Page 13 - BBC Wildlife Volume 36 #10

WILD OCTOBER

Barred warblers turn up in
the UK in the autumn as
they migrate south. Head
to the east coast for a good
chance of seeing one.

MIKE DILGER’S

WILDLIFEWATCHING

MIGRATION In his series of great places to watch wildlife in the UK, the star of

IN OCTOBER BBC One's The One Show this month takes us on an outing to view
migrating birds, with useful tips on when and where to look.

hether it be a new bird around our coast. It is the location of encountering extraordinary species at
in the garden, a first these migration hotspots that puts them these prime locations frequently become
for your local patch, in the perfect spot to offer respite for any avid weather-watchers in October. Winds
Warbler: Markus Varesvuo/naturepl.com; birdwatcher: Dave McAleavy Images/Alamy
or even a species migratory birds either using the coast as can impact heavily on migration, as
Wyou’ve never before a navigational marker, or after traversing sustained easterlies should mean that
seen in Britain, it’s time to admit there the seas as a regular part of their birding on the east coast will be hard to
is probably a little bit of the ‘twitcher’ in long journey. beat. Conversely, if the prevailing
all of us. For those with a penchant for Additionally, Spurn Point wind is blowing across
is a popular
tracking down rare and unexpected birds, these sites tend the Atlantic from the
destination for
October is the month when millions of to be the first birdwatchers. Americas, then west
our feathered friends relocate from their landfall for any will be best.
breeding to wintering grounds – with individuals that Moreover, if
some getting lost along the way. have blown off the ‘right’ winds
During this time of mass avian course or become combine with cold,
movement across the northern disorientated. wet and foggy
hemisphere, the best locations to catch Birders keen conditions here in
up with more unusual species are on to maximise the UK, this often
points, headlands and islands on or their chances of means migratory birds

October 2018 BBC Wildlife 13