Migrating birds

Come autumn, some birds arrive in the UK from the north and east in search of milder climes and plentiful food, before returning to their breeding grounds the following spring. 

Winter visitors to Surrey include waterfowl such as Bewick’s and whooper swans, as well as birds like fieldfares, redwings and bramblings, which can often be seen gathering in large numbers.

Some species only stay in the UK during the warmer months of they year and head south as winter approaches. These include swallows, martins, swifts, nightingales, nightjars and cuckoos, which all migrate to Africa.

These are birds that stop off in the UK on their way north or south. Taking time out to feed, rest and socialise before continuing their journey. 

Passage migrants can be harder to spot than winter migrants, which often gather in large flocks. Look out for birds such as wheatears, osprey and sandpipers stopping off on their journey. 

An irruption is the arrival of bird species in the UK that do not usually visit our shores in large numbers. 

Waxwings

A colourful winter visitor. waxwings can often be spotted in berry-laden bushes in towns and car parks. Sudden invasions of waxwings occur when the berry crops fail in Northern Europe, or the bird population outgrows the supply of food. Waxwing irruptions happen around every 10 years.

How to identify

The Waxwing has a pink crest and breast, a black mask and throat, a grey rump, a black tail that is tipped with bright yellow, and yellow-and-white markings on its wings.

Hawfinches

In recent years, large flocks of our largest and most elusive finch have been spotted in the UK after crop failures in Northern Europe forced them to look elsewhere for food.

How to identify

Hawfinches are huge compared to other finches, with a distinctive top-heavy silhouette created by their large head and thick, triangular bill. They are predominantly a rusty, orange-brown, richer on the head and tail, with a dark brown back and a black patch around the base of the bill.