Look out for the autumn migration
Phil Pickin gives some seasonal pointers for the towpath naturalist.
AUTUMN is a popular season for many reasons. For many, the changing colours of the leaves is something to be welcomed. For others, the ripening of fruits and nuts not only provides foragers with plenty of wild ingredients but also attracts the attention of birds and animals. But this abundance of food, coupled with a change in temperature and daylight hours, prompts the migration of birds.
It’s sad to see the likes of swallows and swifts head off on their perilous journeys to far-flung and far warmer latitudes. But as often happens in nature, when one door closes another opens, and in the case of migrating birds, this comes in the form of often large numbers of birds which overwinter in the UK. For the birdwatching community, this can be as exciting as hearing the first cuckoo calling in the spring, with eyes and ears being trained on the skies, particularly near the coast.
It is widely accepted that birds use a variety of methods to find their way when undertaking long migratory journeys. The earth’s magnetic field, landmarks, memories of previous trips and even smell! But there is a train of thought that suggests that birds also use features like rivers and canals to help find their way, as on moonlit autumn evenings the light reflecting off the surface could be
easy to follow.
This suggestion seems quite logical and naturalist Stephen Barlow, who used to live close to the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in Lancashire, has often heard the distinctive ‘tsee or seep’ call of redwings on autumn evenings. Redwings are members of the thrush family which visit us to take advantage of the berry harvest, large flocks making the journey from northern Europe and beyond.
Stephen noticed the night-time call of the redwings (used – it is thought – by birds to keep in contact with other members of their flock) on a number of occasions on the towpath near Blackburn. Initially, he felt that he heard them on the towpath “because it was a bit quieter than on the road”. But he also realised that “cycling both ways I would consistently hear the ‘seep’ calls from redwings all along the canal, including out of town and in rural areas.
“They all seemed to be quite low and were clearly flying along the canal. I heard them frequently enough to be satisfied myself that they were definitely flying along the canal. In other words, I was hearing them far more frequently than you’d expect if you were randomly walking through the countryside.”
Birds such as pink-footed geese also head to the UK from their summer homes in Iceland during the autumn. These large members of the goose family are easy to spot and hear in flight. Large skeins of these honking birds can often be seen descending on to feeding grounds close to lakes, rivers and other sizeable bodies of water.
Small and medium-sized birds such as fieldfares, the distinctive waxwing and many different warblers also migrate to the UK. In many ways, their journeys are even more impressive, given their smaller size.
So those who are able to spend at least some time on, or close to, the waterways during autumn should be well placed to enjoy these sights and sounds. The waterways have often been likened to wildlife corridors and during the autumn it would seem that this is more evident; so this autumn not only keep a lookout but also listen out for what might be passing overhead – even during the hours of darkness.