[Cheshire Birder]

There has been a slight increase in the Green Sandpipers moving through my home county, prompting me to start this return migration thread. Hopefully the autumn will be as surprising as the spring has been.

CB

[Minto]

What do you mean Autumn is on its way, we are still waiting for Spring and summer here

[Simon Wates]

Here in southern Portugal I had my first returning Green Sandpiper on 29th June - it was at a regular wintering site - jostling for space with a Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin (a summer bird if ever there was one). I have had them earlier in the past and I always think it curious how they "winter" in 30-40ºC during the summer and stay here some 8-9 months of the year.

[Cheshire Birder]

Originally Posted by Minto

What do you mean Autumn is on its way, we are still waiting for Spring and summer here

We skipped both those as well

CB

[Cheshire Birder]

Good numbers of Wood Sandpipers today.

CB

[Mick Sway]

Originally Posted by Cheshire Birder

Good numbers of Wood Sandpipers today.

CB

Hey Bill
I'm hoping that we'll catch a few nice waders in Norfolk at the end of this month.
Best
Mick

[Himalaya]

In Iceland at the moment saw a Scaup on eggs and a Golden Plover nest with eggs was found over the last 4 days. Many Eider, Scaup, Greylag Geese, Whimbrel, Redshank and others with recently hatched young.

So autumn might be the new summer!

[Mick Sway]

Originally Posted by Himalaya

So autumn might be the new summer!

God, I do hope so!
Mick

[Mick Sway]

RSPB Swift Survey
As they will soon be on their way back, I just wanted to encourage folks to take part in the RSBP swift survey, if you don't know it already, please go to:
http://www.rspb.org.uk/applications/...y/default.aspx
Thanks
Mick

[gareth_blockley]

I do wonder if these birds are A) ones that never made it to breeding sites B) made it but failed or C) made and have succesfully bred already?
Red-necked Phalarope females are always early returners because they leave the males to raise the chicks but surely many of these other waders shouldn't be returning so early? there are a lot of Black-tailed Godwits and Curlew coming back very early..

Also of note Spurn had 6,746 Swift over going south on 29th June and a further 3,000 on the 1st of July - presumably these are failed breeders?

Gareth

[stevo]

Yesterday I had my 1st autumnal Redstart,others i`ve seen are moulting.On the otherhand i`ve got spotted flycatcher`s still feeding young.

Steve.

[Kentbloke]

Small numbers of swifts and sand martins making their way south at the cliffs today.
Also a few juv willowchiffs "hooeting" in the garden, the first since the Spring
.

[Dimitri]

Honey buzzards are on the move today in Belgium.

[kennethwfd]

In August one always sees the first signs that Aultumn is on its way, the most obvious is that dusk comes about 1/2hr earlier. found my first ripe blackberries yesterday

[gareth_blockley]

Waders are well on there way south now as well as chats and warblers. Skuas and terns moving around the coast. There has been the large gathering of Little Gulls off east yorks (6050 at Hornsea Mere today) and more swifts moving south (13500 south over Frinton on Sea today!).

Gareth

[Cheshire Birder]

Weather feels very autumnal the last couple of days but with high pressure building should get a few drift migrants this week.

CB

[Sphenodon]

I have noticed movement of warblers and mixed parties of tits in back garden. I wondered if some birds had started to migrate

[jogresh]

http://www.ecmwf.int/products/foreca...!2012082000!!/

This low pressure system predicted for the end of the month looks decidedly autumnal, and being in August might produce something interesting if it actually occurs - an influx of Nearctic waders or even a Yellow Warbler perhaps!...

[gareth_blockley]

Loads of Willow Wobblers on the move at the moment

Gareth

[Gill Osborne]

It's mostly waders in Northumberland

[gareth_blockley]

Absolutely huge passage of birds yesturday with finches and thrushes coming in - see http://www.spurnbirdobservatory.co.u...rchive/10-2012

Also from a few days ago (Friday) see the linnet count from here http://www.durlston.co.uk/index.php?...y_id=2&nid=119

Gareth

[Cheshire Birder]

Large movement of Meadow Pipits in my area this morning.

CB