Going the wrong way again.

[Gerry Hooper]

Can anybody tell me why most of the Redwings and Fieldfares that I see at this time of the year are flying North.
One morning last year there was a continous stream of them moving in broard fronts, very high, some lower, dropping into the bushes. All of them going North!
The same thing is happening this year, not so many birds though.
It's unusual to see them flying south here at all!
I live just Inland from a S/E facing coastline in Devon .
My Luvver.

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Gerry,

I'd guess they are birds that have avoided the potentially dangerous 400 mile North Sea crossing by coming south from Scandinavia, across Germany, Holland & France, and then cross the (relatively narrow) Channel to get to their British & Irish wintering grounds. A longer distance to cover, but easy feeding opportunities almost all the way.

Michael

[Gerry Hooper]

I kinda had that idea.
Or I thought some of them might of come from up North but turn around at the coast coz they want to refuel before the sea crossing.

[Padraig]

Hi Gerry,

Some people from Exmouth were recently on a guided trip to Lands End and saw about 800 fieldfares heading inland. The guide reckoned that they had followed the South Coast as far as they could and then turned North when they met the sea at Land's End.
This is in keeping with Michael's suggestion and makes perfect sense.
So us Deon-types will see them heading noth for their favourite wintering quarters.

Regards,

Padraig. B (:

[CJW]

Hi Gerry,

I'd guess they are birds that have avoided the potentially dangerous 400 mile North Sea crossing by coming south from Scandinavia, across Germany, Holland & France, and then cross the (relatively narrow) Channel to get to their British & Irish wintering grounds. A longer distance to cover, but easy feeding opportunities almost all the way.

Michael

Is there any proof to suggest that that is correct Michael?

[Jane Turner]

Every migrant at my patch goes south, regardless of season....well nearly every... for some reason the Siskin go East

[Michael Frankis]

Is there any proof to suggest that that is correct Michael?Hi CJ,

No proof, but I wasn't offering it as proven, only a guess. Behind which there is a good dose of logic which matches the evidence offered

For proof, I think you'll have to wait until someone makes satellite transmitters small enough to fit on a Redwing

Michael