Autumn is always a busy time for birdwatchers, but this year it’s been unprecedented thanks to a large number of rare birds turning up on our shores. Blown over by hurricanes, birds usually found in North America have delighted keen birders across the country, although their arrival is also a cause for concern.
If you’ve had your eyes to the skies this autumn, you may have been lucky enough to spot an unfamiliar face or two. From Barra in Scotland to Pembrokeshire in Wales, birdwatchers have been keeping busy over the past month or so thanks to an unprecedented influx of unusual North American birds turning up in the UK.
Blown off course due to hurricanes, more than 60 birds who usually call North America home have arrived on our shores. Many more are likely to have gone unseen.
At least 21 different species have reportedly been spotted already this autumn due to the adverse weather conditions over the Atlantic. Many of these species are brightly coloured, such as the Baltimore Oriole which in its summer breeding plumage, has a vivid orange chest and striking black and white upper feathers. Although not in breeding plumage when they blew into the UK, these birds still made for remarkable visitors.
Others like this Swainson’s Thrush, which was photographed by Bruce Taylor in Barra in the Outer Hebrides, look a little more like the birds we usually see in the UK.
Some species that have been blown off course this year have never touched down here before. The Canada Warbler for instance, a bright yellow and slate grey bird, was spotted at St Govan’s Head, Pembrokeshire, a few weeks ago. Buffeted across the Atlantic by Hurricane Lee, this rare bird had never before been seen in the UK.
Another North American bird that arrived in the aftermath of Hurricane Lee was a Bay-breasted Warbler that landed on RSPB Ramsey Island, also in Pembrokeshire. It is only the second time one has been seen in the UK, with the first one arriving in 1995 and also after a hurricane. The RSPB team on Ramsey were delighted to welcome around 180 visitors to the island to see it!
As migration season often runs into November more birds could be yet to arrive, especially from the East.
Recent weather events aside, autumn is always an exciting time for birdwatching. From the arrival of Redwings and Fieldfares to feast on berries, to the breath-taking spectacle of thousands of wading birds re-joining us at wetlands and estuaries across the UK this winter, there’s lots to look out for.
Migrating to our shores in search of food and milder climes, many birds make incredible journeys to get here. An amazing feat for birds around the globe, birds as tiny as Goldcrests (which weigh just five grams – less than a 20p coin) make mammoth journeys, flying hundreds, often thousands of miles and crossing oceans, deserts and huge land masses to reach their destination.
Yet changing landscapes and harsh weather systems can put added pressure on a range of migratory species.
As Dr James Robinson, RSPB Chief Operating Officer, describes: “While many of us, myself included, have been delighted to see these rare and often vibrantly coloured birds who are usually found thousands of miles away in America, sadly many more will have perished out at sea as they were buffeted by the extreme conditions caused by Hurricane Lee.
“This is a cause for concern, especially as extreme weather events, such as these recent hurricanes, are likely to become more frequent in the future due to climate change, creating even tougher conditions for migrating birds and potentially pushing more birds off course.
“Given the increasing pressures on our wildlife at home and abroad, we must recognise the importance of maintaining good quality habitat here in the UK, not least for migratory breeding species such as Cuckoos and Swifts. Faced with the challenges that climate change can bring, we must do all we can to help them during their incredible journeys.”
