Pied Flycatcher movement

[SimonC]

Hello all,

I've seen a lot of reports (good old BirdGuides and their week's free trials ;) ) of Pied Flys turning up in Norfolk/Suffolk and even a couple in the "home counties" - none in Herts though.

My question is this:
Is this normal? I mean is the main movement of them usually in August or are these the early birds (excuse the pun!)
OR, Do the adults move first with the Juvs waiting until later in the autumn?

I'm a little concerned that by the time I can justify going out somewhere likely to attract one, (got a couple of trips planned for September/October) they'll all have passed through!

cheers

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Hi Simon,

I saw two yesterday here in St Andrews - very nice. Large numbers are all along the east coast (e.g. 200 at Spurn). At present there are quite excellent fall conditions. There is a large system of high pressure over northern and central Europe stretching right back to Russia. These are the areas where the Pied Flys and other migrants probably set out from (in clear conditions). This has also generated an easterly air flow which pushes towards Britain. Here they meet the fairly atrocious weather caused by the rather static front that has been sat over much of the country over the past few days. This grounds the birds particularly along the east coast.

So in answer to your question, the numbers of Pied Flys at the moment are not normal but nor are they unprecedented or inexplicable. Pied Flys and many other birds are on the move by mid August. Normally they will be spread over a wide area as they begin their southward migration through Europe. But particular patterns of weather will bring larger than normal numbers to Britain. Although the main concentrations will be along the coast, there will probably be more than usual inland as well so they could be worth looking out for in Herts. As to whether there'll be any next month, there probably will be if conditions are favourable.

[Andrew Whitehouse]

It's also worth noting that as well as bringing large numbers of landbird migrants to the coast, the same weather conditions have been responsible for good influxes of Black Terns, Wood Sandpipers and Curlew Sandpipers (the latter in particularly astonishing numbers at some places - all adults too). These are all turning up on inland sites as well as coastal so you're not missing out on all the fun.

[Bluetail]

Personally I expect to migrant see Pied Flycatchers on the south coast in August. I've seen them as late as October in Scillies - there are usually one or two knocking around there - but most of our warblers and flycatchers leave between mid August and mid September. After that you've just got the stragglers and vagrants - which of course is far more interesting for some of us!

[SimonC]

Cheers Andrew :t:

I really must learn to be a better Birder ;) I hadn't even considered any weather systems being responsible................Duuhhhh!!!!

That's a good point about the BTs too, I feel a trip to my local gravel pit is in order for the weekend (you never know, there's suitable habitat for a migrant Flicker or two there so I might get lucky ;) although the "muddy bits" have all overgrown now so not much hope of any "tasty" waders)

[Andrew]

Last September on the Scillies there was a huge fall of Pied Flycatchers and I was seeing at least five a day for two weeks but they were all female types. Not one black and white male at all.

[SimonC]

Last September on the Scillies ..........Got any hot tips for winning lottery numbers Andrew? ;)

[Andrew]

As a lottery winner myself I can tell you a hot tip! Stick to the same numbers everytime and you are guaranteed to win one day. Since the start of this system five years ago I have won a tenner four times so it works! ;)

(Mind you, I have abandoned it now for a simple Lucky Dip!)

[Grousemore]

As a lottery winner myself I can tell you a hot tip! Stick to the same numbers everytime and you are guaranteed to win one day. Since the start of this system five years ago I have won a tenner four times so it works! ;)

(Mind you, I have abandoned it now for a simple Lucky Dip!)

Begging letter is on it's way....

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Last September on the Scillies there was a huge fall of Pied Flycatchers and I was seeing at least five a day for two weeks but they were all female types. Not one black and white male at all.

I don't think male Pied Flys retain their black and white plumage in the autumn. Probably the majority that turn up in such falls are young birds in any case.

[Bluetail]

Last September on the Scillies there was a huge fall of Pied Flycatchers and I was seeing at least five a day for two weeks but they were all female types. Not one black and white male at all.That's because winter males are largely inseperable from the females, though they may have some white on the forehead or blackish on the coverts, rump or tail.

[Andrew]

Thanks for pointing that out Andrew and Jason. Good to learn something new and if I see another Pied Fly in autumn I shall look much closer.

[Jos Stratford]

Still a good few Pied Flys up here in the breeding groungs in the Baltics - one still knocking about the garden yesterday (plus Spotted Fly), so still plenty left 'further up' to keep you migrant hunters happy as they pass through a bit later

[IanF]

We have quite a few around at the moment too. More youngsters / females than males.This is the typical appearance of ours, taken today on a very foggy afternoon.

[Andrew Whitehouse]

I managed 5 today around the golf course after some really horendous weather this morning had abated. Also had a Reed Warbler (pretty good up here) and a couple of Garden Warblers.

[ashrich]

Two female/juv Pied at Little Marlow GP for the last couple of days , one quite smart and dapper with fresh looking plumage , one not so smart , a little tatty and not so well defined together with a spotty and a pair of blackcaps all in the same area ( 2 trees and a large shrub growing very close together ) Pied Fly's are good birds for Bucks and with the dearth of spotted this year I was happy to see them all . Aslo found a spotted in Hambleden today on a patch I walk regularly with the dog twice a day and have never seen it before , maybe a passage bird also .

Ashley