Le migrazioni nello Yorkshire

Le foto degli uccelli di passaggio nella lunga penisola di Spurn Head

SPURN HEAD, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 12: British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), volunteer Dave Williams releases a Songthrush after it is fitted with a ring at Spurn Point on October 12, 2012 in Spurn Head, England. The BTO office at Spurn undertakes vital research by capturing migrating birds in mist nets and Heligoland nets before weighing, sexing and recording the birds details to provide long-term monitoring of bird populations and migration. The Spurn Point coastal reserve has been managed by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust since the 1950′s after it was purchased from the MOD and comprises of a three and a half mile long, narrow and curving peninsula made up of a series of grassy sand and shingle banks, and mudflats. The reserve which is only 50 metres wide in places lies on the northern bank of the Humber Estuary where the North Sea meets the Humber River and is significantly affected by coastal erosion. Due to Spurn’s location, it is one of the country?s key areas for ornithological observation, as it is the first land for many migratory species on their way over the North Sea to Scandinavia and beyond. Birdwatchers gather during autumn when they are likely to see an array of different migratory birds including Bramblings, Redstarts, Sparrow hawks, Shrike, Short Eared Owls Storm Petrols, Gannets, Knot and Oystercatchers. Rarer species are also common sightings including Radde’s Warbler, Nightingale and Firecrest. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

SPURN HEAD, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 12: British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), volunteer Dave Williams releases a Songthrush after it is fitted with a ring at Spurn Point on October 12, 2012 in Spurn Head, England. The BTO office at Spurn undertakes vital research by capturing migrating birds in mist nets and Heligoland nets before weighing, sexing and recording the birds details to provide long-term monitoring of bird populations and migration. The Spurn Point coastal reserve has been managed by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust since the 1950′s after it was purchased from the MOD and comprises of a three and a half mile long, narrow and curving peninsula made up of a series of grassy sand and shingle banks, and mudflats. The reserve which is only 50 metres wide in places lies on the northern bank of the Humber Estuary where the North Sea meets the Humber River and is significantly affected by coastal erosion. Due to Spurn’s location, it is one of the country?s key areas for ornithological observation, as it is the first land for many migratory species on their way over the North Sea to Scandinavia and beyond. Birdwatchers gather during autumn when they are likely to see an array of different migratory birds including Bramblings, Redstarts, Sparrow hawks, Shrike, Short Eared Owls Storm Petrols, Gannets, Knot and Oystercatchers. Rarer species are also common sightings including Radde’s Warbler, Nightingale and Firecrest. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Spurn Head è una delle più importanti riserve naturali dell’Inghilterra. Si trova all’estremità meridionale della costa dello Yorkshire ed è un promontorio di sabbia lungo quasi cinque chilometri e largo al massimo 50 metri. Per la particolare conformazione geologica e la posizione geografica, davanti al Mare del Nord, la riserva naturale è considerata una delle zone più adatte in Europa all’osservazione e al monitoraggio dei flussi migratori di uccelli. In autunno la riserva viene raggiunta dai volontari del British Trust for Ornithology che raccolgono dati sugli uccelli e dai birdwatchers, attratti dalla possibilità di osservare specie molto rare pronte ad abbandonare la costa e a spostarsi verso la Scandinavia.  Sul sito del parco è possibile seguire giornalmente le specie avvistate.