Guest blog by Ian Enlander, RSPB NI volunteerAutumn is synonymous with migration - a time of change both in our weather but also in our birdlife. As Belfast Window on Wildlife’s breeding terns fly off in search of another summer, a great range of water birds, especially ducks and waders, believe it is worth flying here to escape the harsh winter conditions that engulf their breeding grounds.
Think of the WOW reserve as an international airport with birds arriving from west, north and east. We have already waved goodbye to those that have moved on south. For all of these birds, WOW is the centre of their world.
Coming from breeding sites in Greenland, Russia, Iceland, Scandinavia and elsewhere in Europe, shelducks, wigeons, teals, oystercatchers, lapwings, knots, dunlins, redshanks and black-tailed and bar-tailed godwits amongst others, seek out the food and shelter offered by the WOW reserve which they will call home for the rest of autumn and winter.Others are refuelling before continuing their journey south, most obviously wood sandpipers, curlew sandpipers, little stints (all comparatively scarce), ruffs and whimbrels (occurring more frequently). Black terns and little gulls also call in en route to their wintering areas.
Of course, it is critical that WOW and our other wetlands are there for these birds - ensuring they survive until the next breeding season, playing their part in maintaining healthy populations.While WOW is a key part of the Belfast Lough area, many birds feeding on the mudflats of the lough use the reserve as a safe refuge as high tide temporarily prevents their access to food. Roost sites such as WOW meet part of these birds’ needs.
Migration also means the possibility of the scarce or indeed the rare turning up. The hurricane season of the Americas can bring gems our way if these weather systems bring a cargo of American species and deliver them to our shores. Past autumns have seen semipalmated, pectoral and Baird’s Sandpipers amongst others drop in from across the Atlantic.
We can look forward to months of exciting bird life ahead.
Photo credits (from top to bottom): Black-tailed godwits (Ian Enlander), wigeon (Stephen Maxwell), teal (Ian Enlander), black-tailed godwits flock (Stephen Maxwell), ruff (Ian Enlander).