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| At this time of year, Dotterel can turn up anywhere (photo: Wikimedia Commons) |
A TIMELY paper in the April edition of British Birds journal provides a reminder that this is a highly promising time of the year to watch out for Dotterel.
After spending winter in North Africa and southern Spain, some birds are now likely to be heading for Scotland's Cairngorm and Grampian mountain ranges or Norway to breed.
In the past, birds also bred in parts of England - notably the Peak District, the Yorkshire Dales and parts of Cumbria - but this is now less reliable, partly because of climate change and partly because of disturbance by off-the-lead dogs, mountain biking and moto-scrambling.
However, birds still certainly stop off in these locations - and other parts of Britain - on their journeys north.
The historical and current status of the Dotterel in Cumbria is the focus of the very interesting article by John Callion and Bart Donato in British Birds.
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| The current edition of British Birds |
Says their report: "The main spring passage occurs between April 22 and May 19 during which period 84 per cent of the birds pass through - with a peak between April 29 and May 5.
"Between 1985 and 2000, more than 100 birds were recorded in each of those years, with 160 in two of them.
"The largest individual 'trips' were of 42 birds on May 5, 1995, and 57 on May 1, 2000, both on a large North Pennine plateau."
However, since 2001, Dotterel visits have reduced "significantly" with an average of only 35 birds per annum in the last two decades.
The year, 2012, was a particularly bad with only three birds seen.
Birds taking a breather on migration can turn up in many counties of Britain though, typically, they only stay a day or two.
Fields where pea crops are being grown seem to be a favoured habitat.
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| The in-depth report by John Callion and Bart Donato |
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