|
The recent influx of Whinchats has been most heartening Stuart, following a few years of poor or mediocre counts of passage birds. Numbers at Donna Nook for the twenty years prior to 1983 fluctuated as one would expect, but in most autumns there were regular daily peaks of 10-20 birds. The only years which were restricted to daily single figures were 1966 and 1967, while the best years were 1965 with up to 45 in early September, 1971 with a peak of 40 on 25th August and 1981 when up to 34 were present. However, 1974 was easily the record year with 30-70 present during late August capped by a phenomenal arrival of 250 on 6th September. Peak numbers in all years have been in the last week of August or the first week of September.
Spring numbers are obviously much lower and easily the best count was of 19 on 9th-10th May 1970. Spring passage is noted in late April and through to the end of May and my earliest records were on 13th April 1980 and an exceptionally early bird on 27th March 1992. Autumn passage extends from late July to late October, my latest records being on 27th October 1980 and 30th October 1969.
As a far cry from today, it is interesting to note that in the 19th century Cordeaux and others stated that Whinchats were one of the most abundant summer visitors and nested in uncultivated areas practically everywhere in Lincolnshire.
|
Login
FAQ
Search
