Migration Watch/Bird Movement Report 2007

 

Another subjective and again hopefully informative (if not wholly Scientific) view of Bird Migration from the Eastern edge of the Reserve.

 

01/09/07 Visit 1 The sun begins to gild the western sky

 

A return to our more regular calendar of Migration Watch dates for 2007 was reverted to by the usual crew not because we found the extra exertion of spring watches too much for our old bones but it was simply a case of a lack of spare time that comes of being busily ‘retired’.

 

Team ‘Butchersfield Tip’ (our vantage point at the Eastern edge of the Reserve – just to remind you avid readers of the location of our annual escapades!) on day one consisted of Dave Bowman, Les Jones, Dave Steel and a new and eager new recruit Douglas Buchanan.

 

The climb up the southern slope of the tip was achieved with the usual breathless pleasure that comes of attaining the top without collapsing and before long we set up our observation point noting instantly that rain clouds (what else?) loomed in the Northwest.

 

A cup of Bowman’s extra strong tea stiffened mine and Dave’s resolve to stick it out whatever the weather and soon after a slurp of this nectar I was scribbling down in my notebook ‘Eyes M/W 07/01 Sat 010907 0655 Light Rain and heavy i/c Cloud’ and at the stoke of 0700 recording LBBG 3. Thus began our first record of our anticipated 5-hour watch!

 

The first departing Swallow was noted at 0702 and who could blame it for by 0707 all we had for our vista North was mist and rain with much more of the same on the wings of the prevailing strong North Westerly wind.

 

The 0730 slot found a migration of Les, Roy and Douglas into the shelter of the nearby tree line whilst Dave and I decided to sit it out in the open with our optimistic heads (and hats) firmly set for the task ahead.

 

The ‘optimistic two’ were rewarded with a lull in the damp weather and this mood then spread to the sheltering three who soon rejoined us at our breezy observation outpost.

 

Then the Mosslands beneath us lit up with activity as flocks of birds, especially Woodpigeons that exploded in all directions as their movements were choreographed by a hunting Peregrine that danced through the fleeing crowd of birds.

 

Blue skies were our next apparition and apart from a further damp blip or two the morning remained fresh and generally bright which facilitated a notebook full of scribbled records as the birds filled the natural auditorium that lay before our keening eyes.

 

 

The morning regularly recorded Buzzards with a conclusion that we had seen 25 individual birds at the close of play causing us all to reflect that not all is going wrong within the avian world, although it was sad to note the ploughing up of many a good stubble field which caused us to pause and ponder the plight of our threatened farmland species which need such areas to survive the winter.

 

Then just as I was about to get onto my favourite hobby horse of modern farming methods and its contribution to the loss of so many birds I was jousted off same with Mr Bowman shouting up “Swift coming in from the northeast” and for a few minutes I was back in the land of bird filled wonderment as not one but three late moving Swifts pumped up my spirits!

 

Then to further uplift my mood food in the shape of Greek Salad Wraps appeared from Dave’s Rucksack and I was again ever grateful to the legacy of my favourite quartermaster Pauline who has schooled Dave to follow on in the footsteps of her generous and thoughtful ways.

 

Les, Roy and Doug then encouraged a wander to check out the southern reaches of our viewpoint and we were able to add a good number of Black Headed Gulls to the list for these birds were feasting on that most temporary of feasts- freshly ploughed fields.

 

Dave and I then returned to the serious job of noting all that lay before us from the North whilst managing to down a few Chocolate Tiffin Biscuits that had been nestling in my rucksack! 

 

Raptors were a constant feature with soaring Buzzards, hovering Kestrels and skimming Sparrowhawks catching our attention as we scanned for anything that moved especially Hirundines which our yearning hearts knew would be but a memory on our October watch.

 

Then after revelling in the sight of three more Swifts, noted in our 1130 and hence final half hour slot of this days ‘watch’, we set to packing away our gear for our happy retreat back to Dave’s car but the birds as ever still had one more treat in store as a sunlit Whitethroat suddenly appeared out of an elderberry bush that lay further down the slope giving our souls the lift that only birds can give to those of us who know that patience alone will reward us with a surfeit of these birds next Spring—God willing.

