Spring migration (1 Viewer)

[Mark Grantham]

Well now we've got the snow out of the way in the UK, we can maybe look forward to spring! I've already heard of big numbers of Swallows passing through Morroco and last week there were a few records in Portugal.

Has anyone else seen any signs of spring yet in southern Europe?

Mark Grantham
BirdTrack Organiser
www.birdtrack.net

 

[Black Wheatear]

Hi Mark,

Last Thursday and Friday Black Kite, Lesser Kestrel and White Stork were reported in good numbers over the Tarifa, Southern Spain area. I certainly have had plenty of Swallows, a few House Martins (reported in higher numbers at traditional colonies in Malaga) and now a few Sand Martin. I'm off to Morocco late 14th, so will post again on any large movements either from there or when I get back 25th.

 

[egalinou]

Several House martins (Delichon urbica) were seen today in Cyprus Island. We live up in the mountains of Troodos and probably those were not the very first birds to be reported for the area...

Wishing everyone a good migration season!

 

[schiffornis]

I see on birdguides a Wheatear reported from Pembroke.

Cheers

ANDY

 

[Steve Waite]

Hello all!

A local fisherman had 20 Swallows resting on his vessel at 6am this morning, 20 miles off the French coast....now that's not far away!

 

[Jos Stratford]

A local fisherman had 20 Swallows resting on his vessel at 6am this morning, 20 miles off the French coast....now that's not for away!

Hope they aren't headed this way or they will be 20 dead Swallows ...minus 25 forecast for week's end. Some early signs of spring though - the coast has had some early Skylark and Wood Pigeon, etc (summer visitors)

 

[Capercaillie71]

Hope they aren't headed this way or they will be 20 dead Swallows ...minus 25 forecast for week's end. Some early signs of spring though - the coast has had some early Skylark and Wood Pigeon, etc (summer visitors)

My first two swallows of last year appeared on 10 April, huddled on a wire in a snow shower, with the temperature at 1C.

 

[Kentbloke]

A Sandwich Tern was logged in Hastings on the 17th, a spring migrant or one of the remarkable 91 wintering in Normandie !

 

[egalinou]

Also Barn swallows and Swifts passing in Cyprus, yesterday.

 

[Woodchatshrike]

There was a Sand Martin at WWT Slimbridge today. Spring is not far away.

 

[Atricapilla]

House martins passing here too!!

 

[Farnboro John]

Someone has had an Osprey on the Dovey today. Nice one!

John

 

[The sniper]

i would suggest spring is actually here from this week,we have had 2-3 days bad weather this winter(so Far) but this week has seemed to me like the start of spring,certain flowers are starting to develop,have seen bees,more bird song than usual in february i think there will be some significant migrants reported over the next week !!!

 

[luke]

there was a swallow sighted in glamorgan today.

 

[teamsaint]

i've had singing Chiffchaff already, but more likely an over-wintering bird than a migrant

 

[luke]

Wheatear in Wiltshire today.

 

[ColD]

In the last week on Crete, A single Hoopoe, Heard and seen Golden Oriole on two seperate days and House martins

 

[Black Wheatear]

Over the last 10 days in Morocco. In the North several Black Kites with a maximum of 8 together, very few Swallows and even less House Martins. Booted Eagles and Common Buzzard B.buteo seen several times as singletons. In the South, Northern Wheatears seen to the south of the High Atlas, Swallows and House Martins only in small numbers, White Storks being the only migrant seen in very good numbers. In summary no evidence to suppose migrations has got anywhere near to starting!!!!!

 

[egalinou]

See also:
http://www.springalive.net/
for sightings of Barn swallow, Swift, Cuckoo and White Stork.

 

[Julian Bell]

See also:
http://www.springalive.net/
for sightings of Barn swallow, Swift, Cuckoo and White Stork.

Spring migrants starting to appear on my local patch in SW Norway - Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Teal, Starling and even a Pied Wagtail that found a caterpillar on my lawn - despite there still being snow on the ground.