We,ve almost got June out of the way now which in birding terms is the quietest month of the year with most birds busy breeding although June this year has been a good month for me with some decent sightings.
Of course the autumn vis mig doesnt really kick off until late August and into September but things certainly start moving in July. Already early dispersion is underway ,especially with the gulls as reported on DCBs vis mig sight who turned up a Yellow Legged Herring gull just the other day. Check those gulls out as July is the peak time to pick up a Yellow Legged.
I used to start my autumn vis mig watch in early august only to find I,d missed the Swifts going so I had to bring it back to July. As I mentioned on my Fly Flatts report for Sunday, already the moors are getting that quietness about them with most of the Curlews already gone apart for a few with late young to bring up.
So whos going to give it a go this year ? if you,ve done it before and been lucky enough to drop on one of the mega moving days you,ll definately be doing it again this year, ask DJS who last year dropped into the middle of a massive thrush movement at Hunter Hill and Fly Flatts, or DCB and HC at Oxenhope who recorded the largest counts ever of Pink Footed geese , winter thrushes and Meadow Pipits.
If its new to you just find yourself a nice quiet elevated watch point near home and watch the skies,you,ll soon pick up the pattern and get used to identifying birds by jizz. Apart from seeing numbers and varieties its suprising the rareties you can pick up in amongst the commoner birds.
On the down side you need to be up early,first light or before, some days you may stand and see nothing if conditions are wrong and autumn can throw some bad weather down , the worst being fog which stops the job and the wind and rain which just makes it miserable. However,if you get to your watch point and see a red ball sunrise, mist in the valleys and a slight SW wind chances are you,re in for a mega movement day when the Mipits are coming through faster than you can count them, thats true vis mig.
BS
WEST YORKSHIRE BIRDING. BRIAN SUMNER. I am based at Queensbury and bird a patch within a 10 mile range of home incorporating 16 stretches of water, several plantations, a belt of woodland, stretches of river and canal and good areas of moorland. I specialize in upland birds, reservoir and sky watching. My local patch is Fly Flatts reservoir. Any reports can be sent by text or call to 07771 705024 or see profile for e mail address. All images on this blog are copyright.(2024).