Island Life Magazine Ltd December 2006/January 2007 | Page 44

Countryside

Winter
visitors

Contributor Tony Ridd

Short Eared Owl

Just because the coldness of winter has arrived, it
doesn’t mean the bird life in the countryside and
our gardens should be any less. Tony Ridd tells
us what to look out for…
We often hear about summer
migrating birds, such as swallows
and house martins, but did you
know we get a lot of winter
migrating birds too. Birds such
as Robins and Starlings don’t just
become more apparent in winter;
their numbers actually increase

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because of winter arrivals from
northern Europe.
Seasonal movement between areas
is known as migration. Some birds
migrate in the spring for summer
breeding locations with plenty of
nesting sites and again in the winter

Siskin
to areas where there is an ample
supply of food and longer daylight
hours.
Winter Thrushes
such
as
Fieldfares and redwings will have
started to appear at the beginning
of November. These migrate from
Russia where the winter is too cold
for them and they love our berry
laden hedgerows and gardens.
Because of changing climate
many species of birds that would
normally depart to the warmer
climates of north and mid Africa
stay with us over winter. Blackcaps,
Meadow Pipits and Chi ff Chaff have
been recorded all year round on
the Island over the last 10 years.
Again their numbers swell at the
start of winter as many migrate to
southern England in search of food
and a warmer climate. Many birds
will only have to make a relatively
short flight form north of England
and Scotland; others will fly in from
Scandinavia.
If you are lucky you may even have
a visit to your garden from Siskin or
Redpoll. Siskin’s particularly like
nut-baskets and aren’t particularly
shy. Some years are better than
others with large flocks visiting
giving an impressive display. Don’t
be disappointed if you only glimpse
the redpoll, they rarely stay in one

place for long and tend to roam
widely looking for food.
Our most visual and probably
numerous varieties of birds are
ducks, geese and waders. The
inland waterways and creeks
around the island are a haven for
these types of birds. Brent Geese
will be seen in large flocks around
farmer’s fields eating grass. Gadwell
and Pintail ducks may also make
an appearance with the number of
Mallards increasing with the arrival
of new guests from further north.
For me, one of the most magnificent
winter finds on the island is the
Short Eared Owl. There tends to
be only half a dozen sightings each

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