Devon Birding

2008 has been an astonishing autumn for American passerines. For the avid twitcher who has gone for everything available, to the armchair birder who sits back with RBA on his screen, it's been something special. So how many have we had, and how many are still to come? In no paticular order and off the top of my head, Britain and Ireand have hosted in autumn 2008:

Yellow Warbler

Northern Waterthrush

Buff-bellied Pipit

Red-eyed Vireo

Blackpoll Warbler

Alder Flycatcher

Bobolink

Grey-cheeked Thrush

Swainson's Thrush

American Redstart

Scarlet Tanager

Little Blue Heron

White-throated Sparrow

Philadelphia Vireo

Plus:

Common Nighthawk

Little Blue Heron

Numerous American waders (Pectoral Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper etc)

Have I missed any? Let me know.

28th May 2008. An incredible day along the east coast. I myself have been stuck in Devon, but a glance down the main news report on RBA says it all. 11 Icterine Warblers at Spurn Point alone, along with 23 Common Rosefinches. A scattering of Red-backed Shrikes, Bluethroats, Marsh Warblers, Ortolan Buntings and Red-footed Falcons generally along the east of Britain, from Kent to Shetland. I posted a thread on Birdforum, with a query about weather conditions affecting numbers of birds that get grounded. When was the last major spring fall of scarce migrants? 1998? As far back at 1985? One theory is that after several days of a light headwind and clear skies, with a weather change overnight, the winds becoming south easterly and rain setting in, that a large number of migrants have been grounded literally overnight.

It seems logical that this is the case, however there must have been many days of rain/drizzle with south easterlies at this time during the last few years that seem to have produced very little. Time to dig back and see when the last major fall actually was, and have a look at the conditions at the time I guess. It all ties in nicely with Birdforum's Finding Rarities thread, which offers good advice on finding your own birds and the affects of weather on the location and numbers of migrants.

Intriguing stuff.

May 20th, and already it's been a pretty good year in Devon. King Eider, Little Crake, American Golden Plover, Long-billed Dowitcher, Red-rumped Swallow and Black Kite (the latter two both very brief affairs) and now a 1st summer Bonaparte's Gull. Supporting cast of Teminck's Stint, Wood Sandpiper, Surf Scoter, Spoonbill, Hoopoe, Yellow-browed Warbler, numerous Cattle Egrets, Laughing Gull, Falcated Duck, Wryneck, Lapland Bunting, Great Grey Shrike, Rough-legged Buzzard, Long-eared Owl, Great White Egret, and it hasn't been bad. Most of the above have been one-day only birds, but all the same, the Devon Bird Report should be pretty full at the end of the year. Here's to a good summer.

Bee-eater, Red-footed Falcon, Red-rumped Swallow and Whiskered Tern all reported around the country today. So how long until we get a share? Devon has had Woodchat Shrike, a fair number of Cattle Egrets and a brief Red-rumped Swallow so far this spring. How long until there's a Whiskered Tern at Slapton Ley? Bee-eater over Prawle Point? Red-rumped Swallow at Dawlish Warren? How long must we wait before a Temminck's Stint drops in on Thurlestone, while a Black-winged Stilt is at South Huish?

Fantasy? Surely not. Clear skies and south easterlies. Get poised for that Great Reed Warbler singing in South Milton reedbeds. On your toes so you don't miss out on the Spectacled Warbler at Start Point. Just waiting for that Little Bittern to show itself at Beesands....