 

06/10/07 Visit 2 Fare you well, gentle gentlemen

 

The bright and breezy demeanours of the ‘Butchersfield Crew’ contrasted not only with the misty grey cool weather that greeted this our second watch but also most emphatically with the Ringing Team on No1 bed who were just about stirring as we passed them by on our way to our vantage point on Butchersfield Tip.

 

Waves of empathy flowed from Roy Taylor, Dave Bowman and myself (the Migration Watch Team for the day) as we discovered that the ringers had washed away their final BBQ of the season with a little too much of Scotland’s finest and were somewhat a little worse for wear- oh how we sighed as we bid them LOUD farewells!

 

 

 

Then within a short period we were set up ready for our 0730 start time, counting our first birds of the morning (Black Headed Gulls) and counting on Dave Bowman to break open his flask of tea (poured and first gulps taken by 0740). Next came a couple of Cormorants and then the almost inevitable early flow of Woodpigeons began and we added four hundred of these birds onto our list within this first half hour slot.

 

Whilst listening to the calls of a small flock of Siskin as they sought the alders that were planted on the slopes of the capped tip we noticed a breakfast seeking Peregrine slip quietly by heading in a Northerly direction, no doubt aroused by the early morning movement of Woodpigeons. Meanwhile my taste buds were aroused by a couple of sandwiches that Dave had produced from his food filled rucksack.

 

Then came 8am and already we were into our second half hour segment of the day, which again was dominated by Woodpigeon and Black Headed Gull movements. The welcome sighting of four late migrating Swallows within this slot brightened up the still rather dull looking weather although soon after these hirundines disappeared south we noted the brighter weather moving in from the west.

 

Two Green Woodpeckers which had been calling from across the river finally put in an appearance flying rapidly over towards No1 bed (a favoured place for these birds at this time of the year) whilst we noted an increase in the numbers of Meadow Pipits as they danced across the sky towards the Mosslands. Then the long awaited ‘seep’ contact call of Redwing drew us to our first sightings of these winter visiting Thrushes enabling us to sweep away the lows felt on saying a fond farewell to our summer Swallows with a cheery hello to these new arrivals to our shores.

 

A wander, within the 0930-1000 am slot, to check out the views from the south east added a few Teal and the only Sparrowhawk of the day but our sojourn to this sector was soon curtailed as we were trying to peer into a very bright sunlit area which lit up our faces but restricted our viewing.

 

The slowest point in bird movement occurred in the 1030-1100 time frame enabling me to enjoy a second batch of Mr Bowman’s sandwiches washed down with some of my coffee. All the while Roy quietly tucked into what seemed to be an endless supply of mini pork pies!

 

The last hour quickly melted away with a steady flow of birds, mopping up of our remaining victuals, the inevitable chat about politics and the satisfaction of noting eighteen individual Buzzards in the sky at once leading us to revel in the fact that we had once more been blessed with another superb Migration Watch.

 

10/11/07 Visit 3 The sky, it seems, would pour down stinking pitch

 

It seemed like a good idea that we should meet at No3 Bed car-park at 0630 in order to be atop Butchersfield Tip for an 0700 hours start until my 0500 hour alarm clock raised me from a slumber that wished to shield me from the cold North Westerly wind that had built up overnight!

 

Nevertheless by the time Dave Bowman, Roy Taylor and I were set up looking out into a grey dawn from our observation point all the reservation was gone and the fizz of another morning watching for bird movement banished all thought of home comforts.

 

Within our first 10 minutes we had noted Blackbird and Woodcock for our first ornithological records of the day whilst of more historical chronological import Dave had poured our first cuppa of the day by 0717 followed swiftly by him handing out the first victuals of the day (cheese and onion sandwiches).

