[Cheshire Birder]

We have had a few spring visitors here in Britain. A sprinkling of Garganey, Sand Martins and White Wagtails have already been seen. Also an Osprey in Gloucs, a Swallow in E.Sussex and a Whimbrel in Northumbria. No Wheatears yet tho.

Post your migrant sightings in this spring thread, so we can all enjoy the thrill of this Spring.

CB

[ammadoux]

and you may have the chiffchaff's soon, as those that were here had left two weeks ago, we are having new ones now.
also from two weeks ago we had a woodchat shirks.

no northern wheatear though until now.

[tonyfenn]

a wheatear was reported a few weeks ago on rba

[Cheshire Birder]

Originally Posted by ammadoux

and you may have the chiffchaff's soon, as those that were here had left two weeks ago, we are having new ones now.

We have Chiffchaffs overwintering so it can be difficult to tell the genuine migrants from the wintering birds.

CB

[Cheshire Birder]

Originally Posted by tonyfenn

a wheatear was reported a few weeks ago on rba

One reported in Bedfordshire on 15/2. Seemed some doubt over the record according to Birdguides. Will be interesting to see if the record is genuine or not.

CB

[gareth_blockley]

There's a subtle movement of wildfowl, waders and gulls going on too. Not the most obvious migrants at the moment but they are definitely moving around.
Bit of a late winter influx of Glossy Ibis. Also whats going on with the white Storks?

Gareth

[ammadoux]

Originally Posted by Cheshire Birder

We have Chiffchaffs overwintering so it can be difficult to tell the genuine migrants from the wintering birds.

CB

a number of Chiffchaff's winter here and some comes late January, i usually tell them apart by the behavior those who stay all winter usually be well hidden and very elusive, while those new comers seem at first more camera friendly, and visit the water bath more often.

that's also the case with common whitethraots, black caps, and wrynecks.

[Cheshire Birder]

Yesterday - Common Tern in London.

Today - Hoopoe in Notts and Stone Curlew in Devon.

CB

[Seatallen]

I'm listening every day with bated breath for the first returning Chiff-chaff. The earliest was 20th Feb but I've usually heard one by the end of the first week in March. Also, any day now, I shall see the first Sand Martin (they nest adjacent to the canal towpath on my way to work).

[Cheshire Birder]

Yesterday - Sandwich Tern in Kent, Lesser Whitethroat in Cornwall and Garganey in Somerset.

CB

[gareth_blockley]

Several more Sand Martin and White Wagtail sightings over the last few days. A couple of Wheatears over the last 2 days (one in Staffordshire). The first Swallow and Whimbrel today.

Gareth

[Cheshire Birder]

Whitethroat in Essex today and Osprey in Staffs

CB

[christineredgate]

Cannot wait for the return of our Swallows.hope all the regulars arrive safely.

[tonyfenn]

also osprey reported at titchwell today

[gareth_blockley]

3 reports of Osprey today. chats are definitely on the move with few more Wheatear today and Black Redstarts and Stonechats moving through. Water Pipits, Rock Pipits, and Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails all moving through too.

Gareth

[timmyjones]

Anyone know of any LRP reports?

[Cheshire Birder]

Originally Posted by timmyjones

Anyone know of any LRP reports?

A quick search found only one record of a possible - one possible in London on Mar 5th;

CB

[gareth_blockley]

Willow Warbler reported in Dorset today.
4 Yellow Wagtails reported in Sussex.
More Garganey today; 1 in Sussex, 1 in Hants, 1 in Berks, 1 in Beds, 2 in Derbyshire and 12 in Kent over three sites. More Sandwich terns along the coast. Forgot to mention the other day a Pom Skua had been seen too.
End of next week should see a bit more coming in with the air pressure/wind changing.

Gareth

[gareth_blockley]

Chiffchaffs seem to be trickling in (there's been 4 reported in Oxon at non wintering sights), though I can't really see any real evidence of migrants (there's been several through Portland for a few days). Are the birds in land wintering ones moving about or the earlier migrants?

Gareth

[Goldfinch12]

I'm hoping to see some migrants soon.

[Cheshire Birder]

Cattle Egrets in Essex and Dorset yesterday;

Night Heron in Cornwall today.

CB

[Cheshire Birder]

Originally Posted by Goldfinch12

I'm hoping to see some migrants soon.

They are not far away - Wheatear in Gwynedd, Garganey in Derbyshire and Sandwich Tern on Anglesey;

CB

[Cheshire Birder]

Originally Posted by gareth_blockley

Chiffchaffs seem to be trickling in (there's been 4 reported in Oxon at non wintering sights), though I can't really see any real evidence of migrants (there's been several through Portland for a few days). Are the birds in land wintering ones moving about or the earlier migrants?

Gareth

They are probably more migrants from the near continent perhaps coming in via Kent or Sussex. The arrivals in April are more likely to be the longer distance migrants.

CB

[Steve Waite]

I have to say, I can't quite work out why there are so few early migrants appearing!

With this high pressure over us and southern Europee, Wheatears should be in by now in fairly good numbers, as should Sand Martins really.

Even commoner birds, with Meadow Pipit being a great example, are not on the move in the numbers they usually are for sunny days in mid March. And where are the lrps!? Weird....

[gareth_blockley]

LRP reported in Warks (Draycote Water) on 12th.
Blackcaps being reported singing, though may be wintering birds.
More Sand Martins today with a flock of c.20 through over Farmoor res (Oxon). This is the first record for Oxon and four days later than last year.
20 Chiffchaffs on Bardsey Island today - first real sign of 'mass' migration..

Gareth