What to watch for as autumn migration begins

As summer turns, millions of birds start moving — some heading south for the winter, others arriving from further north to spend the colder months here. Autumn is one of the most rewarding times of year to be out watching.

Visible migration

On a still, clear morning, coastal headlands and inland watchpoints can see genuine visible migration — flocks of finches, thrushes and pipits moving overhead in numbers, sometimes for hours at a stretch. It rewards patience more than any other kind of birding: find a spot with a wide sky view and simply watch the passage build through the morning.

Arrivals to look out for

Autumn brings species heading in as well as out — redwings and fieldfares arriving from Scandinavia, wildfowl returning to estuaries and reservoirs, and the odd scarcer migrant turning up somewhere unexpected after a spell of the right winds. Weather fronts crossing from the near continent are often when the most interesting birds appear.

Where to go

You don’t need a coastal headland to see it — inland reservoirs, river valleys and even a decent garden can produce a good autumn morning. Local nature reserves are usually the most reliable, since resident wardens and regular visitors tend to know exactly where the activity concentrates.

Making the most of it in Trip Tick

Autumn is the best stretch of the year to build your yearly total, so it’s worth logging every outing as you go — a quiet-looking visit can still add several species you haven’t recorded yet this year. Tag your regular watchpoints so you can compare one autumn to the next.