Friday, May 11, 2007

11th May 2007

Clissold Park 1500-1700 MJP
changeable, odd showers. Mod W.

Chiffchaff - 1
Blackcap - 3
Pochard - 9
Swift - c60
Little Grebe - pair with 3 young

The changeable, cooler, windier conditions of the last week, reverting back to a more typical spring cycle of low pressure systems moving east over the country from the Atlantic, have probably compounded the already very quiet spring in the area. Although, because of other temporary constraints, I've put less time in over the last couple of months, the lack of noteworthy records - i.e. notable counts, local scarcities, visible migration - has made hard work of it lately.

Visible migration over the area (our preferred vantage points being the East Reservoir and Clissold Park) has been almost non-existent this spring, in sharp contrast to the relative bounty of quality and quantity of last autumn; interesting in itself, and it'll be fascinating to see how skywatching goes this autumn.
Not that there isn't still time for a decent raptor....