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BirdTrack update - 2 October
2008
With the wind now coming from the west, attention
turned to the west coast sea-watching hotspots. Bang
on cue an impressive passage of Leach’s Petrels
was reported. The highest single number counted was
120 that passed Hilbre Island, Cheshire, on the 1 October.
This fits in nicely with the BirdTrack results from
2007. Details...
The last few days have seen eastern birds filter down
the country, with Yellow-browed Warblers are being reported
from the south and west, in the company of Goldcrests.
Among the common migrants that have begun to move in
earnest are Meadow
Pipits and Pied
Wagtails. Up until this week the counts at coastal
watchpoints have been disappointing.
Even though some House
Martins have just finished their second, and for
some, third breeding attempt of the year, good numbers
have started their long migration to equatorial Africa.
October is often seen as the month for rarities and
with White’s Thrush and Pallas’s Grasshopper
Warbler on Shetland, it has begun in style. October
is, however, the peak month to see the movement of some
of our common migrants and numbers of pipits, wagtails,
finches and thrushes should begin to build up over the
next week or two.
Bird Atlas 2007-11
The first summer of fieldwork for the Bird Atlas 2007-11
has come to an end now, with the second period of breeding
season recording ending at the end of July. Records
submitted to BirdTrack are an integral part of the Atlas
process, and more information on why we need a new Atlas,
and how you can help can be found here.
To find out more about the relationship between BirdTrack
and Atlas 2007-11, click here.
You can really see how your BirdTrack
records count, and the maps below show the winter distribution
of Buzzard in the last winter Atlas in 1981-84 (left)
and BirdTrack records submitted during the winter fieldwork
from November to February (right).
 
Anyone already registered for BirdTrack
can easily set themselves up to take on Atlas fieldwork
by following the Bird Atlas link from Survey
Home. Don't forget though that all of the sightings
you enter into BirdTrack will also be available for
the Atlas, so there's no need to enter things twice.
If you have any queries about the Atlas, then don't
hesitate to get in touch with us.
Your records
working for conservation
For more information on how your BirdTrack
records are being used directly for conservation, check
out the Bird
Conservation Targeting Project. Project maps for
farmland species can also be found on the main site
here
(and click on Agri-environment Targeting).
View all the archived
BirdTrack news here.
To contact the BirdTrack Organiser
email:
Mark Grantham
BirdTrack Organiser |