While some species leave the UK for winter, many others are arriving. Pink-footed geese, sanderling, and whooper swans are just some of the species we can expect to be joining us soon as they arrive from the arctic, northern Europe, and Scandinavia. RSPB Scotland's Allie McGregor writes five facts to know about migrants arriving this winter.
Five facts about Scotland’s winter migrants
1. Where do they come from?
Scotland may seem like an odd choice for spending a winter to us, but we’ll have visitors from all over. Many arrive from Greenland and Iceland including whooper swans, pink-footed geese, wigeon, knot, redshank and others. Scandinavia is another common starting point in a winter migrants journey with birds such as snow bunting, brambling, fieldfare among them. Northern Europe, Russia and Siberia, and Canada are also summer homes to our winter migrants. For these wintering birds Scotland’s seemingly frosty winter is fairly gentle.
Barnacle Geese in flight at Coll. Credit David Andrews (rspb-images.com)
2. Making the journey
Migrants will travel hundreds or even thousands of miles to reach Scotland in the winter, which often includes a lengthy non-stop flight over the ocean. It’s important for them to maintain endurance, so many will take advantage of opportunities to feed beforehand. Without enough food, migrants would struggle to make the journey. Sanderling will gain an extra 60% of their body weight to keep up their energy while flying up to 5000 kilometres without a break.
3. Family Matters
Pink footed geese in flight at dawn at Strathbeg reserve. Image Credit Chris Gomersall (rspb-images.com)
Some arctic migrants are dedicated to making the journey as a family. Pink footed geese and whooper swans will travel in their family group, stick with them for the winter, and journey back with them in the spring. Offspring will learn from the migration patterns of their parents.
4. Wintering waxwing irruptions
The first waxwing arrivals are usually seen in October. The number of waxwings in Scotland can vary wildly from year to year with the population often influenced by the conditions in their home country. If food is scarce or the weather is particularly harsh, more will travel in search of better conditions. A mass arrival of waxwings is called an irruption, and only happens around once each decade.
Waxwing. Photo credit Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)
5. Where to spot our winter visitors
There are plenty of places across Scotland where you can have a go at spotting some of our winter migrants. Loch Leven has thousands of Pink-footed geese visitors each year and Loch Garten is hosting a special event to welcome geese guests in October. Waxwings can be spotted along the east coast of Scotland, while wigeons and other wintering ducks can be spotted on either side of the country, usually along the coast as well. To find out where to spot your favourite winter visitor check out our guide online.