Our annual influx has begun as I saw 5 in the garden today.  Normally, we 
don't see them till November.  Could it be a sign of a harsh winter?  I 
heard from friends in New England that they were forecasting snow for last 
night.  That is very early for them!

--
"It is very strange, and very melancholy, that the paucity of human
pleasures should persuade us ever to call hunting one of them."
Samuel Johnson.
http://www.daviv.com  Webcam & videos of badgers and foxes on our patio
and bluetits in their nestbox.

In article , Alf King 
 writes
>On Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:56:27 +0100, "Dave" 
>wrote:
>
>>Our annual influx has begun as I saw 5 in the garden today.  Normally, we
>>don't see them till November.  Could it be a sign of a harsh winter?  I
>>heard from friends in New England that they were forecasting snow for last
>>night.  That is very early for them!
>
>
>
>I don't believe that birds have ever been successfully shown to act as
>weather forecasters, in the same way that berry laden trees are also
>not a sign of impending weather systems. More likely is a lack of
>suitable food in the immediate vicinity forcing them to seek some in
>your garden. I believe that the recent dry weather has made it very
>difficult for Starlings to forage for leatherjackets etc.
>
I'm sure you're right, Alf. Food availability dictates so many local 
movements of birds. Indeed, not just local, but also long-distance 
irruptions of, e.g., waxwings and crossbills from Scandinavia when the 
food supply there fails or runs out. And the regular questions in this 
newsgroup about where the garden thrushes have gone in the late summer 
are a part of that - they have most likely moved to take advantage of 
the local blackberry crop.

The persistence of the urban myth (or should that be rural myth?) about 
phenomena such as bird movements or berry crops forecasting future 
weather (often months ahead) never ceases to amaze me. My mother (a 
farmer's daughter) was convinced it was true, and a few months ago the 
agricultural correspondent of a national newspaper included a comment 
that showed that he believed it in his column. He didn't respond to my 
(really quite polite!) e-mail putting him right :-))

-- 
Malcolm

On Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:27:15 +0100, Malcolm
 wrote:

>
>In article , Alf King 
> writes
>>On Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:56:27 +0100, "Dave" 
>>wrote:
>>
>>>Our annual influx has begun as I saw 5 in the garden today.  Normally, we
>>>don't see them till November.  Could it be a sign of a harsh winter?  I
>>>heard from friends in New England that they were forecasting snow for last
>>>night.  That is very early for them!
>>
>>
>>
>>I don't believe that birds have ever been successfully shown to act as
>>weather forecasters, in the same way that berry laden trees are also
>>not a sign of impending weather systems. More likely is a lack of
>>suitable food in the immediate vicinity forcing them to seek some in
>>your garden. I believe that the recent dry weather has made it very
>>difficult for Starlings to forage for leatherjackets etc.
>>
>I'm sure you're right, Alf. Food availability dictates so many local 
>movements of birds. Indeed, not just local, but also long-distance 
>irruptions of, e.g., waxwings and crossbills from Scandinavia when the 
>food supply there fails or runs out. And the regular questions in this 
>newsgroup about where the garden thrushes have gone in the late summer 
>are a part of that - they have most likely moved to take advantage of 
>the local blackberry crop.
>
>The persistence of the urban myth (or should that be rural myth?) about 
>phenomena such as bird movements or berry crops forecasting future 
>weather (often months ahead) never ceases to amaze me. My mother (a 
>farmer's daughter) was convinced it was true, and a few months ago the 
>agricultural correspondent of a national newspaper included a comment 
>that showed that he believed it in his column. He didn't respond to my 
>(really quite polite!) e-mail putting him right :-))



That's what happens when you let facts cloud your judgement, Malcolm.

:-)

Alf King

In article , Alf King 
 writes
>On Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:27:15 +0100, Malcolm
> wrote:
>
>>
>>In article , Alf King
>> writes
>>>On Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:56:27 +0100, "Dave" 
>>>wrote:
>>>
>>>>Our annual influx has begun as I saw 5 in the garden today.  Normally, we
>>>>don't see them till November.  Could it be a sign of a harsh winter?  I
>>>>heard from friends in New England that they were forecasting snow for last
>>>>night.  That is very early for them!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>I don't believe that birds have ever been successfully shown to act as
>>>weather forecasters, in the same way that berry laden trees are also
>>>not a sign of impending weather systems. More likely is a lack of
>>>suitable food in the immediate vicinity forcing them to seek some in
>>>your garden. I believe that the recent dry weather has made it very
>>>difficult for Starlings to forage for leatherjackets etc.
>>>
>>I'm sure you're right, Alf. Food availability dictates so many local
>>movements of birds. Indeed, not just local, but also long-distance
>>irruptions of, e.g., waxwings and crossbills from Scandinavia when the
>>food supply there fails or runs out. And the regular questions in this
>>newsgroup about where the garden thrushes have gone in the late summer
>>are a part of that - they have most likely moved to take advantage of
>>the local blackberry crop.
>>
>>The persistence of the urban myth (or should that be rural myth?) about
>>phenomena such as bird movements or berry crops forecasting future
>>weather (often months ahead) never ceases to amaze me. My mother (a
>>farmer's daughter) was convinced it was true, and a few months ago the
>>agricultural correspondent of a national newspaper included a comment
>>that showed that he believed it in his column. He didn't respond to my
>>(really quite polite!) e-mail putting him right :-))
>
>
>
>That's what happens when you let facts cloud your judgement, Malcolm.
>
>:-)
>
<chuckle>

-- 
Malcolm