Ones to watch

05 Apr 2013 BirdTrack reporting rates

There are a wealth of fascinating patterns appearing in the BirdTrack reporting rates this year (all of which are available by typing the species name into the graph search box on the BirdTrack Home page). Unseaonably cold weather and a strong northeasterly airflow seems to have prevented several winter-visiting species from fattening up to return to their northerly breeding grounds, whilst simultaneously stemming the flow of arrivals from the south. With the weather (finally!) forecast to improve, here are a selection of species whose reporting rates will be worth keeping an eye on over the next fortnight. Redwings [top left] are likely to depart back across the North Sea soon, as should many of the wintering Woodcock [bottom left]. Siskins [middle left] that have been utilising gardens over the winter will return to their breeding grounds, whilst species like Reed Bunting [bottom right] must surely become more detectable as they finally start to establish breeding territories. Last but not least, a whole suite of migrants like Chiffchaff and Sand Martin [top and middle right respectively] are long overdue! Watch this space... 



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