Vismig Update

I was able to give Axe Cliff an hour of uninterrupted vismigging yesterday morning (Wed 22nd), although starting at 07:30 meant the sun hadn't risen above the horizon or the low cloud just above it, until about twenty minutes into the watch.  Am sure an hour from 07:50 would have been even better for numbers but that wasn't an option for me.   Weather conditions were ideal, with a light north west wind, some high/distant cloud and plenty of clear skies.

By 08:30 my notebook and clickers had recorded (all west):  18 Jackdaw, 4 Song Thrush, 11 Starling, 53 Skylark, 11 alba Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 87 Meadow Pipit, 48 Linnet, 22 Goldfinch, 292 Chaffinches (biggest single flock 42 birds, many flocks high and some out to sea), 1 Brambling (my first of autumn, giving five wholesome and deeply satisfying nasal 'dzhweeeee's as it flew over), 17 Siskin, 4 Redpoll and 5 Reed Bunting.   

Today, although I haven't been able to do any birding, during a sunny spell this morning I did see my first flock of Wood Pigeons fly west, fewer than 60 birds but it's a start!  

In what is proving an excellent autumn for overhead passage - when the weather's been right - it's been great to watch the species mix and numbers change as we've moved through autumn.  Watching it as close as I have this year, the different periods of the autumn transition almost seemingly into each other, with new species fading in as others fade out.  I always notice the 'first of' each species, but never know when my 'last one' is until it's long gone and a week or more has passed!  

First it was Swifts (although these quickly thinned out), followed by hirundines and Yellow Wagtails with a few Crossbill and Tree Pipit.  By mid September these were joined/replaced by Siskins, Linnets and Goldfinches and then Meadow Pipits which took over numbers-wise as they always do.  Soon after, alba Wagtail numbers picked up (lots this year!) with the first Redpoll coming through, then as hirundine numbers dropped (dramatically for me, thousands to none in days!) Skylarks joined the mix. Now it's the turn of what I call the classic late autumn species - namely Wood Pigeons and Chaffinches. Thrushes will be next, I have only had the odd one come through so far but hopefully there are flocks on their way.

Something I also love about vismig, regardless of the general patterns mentioned above, is that two consecutive days can be so different.  It might be Goldfinches that are suddenly pilling through one morning, or Linnets, Siskins or hirundines, etc, but no two days are the same.  Overall, once the season is off and running and you know what species are having a good autumn, it can appear to be fairly predictable, but in reality each morning is very unpredictable.  

I have got a bit of time off work coming up, which hopefully will coincide with some clear mornings so I can enjoy what is fast approaching the final flurry of vismig of autumn 2025.