Monthly maxima fluctuate greatly despite a general trend month to month.
Tony Mainwood (ARM) was present throughout the year
of 1997, and his counts probably give the best indication of this trend:
Monthly
maxima are as follows 54, January; 72, February; 70, March; 50, April; 24, May;
9, June; 45, July; 80, August; 60, September; 50, October; 55, November; N/C
December
This
can be compared to 2003, when ARM was present for much of the year. It
indicates this fluctuation in numbers.
50
birds on the 30th March, was the first, and one of the highest
counts of the year. Numbers had dropped to a couple of birds by the 5th
April. No sightings were then made, until the 3rd May. Numbers then
fluctuated greatly, the highest count being 62 on the 23rd of May. A
single bird was present on the 4th and 6th June, and 11
were seen on the 4th July. The peak count in August was 50+ on the 5th,
thereafter, birds were present in double figures,
numbers only once exceeding 50, on the 6th October, when 60+ were counted.
Birds were present until at least the last observation on the 3rd
November.