Hi all
Really interesting day of diurnal migration yesterday at Frinton, and unusual in that it went they way I had anticipated, so I thought I would share…
With a fresh SE wind blowing from the continent and clear skies my expectation was that birds would be moving but out of sight high in the sky… the early morning watch confirmed this, with a single Black Tern the best of a small amount of movement, although a Fulmar was also a good record at this time of year. As the wind freshened at lunchtime and cloud started rolling in there was no evidence of movement but as soon as the first drops of rain fell about 2.15 I was on station and the effect was immediate with over 300 waders passing in the first 5 minutes! Many of these were big flocks, still up in the sky but brought down to visible level by the rain.
Passage of wader flocks continued during the rain with groups of up to 300 Bar Tailed Godwit, 110 Knot, one memorable group of 80 Grey Plover (normally small groups only noted passing), 42 Whimbrel and 35 Dunlin. As the rain eased Swifts appeared, coming in off the sea (total 83) with a Hobby in attendance, then typically a pulse of skuas (8 Arctic and 1 Great) followed the rain clearing. Wader flocks continued until dusk, the evening sunlight making distant flocks over the sea very obvious, whilst flocks were passing high over the wind farms, with small groups of Common Terns also heading south. Adding in Pied and Spotted Flycatchers along the under cliff and in the back garden and it was a very productive day.
Identification of many of the wader flocks was challenging, largely due to the range (the most distant dropping down over the horizon and out of sight, despite my elevated position from the house) but the majority appeared to be Bar Tailed Godwit (1573), with Whimbrel (123), Grey Plover (118), Knot (423), Dunlin (99, with >100+ "small" waders unidentified) the main supporting cast.
The key element for me was the change in weather from a few days of settled weather. A good tailwind from the east which would have stimulated movement, which then met the weather front moving west to east, bringing movement to within sight of land. I've noted this in the past when a calmer weather window between Atlantic depressions has moved east, then the next front (with associated wind and rain) passes a day later - resulting in good movements of waders in particular… That said I'm making the most of keeping an eye throughout the day every day when at home and I will see what I can!
Paul
