November maybe upon use but migration is still in full swing and Bempton is still seeing influxes of migratory birds seeking the food and comparatively mild winter that our country offers.
Offshore, Pink Footed Geese are hugging the coast as they make their way to their wintering grounds and among the usual suspects are Redwings, Fieldfares, Goldcrests, Siskins, Bramblings and Short Eared Owls. They are making the most of the mix of natural food resources around the reserve and the feed that our staff and volunteers put out in the feeding stations.
Vigilant visitors will also notice the increase in the number of common species such as Blackbird and Robin. Existing numbers are boosted as flocks arrive from the continent and at this time of the year even that humble Blackbird you have been seeing in your garden may be of continental origin.
Spending a little time observing the way birds behave at this time of the year can also be useful in determining their origins. For example, you might notice that the Robins you are seeing here on the East Coast are much more accepting of each other than the Robins that usually visit your garden and it is possible to see large numbers together. As most of us know, Robins can be incredibly aggressive and with the exception of a mate during the breeding season will not normally tolerate other Robins in their territory. They are most likely to respond to an intruding member of their own kind by puffing out their red breast, singing loudly, posturing and chasing. If this doesn’t work it is likely that a fight will ensue resulting in one or both birds being seriously injured or even killed. I myself have witnessed full blown Robin brawls with birds (sometimes more than two!) writhing feverishly at my feat totally absorbed and unaware of my presence, each hell bent on bettering the other.
(Robin - Image: Steve Race)
Why is it that our gardens descend into such chaos when these coastal birds seem so at ease with one another? The answer is simple. These are not native Brits but visitors from the continent. They are only visiting for the winter, taking advantage of various food sources for a few months of the year and have no intention of breeding here and so they have no reason to claim a territory. If you have no territory to defend what good would fighting do you? Fighting also uses up vital energy. Conserving energy is incredibly important to these birds which not only have to survive the winter but also the return journey to their home country. When you consider these factors it is easy to understand how something as simple as a fight could be counter productive.
At this time of the year a visit to the feeding station and the Dell can reveal a wealth of migratory birds both common and scarce. Regardless of their scarcity, when you take a moment to consider where they might have come from and what it took to get here, birds as common and unassuming as the Robin can be seen in a whole different light. Winter bird watching really is an interesting and humbling experience.
Why not pay us a visit and experience the spectacle for yourself? The recent strong winds are likely to ground migrants making them easier to find. Snow Buntings and Lapland Buntings are a possibility with birds already being seen grounded along the East Coast and Shore Larks with their striking black and yellow facial masks are a scarce coastal treat well worth looking for. Migration continues with birds arriving and moving through the country well into November. Remember to check the stubble fields along the cliffs for Buntings and Larks and take the time to search through flocks of birds for unusual tag-a-longs.
By Jenna Berry