13th December
Winter watching
by Rachel
Although the days are getting darker and it is starting to get colder, there is plenty of bird life to see during the winter months. So, wrap up warm and head outside where you can see resident birds and also some beautiful winter visitors, who have travelled hundreds of miles to visit us.
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The UK’s smallest thrush, the Redwing, Turdus iliacus, (title image) has a distinctive white stripe above its eye and rusty red patches under each wing. They spend winter here, arriving in October and November in search of winter berries. They migrate from Scandinavia, Iceland and Russia. They can often be seen in flocks with Fieldfares, Turdus pilaris, foraging for food.
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The Fieldfare is a large colourful thrush with a distinctive speckled breast. They can be spotted in the countryside in hedgerows, orchards and fields. Like Redwings, they migrate from their breeding grounds in Scandinavia to the relatively warmer climate in the UK; up to 600,000 migrate here each year.
The Waxwing, Bombycilla garrulous (above left), is a striking bird with a prominent crest. They are red-brown in colour with flashes of yellow and white in the wings and a yellow tipped tail. This is another winter visitor – their breeding grounds are in Scandinavia and Siberia. They love the berries our native Rowan and Hawthorn trees provide.
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The Robin, Erithacus rubecula, is forever associated with winter and Christmastime. Robins are common breeding birds which can be seen all year round. Although in winter our resident population is joined by European migrants.
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Another bird which sees it populations boosted in winter is the Starling, Sturnus vulgaris (above centre). They are joined by birds escaping the harsh winter in Eastern Europe. Starlings are highly sociable birds and form large flocks. During autumn and winter, you might see a murmuration, this natural phenomenon of aerial acrobatics happens at dusk when up to 100,000 birds gather to roost.
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You can’t miss the colourful Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis (above right), they can be seen in parks and gardens in flocks of up to 100 birds. They have long beaks perfect for accessing seeds from thistles and teasels. During the winter, some birds escape the cold migrating as far south as Spain.
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You can help care for the birds you see by taking part in the Woodland Trust’s Nature Calendar. Record the signs of the changing seasons near you, and help scientists monitor the effects of weather and climate change on wildlife.
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Happy bird watching!
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Rachel Petts
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Title image: Redwing, Turdus iliacus, Manchester Museum collection
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Additional images: Vintage lantern sides of a waxwing (left), starling (centre), and goldfinch (right). Manchester Museum collection