Ears to the skies!

Here's a tip for tonight: go and stand outside in the dark, and listen. We're in the middle of that wonderful phenomenon that is bird migration.

This morning, a few local birdwatchers went to stand on a hill near RSPB HQ in Bedfordshire (yes, Bedfordshire does have a few hills). They started just before 7 am. By the time 11.30 came round, they'd counted a gobsmacking total of 28,982 redwings, all flying west.

You might say that standing around and counting birds flying over is a bit of a strange thing to do. Perhaps it is... but what an amazing number of birds for a landlocked location!

Those thousands of redwings will have started their perilous journeys in Scandinavia last night. Redwings and other thrushes are nocturnal migrants, relying on the stars and whatever other mysterious means they use to find their way. The stream of birds will have continued all night, from over the cold North Sea, onto our east coast and pushing inland, even to Bedfordshire!

If you fancy it, why not pop outside in the dark tonight. You don't need to go up a hill or to a nature reserve. Into your garden or street will do fine. Listen for a high-pitched call, a piercing 'ssiiiii', the sound of a redwing calling to its colleagues as it flies over.

Or, if you're not much of a night owl, on an early walk tomorrow morning you might see flocks of redwings and other migrant birds zapping overhead. My friends also saw fieldfares, crossbills, woodpigeons, golden plovers, siskins and even five ring ouzels - close relatives of the blackbird which are Africa-bound! Here are a few of their photos.

Even if you can't identify what you see, watch and wonder at the amazing feats of these feathered super-athletes. You won't regret it! But please tell us about your experience.