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Last month I predicted that we would see the first of the winter migrant birds before the end of September, well they left it late but a Brent goose was seen in our area on the 29th.
I've not had any reports of the other main winter species yet but certainly within the next few weeks we will see the arrival of Redwings, Fieldfares and possibly Brambling and Great Grey Shrike.
Over the past few weeks, I have seen an increase in Duck numbers on the coast with flocks of Wigeon and Teal much in evidence, and on the 16th there was also a Pintail at Inchmerey.
Interesting birds of prey have also been seen with the undoubted highlight being a Red Kite seen over Calshot on the 3rd of the month. There was also a reported Marsh Harrier there a few days later. I saw an Osprey at Lepe on the 9th, and there have been a few sightings of Peregrine Falcon and Merlin too.
Waders are still passing through our area and although I haven't had any rarity reports from the Fawley area there was a Bairds Sandpiper at Pennington marshes on 29th
and 30th, which apparently is only the fifth confirmed Hampshire record for this species.
Summer migrants are still being reported, with Swallows and House Martins in good numbers but they will be departing any day now. They can often be seen in coastal areas forming large groups.
Many years ago now, whilst I was working as a milkman, I watched a group of House Martins that built up over several days, roosting on one of the houses in Calshot close. Eventually there were several hundred of them, then on the next day they were gone.
That's what is fascinating about migration, why do they choose a particular day to go? Undoubtedly, its in some way connected with the weather, or daylight hours, or temperature.
There are still a lot of small birds like Chiffchaff around too, and you might well see them in your own garden, they are a rather non-descript browny-green colour with a very fine bill.
They are largely migratory and will be heading south soon but many are now staying through the winter, likewise with Blackcaps.
One late summer migrant to look for, probably at coastal locations or in the New Forest, is the Ring Ouzel. They are generally one of the last migrants to go and look very much like a Blackbird with the addition of a white crescent
shaped band on their upper chest.
Firecrests might also be seen skulking in the undergrowth. Along with Goldcrests they are Britain’s smallest bird, and can be identified by a bold white eye stripe.
Apart from migration, the autumn is also a time of plentiful food when birds and other animals can feed up on the bountiful supply of seed, nuts, and berries to give themselves a good chance of surviving the cold winter
weather to come.
Look out for Jays collecting acorns, which they then go and bury elsewhere to store for future use. I've watched them doing this before, only for a Rook or Squirrel to come down after they've flown off and
dig up the food for themselves!
I'm not sure that the Jays would remember where they've buried them all anyway, and I guess many of them end up growing into new oak trees.
If you feed the birds in your garden, you may have noticed other birds doing similar. Whereas Blue Tits and Greenfinches tend to stay on the feeder a long time eating, others like the Nuthatch and Coal tit are constantly flying
back and forth, partly to store food elsewhere, or to eat alone in a less open place.
My garden feeders are still very active, and as the days get shorter and colder, birds will rely on us more to provide them with food.
With the decline in Farmland and hedgerows, where birds might normally go to feed in
winter, it really is vital that as many people as possible provide a safe haven for birds in their gardens.
Please contact me if you want to start feeding birds this winter, and need help or advice choosing the right food
and feeders.
Paul Matthews |
