A TALE OF TWO HALVES

Interesting weather over the last few days (chart for 18th May). Saw bugger all on Sunday in strong south west winds and rain at Beddington. Also, apart from a few seabirds moving, observation posts on the south coasts have been pretty barren of migrants.

However look how the winds wrapping around this depression (the air moves anti-clockwise) are generating south west winds in the south of the British Isles but south east winds in the north.

That makes all the difference with drift mechanisms still effective in the north.

Sightings from the south (South-west airflow deflecting migrants):

DUNGENESS:http://www.dungenessbirdobs.org.uk/lateframe.html

SANDWICH: http://www.sbbot.co.uk/sightings/avian/index.asp

PORTLAND http://www.portlandbirdobs.org.uk/aa_latestnews.htm

Sightings from the north (South-east airflow creating drift conditions)

SPURN: http://www.spurnbirdobservatory.co.uk/sightings/may09.html

NORTH RONALDSAY: http://northronbirdobs.blogspot.com/