Nature Features

There are a variety of birds coming in from Scandanavia and the Baltic. Although the weather seems chilly to us, to the birds it is warmer and offers a great chance for them to feed on the rich plants in the region.

Flocks of Redwings and Fieldfares are two of the common migrants. They can usually be seen on farmland but sometimes they come into gardens, attracted by berry-bearing plants such as Rowan trees or Cotoneaster bushes.

Andy Waters from the RSPB told us how to spot a Redwing.

The Redwing

‘The traditional name for Redwings in Northamptonshire is the ‘felt’. It is our smallest Thrush and spotted – look for the orange/red patches on their flanks and under the wings. Listen out for the high-pitched ‘zzsteep’ contact calls as they fly overhead at night. Look out along hedges, garden fruit trees and supermarket car parks with berry bushes’.

Ducks like the sociable Wigeon and the tiny Teal will also flock to the UK in the winter months, and can be found on local lakes and reservoirs like Stanwick.