Champions of the Flyway!

Monday, November 2, 2015

Incoming!


Scandinavian thrushes arriving over the cliff - Fieldfares...


It's that glorious time of year when it's all about arrivals from northern climes. A small number will have coasted down along this side of the water, but the majority of migrants at this point in the season have arrived directly from Scandinavia and beyond. There's nothing quite like witnessing migrants making landfall after an arduous passage over the North Sea, and in fact it's arguably my favourite aspect of birding; it doesn't get much better than occupying the clifftop of my local patch and witnessing migration in one of its purest and simplest forms.


... Redwings ....


... and Blackbirds



And the predators that follow them: a huge, dark juvenile Peregrine that arrived from way out over the waves on 31st Oct - wonder where it originated?.....



... and a Sparrowhawk that came in from on high on the same day, and immediately set about hunting for its next meal