No.20. Some Early Autumn Migrants
(Remember to click on the photos to enlarge the images) The 2020 autumn bird migration is now well underway. I first noticed a change in the species appearing in Secret Valley in late July/early August, heralded by the welcome fluting call of the European Bee-eaters. There have already been a lot of large flocks of this species crossing the island, and frequently stopping for a rest here en route to Africa. They would seem to have had a successful breeding season in the southern and middle countries of Europe this summer (typically visiting as far north as France, Holland and Germany, as well as to many of the Eastern Europe countries, as well as Ukraine and into Southern Russia). As I write this I can still hear flocks of Bee-eaters calling as another flock makes its way south. European Bee-eaters - early autumn migrants In the last three weeks there have been a number of Lesser Grey Shrikes appearing in the shrubs around the golf course, and I noticed an adult and a juvenile on...