Migweek 2025

Migweek, an abbreviation for Migratory Week, refers to the specific week put aside by the professionals and helpers at the Bird Observatories around the chalky headland of Flamborough on Yorkshire’s North Sea coastline. This Year it took place between Sat 11th and Sun 19th October. It is perhaps best known for the large colonies of seabirds, such as Gannets, Puffins and Guillemot’s, which turn the white cliff faces into a spectacular bird nursery each June/July.

Bar Tailed Godwit - in from the Arctic

What is perhaps less well known but equally vital is how important this headland is to the many thousands of smaller birds which migrate to escape the harsher winters of Greenland, Iceland and Northern Europe.

This migration is on an epic scale and whilst it includes so many different species of bird there is just not the room to list them all here. You can however follow this link for a greater insight into the work carried out by the Flamborough Bird Observatory. https://flamboroughbirdobs.org.uk/events/migweek-2025/ 

A feisty Yellowhammer

Britains smallest bird - The Goldcrest

Rock Pipit - flown from northern Europe

The birds have a heroic battle  to cross the tumultuous and hazardous North Sea and an army of volunteers record the numbers and species that make the crossing every day. Perhaps it is easier to appreciate the enormity of what is happening when you read the following list recorded by volunteers in just a six hour period at just one of the stations along the coast line (Filey Bird observatory) 11,240 Fieldfare, 8,950 Redwing, 7,134 Blackbirds 1,570 Song and Mistle Thrushes.

An array of bird rings

The migration goes on for much longer than the ‘Migweek’, but the work done in those seven days by the Bird Observatories is vital to assist in the study of the birds behaviours, population trends, survival rates and migration patterns, all of which aids conservation efforts at a time when the pressures on these tiny creatures through things such as climate change, Bird Flu etc; means they are struggling more than ever before.

The station nearest to our cottage for the week was South Landing (near Flamborough Head) and we called in each day to watch their bird ringing process. They put nets up to catch and monitor samples of the new arrivals. The whole operation is carried out by highly trained, licensed and experienced individuals who follow strict ethical and safety protocols. They are also brilliant at explaining, in real time, to their audience exactly what’s happening.

Goldfinch

Bird nets are placed close to their base and the birds, once caught, are very quickly measured weighed ringed and released. All the information of the ringing is recorded and is available to similar organisations all over Europe. If all ready ringed the details are recorded and the birds history inspected - We were shown some birds who were ringed in Norway just 12 hours prior to their capture here.

I feel honoured to have witnessed just a brief part of this incredible week. I was only there for 5 days but in addition to the birds mentioned above the Observatories around Flamborough Head recorded;

Siskins, Lapland, Snow and Reed  Buntings, Hawfinches, Bramblings, Redpoll, Redwings, Chiffchaffs, Robins, Stonechats, Wheatears, Skylarks,  Dunnocks, Ring Ouzels, Yellow Browed Warblers, Blackbirds and amazingly Short Eared Owls.