More Redwings dropping into the sycamores at Dempsey Towers this evening after the near constant "seeping" last night - then they were passing at about 40-50 every five minutes based on my highly scientific, and world-renowned, "Peroni" monitoring technique (Method: Drink lots of cold beer and occasionally stand on the back step for a crafty smoke, count the calls as you hear them).
Obviously there's some danger of repetition, but clearly big numbers went through last night, and the beer was splendid.
They were still passing over with smaller numbers of Fieldfares at first light this morning - although surprisingly none went over Crosby's waterfront until later in the day.
Last night, all were heading south, but this evening, the Redwings seemed to be going east as the light faded over Ainsdale.
Whatever, good to have them back.
Crosby was fairly quiet today - 2 Scaup with 38 Tufties on the Marine Lake, and two Great Crested Grebes, along with the regulation Mipits, Skylark and Stonechats.
Pink Feet commuting from the fields around Hightown Bends out onto the exposed sand of the Alt estuary at low tide several times during the day.
Derbyshire's bird drought on St Agnes (see comment on previous entry) sounds pretty grim, but there are worst places to be stiffed by October's treasures than the Turk's Head Paul...
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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The BTO and the RSPB have joined forces to mount the largest research project of its type to understand more about our birds that spend the winter south of the Sahara desert.
Some of the greatest declines of birds in the UK are among those species, including the cuckoo, turtle dove,
nightingale and wood warbler, which spend the summer in Europe but winter in Africa.
Recent figures suggest that more than 40 per cent of all migratory species passing between Europe and Africa
have declined in the last three decades. Alarmingly, one in 10 of these are considered to be of global
conservation concern.
The project will involve researchers monitoring birds along a corridor stretching from GhanaâÂÂs Atlantic coast to northern Burkina Faso, spanning a range of habitats from coastal rainforest to the edge of the Sahara desert.
The RSPB's Dr Danaë Sheehan, who will be monitoring birds in West Africa, said: âÂÂThe drastic declines of
some of our best-loved summer-visiting birds, such as the cuckoo, turtle dove and nightingale, is one of the
greatest concerns currently raging in conservation.
âÂÂAlthough we have a reasonable understanding of these birds in the UK, we have little or no idea what's
happening to these birds in their wintering grounds, but itâÂÂs clear that without help these declines are likely to continue, reducing the populations of these summer visitors to dangerously low levels.âÂÂ
Dr Chris Hewson, Research Ecologist at the BTO, commented: âÂÂIf we are to reverse these alarming declines we need to act now. To do this we need to better understand where these birds spend the winter months and what pressures they face there. If we can find this out we will be in a strong position to help secure their future.âÂÂ
He added. âÂÂOngoing research is focused on the potential causes of the declines during the breeding season
here in the UK. However, problems on the wintering grounds could also be driving the declines, in particular,
the predicted increase in the human population and the associated change of land use. These birds are facing a
double whammy, and to help them we need to be looking at both ends of their migration.âÂÂ
A number of potential causes for the declines of migrants have been suggested, including: climate change,
changes in rainfall patterns, and land degradation. Predicted increases in human population and climatic
variability in West Africa are likely to exacerbate these threats.
Of 105 widespread countryside birds in the UK, eight out of twelve of those declining most rapidly since the
mid 1990s are summer migrants. According to the latest bird population estimates, published in the 2008
Breeding Bird Survey, the following summer migrants are suffering the greatest population declines between
1995 and 2007:
turtle dove,-66 per cent; wood warbler,-60 per cent; pied flycatcher, -51 per cent; yellow wagtail, -49 per
cent; whinchat, -43 per cent; nightingale, -41 per cent; spotted flycatcher, -38 per cent; and cuckoo, -37 per cent.
The team of researchers will be counting and ringing birds at several âÂÂpointsâ in both Ghana and Burkina Faso, across a breadth of habitats, from dense tropical rainforest to semi-desert. By recording birds at these points several times during the year, researchers hope to build up a detailed picture of the movements and habitat preferences of European migratory birds wintering in Africa.
In Africa the BTO and RSPB will be joined by the Ghana Wildlife Society and Naturama, the BirdLife International partners in Ghana and Burkina Faso. Also involved will be Dansk Ornitologisk Forening (DOF), the BirdLife Partner in Denmark, who are currently looking to establish a permanent operational base in Ghana, and Vogelbescherming Nederland (VBN), who are the supporting partner of Naturama.
The Sussex Ornithological Society has provided ã5000 towards the project, and Porzana Ltd, a supplier and
manufacturer of bird rings, have donated the rings.
Hi John,16.Oct.09. Painted Lady, Male Common Darter at Marshside this afternoon. Mike.
Chiffchaff, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker on Crossens embankment, Rock Pipit in Sandplant compound today.