Redstarts and Pied flycatchers invade Britain

21/09/2008 23:24:16 Huge numbers of migrant Redstarts and Pied flycatchers have been seen in on the east coast of Britain after arriving from North-eastern Europe and Scandinavia - the largest numbers for over a decade.

September 2008. Redstarts and Pied Flycatchers have been reported to the British Trust for Ornithology in large numbers via the BirdTrack online survey, which monitors the movements of birds throughout the country. Both Redstart and Pied Flycatcher migrate through Western Europe to wintering areas south of the Sahara. Redstarts spend the winter just south of the Sahara, and Pied Flycatchers in the forests around the Gulf of Guinea. In Britain they breed in the west and north.

Large numbers
The BirdTrack reporting rate for both species is around five times higher than in any year since the survey began in 2002. Mark Grantham, a population biologist running the BirdTrack survey, said, "Every autumn we see small numbers of these birds, but what has been unusual this year is the large numbers involved. South-east winds have drifted birds over the North Sea and birds have been seen at many coastal watch-points, but some of these birds are also making it inland. These have been seen in local parks and even in people's gardens."

How to recognize them
He added, "What we'd really like to know is where these birds are now and how far inland they have moved. Don't worry though; you don't have to be an expert to help, as both birds are quite easy to identify. The clue is in the name, as Pied Flycatchers are brown and white (appearing black and white at a distance) and catch flies from exposed perches, and Redstarts have a bright red tail (start is an old English word for tail). It really is as easy as that."

Both of these birds can turn up unexpectedly in gardens on migration during September and October, so you might not have to travel long distances to find them. To report a sighting, visit www.birdtrack.net and register for the free survey.

results: Redstart results: www.bto.org/goto/redstart.htm Pied Flycatcher results: www.bto.org/goto/piedfly.htm

Birdtrack BirdTrack is an online bird recording scheme www.birdtrack.net organised by BTO on behalf of BTO, RSPB and BirdWatch Ireland. To register for BirdTrack visit the BirdTrack website (www.birdtrack.net  and click on the 'Register for BirdTrack' link). Registering is free. Results produced by BirdTrack will help us to map the migration and movements of birds and monitor scarce birds in Britain and Ireland.