 

We then pondered on the glowering clouds, which were being swirled above and around our lookout post by the Nor North Westerly wind hoping that we would be able to avoid the rain that these heavy clouds carried.

 

Once again I am happy to report that we again experienced the microclimate that seems to bless No1 bed and its environs and for the most part, although buffeted by the wind throughout, the rain danced to the North and South of us. (I’m convinced that the lead ringer on No1 bed Dave Riley must lead a blameless life --- for his prayers for dry weather for the weekend ringing activities on No1 bed often seem to be answered!).

 

The Corvids were as ever the most active species within the first half hour slot, all moving with a purpose to the Mosslands beneath our gaze whilst the smaller passerines kept well into cover with only our ears recording their presence as they called from within the surrounding shelter bed of bushes and trees.

 

In these early hours the lack of thermals (by way of contrast Roy and Dave boasted of their heat encasing thermals which they had donned to repel the insistent cold wind) kept the local Buzzard population fixed onto the ground with our first records of these occurring in the 0730 slot when we noted a couple scurrying through a winter wheat crop, presumably looking for earthworms to kick start their days feeding whilst Cormorants ignored the elements and flew into the wind on their westerly flight paths.

 

Soon into the 0830 slot we were treated to an awe-inspiring display from an immature female Peregrine Falcon which first appeared directly out from our viewing point as it skimmed low over a nearby wood, (presumably trying to flush the roosting Woodpigeons). Within seconds it had powered along in a westward direction scattering a flock of Jackdaws that were on a nearby stubble field and before these Corvids had started to regroup the Falcon whizzed over our heads and disappeared southeast no doubt aiming to cause chaos with the bird population to the south of the Ship Canal!

 

The dashing dancing display by the Peregrine was almost matched by the little jig that was being performed by Roy as he tried to warm up his now rapidly cooling limbs and in order to save him further discomfort we moved to the southern edge of the hill to spend our 0900 slot observing bird movement along the Ship Canal Corridor.

 

As if to emphasise once more the importance of that greatly undervalued wildlife asset – Winter Stubble – we noted the most bird activity for this sheltered half hour session within the life sustaining stubble fields that lay adjacent to the Canal, adding our first significant flock of Starlings and our only double figure count of Linnet for the day.

 

Our return to the cool embrace of the wind, for the 0930 slot, on our northern lookout point was soon rewarded with a swirling flock of 2500 Starlings which did that tight packed dance of delight that forever fascinates most birdwatchers. This performance by these birds had both charm for us earthbound observers whilst carrying a deadly earnest need to avoid a Sparrowhawk that was choreographing their every avoidance tactic move.

 

Views to the west gave us another opportunity to note another species Arial dancing when we noted the 290 Lapwings, that we had noted as a single flock in the 0830 slot, take to the air disturbed by goodness knows what but whatever moved these ever restless birds into the air we were grateful to it for giving us a chance to rejoice in seeing what to us Woolston Observers is a sizeable flock of these graceful Plovers.

 

This 0930 segment also recorded the breaking out of coffee, a pack of chocolate-rich Tiffin biscuits and a pack of Chorley cakes all of which kept the calorie count up and more importantly sustained the bird counting enthusiasm!

 

The intensity of the wind increased sufficiently for us to note that the bird activity was lessening on our Northerly aspect therefore we retreated once more to the Southern Slope for our 1030 & 1100 slots in order to try and increment the bird totals for the day and not, as I’m sure you truly believe, simply for easing out the chill that had by now settled into our collective old bones!

 

The reward for this move not only lay in the shelter afforded by this spot but also came in giving us a few good records of Redpoll, Siskin and Goldfinch. These latter birds were receiving particular attention from a male Sparrowhawk which more than once put them into tight flocked flight but they were pre-warned on each occasion by the alarm calls of the local Long Tailed Tits which unfailingly uttered alarm calls way in advance of the sighting of this raptor by us mere mortal observers.

