Hen migration in autumn
The chook migration is one in every of nature’s most breathtaking dramas. and also you need not journey far to see it. In actual fact, 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 by means of 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 a number of 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 might 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 well from the lengthy flight throughout the North Sea from Scandinavia.
I’ve watched redwings and fieldfares feeding on berries to construct up their energy earlier than venturing additional inland. Even one in every of Europe’s smallest birds – the goldcrest – makes the journey throughout the north sea. You usually spot them hiding within the dune grasses whereas they get well from the flight.
Feeding up earlier than flying inland
The birds are typically so drained after they arrive, you will 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 street along with her wings out.
I used to be nervous 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 capable of fly off into a close-by bush. I even bought inside 5 ft of a bullfinch because it ate up nettle seeds. It was nice to get an in depth take a look at its lovely feathers.
Mini-migrations
Even regionally, mini migrations happen. Skylarks are resident within the UK all yr spherical however will usually go away 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 go away the moors looking for heat – many travelling so far as the continent. And because the birds transfer on, their predators observe. Merlin often go away their moorland habitat right now of yr to observe the meals – their important eating regimen 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 search out simpler prey on our shores. Throughout my final journey to Spurn Level I watched one hunter benefit from 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 bought trapped by the wire. She then picked off a brambling and headed out once more along 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.
When you get the possibility, do not miss this unbelievable autumn spectacle!
