A much fresher day with a brisk WSW>5 and some light rain and cloudy skies.
Swifts were the birds of the day with a steady flow >S all day peaking to a heavy movement around lunchtime. Several of the birds were young ones and this is possibly the start of their journey south.
Around this time Swifts start moving >S and by the end of next month they will be gone although stragglers can usually be seen in September, my latest ever being 1 over Paul Clough Sept 21st 1997.
Sometimes large feeding groups of Swifts moving ahead of a weather front can me mistaken for migrating birds but you can usually tell, as with all birds , when they are in true migration mode with head down and direct flight.
Otherwise over the village today it was just down to a few Black Headed gulls >W along with 2 LBBs first thing this morning.
A single very high Jay went over the garage >W this morning reminding me that visible migration time is almost upon us.
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.(2025).