Record movement of Bar-tailed Godwits. (1 Viewer)

eiderman said:

Here is some background info and some possible scenarios.

The population involved is taymyrensis. This population, of some 600,000 individuals, winters in coastal West & SW Africa, and breeds in W & C Siberia, from Yamal to Anabar River. (Wetlands International – Waterbirds Population Estimates – 4th Edition). In western Europe they stage on the Waddensea on both spring and autumn migration. In the spring migration, birds leave west Africa in late April/early May and make a non-stop 4500-5000 km/4 day flight to the Waddensea, where birds then stage for approx 3-4 weeks before making the next 4-5000 km leg to the Russian tundra to breed.

The birds seen along the southern coasts and inland England are part of this migration from west Africa to the Waddensea.

What has caused heavier coastal passage and unusual numbers inland in England?

A quick look at the recent weather conditions.

26th. Low pressure in Iberia, with warm front moving west across Bay of Biscay.
27th . Low pressure centred over Bay of Biscay and warm front moving north west over SW England.
28th. warm front breaking up over Ireland and northern England. E-NE winds across southern Britain.
29th. Light winds over Biscay and E-NE winds over Southern Britain.
30th. Low pressure and front to west of Biscay. E-NE winds over Southern Britain.
1st. Low pressure and front to west of Biscay. E-NE winds over Southern Britain

The easterly airflow in the Bay of Biscay and across Southern Britain appears to have pushed many birds to the west of their regular migratory track.

Some possible scenarios.

1. Birds arriving on the south coast of England re-orientate themselves to the E-NE and follow the coast, through the Straits of Dover and onto the Waddensea. Once through the Dover Straits some birds are pushed along the English coast by the easterly winds, but most appear to cross the channel and follow the Belgian and Dutch coast.

2. Some birds overshoot the coast, or move north to the west of Cornwall, into the Bristol Channel and the Severn, where they are seen to head overland in an easterly direction. These birds are re-orientating themselves to reach the Waddensea, by crossing southern England. The reports on this thread suggest some birds moving NE towards the Wash/Norfolk/Suffolk, while other moved E towards the Thames estuary.

3. Some birds moving to the west of Wales may eventually turn east to cross central and northern England to the North Sea, hence the Rochdale birds.

With the easterly winds look set to continue for several days yet, more birds can be expected to be seen in unusual places.

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Andy1979 said:

Just looking on Birdguides shows some serious movement of Barwits today. Apparently '1000's' past Dungeness and loads of inland records.

Doesn't seem to be matched by other species though...

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midlands birder said:

Is that really true, surely there are also more Wood sandpipers flying over this spring too,
Im sure Upton till i die (if he sees this) can confirm that it has been a good spring for them at upton warren with potentially 8 birds in just a few days!!
and there is a scattering of other wader species across the midlands,
i cant really comment on a national scale but there does seem to be quite a few waders..
MB

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