 

Then came our final half hour vigil out from our northern perch which was notable only in the fact that it was the period of time in which we noted the least bird movement for the whole of the morning but at this stage we had recorded a good number of birds, eaten and drank our way through all of Dave Bowman’s supplies (no mean feat/feast I can assure you) and enjoyed another watch in good humoured company.

 

08/12/07 Visit 4   All’s well that ends well

 

The predictions of the weatherman were airily dismissed by at least two of our three man team (Dave Bowman, Scott Kennedy and myself) for we were determined to sit out whatever weather the doom and gloom merchants had forecast, in fact we set out in the dark in order to hopefully record those pre-dawn moving birds.

 

Camp ‘dark cold outpost’ was set up by 0730 and the first cuppa was on it’s way by 0736 but this was nearly spilt as I noted a raptor quartering the area to the rear of our lookout post.

 

This bird seemed to show a mix of characteristics normally displayed by a Hen Harrier or Short Eared Owl but soon revealed itself to be the ever versatile Buteo buteo which seemed to be trying to catch out one of the local rabbit population before the sun came up.

 

The red in the sky to the east was superb even though we knew it was heralding the rain which joined our party by 0807, remaining with us for most the of the morning, which is more than can be said for Scott who decided to take up Dave’s kind offer and borrow his Discovery in order to spend a much more sheltered morning visiting the ringers on the reserve.

 

We couldn’t really blame Scott for it was getting colder and wetter by the minute but as Dave and I said we were much more used to the damp than Scott who has only recently returned from a three year sojourn in the much more equable climate of Arizona.

 

Needless to say birds were on the move but at quite a spasmodic rate with a flurry of activity in the 0800 slot as the Corvids moved over to the Mosslands that lay to the north.

 

Noting proved to be difficult as my notebook became more and more waterlogged but records did slowly increment inspite of the sometimes-driving rain that vainly tried to sweep us off the hill.

 

A check out of the southern and eastern viewpoints added Green Woodpecker and Merlin to our list whilst providing us with a brief respite from the wind that swept our observation point.

 

The birds may have been in short supply but as expected the victuals that sprang from Dave’s rucksack ensured that at least the calorie count was kept high especially as we ‘had’ to eat Scott’s supply—well we couldn’t let it go to waste could we?

 

Then the last half hour of our final session for 2007 was upon us and for the first time since 0800 it was dry giving us our third highest count of the morning whilst it gave the local Buzzard population the chance to soar high above us as we searched for birds that may have been encouraged to move in this dry spell.

 

Noon then pointed Dave and I in the direction of Scott who was dutifully waiting for us on No1 bed and I’m glad to say he seemed to have enjoyed his more sheltered morning whilst Dave and I simply glowed in the warmth that we always feel when we have spent a morning on Butchersfield Tip recording all that flies by including rain sodden clouds.

 

 

Dave Steel

 

	Woolston Eyes Migration Watches 2007
	Date	01/09/2007	06/10/2007	11/11/2007	08/12/2007
	Time	0700-1200	0730-1200	0700-1200	0730-1200
	Species
1	Mute Swan	0	3	4	4
2	Whooper Swan	0	0	0	0
3	Pink-footed Goose	0	0	0	0
4	Greater Canada Goose	323	20	0	0
5	Eurasian Wigeon	0	0	0	0
6	Gadwall	3	0	5	2
7	Eurasian Teal	0	3	0	5
8	Mallard	180	28	108	0
9	Northern Pintail	0	0	0	0
10	Northern Shoveler	0	0	6	0
11	Common Pochard	0	0	0	0
12	Tufted Duck	0	0	7	6
13	Goosander	0	0	0	0
14	Grey Partridge	0	0	0	0
15	Pheasant	3	12	7	2
16	Great Crested Grebe	0	0	0	1
17	Little Grebe	0	0	0	1
18	Great Cormorant	8	7	24	15
19	Grey Heron	14	3	2	3
20	Northern Goshawk	0	0	0	0
21	Eurasian Sparrowhawk	10	1	5	0
22	Common Buzzard	37	35	16	11
23	Common Kestrel	11	3	2	1
24	Merlin	0	0	0	1
25	Peregrine Falcon	1	1	1	0
26	Common Moorhen	0	2	0	5
27	Common Coot	0	0	3	0
28	European Golden Plover	0	0	0	0
29	Northern Lapwing	96	200	336	0
30	Common Snipe	0	0	0	0
31	Eurasian Woodcock	0	0	1	2
32	Green Sandpiper	1	0	0	0
33	Common Sandpiper	0	0	0	0

