Whilst many of us are looking forward to summer, for many birds autumn has just begun. Here at Yorkshire Water’s Tophill Low Nature Reserve the signs are increasingly evident in the form of returning waders.
The green sandpiper is usually a herald of the end of breeding season with our first on June 27.
These dainty wading birds breed in Scandinavia and northern Europe with the majority over winter in southern Europe and south of the Sahara, but just occasionally you may disturb one from an overgrown ditch in winter, readily told by its bold white rump reminiscent of an oversized house martin.
Another species we are starting to see too is the common sandpiper with its khaki uppers and distinctive white kick on its flanks.
As the summer progresses we will expect an increasing diversity of these wetland birds all moving south – unfortunately, many have had failed breeding attempts with the terrible weather this season.
However summer is not done yet and the final birds have just arrived.
Recently the elusive quail has just been heard around the reserve grasslands with its distinctive ‘wet-ma-lips’ call.
These small game birds migrate from sub-Saharan Africa, but many of them first breed in north Africa and southern Europe as early as February.
The population then moves north in late May for a second breeding attempt which is the birds we are hearing now.
Interestingly many of the birds will have been hatched this year, with youngsters capable of migration after two months and which sexually mature at just 12-15 weeks.
This strategy is more normally found in butterflies like the painted lady. Unfortunately they are so skulking they are practically never seen.
l Tophill Low Nature Reserve is located four miles from the A164 at Watton. Admission £2.80 adults and £1.20 concessions.
Sorry no dogs. For further information visit www.tophilllow.blogspot.com