Those of us who attended the Bird Migration workshop with Liz Huxley on 10th September at Fingringhoe Wick EWT had an enjoyable session learning about the incredible journeys so many of the birds we see undertake.
Apparently more than 40% of birds migrate, even the Blackbirds, Robins or Starlings we see in our gardens in winter could be visitors from eastern Europe joining our resident birds.
Birds mainly migrate to get to the best places for food and for breeding. Its incredible to think of tiny birds such as the Goldcrest managing journeys of thousands of miles. Apparently, butterflies such as Painted Lady, Clouded Yellow and moths including Convolvulus Hawkmoth, also do this! We are fortunate in Essex to be situated on Britain’s east coast which lies almost at the midpoint of the East Atlantic Flyway, one of the eight global migratory routes connecting the north and south poles.
Migrant birds are made up of summer visitors, winter visitors and passage migrants.
Summer visitors tend to fly from the south e.g. Mediterranean region or Africa following the food or to breed and include Swallows, Swifts, Cuckoos etc. before returning in the autumn.
Winter visitors leave northern colder Europe and Arctic regions to find food which is more plentiful and we are fortunate to have large flocks of this type of visitor, e.g. Dark-bellied Brent Geese (apparently Essex can have a ¼ of the world population visit!) plus significant numbers of Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew and many others.
The third category is passage migrants. Many birds including sea birds and waders visit Essex as passage migrants, stopping to rest and fuel up before continuing on their long journeys, generally from the north to south either to their breeding or wintering grounds. Some stop here on both journeys, some on only one of them. Teal, Lapwing, Smew, Curlew, Redshank, Whimbrel, Osprey, Fieldfare , Redwing , Short-eared Owls and many more species are included. Some have stayed and breed in UK, but many are passing through.
Liz also mentioned the occasional very rare visitors such as Bee Eaters that have been seen.
Via the ‘scope in the Discovery Centre we were able to see an Osprey resting on a distant post as our first look at a passage migrant. Apparently there have been 3 spotted locally – we saw one during our visit in July, and they have also been seen at Abberton.
After the talk we walked to Robbie’s Hide where, although the tide was quite far out, and with Liz’s help, we spotted Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank and a lovely sighting of a Grey Plover still in full breeding plumage.
On our way back we saw Teal, Cormorant, Little Egret , and Shovelers (well spotted by Pat and Peter) before returning to the Discovery Centre for a cup of tea and catch up.
All in all it was a most informative day. Many Thanks to Liz Huxley and the EWT staff for making us so welcome.
List of sightings:
- Pheasant
- Greylag Geese (spotted by Liz and Jane on fields nearby)
- Canada Geese (as above)
- Teal
- Mallard
- Little Egret
- Cormorant
- Redshank
- Black-tailed Godwit
- Grey Plover
- Osprey
- Robin
- Curlew
- Shoveler
- Goldfinch
- Moorhen
(Unfortunately no photographs are available on this occasion.)