 

 

 

	Woolston Eyes Migration Watches 2007
	Date	01/09/2007	06/10/2007	11/11/2007	08/12/2007
	Time	0700-1200	0730-1200	0700-1200	0730-1200
	Species
34	Black Headed Gull	172	532	264	41
35	Mew Gull	0	2	9	0
36	Lesser Black-backed Gull	72	10	20	9
37	Herring Gull	1	1	2	1
38	Great Black-backed Gull	3	1	0	0
39	Lesser Black-Backed Gull	1	0	0	0
40	Common Tern	0	0	0	0
41	Feral Pigeon	20	12	97	21
42	Stock Pigeon	68	3	25	21
43	Common Wood Pigeon	674	895	737	583
44	Eurasian Collared Dove	0	3	0	0
45	Tawny Owl	0	0	0	1
46	Common Cuckoo	0	0	0	0
47	Common Swift	6	0	0	0
48	Common Kingfisher	0	0	0	0
49	Green Woodpecker	0	4	1	1
50	Great Spotted Woodpecker	4	6	2	0
51	Sky Lark	0	67	3	0
52	Sand Martin	0	0	0	0
53	Barn Swallow	182	8	0	0
54	House Martin	305	0	0	0
55	Tree Pipit	0	0	0	0
56	Meadow Pipit	9	108	5	2
57	Yellow Wagtail	0	0	0	0
58	Grey Wagtail	1	0	0	0
59	White/Pied Wagtail	3	23	0	1
60	Winter Wren	2	2	6	4
61	Hedge Accentor	1	10	5	7
62	European Robin	5	9	5	9
63	Northern Wheatear	0	0	0	0
64	Common Blackbird	3	24	17	20
65	Fieldfare	0	0	4	2

 

 

 

 

	Woolston Eyes Migration Watches 2007
	Date	01/09/2007	06/10/2007	11/11/2007	08/12/2007
	Time	0700-1200	0730-1200	0700-1200	0730-1200
	Species
66	Song Thrush	0	15	3	1
67	Redwing	0	21	5	7
68	Mistle Thrush	0	2	1	1
69	Blackcap	0	0	0	0
70	Common Whitethroat	1	0	0	0
71	Common Chiffchaff	0	1	0	0
72	Willow Warbler	0	0	0	0
73	Goldcrest	1	2	0	2
74	Long Tailed Tit	0	22	22	19
75	Blue Tit	2	7	4	2
76	Great Tit	2	6	2	1
77	Coal Tit	0	1	0	0
78	Willow Tit	0	0	0	0
79	Nuthatch	0	1	0	0
80	Eurasian Jay	3	10	8	1
81	Black-billed Magpie	2	19	11	9
82	Eurasian Jackdaw	88	25	347	729
83	Rook	0	2	98	0
84	Carrion Crow	50	58	128	15
85	Common Raven	1	2	0	0
86	Common Starling	101	275	2882	12
87	House Sparrow	0	0	0	0
88	Eurasian Tree Sparrow	0	0	0	0
89	Chaffinch	16	50	36	11
90	Brambling	0	0	0	0
91	European Greenfinch	20	4	3	3
92	European Goldfinch	70	55	165	27
93	Eurasian Siskin	0	30	12	8
94	Common Linnet	118	25	25	0
95	Lesser Redpoll	0	12	8	0
96	Common Bullfinch	0	0	0	2
97	Hawfinch	0	0	0	0
98	Yellowhammer	0	3	0	0
99	Reed Bunting	1	3	3	0
	Totals	2695	2689	5492	1632