With a report already in today of a single Kittiwake, Calderbirds, March is the best month to see one in our area.
Ideally you need a day of strong winds, direction doesnt seem to matter too much but heavy nasty horizontal drizzle is a must, todays bird will have come in and brought down in those conditions yesterday.
Inland sightings ,especially our area, are far from common and I personnally have only had 2 definates with about 3 more that had to be dismissed as : cud av bins:
My first sighting, without delving back into the older archives, was on the ski ramp at EGP , 16th March 1996 and the last was close to home in Queensbury on the Chapel Lane rugby field in a howling gale and heavy rain when all the gulls were crouched down, heads into the wind, this was 2nd March 1999 so I should be due for another sighting any year now, hope I dont get one this weekend now or you,ll never believe me.
The other interesting thing on the birding calender this next month is the cross over of inward and outward birds, or as Mike Stead described it on Calderbirds, arrivals and departures.
This is the time when our summer visiting birds are arriving, such as Curlews, other waders and Warblers Wheatears etc and our winter visitors such as Fieldfares, Redwing Pinkies etc are leaving us.
It can be a memorable sight to see Winter thrushes and Swallows in the same area and even stranger to see Swallows flying over the snow, mind you, weve had snow in early June in Queensbury.
A bright dry day in Queensbury after a slow start with clear blue skies, but empty, with a brisk W>4 but still temperatures well up. Clear skies after dark which could bring temperaturs down.
Again nothing reportable.
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).