SPRING MIGRATION IN BRITISH AREA 247 



separated from England, and after much of the Channel 

 land had been submerged. Hence no trace of that 

 movement is visible in extreme western and south- 

 western districts. 



Very soon after this early spring migration begins the 

 birds that are only known in the British Islands as winter 

 visitors commence to leave and to pass northerly, either 

 by an easterly trend to the Continent, or by a westerly 

 trend to the Faroes, Iceland, and Greenland. The Red- 

 wing and the Fieldfare begin to leave our islands 

 towards the end of February, the migration of both 

 species becoming more marked in March, reaching its 

 fullest strength in April, and ceasing in May. The 

 Brambling passes north again in March and April, as 

 also do the Siskins that winter exclusively in our area. 

 The Snow Buntings begin to leave us even at the end 

 of January, the migration being more regular in February, 

 attaining its fullest strength in March, and dying down 

 completely in April. Such species as the Golden Plover, 

 the Lapwing, the Curlew, the Redshank, the Woodcock, 

 the Common and Jack Snipes, individuals of which 

 winter in our area, begin to pass northwards from it in 

 February, the migration becoming strongest in March 

 and April, and dying away again in May, or in some 

 few cases is prolonged even into June — the latter being 

 composed chiefly if not entirely of coasting migrants, 

 individuals that only cross our area on passage. In 

 February and March great numbers of Ducks and 

 Geese commence their northern migration from our 

 islands, the flight continuing through April, and in the 

 case of the most Arctic species into May and even June, 

 although the latter migration probably consists entirely 



