Spring Migrants 2012

whyulittle

Sand Martin, Swallow and Osprey have all arrived in the UK in the past few days - it's all starting again!

http://btomigrationblog.blogspot.com/

E39MSport

Forgot about those tagged cuckoos.

Can't wait for the swallow's reappearance.

Birdnuts

E39MSport wrote: »

Forgot about those tagged cuckoos.

Their moving North very fast now - last time I checked(Early Feb) they had moved from their Congo wintering grounds into the Sahel.

siledee

I have followed the tagged cuckoos as well.
Fascinating how they took different routes to arrive at near enough the same place.
Wonder if they will take the same routes back??

whyulittle

Two swallows reported at Mizen Head on Friday.

Arequipa

Hi! So when will the first big group of swallows reach our shores?

I was down in South Africa over Christmas & saw lots of swallows:amazing seeing them so far away!

Any way of tracking their migration?

Arequipa.

whyulittle

hmmmm, a report of a Cuckoo here since end of January!

http://bwiw.ie/sightings.html

Birdnuts

whyulittle wrote: »

hmmmm, a report of a Cuckoo here since end of January!

http://bwiw.ie/sightings.html[/QUOTE]


I think "Mary from Kiltoom" sounds a little confused;)

Terrier

Great to see all 5 cockoo's have check in today. i'd say if all 5 make it back it would be a great result.

http://www.bto.org/science/migration/tracking-studies/cuckoo-tracking

whyulittle

Birdnuts wrote: »

I think "Mary from Kiltoom" sounds a little confused;)

That would probably be the immediate reaction alright. But, you'd think someone that bothers to send in reports to a site, would know what a Cuckoo of all things sounds like.

I don't know if the Cuckoo is possible or not, but there were reports of Chiffchaffs here all through winter.

Birdnuts

whyulittle wrote: »

I don't know if the Cuckoo is possible or not, but there were reports of Chiffchaffs here all through winter.

Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps have always wintered in the near continent so its probably not suprising more and more of them winter in Ireland - Cuckoos though are true sub-sahran migrants, so whatever that lady heard, i'd be 99% certain it wasn't a Cuckoo.


PS: Slightly off topic but nice to see these lads have arrived in one piece back at their breeding grounds

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/bald-ibis-syria012.html

V Bull

whyulittle wrote: »

Two swallows reported at Mizen Head on Friday.

Another swallow reported in Wexford this morning.....:)

Arequipa

Ah cool!
So where are these sightings reported?

A

whyulittle

I keep an eye here and here.

Arequipa

Thank u Sir!!
Am just amazed by swallows!

whyulittle

V Bull wrote: »

Another swallow reported in Wexford this morning.....:)

And one inland in Offaly according to the BWI page.

Was at Boora today and there was plenty flying around for them to be feeding on.

First time at Boora in a good while and the seasons have really changed over there. Skylarks up and in full voice; Lawping flocks have broken down with pairs calling and displaying together; and the Partridge have pushed their young out and are down to pairs again.

snowstreams

Today was the first day that I noticed my windscreen getting hit by flies.
So there is plenty of them around for the swallows alright.
I hope the flies arent out too early so that there are still plenty of flies around for the peak nesting season.

Birdnuts

snowstreams wrote: »

Today was the first day that I noticed my windscreen getting hit by flies.
So there is plenty of them around for the swallows alright.
I hope the flies arent out too early so that there are still plenty of flies around for the peak nesting season.

Same here - traditionally the first migrants to be seen in these parts are Sand Martins and Chiffchaffs around Paddy's day but I wouldn't be suprised if they are a bit earlier given the benign conditions for feeding and migrating:)

trebor28

Just out for a walk this morning and heard my first chiffchaff of the year

wgsten

I saw Sand Martins today along the river Liffey near Kilcullen. They were taking Large Dark Olive flies that were hatching from the river. Good to see them back again.

Birdnuts

Nothing here yet:( - though I can here alot of winter thrushes heading back North in recent nights

Birdnuts

A Crane was seen yesterday on the Boyne estuary - a future breeding migrant perhaps??:cool:

Birdnuts

First few Sand Martins have arrived on the upper lake here today:) -

siledee

Terrier wrote: »

Great to see all 5 cockoo's have check in today. i'd say if all 5 make it back it would be a great result.

http://www.bto.org/science/migration/tracking-studies/cuckoo-tracking

Och, one of the cuckoos has died.

