As far as many of our birds and insects are concerned, autumn is here and the urge to produce young is replaced by an urge to migrate to winter quarters. Unlike during spring migration, when birds are in a hurry to get back to breeding grounds (before a rival takes over!) the autumn migration is an altogether more relaxed affair.
Someone mentioned in another forum about a willow warbler in their garden. There is every chance that it may linger for a while, if it can find sufficient food in the area. During autumn migration, many insectivorous birds, such as the warblers, will switch their diet and can often be found feeding on ripening berries.
Now is the time of year when many warblers can be found in atypical habitats, so look out for reed warblers in the tops of trees, and garden warblers feeding on elderberries in hedgerows.
Other birds, such as swifts have already moved out en masse, with birds now moving through in smaller numbers. Soon swallows and house martins will join the exodus.
As our breeding birds depart, birds that over-winter here will soon be arriving: fieldfares and redwings should make an appearance from the end of September, followed by many species of finch and waterbirds.
So, if you've noticed new arrivals or departures in your garden or local area, or have any questions about migration, this is the place to let us know.
Regards,
Darren
Leave only footprints, kill only time.
its the essence of birdwatching isn't.it. Each year, spring and Autumnm you are just totally enveloped in
amazing.
ps. alas, The willow warbler didn't linger,
All I ask is the chance to prove that money can't make me happy. Spike Milligan
I find each spring & autumn exciting, waiting for species to move in or pass through! I love to see fields full of fieldfare and redwings in the winter but enjoy the swallows, swifts and housemartins that come each summer! I think if we had all the same birds all of the time it wouldn't be half as interesting! It's a bit like the changing seasons themselves! You appreciate each one all the more! I feel very lucky to live somewhere where we have distinct seasons and changing hours of daylight! I wouldn't enjoy having the 6 months summer / winter our Northern neighbours, neither the dry wet seasons of our Equatorial neighbours!!
"All weeds are flowers, once you get to know them" (Eeyore)
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Travelling home 2 nights ago, ( near to Hamilton, South Lanarkshire) around 8.30pm, my husband and I noticed what appeared to be a few swallows circling and swooping over the field to the side of the road. As we drew closer we then realised there were more than a few - more like a few thousand! We sat and watched this spectacular sight for about an hour, as they swooped and circled above us,obviously grouping ready for the journey ahead of them. I have only previously seen this bird behaviour on tv and always wished to witness it for real and to come across this so unexpectedly really made our day - it is a sight we will never forget. Truly amazing.
Make the most of the best and the least of the worst
It is not only bird migration that fascinates me.
The migration habits of the animals of Africa are quite well documented, as are the reasons behind their journeying. But it is not often television shows the creatures of the sea.
When I do get the chance to see them I often wonder about their travels on the lines of why, when and where. Are they following a set pattern or route? Do they visit certain areas at a specific time of year? Is there some inbuilt instinct of the sort that a salmon displays or is theirs a completely random "go where you will, when you will" activity? I tend to assume (although without any real knowledge, I am the first to admit) that if it is a shoal activity it is probably generated by the same instincts as the salmon but I could be completely wrong.
What never ceases to amaze me is that so much wildlife - whether in the air, on the ground, or in the sea -make these incredible annual journeys.
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
Three weeks ago today the last Swifts left our area which is about normal and then yesterday we spotted what we thought was a single swift flying amongst the Housemartins and today we have had a positive sighting of thee flying together across the field - we were quite excited to see them again but have never spotted any this late in the season in our area (montgomery/shropshire border).
Swallows now diminishing in number in my area (one and twos), but still a few housemartins zipping about is groups. To Goldfinch - How marvellous it must have seen to see that large group of swallows!
Make the boy interested in natural history if you can; it is better than games [Robert Falcon Scott]
I think it is fabulous just to see how many birds are around over the seasons - the big changes ,and the life cycle that they go through.
Unfortunatly, we have been busy moving house over the past 3 months (and I broke my foot too!!) so a lot of my 'bird' watching' has gone a little haywire at the moment. Still got lots to catch up on in the autumn months. My partner and I will make the most of the less hectic autumn bird migration now.
We have our local 'Bedford' birding group and we will participate in outings as much as we can for the remains of this year (been on a few outings already!). I see that there is a migratory trip out or two, and yes, we will attend those trips for sure.
We where at Menorca on a sailing holiday in May this year, and we filled up the spare time with bird watching. The best sight we have seen was hundreds of migratory Bee-eaters appearing at their regular local roost close to where we stayed. Their irredescent 'blue' colouration was beautiful to see, and hard to forget.
We where lucky to taken on a tour of the area by a local 'Spanish' birder, and he told us that the local salt marshes are filled with migratory birds each December. A lot of them will be common species that we have in the UK.. It would be well worth another visit at Xmas time in the future just to see them. The Red Pochard is the most well known bird in Spain.
I have to admire birds like the Swifts and Swallows - where do they get all that energy form and all that flying power. They travel such long distances for a small bird, and just imagine all the risks that they too - never settling and always on the wing.
I have to admit we have been lucky to see a lot of Sand Martins close to where we stay in Bedford at Castlemill Sluice, and I have to say I have never seen so many in one small area in my life. Another worthy look at the House Martins near relative anytime!
Regards
Kathy and Dave
After last week on Autumnwatch, did Chris Packham do a write up on the theory that involves the birds' ability to 'see' the magnetic field of the Earth? It involved metallic minerals in the beak area and I think chemicals in the brain that interact to produce a 'map' of the migration. This is my recollection and I would like to learn more, does anyone know of a link, if Chris has written it up please?
I posted the above on the BBC's Science and Nature Message-board earlier today. According to Chris humans may also have this facility! Now that we have the various satellite tracking projects, including Loch Garten, it now seems to me to be certain that some species have highly developed navigation systems as evidenced by the detail of migrations that is now available. I also believe that before long it will be shown , where species that were thought to migrate on solo journeys, may well have the instinct to pair up with another, as it were, to educate the chicks with the navigation skills of an adult bird.
ChloeB & Tiger's Osprey Data Site
Sat track schedule Spring 2014
LG 7 days; RW & SWT nil; LDOP varies
Hi JSB - I couldn't find anything specifically by Chris Packham but I did find this from July this year. There were many others but most seemed to be from 2007.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/07/090709-birds-magnetic-field.html
I saw bee-eaters in Spain a couple of weeks ago. Lovely birds with colouful plumage and long, slender beaks. I saw one when I didn't have my long lens with me and so only managed a very poor photo and then later in the day when I was a passenger in a car and unable to stop and look properly I saw about a dozen of them. They were lined up on a telegraph wire all facing toward a field of sunflowers. The flowers were dead but presumably there were enough insects to interest the birds. I was on my way down to Barcelona for a few days and was looking forward to seeing the bee-eaters again when I returned to the countryside. Unfortunately, while I was away the sunflowers were harvested and there wasn't a bee-eater insight. I was so disappointed. If I go to northern Spain in September in the future I shall be sure to look out for them.
It was a bit far away but it is my proof that I saw it!
Lori
There is something new to learn everyday...
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