Spring Migration-Arrivals

[Joern Lehmhus]

Bonn, the last weekend-Arrivals:

We had this years first Firecrest, the first Yellow wagtail in Germanyfor this year; black redstarts are allready here since 2 weeks (also first white storks) but the last days , hundreds of them appeared, still on the move, as well as hundreds of White Wagtails...also Sand martin and Barn swallow...

What´s on the move in other parts of Europe?

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Joern,

Well the wintering Black Redstart from near here has disappeared, so it looks like it may have returned southeast to Germany, and the same for the wintering Blackcap in my garden . . . strange thing, migration, isn't it!

Also had a Firecrest here (same site as the wintering Black Redstart), presumably one which overshot northern Germany, found itself over the North Sea, and kept going until it hit land. Saw it yesterday; no reports of it today, so maybe it used the clear sky and north wind last night to re-orient back south.

Others - well, a Long-billed Dowitcher for half a day yesterday. Quite where that came from, and where it is going to, is anyone's guess. It was last seen flying off south . . .

Michael

[Michael Frankis]

Update - my wintering Blackcap hasn't gone yet, still present today

Michael

[Joern Lehmhus]

Hi Michael,
hope the Dowitcher visits northern germany, as I will be there over easter-but sadly, not much time for birding...

[aplomado2u]

Greetings:
On April 2nd I began a month long hawk watch here in Tlacotalpan, Veracruz Mexico. Six day's into the count I have counted 40,000+raptors. I am loving every minute. For those interested,I am keeping a weblog or daily journal of the Tlacotalpan hawkwatch complete with photos:
http://veracruzhawkwatch.blogspot.com
Good birding,

[seb_seb]

Wintering Blackcap still here. 3 swallows,6 sand martins and 1 house martin at Sandwell Valley today. Chiffchaffs everywhere and the odd Willow Warbler also.

[Joern Lehmhus]

Hi all;
had the first Garganey last weekend; and just a few minutes ago something was flying over that looked suspiciously like this years first cuckoo (not totally sure because of short time and bad views- through office window)- will go out at lunchtime and try to relocate it.

[Joern Lehmhus]

The cuckoo was very cooperative, saw him sitting in an apple tree and singing in the lunch break (luckily leaves of most trees are still quite small here); and in the evening when I went to the train he was flying overhead again.
Serins started to sing like crazy yesterday , also it was a cool day; and in the evening, a pair of blackcaps was at the train station, the male singing beautifully.