Just wondering - as a rule, which summer visitors are usually the first to arrive back in Britain?
Thanks
That said a Whimbrel was reported in Devon today!!
CB
Overwintering most likely ... I saw 2 down here in Cornwall back in the new year ... bit of a surprise to be honest!! Looking into it, apparently c. 20 recorded in the south west uk and ireland annually, so not quite so rare. I'd imagine the same would be the case for the Chiffchaffs seen/heard singing in March - if not uk winterers, near continent ones, rather than from sub-saharan Africa??
LR Plovers are early migrants as well.
Possibly but I checked the RBA records for the SW and none had been reported recently. They do occur as one of the earlier migrants.
Peak time for Whimbrel is April and early May they are very scarce in March.
Most of the Whimbrel pass through my area Co.Durham,Northumberland April to early May.We very rarely see Whimbrels in March i think we have only 3 records for March.Peak passage is later as you say but the first birds up here appear irregularly before the end of March. Certainly not regular but not unheard of either. The counties along the south coast do regularly get the first records in March.
CB