Crag Martins

[harryabbott]

We had around 60 plus crag martins passing through this evening at 6.15pm. They stayed around our little valley for about 20 minutes or so and then disappeared. We also had a smaller group a few weeks ago. Presumably both migratory groups.
Do we know what precentage are migratory and what precentage are resident?
There was good bright light at that time and quite surprising how light coloured they are underneath when seen in good light. Dead easy as well to see the little white tail "fingerprints" against the light as they turned.
Harry.

[Peter]

Hi Harry,

Was it this weekend you were up here with your walking group? Apologies for not replying earlier.

At this time of year, in fact from the end of January, we can get huge numbers of Crag Martins migrating through the area. Last February I saw literally 000's above the main bluff overlooking Montejaque!

Coming down to percentages, then this is complicated. We do have a resident population, a wintering population and these are supplemented by autumn and spring migrating birds. Of course some of our wintering birds could be just altitudinal migrants, for example the increased population on the coast and in coastal urbanised areas may well involve birds coming down from higher ground in the winter. So I think working out percentages (at least for me) would be very difficult.

Not sure if the above is helpful, but hopefully it is of interest.

Peter

[harryabbott]

Hi Peter,
Thanks for the reply, the crag martins I saw were here at home, near Mijas,  about 5 kms from the coast so they probably were, as you pointed out, altitudional migrants as we do have lots in and around Fuengirola which is close to us here. I hadn't thought about that aspect of their movements.
It is next weekend that I will have the U3A group of ramblers up around Benojan area so hopefully we will bump into some of our ABS members. So if any of you see a load of old foggies puffing and panting round the place do say hello.

Harry

[TonyB]

Harry, I can't remember which walks you're going to take your group on but if there's anything I can do to help, including accompanying you (no charge, of course), just drop me a line on:
walkingronda@hotmail.com

You can also phone me on:
651 57 06 57.

Tony

[harryabbott]

Thank you very much ,that would be great Tony. I'll give you a ring before Monday.
Harry