Migratory birds in September: the Netherlands as a transit hub
In September, the skies begin to shift. Breeding birds leave, while northern species pass through. Whether you see them depends on wind and visibility — not on one fixed number.
Autumn migration is two-way traffic. Dutch breeding birds such as swallows head south. Birds from an enormous area stretching from Greenland to Siberia cross the Netherlands or spend the winter here. Insect-eaters often start leaving as early as August; finches, thrushes and geese peak later. The Netherlands lies in a central position, so migrants refuel here before continuing to south-western Europe or Africa. That is the significance of September: a changing of the guard, not a guarantee of huge numbers.
Visible migration follows coastlines and the edges of hills. Texel, corners of Zeeland and the Wadden region funnel birds when they encounter the North Sea. Inland observation posts begin counting in earnest from September. Euro Birdwatch brings those posts together for one European day. Radar shows that nocturnal migration can be enormous, but those volumes belong to specific nights, not to ‘this September’ as a whole. Rain and wind affect how many birds are travelling and how easily you can see them. This varies by species and direction of migration.
Look up along a dyke or dune edge. A silhouette against the morning sky is enough. Current access to observation posts and dunes is determined by the land manager.
A fresh perspective
With headwinds or rain, many migrants stay put; the big migration days often follow when the weather clears.
Go to a coastal headland or hill edge at sunrise and see whether the birds follow the line of the land.