Birds on the move in winter

With shorter days and clear skies the region’s birdlife is on the move.

Some are long distance migrants just passing though and others are travellers within the region.

The male goosanders, which is what she saw, are especially stunning with bright green and white, but suffused with a pinkish hue; and they will have bred somewhere along one of our local rivers.

These birds move around the region and in colder weather can form larger flocks on millponds and similar habitats.

The geese on the other hand are long-distance trippers and heading down to East Anglia and perhaps the Wash.

If we have clear skies then the conditions encourage migrant birds to take advantage of starlit skies and perhaps a full moon by which to navigate.

Flocks of Canada geese on the other hand move locally in postbreeding flocks from daytime feeding sites to safe night-time roosts.

Also building in some areas are late afternoon and evening gatherings of rooks, crows, and jackdaws.