Good numbers of white-winged gulls have been recorded this year so its worth mentioning what may have caused this to happen. At the moment it is looking like there could be two reasons. Firstly the recent strong winds across France brought in many sea birds with Kittiwakes, Little Gulls and petrels turning up inland. Also, many Iceland and Glaucous Gulls were blown in and good counts of 40 Glaucous Gulls were seen along the Charente coast and Islands. These birds may well have re-orientated north arriving in the UK along the south-west and south coasts before moving into other areas. The other reason may well be due to the recent cold snap that saw gulls heading south where again France saw an influx along with smaller numbers in Spain and Portugal. These birds are bound to re-orientate too suggesting a return migration could see a good early spring passage. Slimbridge has recently reported Glaucous and Iceland Gulls with an American Wigeon being found yesterday. Perhaps this bird has also been swept across and moved north?

Settled conditions are with us currently. A high pressure over the altlantic level with Spain on 10th February eventually settled over the UK on 13th. These calm condtions brought some new birds in with the most notable being the Great Spotted Cuckoo at Ringaskiddy, County Cork. More commonly were new arrivals of Chiffchaffs. Wintering wader numbers dropped from thousands to hundreds as many felt the urge to move closer to their breeding grounds. The Skylark and thrush influx from the snow falls has passed. Redwings were everywhere at one stage even on roadside verges on roundabouts with Blackbirds feeding on earth worms. Sand Bay had a lone Corn Bunting on 12th. A first winter bird that was not seen after this date so perhaps a one day migrant or discovered on its last day?

Following my sighting of 25 skylarks on 3rd february it has become obvious that there has been an impressive influx into the county of skylarks. 1,000 were reported at Marshfield near Bristol on 5th February, 820 Skylarks were recorded at Steart on 6th February and I myself had 200+ at Weston Sewage Works on 7th. A low coming in off the atlantic tonight bringing moisture with it, is sure to dump another load of sleet and snow across the southern half of the region bringing more problems for our wintering birds.

Quite a noticeable dispersal of birds this morning. Whilst clearing the car of snow I had 40 redwing and 60 lapwing followed later by another flock of 20 redwing, 25 skylark and 20 lapwing. All birds were heading south and south-west.

Just back from 2 weeks in thet gambia around the kotu area. I was fortunate enough to experience 2 days of migration during the first week of my stay. The third week of january saw strong winds over the atlantic hitting spain and france with the north of africa feeling an increase in wind and a drop in temperature. By friday 23rd the winds in Gambia were subsiding and bringing in its wake mid-level layer cloud caused by warmer air replacing colder air compressing the air's moisture. By Saturday 24th, movements of House Martins and Common Terns were obvious along the coast. Other birds on the move were chiffchaff, great cormorant, redshank, dunlin, giant kingfisher, goliath heron, african darter, sandwich tern and royal tern. It was clear that many were travelling along the coast with several diverting along Kotu Creek which were recorded by several birders including myself over Kotu bridge. It was interesting to see that the same weather conditions that stimulate bird movements in the UK are mirrored in other parts of the world.

Goliath Heron over Kotu Bridge, Gambia 26th January 2009

The high pressure of the last few weeks eventually gave way to a low pressure coming in off the atlantic bringing cloud and rain that started in scotland and spread south to england. Not surprisingly the Glaucous-winged Gull in Cleveland was amongst many birds on the move due to the change in weather.Locally, gulls started to move again with good movements of all the common species. As usual, they were coming from the east. This passage will be very noticeable now until the spring with thousands going through every day that has a headwind condition. Only 1 Tufted Duck, 2 Gadwall and a few mallard remain at Weston sewage works. Duck numbers on the coast have been on the up since the freeze but this is more likely to be a dispersal from frozen inland areas than migration.