What birds arrive in UK in October?

October marks the beginning of autumn bird migration in the UK, as many species that breed further north in Europe and beyond start to arrive for the winter. There are a number of bird species that can be seen across the UK during October as they stop off on migration or arrive to spend the winter here.

Arriving winter migrants

Many bird species migrate south in autumn from their breeding grounds in northern and eastern Europe and Asia to spend the winter in the UK. The relatively mild climate makes Britain an attractive wintering ground for numerous species.

Some key species arriving in October include:

• Redwing – This medium-sized thrush starts to arrive in large numbers in October from breeding grounds in Iceland, Scandinavia and northern Russia.
• Fieldfare – A larger thrush species, the fieldfare also arrives from Iceland, Scandinavia and Russia in big numbers from October.
• Brambling – This finch winters in the UK in variable numbers after breeding across northern Europe and Asia.
• Blackbird – Resident blackbirds are joined by migrants arriving from further north and east.
• Song Thrush – Our breeding song thrushes vacate most of the UK uplands for the winter, with numbers boosted by immigrants.
• Chiffchaff – The colder weather in October brings chiffchaffs migrating from eastern and northern Europe.
• Goldcrest – These tiny birds arrive in the UK in October from Scandinavia and the near continent to spend the winter.
• Siskin – Siskins cross the North Sea in October from mainland Europe to winter in the UK.
• Woodcock – Discreet woodland waders, woodcock migrate south to the UK from October onwards from Russia and northern Europe.
• Skylark – Migratory birds of open countryside, skylarks arrive from October from Scandinavia, north Europe and Iceland.
• Whooper Swan – These large wild swans start arriving on reservoirs and wetlands from October, migrating from Iceland.
• Wigeon – One of the commonest wintering ducks, wigeons arrive from October from Iceland and northern Europe.
• Teal – Teal migrate to the UK in autumn in huge numbers from northern and eastern Europe and western Siberia.

These are just a selection of the numerous species arriving in October to spend the winter or pass through on migration. Other examples include lapwing, golden plover, snipe, redshank, curlew, black-tailed godwit, tufted duck, goldeneye, goosander, red kite, hen harrier and short-eared owl.

Passage migrants

In addition to the winter visitors, October sees migration through the UK of species pausing briefly on passage before continuing their journeys south. These include:

• Brent Goose – Dark-bellied brents pass along the east coast moving from Arctic Siberia to winter in western Europe.
• Barnacle Goose – Birds heading from Arctic Russia to winter in southern Britain, Ireland and France stage briefly.
• Common Scoter – These seaducks pass south close along the coast in October in big numbers.
• Golden Plover – Huge flocks feed inland before crossing to winter in France, Iberia and Africa.
• Ruff – These waders gather at favoured wetlands to feed up before resuming migration.

There are also other waders, wildfowl and seabirds passing through such as bar-tailed godwit, knot, sanderling, turnstone, little gull and great skua.

Wintering wildfowl increases

Resident wildfowl in the UK start to congregate in larger flocks from October as winter arrives. Species such as mute swan, greylag goose, shelduck, gadwall, mallard, pintail, pochard, tufted duck and coot gather at wetlands in higher densities from October.

Some ducks, swans and geese may move short distances from breeding sites to preferred wintering wetlands, joining flocks swelling as migrants arrive from the north and east.

Visible migration

October sees visible migration taking place, especially on coasts, islands and headlands. Conditions need to be right, with suitable winds and weather, but birds can be seen making epic journeys. Species to look out for include:

• Geese – Pink-footed, barnacle and brent pass over in skeins.
• Waders – Knot, bar-tailed godwit, sanderling and turnstone fly over high and fast in massed ranks.
• Thrushes – Redwings, fieldfares and song thrushes stream overhead in high waves.
• Finches – Chaffinches, bramblings, siskins and linnets pour south in big numbers on some days.
• Skylarks – These birds are less tied to the coasts and migrate in all directions in October.

