Wildlife Highlights: Wildlife in January – Spotting Migratory Birds this Winter
In her first Wildlife Highlight of the new year, Lizzie tells us about some of her favourite avian UK winter migrants.
Illustration by Paige Blake.
Winter can be a challenging time to spot wildlife as there is less daylight and a lack of food, meaning that many animals spend most of the day feeding or sleeping. The colder temperatures also lead to a few species to hibernate (as discussed in a previous article) and some to migrate to warmer climates. However, with a large number of bird species migrating to the UK for winter, there are still lots of birds to look out for. In this month’s Wildlife Highlights, I’m going to talk about some of our winter visitors.
Redwings
Redwings are the smallest of the thrush species that can be found in the UK, with a typical wingspan of 33-35cm and weight of 50-75g. There are only a handful of breeding pairs in Britain however during autumn an estimated 8.6 million of them can arrive from Iceland and Scandinavia to spend the winter here. They migrate overnight and then spend the winter feeding in fields and hedgerows before heading back home around March.
Goldcrests
Goldcrests are the smallest bird in Britain, weighing only 6g and named after the striking gold stripe on the of the top of their heads. There are resident Goldcrest pairs in the UK, however, they are joined by large numbers of Scandinavian goldcrests seeking more suitable conditions for winter. Goldcrests are often found in woodlands and parks, though they can also be seen in large mixed species flocks in winter.
Little Auks
Little Auk by NTNU on Flickr, CC BY 2.0
Little Auks breed in Svalbard and Greenland before spending most of the winter out at sea, making their way further south as the weather conditions worsen. The number of winter visitors to the British coastline varies with the weather; stormy weather can cause ‘wrecks’ where thousands of Little Auks flock to the British coastline and occasionally even inland. They have sometimes been seen as far south as the Cornish coast. These small seabirds are roughly the size of a starling, making them the smallest of the auk species as well as the most northerly breeding auk species where they form colonies that can have over a million individuals.
Pink-footed Goose
Pink-footed Goose by Kasman on Pixabay
The Pink-footed goose migrates from Greenland and Iceland to the east coast of Britain every year. Approximately 300,000 pink-footed geese spend the winter here, feeding on post-harvest crops such as sugar beet tops. This high-energy food allows them to refuel after a long migration and prepare for the journey back in April. The Norfolk coast has become well-known for spotting Pink-footed Geese due to the large numbers that arrive there; around 100,000 Pink-footed Geese overwinter in Norfolk and the locals commonly refer to them as ‘Pinkies’.
Whooper Swans and Bewick’s Swans
Whooper and Bewick’s swans both migrate to the UK over winter to join our resident mute swans. Whooper swans are named due to the loud trumpeting calls they make upon arrival from Iceland whilst Bewick’s swans migrate from Siberia. They are very similar in appearance, though whooper swans are larger and have a pointed yellow pattern on their bills whereas Bewick’s swans are smaller than whooper and our resident mute swans and have a rounder yellow pattern on their bills. Whooper swans have an amber UK conservation status whereas Bewick’s swans have recently been given a red UK conservation status due to a decline in numbers overwintering in the UK.
Whooper Swans by Nastia on Pexels
Bewick’s Swans by Johnnys_pic on Pixabay
Thank you to Paige Blake for her beautiful illustrations. You can find more of her work on her Instagram @ptb__illustration.
LIZZIE DE LUSIGNAN
Lizzie is an MSci Zoology graduate from the University of Exeter, where she was then employed whilst living in South Devon. She now lives in Sheffield and works for Twinkl, helping those who teach. She has always loved exploring nature and whilst she now misses the coastal walks and chances of spotting a seal, she is making the most of having the Peak District on her doorstep. She became interested in the communication of conservation during her degree and since graduating she has decided to continue her passion for conservation through writing.