The tardy few

Please spare a thought for those summer migrants that just cannot make up their their minds whether to leave our shores or not, even though they really should do. Whether it's down to laziness, incompetence or a lack of physical ability, a rough time awaits them if they leave it too late, or try to winter. Here is a list of my current, latest ever dates. I've even put the place of observation alongside them... you lucky people.

Garganey - wintering (Holmethorpe SP, Surrey 2011-12)
Honey Buzzard - 10 October 1981 (Dungeness, Kent)
Osprey - 4 December 1979 (Gatton Park, Surrey)
Hobby - 31 October 1988 (Dungeness, Kent)
Quail - 31 October 1987 (Dungeness, Kent)
Little Ringed Plover - 24 September 1983 (Pagham Harbour, West Sussex)
Common Sandpiper - wintering (several places)
Sandwich Tern - 7 November 2015 (Dungeness, Kent)
Common Tern - 6 November 2015 (Dungeness, Kent)
Arctic Tern - 30 October 1988 (Dungeness, Kent)
Little Tern - 6 October 1985 (Dungeness, Kent)
Black Tern - 28 October 1984 (Dungeness, Kent)
Turtle Dove - 30 October 1982 (Dungeness, Kent)
Cuckoo - 16 September 1984 (Beddington SF, Surrey)
Nightjar - 31 August 1996 (Thursday Common, Surrey)
Swift - 28 November 1997 (Sutton, Surrey)
Sand Martin - 4 November 1978 (Dungeness, Kent)
Swallow - 16 November 1986 (Dungeness, Kent)
House Martin - 26 November 1977 (Pagham Harbour, West Sussex)
Tree Pipit - 26 October 2015 (Dungeness, Kent)
Yellow Wagtail - 8 December 1984 (Beddington SF, Surrey)
Nightingale - 31 August 1985 (Dungeness, Kent)
Common Redstart - 31 October 1987 (Dungeness, Kent)
Whinchat - 31 October 1976 (Beddington SF, Surrey)
Wheatear - 9 November 1980 (Dungeness, Kent)
Ring Ouzel - wintering (New Forest 1983-84)
Grasshopper Warbler - 24 September 1989 (Dungeness, Kent)
Sedge Warbler - 10 October 1976 (Beddington SF, Surrey)
Reed Warbler - 31 October 1976 (Beddington SF, Surrey)
Lesser Whitethroat - 29 October 1983 (Dungeness, Kent)
Common Whitethroat - 4 November 2015 (Dungeness, Kent)
Garden Warbler - 3 November 1979 (Dungeness, Kent)
Wood Warbler - 14 October 1979 (St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly)
Willow Warbler - 29 October 1980 and 1984 (both Dungeness, Kent)
Spotted Flycatcher - 29 October 1984 (Dungeness, Kent)
Pied Flycatcher - 30 October 1987 (Dungeness, Kent)

So there you go, if you keep notes then you to can produce meaningless lists, just like this!

Comments

Gibster said…
My first British Quail was in February, apparently they used to regularly overwinter (especially in Ireland) many years ago. Who knew?
They'll be regretting it tonight, the stay-behinds

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