We wouldn't be British if weather was a key topic of conversation. Birdwatchers are no different, except that we often want a different type of weather. The last two days have had almost the perfect combination of weather conditions to entice keen birdwatchers to the east coast in search of migrants.
What's so special about the weather at the moment? High pressure over Scandinavia and light SE winds are optimum conditions to encourage migrants to depart northern Europe and head SW for the winter. Combine that with strong westerlies on the west coast that bring the promise of more good seabirds or even American visitors, and something good was sure to turn up.
With such weather conditions forecast, it was no surprise that yesterday turned out to be one of the days for several years to watch visible migration - the continuous movement of birds overhead. Typical species to see during such conditions include redwings, fieldfares, starlings, meadow pipits, skylarks, goldcrests, siskins, lesser redpolls and chaffinches. And sure enough, these birds were all streaming into East Anglia. Although office bound myself, I saw a flock of 50 fieldfares heading west as i arrived at Minsmere yesterday. All these birds are still being reported today, but in smaller numbers.
As ever, several scarcer species arrived with the commoner ones. The odd brambling, rock pipit and wheatear were seen, but pride of place goes to Minsmere's second red-flanked bluetail. Found in the sluice bushes yesterday afternoon, and still present today, it mirrored almost exactly the first reserve record two years ago (see Jon Evans photos below). you need some patience to see it but if you wait quietly it will eventually pass close by on it's regular circuits of the sluice bushes - accompanied by a robin or two. Until two years ago, this was considered an incredibly rare bird in the UK, but there has been a recent upsurge in records - possibly reflecting the westward expansion of the breeding range in Finland. They are now rare but annual visitors to Suffolk.
Another good sighting was a great grey shrike on Westleton Heath this morning - one of several seen in Suffolk over the last two days. For many, the other highlight has been a good passage of short-eared owls. At least seven were seen yesterday, one this morning, and two offshore late morning. more surprising was a little owl in the North Bushes this morning - an unlikely migrant but certainly a rare bird here these days. It was presumably a young one dispersing from the declining local breeding population.
The sea has been a good place to witness visible migration. Brent geese are streaming southwards, along with smaller flocks of ducks and waders. More exciting have been the numerous sightings of skuas - great, pomarine and arctic heading south, along with gannets.
The forecast is good for further migration tomorrow, so who knows what will turn up next.