Spring bird migration has been described as the great rush north with birds racing back to their favoured northerly breeding grounds.
Spring bird migration has been described as the great rush north with birds racing back to their favoured northerly breeding grounds, writes Erin McDaid of the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.
After spending winter in milder southerly locations as far away as Antarctica, with every bird vying for prime territory or the perfect mate, there is a real sense of urgency about birds' movements.
It is rare for spring migrants to hang around in any one place for long - instead, they selected a series of pit stops along their chosen route to rest and feed until they reach their destination of choice.
This ever-changing picture features summer visitors returning to breed from Southern Europe, Africa and beyond; summer breeders heading back south after the shortest of stays; huge numbers of wading birds including lapwings, woodcocks and curlews arriving along our coasts and at wetland sites each autumn from Scandinavia and further east – plus winter visitors such as redwings and fieldfares checking in to take advantage of our relatively mild winters.
For wildlife watchers this fascinating flux provides variety and interest throughout the year and while it would be difficult to rank one season over another - the arrival of summer visitors such as the cuckoo, swifts, swallows and housewarming - plus a chorus line of warblers and other songbirds marks out spring as favourite time of year for many.
Depending upon conditions along their migration routes some species can arrive as early as March, with chiffchaffs, sand martins and wheatears often leading the charge. The first sand martin of 2025 recorded by Nottinghamshire Birdwatchers was seen on March 6th.
While changeable weather patterns mean we're now as likely to get snow showers at Easter as Christmas; in the birding world, things really begin to hot up as March gives way to April.
Species arrive thick and fast, with swallows, house martins, and willow warblers among the next wave followed later in the month by garden warblers, swifts and turtle doves.
The arrival of the cuckoo each April is seen as a classic marker that spring has well and truly sprung. Given that come June, cuckoos are already preparing to head back south, their association with spring is very apt.
As well as songbirds and other species associated with summer such as swifts and swallows, birds of prey add another fascinating dimension spring migration. Summer visitors including the majestic osprey – often seen heading north, high overhead along the Trent Valley and the diminutive hobbies – famed for their skill in hunting a range of species synonymous with summer from swifts and swallows to dragonflies.
Along our coasts, razorbills, gannets, guillemots and puffins all head inland after an arduous winter on the high seas, taking up residence on rocky cliffs and islands to breed -making this a wonderful season to spend time wildlife watching whether on your local patch or further afield.
With long days now clearly in evidence, I’d recommend heading out to a local wetland site such as Besthorpe Nature Reserve in the Trent Vale in search of sand martins or to a local woodland – perhaps Ploughman Wood near Lowdham or one of our norther woods such as Kirton Wood to listen out for your first chiffchaff.
