Spotted the first geese formation of the season coming in high out of
the sun at 8 am this morning.(Actually the sun was quite low then.) And
with another ground frost and an air minimum of only +3.0C autumn is
definitely in the air. The last few swallows are still lingering on but
they don't look too happy about it.

I am amazed (probably more than I should be) each year how the geese
arrive at almost exactly the same time as the house martins leave.

Trevor Harley
10 miles NW of an autumnal Dundee in the heart of the Sidlaws
http://www.personal.dundee.ac.uk/~taharley/

"Trevor Harley" wrote in message
news:2005092421134516807%taharley@dundeeacuk...
I am amazed (probably more than I should be) each year how the geese
arrive at almost exactly the same time as the house martins leave.

Hi Trevor,

Don't be amazed, or shocked by Nature as it's forever teaching us 'mere'
mortals a lesson or three. When I start looking through my Phenological
records (circa 10 years) lots of these patterns occur and when you tie this
in with the moon phases it becomes even more intriguing. An observation
that I made back in the early 90's, sometimes quite by coincidence was when
Stonechats (clearly migrant type) arrived at a local hillside location,
always on the 24th February and subsequently for 4 years in a row!

Today, what maybe of more concern weather-wise longer term for you and maybe
myself is the sighting of the following, courtesy of Birdguides.com

Latest sightings from BirdGuides, 24 Sep at 12:25

24/09 12:25 OUTER HEBRIDES : American Golden Plover, 20+ Lapland Bunting
and several Greenland Redpolls, Butt of Lewis [N]

Regards

Tony Powell

"Trevor Harley" wrote in message
news:2005092421134516807%taharley@dundeeacuk...
Spotted the first geese formation of the season coming in high out of the
sun at 8 am this morning.(Actually the sun was quite low then.) And with
another ground frost and an air minimum of only +3.0C autumn is definitely
in the air. The last few swallows are still lingering on but they don't
look too happy about it.

I am amazed (probably more than I should be) each year how the geese
arrive at almost exactly the same time as the house martins leave.

Trevor Harley
10 miles NW of an autumnal Dundee in the heart of the Sidlaws
http://www.personal.dundee.ac.uk/~taharley/


Just said to my lad when out on bikes the other day that the geese will be
returning S soon. Will keep an eye out this afternoon.

Trevor
East Yorkshire

In message , Trevor
Appleton writes

"Trevor Harley" wrote in message
news:2005092421134516807%taharley@dundeeacuk...
Spotted the first geese formation of the season coming in high out of the
sun at 8 am this morning.(Actually the sun was quite low then.) And with
another ground frost and an air minimum of only +3.0C autumn is definitely
in the air. The last few swallows are still lingering on but they don't
look too happy about it.

I am amazed (probably more than I should be) each year how the geese
arrive at almost exactly the same time as the house martins leave.

Trevor Harley
10 miles NW of an autumnal Dundee in the heart of the Sidlaws
http://www.personal.dundee.ac.uk/~taharley/


Just said to my lad when out on bikes the other day that the geese will be
returning S soon. Will keep an eye out this afternoon.

Trevor
East Yorkshire


Could this explain why I thought I heard geese flying high overhead last
Thursday? Not seen any yet. The swallows were still with us yesterday
and there were a couple of house martins amongst them but I haven't seen
any so far this morning. I'll watch with interest to see when the first
arrival of geese here on Arran appear.
Susie
Isle of Arran
--
Susie Thompson, Isle of Arran
SPAM BLOCK IN OPERATION! Replace "deadspam.com" with "arrandragons.co.uk" to
reply by e-mail.

"Trevor Harley" wrote in message
news:2005092421134516807%taharley@dundeeacuk...
Spotted the first geese formation of the season coming in high out of the
sun at 8 am this morning.(Actually the sun was quite low then.) And with
another ground frost and an air minimum of only +3.0C autumn is definitely
in the air. The last few swallows are still lingering on but they don't
look too happy about it.

I am amazed (probably more than I should be) each year how the geese
arrive at almost exactly the same time as the house martins leave.

Trevor Harley
10 miles NW of an autumnal Dundee in the heart of the Sidlaws
http://www.personal.dundee.ac.uk/~taharley/


They've been back a little while in mid-Norfolk. Just think bird 'flu -
perhaps those housemartins are even more clever than we realise ;-)

Saying that, an early morning cycle ride through swirling mists with the
sound of the geese honking in nearby fields is rather special.

Cheers

In message , Malcolm
writes


Could this explain why I thought I heard geese flying high overhead
last Thursday? Not seen any yet. The swallows were still with us
yesterday and there were a couple of house martins amongst them but I
haven't seen any so far this morning. I'll watch with interest to see
when the first arrival of geese here on Arran appear.

