September is a beautiful month. Containing the lingering warmth of late summer with the start of autumn. The ‘Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;...’ according to the poet John Keats.
September sees most swallows migrate south for the warmth of African skies. I always enjoy seeing them gather together to start preparing for their long journey, although it’s slightly sad to see them go for another year as well.
However, we can look forward the joy of seeing winter visitors arrive. And it’s understandable to see why they do. Many summer temperatures in Northern and Eastern Europe are broadly similar. With average August temperatures recorded as 18˚celius in London and Paris, 17˚celius in Prague and Oslo, and 15˚celius in Helsinki and Moscow. A few degrees difference on average, possibly enough to effect the ‘choice of jumper’ wearing decisions, but generally unremarkable. However, fast forward a few months to midwinter and it’s a different picture. Whilst it might be chilly, damp and unpleasant for us outside, with a monthly average of 7˚celius for London in December, in Prague the monthly average for December is 0˚celius, in Helsinki its -4˚celius and in Moscow its -7˚!
As I write at the start of September all of this has yet to happen. But outside the fruit is ripening on the trees, colours starting to turn, and the days are shortening, which happens across the fjords of Norway and plains of the Urals too, but whilst our temperature dips, there’s plummets. So we get the excitement of seeing so many birds flying south to winter with us.
It’s not only the arrival of early winter visitors which makes September special, but the chance of seeing passage migrants, such as the arrival of Black terns and Eurasian spoonbills to RSPB Fen Drayton Lakes last Sunday. Who knows what other migrant birds may pass through during September?
The combination of exciting passing migrants, the arrival of early winter visitors, with the warmth of the sun, is possibly what makes September one of my favourite months.
Image credit: Mike Langman (rspb-images.com)