best weather conditions for 'drop-ins'

[thebeard]

hi, just wondering what the best weather conditions would be for seeing interesting birds on migration, dropping in at inland reserves.

i'm sure its when its wet and windy - but what wind direction etc?

[RobS]

I guess it depends from which continent you wish to see your birds. Generally easterlies are what birders pray for (apparently!) but big weather fronts charging across the Atlantic can deposit US birds on our shores.

Actually this is a myth as they all hop aboard the great liners as they pass the Statue of Liberty and then hop off when they get into Southampton, I know this because I live there.

Rob S

[thebeard]

hmm, i was thinking of birds migrating back down south! dunno really just interested to know.

[captaincarot]

rarities turn up on the east coast when you get easterlies and the west coast when you get a big atlantic low.

plus you get the phenomenon in liverpool bay that if there is a big north westerly it fills up with leaches petrels, like last weekend.

from then on it's just a case of pot luck where they head for.

[accipter]

Sparrowhawks coming across on the east coast too they don't miss out. Alan.

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by thebeard

hi, just wondering what the best weather conditions would be for seeing interesting birds on migration, dropping in at inland reserves.

i'm sure its when its wet and windy - but what wind direction etc?

It's actually far more complicated than simply 'wet and windy' weather - but I think that you probably knew that already.
If you are interested "Weather and Bird Behaviour" by Norman Elkins is a good read.
Finding the conditions that bring interesting birds to a site local to you is perhaps best found by watching and noting the weather conditions, and seeing what turns up - over the years you can start to build a picture of what conditions bring which birds.

Seabirds do tend to be brought inland by strong gales. Eg, in my part of the country, strong north-easterlies, especially when accompanied by squally rain showers or fog, may bring skuas etc up the Thames or onto reservoirs. South-westerly gales can bring other species (eg. the Sabines Gull's and Grey Phalaropes that were deposited all over the south-east by the 1987 'Great Storm').
Raptors are more likely in fine weather - preferably with some low cloud or they go over too high up to see! Honey-buzzards and Ospreys migrating south from Scandinavia won't set off unless good conditions during the day mean there are thermals to use, and preferably with light tail winds (northerly in autumn), or no wind at all. Once they set off they can be 'drifted' across the North sea by winds from an easterly direction (anything from north-east to south-east, possibly with east to south-east better.
Small birds (Whinchats, Pied Flycatchers etc), also tend to wait for good weather before they set off - but these birds migrate at night, so you are looking for clear nights combined with easterly winds. Ideally you want good conditions over Scandinavia, so that they set off, winds to push the migrants east, and then light rain (or fog) over the UK to force them to drop down and land - preferably with good weather on the coast if you want them to come inland instead of dropping down as soon as they see land.

There are a lot of other factors to be taken into account (depending on season, species, location etc) - but this might give you some basics.

[Deb London]

This is such an interesting subject. I always knew my mind was full of questions, but didn't know what questions to ask, if that makes any sense.

Now the romantic part of my brain is filled with images of small songbirds silently setting out by the light of the moon from some remote Scandinavian hillside as the cold weather sets in. Magic!

[captaincarot]

Originally Posted by Deb London

This is such an interesting subject. I always knew my mind was full of questions, but didn't know what questions to ask, if that makes any sense.

Now the romantic part of my brain is filled with images of small songbirds silently setting out by the light of the moon from some remote Scandinavian hillside as the cold weather sets in. Magic!

made even more amazing when you realise some of them are goldcrests destined to crash land exhausted in a bush on spurn early the next morning

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by captaincarot

made even more amazing when you realise some of them are goldcrests destined to crash land exhausted in a bush on spurn early the next morning

...and many of those that come down at the first land fall are the weaker ones (or those that have found themselves flying into a headwind when the winds change after they have set off).
Anyone fancy trying a 380 mile, overnight trip across the North Sea under their own power? Amazing Ringing Stories

In a few weeks time Redwings will be starting to arrive in numbers - these are one of the easiest migrants to hear as they pass overhead at night (on still nights try listening out for their thin 'tseeep' calls as they pass, unseen, overhead).

[thebeard]

cheers roy theres some good info there! i'll check that book out. i've got the bird migration book by ian newton too that'll probably help if i ever get round to starting it!!!