Just opposite the South East RSPB office where I'm based is a lovely garden surrounding the Brighton Pavilion. On sunny days it throngs with local workers grabbing quality time (I love how even in the city people are still drawn to green space) and tourists taking photos of the oriental buildings.
But over the last few days, there have been a number of rather different tourists, shyly tolerating the crowds.
Here was one of them: grey head, white eye-ring, thin bill for catching insects, hint of warm rufous in the wing, and most noticeable of all, a white throat.
Yes, it's one of those birds whose name makes perfect sense - it's the Grey-headed Rufous-wing. (Ok, so I jest - it's a Whitethroat.)
Only a month ago it was probably hopping about around Lake Chad or somewhere in sub-Saharan Africa.
It will then have launched itself across the Sahara, no mean feat at this time of year, because northerly winds tend to blow.
It will have grabbed a bite to eat in North Africa before navigating the next hazard, the Mediterranean.
Then after another short break in SW France, it will have braved the next leg, including the crossing of the Channel, and plumped for the first bit of greenery it could find in amongst all these alien houses and roads.
And this wasn't the only Whitethroat - here was another, in one of the other flower borders (you can see his warm-toned wing more easily):
And there have been Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs and even a Reed Warbler, all doing the same.
Anyone with a coastal garden stands a chance of birds like this dropping in at this time of year, but of course your chances are even greater if, like the Pavilion Gardens, you have lovely insect-rich shrubberies and flower beds.
But the principle holds true for any garden - so many creatures are out there travelling, who on their journeys need somewhere to rest up, feed and in some cases set up home.
A garden managed with wildlife in mind offers them the welcome they are looking for.
Hi Feral and Jiva
Sadly the Song Thrushes have gone from Pavilion Gardens. But I intercept the gardener regularly, tell him what I've seen, and he has started to ask me about things he has seen too, which is great.
But great to hear about your Goldfinches, Jiva. Such a gem of a bird - Mother Nature was in inspired creative mood when she painted that one!
Hi Alexandra
I love hearing about gardening in more northern climes, and was so inspired by a visit to an amazing Shetland garden last year. Well done on your Redstart and Redpolls - sounds like red-letter year for you ;-)
Adrian
Great article. I used to visit the Pavilion Gardens often and frequently there'd be Blackcaps Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Whitethroats and a couple of times Sedge Warblers, or other migrant species, no doubt in part down to the amazing gardening skills of the staff there, lack of insecticides and so on. A gem of a place, with breeding Song Thrushes too!
yes - and I'm seeing lots of goldfinches in hanover where I live ( part of Brighton, very close to the office ) - I think they must be nesting in Queens Park and I keep seeing them flying over my garden at the bottom of the hill. Very exciting, don't remember seeing them here before.
Loved your article in Summer 2013 issue - so much great info. Unfortunately I live in rural Aberdeenshire and don't see the variety of birds that you see in the south but having said that saw a red start for the first time ever in my garden and also a flock of red polls. Planted a Lavender plant and already have 2 different species of bees visiting the flowers. Look forward to your next article/post.