter Hill (Bolton) on (10th August)


Saturday 1st September 2018 - Holme Stints and Holme Park Fell 0900hrs to 1200hrs

Two Chiffchaff in song and also a couple of Willow Warblers with their contact call. 3 Wheatear with two new ones showing close to the main track escarpment (usual place) and also another one 3/4 way back on the Fell, similar place to yesterday, but this bird far more tame.  Also about 10 blogging Meadow Pipits and 2 Skylark, one small party of 6 Swallows tight and heading out to the NW.

Thursday 30th August 2018 - Holme Stinted Pastures/Holme Park Fell  1445hrs to 1800rs

Two contact call Willow Warblers in the Stints and on the Fell my first returning Wheatear at 3/4 way along the Fell NW, also 4 Swallows direct South without deviation. 3 Meadow Pipits blogging. A pair of Stonechat (could be overwintering).

Tuesday 28th August 2018 - Holme Park Fell (Hutton Roof) 0900hrs to 1100hrs

First proper indications of local migration with Meadow Pipits collecting (blogging) over on Holme Park Fell.  This morning I had a party with 60 plus birds which had obviously come from further North.

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Click on the links below for quick access to:-

VISIBLE BIRD MIGRATION RECORDS - AUTUMN 2009

VISIBLE BIRD MIGRATION RECORDS - AUTUMN 2010

VISIBLE BIRD MIGRATION RECORDS - AUTUMN 2011

VISIBLE BIRD MIGRATION RECORDS - AUTUMN 2012

VISIBLE BIRD MIGRATION RECORDS - AUTUMN 2013

VISIBLE BIRD MIGRATION RECORDS - AUTUMN 2014

VISIBLE BIRD MIGRATION RECORDS - AUTUMN 2015

VISIBLE BIRD MIGRATION RECORDS - AUTUMN 2016

VISIBLE BIRD MIGRATION RECORDS - AUTUMN 2017

Also worth checking nearby and far away VISMIG LINKS:

HEYSHAM  
WALNEY
BARDSEY  (then click on blog tab)
FLEETWOOD
HILBRE 

SPURN
SANDWICH BAY
DUNGENESS
PORTLAND BILL
FAIR ISLE
ISLE OF MAY

TREKTELLEN (Click over date which is headed "Last Count")