Bye Bye Migrants

[Ken L]

Not seen any swallows or swifts since Thursday. Looks like they've gone for the year after hiching a ride south on the northerlies that we've had since Friday.

Edited September 19, 2010 by Ken L

[Ken L]

Hold the phone. I've just seen a swallow - all on his own though.

[ayjay]

Most Swifts will be gone now, haven't seen one here on the South coast for a couple of weeks, plenty of Swallows, House and Sand Martins still around, although many have left.

 

We can often see them crossing over to the I of W from the sea wall at Keyhaven at this time of year (and coming back in April/May) , it's fairly easy to see the difference between them just flying around feeding and flying off South.

[jason.p]

Swallows were gathering last week, think they may have gone now. House Martins still around. Very few Swifts this year.

[Cranfield]

I was fishing the west coast of Ireland last week and the telephone wires were smothered with swallows.

Back here in Kent they don't seem to be gathering in big numbers yet.

[Ken Davison South Wales]

I was fishing the west coast of Ireland last week and the telephone wires were smothered with swallows.

Back here in Kent they don't seem to be gathering in big numbers yet.

 

Must have been your lot that were winging their way through yesterday

[Tony U]

I was fishing the west coast of Ireland last week and the telephone wires were smothered with swallows.

Back here in Kent they don't seem to be gathering in big numbers yet.

Cranflied there were loads over Cliffe Pools and the Medway estuary at the weekend; but as I recall we get the peak numbers in the first couple of weeks in October>

A few years ago one October afternoon, I remember seeing thousands of Swallows and Martins flying over Sittingbourne.

 

Tony

[Leon Roskilly]

Martins were swooping down and buzzing the beach at Dungeness yesterday.

[Vagabond]

Out in the English Channel shark-fishing at the weekend, putting out plenty of rubby-dubby.

Usually that attracts Manx Shearwaters, Fulmars and other tube-noses.

 

Only a pair of Fulmars this time, but instead we got "bonxies" (Great Skua). We had six bonxies around the boat at one time, and a brief visit from an Arctic Skua also. Also the usual kittiwakes and other gulls.

 

Only one shark though, which Norma played for about fifteen minutes before the hooklink went. (same wire that has boated three porbeagles in the past - a bit of a mystery as it looked a clean cut)

[ayjay]

Still a fair few Swallows around on the South coast today, (and a few Martins last weekend).

 

Birds going the other way - sizeable influx of Waxwings today.

Edited October 21, 2010 by ayjay