Rarities

October sees movements of more unusual vagrants blown off course. Key locations for rarities in October include:

• Scilly Isles – This archipelago off Cornwall is a magnet for Nearctic waders and passerines.
• East coast – Northerly gales can bring Siberian thrushes and finches.
• Shetland – Often the first landfall for birds moving west across the North Sea from Scandinavia.
• Cornwall – Can attract North American waders and wildfowl.
• Norfolk – prime location for eastern rarities.

Recent examples of rare October vagrants include grey catbird, blackpoll warbler, pallas’s grasshopper warbler, arctic redpoll, yellow-browed warbler, isabelline wheatear and little bunting.

Residents on the move

Some resident British breeding birds move within the UK in October too, escaping upland and northern climes for the winter. Species involved include:

• Golden plover – Abandons moors and hills for pastures and fields.
• Curlew – Many coastal breeding curlews shift to estuaries and marshes.
• Snipe – Moves from exposed bogs to lowland marshy areas.
• Red grouse – Can descend to lower moorland and farmland edges.
• Stonechat – Some range into lowland farmland from hills and heaths.

Arrivals to wintering sites

Some short-distance migrants arrive in October at their regular wintering haunts. Examples include:

• Bewick’s Swan – Wildfowl that breeds in Russia and winters in the UK.
• Bittern – Heron-like birds arriving at reedbed haunts from northern Europe.
• Avocet – Elegant black and white waders descending to estuaries.
• Continental Cormorant – The white-thighed race boosts UK numbers.

Movement of common garden birds

Resident garden birds can become more obvious in their movements around the countryside from October as natural food sources shift. Species on the roam include:

• Blackbirds – Continental blackbirds swell numbers as UK birds move to gardens.
• Redwings – New arrivals boost numbers feeding on berries in gardens.
• Fieldfares – The UK’s largest thrush often descends on gardens to feed up.
• Chaffinches – Garden numbers lift as migrants arrive and others move from the countryside.
• Bramblings – Scarce winter garden visitor and another finch on the move.
• Waxwings – Irruptions see flocks arrive from Scandinavia to gorge on berries.

Changes in coastal birds

The populations of many coastal birds fluctuate from October onwards as migratory movements occur. Some examples are:

• Sanderling – Numbers lifting along the coasts as this wader arrives from its High Arctic breeding grounds.
• Turnstone – Another wader bolstering coastal numbers as migrants arrive.
• Mediterranean Gull – Birds come south to the UK for the winter from the near continent.
• Little Gull – Adults in winter plumage join wintering flocks as numbers rise.
• Kittiwake – Offshore numbers grow as northern and eastern birds disperse south.

Summary of key October arrivals

In summary, the main species arriving and moving around the UK in October are:

• Thrushes – redwing, fieldfare, song thrush, blackbird.
• Finches – brambling, siskin, chaffinch, linnet.
• Wildfowl – wigeon, teal, tufted duck, goldeneye.
• Waders – woodcock, black-tailed godwit, bar-tailed godwit, ruff.
• Seabirds – little gull, great skua.
• Raptors – hen harrier, short-eared owl.

These join resident species already flocking and help make October one of the most exciting months of the year for birdwatching in the UK.

Notable arrivals in previous Octobers

Looking back over recent years, there have been some significant October bird arrivals in the UK. Some of the highlights include:

Vagrants from Asia and North America are a feature of recent Octobers, as well as scarce European migrants. Each October brings new surprises!

Conclusion

October is a month of major change in the UK’s birdlife. A wide array of species arrive from northern latitudes to spend the winter or stop off on passage. Resident birds flock together or move to favoured wintering sites. With an influx of migrants from Scandinavia, northern Europe, Russia, Iceland and beyond, October offers a peak in diversity and numbers. Coasts, wetlands and gardens come alive with new arrivals and movement. Anything can turn up from far-flung corners of the northern hemisphere. October is truly one of the most exciting months of the year for birding in the UK.