Hen migration in autumn
The chook migration is one in every of nature’s most breathtaking dramas. and also you needn’t journey far to see it. The truth is, right here in Yorkshire, you solely need to look as much as the sky to see enormous flocks of birds on their epic autumn migration.
Spurn level spectacle
Round 17 million birds are both passing via or arriving to spend the winter. And Spurn Point, a slim strip of land throughout the mouth of the Humber estuary, is likely one of the finest spots in Britain to observe the chook migration. On a great day you’ll be able to see 15,000 birds, together with knot, arctic, sandwich and customary terns, shearwaters and sanderlings. In the meantime among the birds, like swallows and home martins, are heading south.
Migrating guests
Waxwings, fieldfares, bramblings and redwings are available huge flocks to flee the icy chilly of a Scandinavian winter, particularly if the berry harvest has failed there.
Exhausted after lengthy journey
The distinctive island form of Spurn Level means the birds do not disperse as shortly as they’d in the event that they landed on the mainland. And in reality there’s sufficient cowl and meals on this spit of land for them to remain as they get better from the lengthy flight throughout the North Sea from Scandinavia.
I’ve watched redwings and fieldfares feeding on berries to construct up their power earlier than venturing additional inland. Even one in every of Europe’s smallest birds – the goldcrest – makes the journey throughout the north sea. You typically spot them hiding within the dune grasses whereas they get better from the flight.
Feeding up earlier than flying inland
The birds are usually so drained after they arrive, you may get very shut. I keep in mind watching a European chaffinch land. She flew in off the ocean and collapsed exhausted onto the center of highway together with her wings out.
I used to be anxious for her security. However she didn’t flinch after I picked her up and put her onto the verge and simply sat the place I had laid her till she was in a position to fly off into a close-by bush. I even obtained inside 5 toes of a bullfinch because it ate up nettle seeds. It was nice to get an in depth have a look at its lovely feathers.
Mini-migrations
Even regionally, mini migrations happen. Skylarks are resident within the UK all yr spherical however will typically depart open moorland, such because the North Yorkshire Moors and Pennines, when temperatures drop. They often head for low-lying areas the place they are often assured of much less punishing climate and extra meals.
Meadow pipits additionally depart the moors looking for heat – many travelling so far as the continent. And because the birds transfer on, their predators observe. Merlin often depart their moorland habitat at the moment of yr to observe the meals – their fundamental food plan bein meadow pipit.
Brief-eared owls
Brief-eared owls are additionally in abundance alongside the East Coast as they too escape the bitter northern winters to seek out simpler prey on our shores. Throughout my final journey to Spurn Level I watched one hunter take advantage of the chance afforded by the inflow of exhausted winter migrants.
Predators observe chook migration
A entice utilized by the British Belief of Ornithology to catch and ring migrating birds is marked by a wily sparrowhawk. I watched because the hawk rushed into the entice and because it did so all of the birds scattered and obtained trapped by the wire. She then picked off a brambling and headed out once more together with her prize.
Bramblings are the Scandinavian equal of our chaffinch. I felt sorry for the brambling, which had simply made it throughout the North Sea.
If you happen to get the prospect, do not miss this unbelievable autumn spectacle!