E39MSport

Heard Chiffchaff in Nottingham over the weekend

E39MSport

Another one this morning on the Kilcock / Clane road.

.. eyes peeled for swallows

trebor28

have a chiffchaff outside everyday now, hear him every morning when i walk out the door.

heard a willow warbler this evening too.

Birdnuts

First Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs this week - I have to say though that the this spring has been a bit slow in overall numbers

whyulittle

Spotted my first number of anything today - 8 Sand Martins at LB.

E39MSport

Birdnuts wrote: »

First Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs this week - I have to say though that the this spring has been a bit slow in overall numbers

Same. Heard both at the weekend. Several willow warblers in the garden now

whyulittle

Osprey reported at Broad Lough today.

Seems like it was hardly worth their while leaving!

http://www.irishbirding.com/birds/web/Display/sighting/44214/Osprey.html

Birdnuts

First Swallow today:D - have to say though that overall this season is still very slow in these parts in terms of numbers of various species like chiffchaffs, sand martins etc.

E39MSport

Lucky you

I've been outside all weekend and looking up - nothing.

Not the same though for chiffchaff and willow warbler around here - North Kildare. Good few.

Birdnuts

E39MSport wrote: »

Lucky you

I've been outside all weekend and looking up - nothing.

Not the same though for chiffchaff and willow warbler around here - North Kildare. Good few.

Spent a great weekend with a M8 in the Slane(Co. Meath) area - the woodlands there were heavin with Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps.

PS: Has anyone visited the Battle of the Boyne Site recently?? - seems to have alot of good habitat for Skylarks, Kestrals, buzzards etc.:cool:

E39MSport

Was there last year but didn't notice much.

I've started a habit of waking up for the dawn chorus lately when I am home.

Dear Lord it never fails to give me some sort of primal joy. Lots going on at the moment ..

Birdnuts

E39MSport wrote: »

Was there last year but didn't notice much.

I've started a habit of waking up for the dawn chorus lately when I am home.

Dear Lord it never fails to give me some sort of primal joy. Lots going on at the moment ..

I was impressed with the wildflower rich grassland and the number of calling skylarks(and other rough grassland birds, a habitat that is now quiet rare in this part of the country). Suggests to me some input from professional conservationists.

PS: I wasn't up early enough on any of the days to get the dawn chorus, but all the songsters were still putting on an impressive show in the early afternoon:cool:

E39MSport

I bought a Zoom H4 (i think) and have been testing it out. Was out before 6 this morning with it.

If I manage to get some good recordings then I will post links.

It's great to hear the first bird. Usually a Song Thrush these mornings. Very very persisent....

OldRio

First cuckoo heard on Saturday Morning 7th April in Leitrim.
About a week earlier than last year.
Wonderful.

whyulittle

Couple of House Martins over the river in town today.

Gaspode

Spotted our first house martins here in D15 on monday. We also have skylarks something I've not heard around here before.

Bsal

Saw my first 2 Swallows this evening flying over my house

whyulittle

Two of the BTO Cuckoos confirmed back in Europe. One on the doorstep in Algeria.

http://www.bto.org/science/migration/tracking-studies/cuckoo-tracking

slowburner

Bsal wrote: »

Saw my first 2 Swallows this evening flying over my house

I saw two, too - meandering north on the 11th of April, over Rathdrum, Co.Wicklow at around 7.00 pm.
They looked small.
I wonder will the influx be anything like the Autumn migration.
I definitely seem to be overlooking an important route for the Autumn passage and I wonder if they use the same route for the Spring migration.
No sign of anything like a steady influx, yet.

littlebug

Still no sign of any swallows here yet. It's usually round about now though in the past two years I've seen my first on 8th/ 10th April.

whyulittle

First few Swallows at Lough Boora today.

donal2000

Just spotted my first Swallow of the year. It flew past me and I had to take a second look

nilhg

Yeah, saw my first Swallow of the year today, it was heading across the Curragh.

Birdnuts

Good numbers of Willow Warblers and Blackcaps are back on their territories in these parts over the last few days.:)

Mickeroo

Just saw my first swallow sitting on the telephone line out front

E39MSport

Just saw my first Swallow of 2012. Delighted

snaps

Saw my 1st swallow today here in mayo (well 2 resting on a electric wire over a river)