Winter migrants survey results now available

23 February 2009

Thank you to everyone who has entered winter migrant survey results online. I hope you enjoy looking at the results on the animated graphs and maps. And yes, it really is a dancing lapwing and greenfinch!!

Look on the survey page of the website to see how many winter migrants were seen near where you live.

Blackbird

The males live up to their name, but females are brown often with spots and streaks on their breasts. The bright orange-yellow beak and eye-ring make adult male blackbirds one of the most striking garden birds. Found everywhere in gardens and the countryside and from coasts to hills.

Wildsquare participants together saw 1039 Blackbirds in England, 111 in Scotland, 69 in Wales and 3 in Northern Ireland. The most were seen in Yorkshire and Humber and Eastern England. The highest number seen in Wales, were in the South East of the country.

Starlings

Starlings are widespread in the UK, occurring everywhere except for the highest parts of the Scottish Highlands. They are most abundant in southern England and are more thinly distributed in upland areas. They are still one of the UK's commonest garden birds.

The largest number of birds seen throughout the survey were Starlings, with 2256 seen across the UK and a whopping 2010 in England. The highest numbers were seen in South East England.

They are smaller than blackbirds, and look black at a distance but when seen closer they are very glossy with a sheen of purples and greens. Noisy and sociable, starlings spend a lot of the year in flocks.

Chaffinch

The chaffinch is the UK's second commonest breeding bird, and is the most colourful of the UK's finches. Its patterned plumage helps it to blend in when feeding on the ground and it becomes most obvious when it flies, revealing a flash of white on the wings and white outer tail feathers. Around the UK in woodlands, hedgerows, fields, parks and gardens.

There were 286 seen in England, 59 in Scotland and 22 in Wales. In Scotland, most were seen in the south and south west of the country. Numbers across England were quite evenly distributed, with 25 in Yorkshire & Humber, 24 in Eastern England, 21 in the South East and 19 in the South West.

Lapwing

Lapwings are found on farmland throughout the UK particularly in lowland areas of northern England and eastern Scotland. In winter they flock on pasture and ploughed fields. Large numbers of North European birds arrive in autumn for the winter. 710 Lapwings were seen in England, with the highest number in the South East.

Wigeon

The wigeon is a medium-sized duck with a round head and small bill. The head and neck of the male are chestnut, with a yellow forehead, pink breast and grey body. Birds breed in central and northern Scotland and also in northern England.

The highest numbers were in England in the South and East. This may be because the birds migrate to the UK in winter from Iceland, Scandinavia and Russia.

Pink footed goose

The pink-footed goose is a medium-sized goose, smaller than a mute swan. It is pinkish grey with a dark head and neck, a pink bill and pink feet and legs. Large numbers of birds spend the winter here, arriving from their breeding grounds in Iceland and Greenland.

There were 372 seen in England and 62 in Scotland. Most were seen in North West England and Eastern England. Numbers in England are on the increase, particularly in Norfolk, probably due to better protection at winter roosts.

The lowest numbers seen were the white fronted goose, the Whooper swan and the Barnacle goose.