By November within the UK, autumn chicken migration is kind of over. Our summer season guests, akin to warblers, chats and flycatchers, are far to the south in Africa.
In the meantime, many winter guests – principally waders and wildfowl – have arrived from their breeding grounds to the north and east.
Nonetheless, because the British Belief for Ornithology’s common Migration Weblog reviews, there are nonetheless loads of birds on the transfer, with particular climate situations both holding them again or boosting their travels.
Waxwings are a a lot sought-after arrival, and this autumn seems to be good with excessive numbers in southern Scandinavia.
Ought to we get easterly winds and clear skies, these charismatic birds may cross the North Sea and switch up alongside our east coast, typically gathering in noisy flocks in grocery store automotive parks the place they feast on berries.
Woodcocks additionally journey right here from Scandinavia on clear nights, their numbers peaking in November. Nonetheless, these secretive, woodland-dwelling waders are far more durable to see.
The BTO’s consultants additionally counsel we glance out for actions of wooden pigeons – not a species we normally affiliate with migration, but which regularly transfer in massive flocks.
Late final month an astonishing 231,000 wooden pigeons had been noticed heading south-west over the village of Portskewett in Gwent.
It’s thought that no less than a few of these birds will cross the Channel to overwinter in continental Europe earlier than returning subsequent spring to breed.
This article by Stephen Moss was first printed by The Guardian on 20 November 2025. Lead Picture: Waxwings are a a lot sought-after arrival. {Photograph}: Lisa Geoghegan/Alamy.
