Migrant birds signal welcome change in seasons to spring
FOR the naturalist on the coast the coming weeks are something of a countdown – as summer migrant birds begin to arrive from Africa, spring wildflowers appear and insects increase in the dunes.
Soon spring will be in full flow and it will be hard keeping up - walks in the dunes or along the shore are liable to reveal something new each day, and birdsong increases, banishing the stillness of winter.
The next few weeks are a great time to familiarise yourself with some of the more regular first summer migrants that push north along the Sefton Coast.
Ospreys are becoming more regular each year, and while I had my first in March last year, April is more likely to produce a showing of this spectacular raptor as it wings north to breeding haunts - we can look at them later in the spring.
Traditionally the first summer migrants hitting the coast are Wheatear, Sand Martin and Chiffchaff - not necessarily in that order but generally making a first showing in March as they head north.
As the climate changes, Chiffchaffs winter with us too of course, although the sudden appearance of singing birds (“chiff-chaff-chiff-chaff-chiffchaff ”) over the next few weeks is widely considered an indication of new arrivals in from southern Europe and Africa.
Superficially similar to the longerwinged and more melodic Willow Warbler (they tend to arrive a bit later), the Chiffy usually gives itself away by its habit of constantly pumping its tail.
The instantly recognisable “Chiffchaff” song is a bit of a clue too.# More mercurial, Sand Martins generally speed through in March, often flying low to the ground.
Slimmer and plainer than House Martins and Swallows, they look like little darts are they zoom north, rarely lingering.
Sandy brown above and white below they can be surprisingly unobtrusive, often moving in the early morning.
Sand Martins can arrive in late February, but like their relatives, still rely on insects to sustain them - cold snaps can spell a problem for them.
Perhaps most anticipated are the first male Wheatears to arrive on the coast, pushed north from Africa on a southerly wind.
It can be frustrating waiting for suitable weather to deliver the first Wheatears, but the first are always the best.
These are striking chats, larger than Robins with gorgeous peachy underparts, blue grey back and a black tail, wings and highwayman’s mask.
Their most obvious feature is their bright white rump, unmissable as they move along the tideline or probe cropped coastal turf for food.
Not a rare bird, the Wheatear still captures the spirit of spring and as the season progresses groups of them can appear to delight briefly, before moving off again.
Observers are liable to encounter Wheatears anywhere from Crosby to Crossens along the coastal strip in spring, with birds foraging on inland farmland too where conditions are favourable.
Later in the spring larger, brighter “Greenland” Wheatears pass through on their way to breeding grounds across the Atlantic - here is a bird to be impressed by.
Strong enough to fly north through Europe and Iceland, before swinging a left and crossing the North Atlantic to Greenland (some even push as far west as Alaska!), this a migrant par excellence.
Studies reveal once this subspecies has bred, instead of retracing their steps through continental Europe, many Greenlanders simply fly directly south east across the Atlantic to African wintering grounds. Amazing.
What a privilege it will be to see one again.
John works for Green Sefton, the Sefton Council service which brings together the Coast & Countryside, Parks & Greenspaces, Flooding & Coastal Erosion, Risk Management and Grounds Maintenance teams for a joined-up approach to the vital management, development and oversight of Sefton’s beautiful coastline, parks and green spaces.
John works for Green Sefton, the Sefton Council service that brings together the coast & countryside, parks & green spaces, flooding & coastal erosion, risk management and grounds maintenance teams for a joined-up approach to the vital management, development and oversight of Sefton’s beautiful coastline, parks and green spaces. This column looks at the flora, fauna and history of the coastline, and the work carried out to protect it.