Press Releases - Nov/Dec 2005 - Item 5

No. 2005/11/33
November 2005

20 pence flight from Norway

Thousands of birds, each weighing the same as a 20 pence piece have been arriving on our shores. Large numbers of Goldcrests have been reported all along the East Coast and these sightings have been logged at BirdTrack, the web based project where people record their sightings to help build a detailed picture of bird movements and numbers throughout the British Isles.

Mid-October saw a massive arrival of the diminutive Goldcrest. These are Britain’s smallest bird at only 9cm in length and weigh in at a staggeringly small 5.3 grams, the same weight as a 20 pence piece! The main arrival was the 15-16 October with Robin Hood’s Bay in Yorkshire seeing over 3000 birds passing through. Spurn Point in East Yorkshire had 400 on 15 October with nearby Kilnsea logging over 300 the next day. Information from bird ringers showed that some of these Goldcrests were coming from Norway and Sweden. One was caught at Gibraltar Point in Lincolnshire wearing a ring from Lithuania! Some of the Goldcrests are just passing through the UK on the way to continental Europe, whilst others stay on for the winter.

"Large numbers have been turning up at coastal migration sites with people reporting seeing bushes literally ‘dripping’ with birds” says Dawn Balmer, co-ordinator of the BirdTrack scheme. “Birdwatchers have encountered visibly exhausted birds, suggesting that migrating Goldcrests operate close to their physiological limits. It’s not only Goldcrests though; large numbers of winter thrushes and Robins have been reported up and down the length of the country.”

Over 6,000 people now take part in BirdTrack and the last year has seen 1.2 million sightings logged for nearly 90,000 site visits for 485 species. Autumn is a very exciting time of year for birdwatching with summer visitors departing and winter visitors arriving. A small number of Swallows and House Martins continue to be reported to BirdTrack.

BirdTrack will continue to monitor the movements and occurrence of all Britain and Ireland’s birds and this is thanks to the wide network of people who submit their sightings on a regular basis. However, we still need more people, so why not join BirdTrack by registering at www.birdtrack.net, submitting your sightings and become part of this fascinating and valuable ornithological project.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. BirdTrack is an online bird recording scheme www.birdtrack.net organised by BTO on behalf of BTO, RSPB and BirdWatch Ireland.
2. To register for BirdTrack visit the BirdTrack website (www.birdtrack.net and click on the 'Register for BirdTrack' link). Registering is free.
3. We need to gather a large number of lists at all times of the year. Complete lists (all species seen and heard) are preferred but incomplete lists and casual records will also help build our understanding of populations.
4. Results produced by BirdTrack will help us to map the migration and movements of birds and monitor of scarce birds in Britain and Ireland. Maps are available from for use in publications.
5. BirdTrack follows on from the successful Migration Watch project that looked at spring migration in 2002-2004. BirdTrack runs all-year and gathers information on spring and autumn migration. We know very little about the timing of arrival and departure of winter visitors and this is just one area where BirdTrack will provide useful information.
6. Goldcrests weigh 5.3 grams and are one of the lightest birds in the world to make regular sea crossings. Before migrating they can weigh as much as 7 grams but can weigh as little as 4.5 grams on completion of their journey. They are short-lived birds with an average lifespan of two years. The oldest recorded individual was 4 years 10 months.
7. Colour photographs. Images of Goldcrests are freely available for use in association with this press release. Please contact to request electronic versions.
8. The BTO has an ISDN line available for radio interviews.

For further information, please contact:

Dawn Balmer, Graham Appleton
BTO, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2PU.
Tel: 01842 750050 Mobile 0797 4668503
E-mail:

Grahame Madge
Media Officer, Conservation PR
RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Beds SG19 2DL
Telephone: +44 (0) 1767 681577 Mobile and out of hours contact: 07702 196902
Pager: 07654 344078

For information about BirdTrack in the Republic of Ireland contact:
Olivia Crowe
BirdWatch Ireland, Rockingham House, Newcastle, Co. Wicklow, Ireland
Tel: 353 - 1 - 2819878

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