The Caravan Club – September 2019

exceptionally warm southerly winds and clouds

of Saharan dust across the Channel.

This peculiar weather is thought to have been

one of the main triggers for the arrival of an

unprecedented number of hawfinches in southern

England – a staggering 50,000 as a rough estimate.

It i s l i ke ly t h at a s ho r t a ge of fo o d i n t h e i r u s u a l

wintering areas contributed to their decision to

migrate to the UK but here they found suitable

conditions and delighted bird watchers generally.

The hawfinch is a beautiful bird. It is our

largest finch with a huge beak capable of cracking

open a cherry stone. Males and females are

similar in appearance – they have a row of blue

feathers in their wings which have twisted,

club-shaped ends, making them remarkably

striking. The hawfinch is extremely wary and

s e c r e t i ve, m a k i n g i t ve r y d i f f ic u l t to s p o t d e s p i te

its large size and colourful plumage.

The birds spend most of the year in the tree

tops where, in summer and autumn, they eat the

seeds (hornbeam, elm and ash are popular

varieties). Hedgerow fruits such as hips, holly

berries and haws, from which the species gets its

English name, are also eaten. Later in the autumn

and through winter they are forced to come to

the ground to find the remaining seeds of beech

trees and others – this is when you are most likely

to see them at garden bird tables. Look out for

them – you won’t be disappointed!

A

utumn is preparing to cast its spell on the

countryside. Trees will turn golden brown

b efo r e t h e y s h e d t h e i r le ave s; s w a l low s w i l l d e p a r t ;

redwings and fieldfares arrive.

There are many other regular occurrences that

we can predict to a certain extent, but not every

autumn is the same. If the weather is settled we

might see migrant butterflies such as the clouded

yellow and red admiral arriving on the south coast.

During a period of easterly winds in September we

will see more migrants from Scandinavia, with

wryneck, bluethroat and red-breasted flycatchers

recorded along our south and east coasts. Strong

westerlies later in the month may bring very rare

migrants from America.

Later in the autumn, should there be colder

weather and a shortage of voles in Scandinavia,

we could see short-eared owls arriving in the UK.

Similarly, lower temperatures and a sparsity of

b e r r ie s m i g ht s e nd a n i n f lu x of w a x w i n g s o u r w ay.

Two years ago we had an invasion of

h aw f i nc h e s .O u r b r e e d i n g p op u l at io n i s t ho u g ht

to be about 800 pairs, and our normal total

wintering population might be 15,000. This

regular influx is in keeping with a general south

and westward movement of birds from northern

and eastern Europe seeking milder conditions

and a better source of food.

Normally the majority of hawfinches

over-winter in heavily wooded countries such

as Germany where they feed on the seed of a

variety of trees. However, two years ago we had

an unusual period of weather in October. Much

of Europe had easterly winds while the UK was

affected by Storm Ophelia, which initially brought

64 September 2019 Caravan and Motorhome Club

COUNTRY MATTERS HAWFINCH

QLapland buntings arrive on the east

and south coasts from Scandinavia

during periods of easterly winds

QWhite-rumped sandpipers from

America are seen after westerly winds

QSilver Y moths might arrive in the

south following a period of southerly

winds. Look for the distinctive

Y- s h a p e d m a r k o n t h e i r f o r e - w i n g s

ON YOUR DOORSTEP

Club sites near good areas to spot

hawfinches this autumn

Site: Black Knowl

The New Forest is one of the best places

to see hawfinches due to the proliferation

of trees, with Blackwater Arboretum in

particular attracting good numbers. New

Forest Centenary is a good alternative site.

Site: Lucksall

A good base from which to visit the Forest

of Dean which has become a popular spot

for hawfinches in the autumn. The village

of Brierley is a focal point, where they are

attracted by hornbeam trees.

Site: Kendal

The National Trust’s Sizergh Castle in

Cumbria has proved to be a good place

to see hawfinches in recent years. The

café’s veranda is one of the top locations

from which to see these shy birds. Rangers

occasionally run sessions giving advice on

how to spot them.

To book, open the UK Sites app, visit

camc.com/searchandbook or

call our Advance Booking

Service on 01342 327490.

Please call Affiliated

Sites (AS) directly.

SEPTEMBER

LOOK OUT FOR

MEMBER SINCE...

Motorhomer David Chapman

joined the Club in 2000

Clockwise from left: white-rumped

sandpiper, silver Y moth, Lapland bunting

BOOK

ON T H E

APP