On the Move: Why Ecologists Monitor Birds Through the Winter

On the Move: Why Ecologists Monitor Birds Through the Winter

On the Move: Why Ecologists Monitor Birds Through the Winter
15 September 2025

Autumn is upon us again. As temperatures drop, days noticeably shorten and leaves fall, many birds migrate to more hospitable winter climes. These movements vary greatly and may be epic intercontinental journeys or simply relocations to different habitats or lower elevations closer by.

Part of our work as ecologists involves ensuring that we attain as comprehensive an understanding of our project sites as possible, and mobile populations of birds present a unique challenge when seeking to do so; unlike monitoring many other protected species, surveying for birds is often required throughout the winter months – and sometimes also during spring and autumn migration periods – to ensure that we establish a full picture of avian activity. To this end, separating the surveying, assessment and reporting for breeding and non-breeding birds is essential, to avoid information overload and missing important details. From late September to early October is the ideal time to begin wintering bird work and it is therefore critical for ecologists to have considered the ornithological requirements of their projects before autumn is with us in earnest.

Brief Focus on Redshank (Tringa totanus)



Seen by many as the archetypal wading bird, the redshank (BAm) is a charismatic and relatively conspicuous Tringa sandpiper with a smart appearance. Their matching suite of orange-red legs and bill shout ‘Iook at me!’ and their loud cries in flight might reinforce this caricature of an unabashed show-off. Redshank could be described as ‘busy’ birds, with a hurried, scurrying gait and they can usually be found in winter at the water’s edge probing, like clockwork toys, for invertebrates in the intertidal sediment. These birds then move to farmland and saltmarsh to nest and are equally at home pulling earthworms from the soil. As such, redshank are fascinating specialists of both field and shoreline.


Redshank are a declining UK resident – nesting primarily in Scotland and northern England – with additional overwintering individuals arriving from Iceland. However, a 19% decrease in the migrant population between 1996 and 2022, and a substantial breeding range contraction, highlight the need for careful conservation. Critically, redshank is a Designated Feature of four out of the five SPA sites in north-west England. Therefore, their presence on or near a project site within 10km of any of these Internationally Designated Sites can be especially important. Look out for those well-dressed waders!

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Bringing the world of books to life for blind or visually impaired children
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Delivering major infrastructure in sensitive environments requires a coordinated approach, bringing together a range of expertise to understand place, manage risk and support informed decision-making. Our work on the North Hykeham Relief Road (NHRR) in Lincolnshire is a strong example of this in practice, with teams from across TEP working together to support the delivery of this long-planned scheme. A long-planned piece of infrastructure The NHRR forms the final section of Lincoln’s ring road, a scheme that has been identified in Local Plans for around twenty years. As the project progressed, it required careful consideration of environmental constraints, historic assets and landscape character, alongside the practicalities of delivering a major new road. Working alongside Balfour Beatty and the wider project team, we provided a range of services spanning heritage and archaeology, planning, landscape, ecology and arboriculture. A coordinated programme of assessment and support underpinned the development of the scheme. Our Historic Environment team established the baseline through desk-based assessment, consultation and phased archaeological evaluation. This work identified areas of interest including sites of prehistoric activity, the important Roman road of Ermine Street, and a potential Roman villa complex, providing valuable insight into the long-term history of the site. These findings directly informed the design process, helping to shape the scheme in response to the site’s archaeological and historical context. The team also assessed potential impacts on sensitive heritage assets, including listed buildings and conservation areas, ensuring that the historic environment was fully considered as the project evolved.
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Bringing the world of books to life for blind or visually impaired children
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TEP is proud to be partnered with the award-winning initiative Time for Geograph y, whic h showcases the importance of geography and the diverse careers it can lead to. Time for Geography is a free, online education platform reaching schools and universities across the UK. Through a series of engaging video resources, it brings geography to life in the classroom, connecting academic learning with real-world challenges such as sustainability, climate change, urban planning and environmental management. Our contribution to the initiative forms part of the platform’s Careers Collection, where our team shares insight into the varied and rewarding pathways geography can open up. These resources are designed to help students understand how their studies translate into professional roles, offering a clearer view of the opportunities available within the environmental sector. We’re delighted that this collaboration has been recognised with a Highly Commended Geographical Association Publishers Award , which celebrates the careers-focused videos and resources developed to guide students towards further education and careers in our industry. With an audience of over 2.5 million this year, Time for Geography is a powerful example of how education and industry can come together to inspire future talent, showing how a subject studied in the classroom can lead to meaningful, real-world careers. For many of our colleagues at TEP, that journey began with a simple interest in geography at school. Today, that interest has grown into careers spanning ecology, arboriculture, heritage, planning, landscape design and environmental management. By sharing these experiences, we hope to encourage the next generation to see geography not only as a fascinating subject, but as a pathway into work that makes a tangible difference. We’re proud to support an initiative that is helping shape the future talent pipeline for our sector, and to inspire the environmental specialists of tomorrow. Learn more and watch our video: