Half of a million Mipits!

Dear All (with apologies to those on the VisMig Yahoo group who've already seen this)

 

More than half a million Mipits were recorded at VisMig sites (mostly coastal) across Holland yesterday. Breskens – the prime SPRING vismig spot in Holland recorded an unbelievable 267,000, not to mention 96 other species seen. The ongoing E and NE winds are presumably ideal for pushing northward bound birds towards the west side of the low countries with them re-adjusting >NE into a headwind along the N coast. Good to see the UK (Heysham) chipping in with 44 birds!

 

Copied below is an e-mail from Gerard Troost, Trektellen web-site designer who is a Breskens regular:

 

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I think today (23/4/08) is the last day with big numbers of mipit, we really need good
and strong (Eastern) winds. And after tomorrow the wind will be SW here.
Maybe tomorrow a little movement (10.000 at Breskens) and then the year total
for Mipits is set.

And yes, it were crazy days, if i close my eyes i still see the river of
mipits flashing by.

Regards,
Gerard

 

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STILL no SW winds forecast for us in the UK – I'm keen to give Out Head in Fife another go, but no point in easterlies.

 

Cheers

 

Clive

Oxenhope 22-04-2008

Hello Dave,

 

Unfortunately, I was effectively "fogged off" this morning - low cloud throughout my stay (07.30 hrs to 09.30 hrs) shrouded the watchpoint (old water treatment building not even visible) . Gave up the ghost - nothing seen and only heard Willow Warbler in Jacks wood.

 

Cheers

 

Howard.