The Greylags which are the species which winters on Arran usually
arrive from Iceland a few weeks after the Pinkfeet (October rather than
November) which is most likely what Trevor saw over the Dundee area and
which could also have been flying over Arran on their way to the
Solway. The first few Barnacles and Whitefronts have been seen on Islay
in the last week and it could perhaps have been the latter you heard,
which winter on Kintyre and in Galloway.

Thanks Malcolm. There's no sign at all of swallows or martins today.
They've finally gone within 24hours of the same day last year. Wonder
when they'll be back next year? This year the first recording I have for
swallows is 22nd April. Greylags were back in the valley near me during
the third week in October, although I think they were seen elsewhere on
the Island before that.
Susie
Arran
--
Susie Thompson, Isle of Arran
SPAM BLOCK IN OPERATION! Replace "deadspam.com" with "arrandragons.co.uk" to
reply by e-mail.

Geese Migrating to Southend-on-Sea, see link below, a refresh maybe
necessary g

Spotted Saturday night at daughters 18th Birthday party.
--
Keith (Southend)

'Weather Home & Abroad'
http://www.southendweather.net

"Malcolm" wrote in message
...

I don't see how any of those relate to longer term weather concern.
Lapland Buntings and Greenland Redpolls are quite regular visitors to
Scotland, not just the Outer Hebrides. American Golden Plovers turn up
somewhere in Britain every year.


What I was mainly trying to relate to was the large numbers of Lapland
Buntings, assuming 20 is a large flock and also the fact that they are here
in good numbers not long after the middle of Sepetember. Also, many more
reported in the north today!

More pertinently, last weekend there was a short blast of northerlies
between Greenland and northern Scotland which also brought in European
Golden Plovers and various geese from Iceland.


Furthermore, the countryfile forcast and others are now hinting at mountain
snow or at least much colder weather by the end of next week, barely into
October???

Either way each day we are still discovering more of this wonderful world's
offerings.

Speaking of learning, I'm assuming that Lapland Buntings are strictly
migrants, are they Malcolm?

Regards

Tony

In message , tony_powell
writes

"Malcolm" wrote in message
...

I don't see how any of those relate to longer term weather concern.
Lapland Buntings and Greenland Redpolls are quite regular visitors to
Scotland, not just the Outer Hebrides. American Golden Plovers turn up
somewhere in Britain every year.


What I was mainly trying to relate to was the large numbers of Lapland
Buntings, assuming 20 is a large flock and also the fact that they are here
in good numbers not long after the middle of Sepetember. Also, many more
reported in the north today!

More pertinently, last weekend there was a short blast of northerlies
between Greenland and northern Scotland which also brought in European
Golden Plovers and various geese from Iceland.


Furthermore, the countryfile forcast and others are now hinting at mountain
snow or at least much colder weather by the end of next week, barely into
October???

Either way each day we are still discovering more of this wonderful world's
offerings.

Speaking of learning, I'm assuming that Lapland Buntings are strictly
migrants, are they Malcolm?


In my days on the Ocean Weather Ships in the 1960's I was always
impressed by the number of land birds, both large and small, that we saw
during the spring and autumn. The best Ocean Weather Station for this
was 'India' at 59N 19W. On several occasions I recall that a merlin took
up residence on the ship, earning a good living off the travel-weary
small migrants. One of the more interesting land birds seen (this was on
station 'Juliet' at 52.5N 20W) was a collared dove. I believe that this
was during the time when these birds were extending their range rapidly
westwards from eastern Europe. This one obviously overdid it a bit :-)

Norman.
(delete "thisbit" twice to e-mail)
--
Norman Lynagh Weather Consultancy
Chalfont St Giles 85m a.s.l.
England

"Norman Lynagh" wrote in
message news
In my days on the Ocean Weather Ships in the 1960's I was always
impressed by the number of land birds, both large and small, that we saw
during the spring and autumn. The best Ocean Weather Station for this
was 'India' at 59N 19W. On several occasions I recall that a merlin took
up residence on the ship, earning a good living off the travel-weary
small migrants. One of the more interesting land birds seen (this was on
station 'Juliet' at 52.5N 20W) was a collared dove. I believe that this
was during the time when these birds were extending their range rapidly
westwards from eastern Europe. This one obviously overdid it a bit :-)



Yes indeed I would think those were fascinating times.

There is a poster to uk.rec.birdwatching called Mark Etheridge who does a
stint (hee hee) on an oilrig from time to time and he has certainly seen
some sights. Also, to stay slightly on topic for this NG, despite what
others may think there is a link between longer term weather patterns and
subsequent bird movements. Afterall, the seasons dictate to birds and
general wildlife when and where to go whether locally or further afield.

Regards

Tony