Here you can observe migratory birds in Germany in autumn

It's getting colder again, and while we pull transitional jackets out of the closet, many of our native birds prefer to head south rather than grow a thicker plumage.

They spend the winter months in Southern Europe or on the African continent, covering impressively long distances. Along the way, they take breaks, including at many places in Germany. We'll tell you where you can best observe migratory birds right now.

From as early as June, you can observe the first birds leaving the Wadden Sea at the North Sea. The last ones depart in November, and by mid-January, the first ones return. In October, the bird migration is most intense at the Wadden Sea where you can observe terns, ducks, geese, and songbirds.

The best chances are early in the morning when ducks, geese, gulls, and terns are already active. But even during the day, the mudflats are full of birds fueling up for the onward journey. Massive flocks of dunlins, bar-tailed godwits, or brent geese have already traveled long distances from Northern Europe and rest on the North Sea coast. You can perfectly observe the birds on the East Frisian Islands and near Cuxhaven.

Hesse is on the main migration route of cranes. You can hear their cries from afar before these majestic creatures appear in flocks in the sky or suddenly populate entire fields. The best observation is on sunny days. Coming from the Harz Mountains, they fly over Fulda and then pass through Hesse in the afternoon and evening.

If you want to see the cranes in Hesse with your own eyes, you should visit river valleys in Upper and Middle Hesse, such as the Amöneburger Basin. The cranes are generally on their way to Spain. You can recognize them not only by their trumpet-like calls but also by their V-shaped formation in the sky.

Along the Müritz in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern as well, migratory birds, especially cranes and storks, can currently be observed. The national park has over 100 lakes, which are already a paradise for birds, but during migration in spring and autumn, even more birds are here. Ospreys have raised their young here and are preparing to depart in the fall.

Here, at the end of October, thousands of cranes gather, preparing for the flight towards Spain and North Africa. The stubble fields are then teeming with these large migratory birds, creating an unmistakable concert. If you want to witness this natural spectacle, a visit to the 'Gnever Kieskuhle' viewpoint, two kilometers from Ludorf, is worth it.

Welcome to the international airport-for migratory birds. The Rieselfelder Münster reserve is known for its incredible bird diversity. Here, swans, cormorants, gulls, Nile geese from Africa, and sometimes even a black swan whose ancestors are from Australia make a stop.

In October, you can especially observe wading birds at the Rieselfelder. They linger a bit longer here in the fall to build up enough fat stores for their onward journey. You can find the reserve between Münster and Gimbte in North Rhine-Westphalia.

At the Baltic Sea, besides the Müritz, you also have the Karrendorf Meadows, which are excellent for bird watching. The meadows are a kind of coastal floodplain, and during high tide, they are regularly submerged. These wet meadows and ditches are a paradise for mosquitoes, which are crucial food for the migratory birds.

That's why the dunlins, lapwings, avocets, and other migratory birds gather here in the fall to build up energy reserves for the onward flight south. You can find the Karrendorf Meadows near Greifswald.

Behind the Oderbruch hides a natural landscape in eastern Brandenburg. In the fall, the harvested fields and riverbanks are visited by thousands of cranes making a stop on their way south. On the fields, they find enough food to fuel up for the onward journey.

But it's not just cranes filling up in the Oderbruch; bean geese and whooper swans can also be observed here, usually during the daytime. Fields are not only a good place for bird watching, but at Kietzer See, you will encounter numerous cranes and geese.

The Chiemsee is not only a popular holiday destination for people but also an important hub for birds on their way to warm southern regions. Here you can observe bird species like the dunlin or ruddy turnstone in the fall. They spent the summer in the far north, raised their young, and are now on their way south.

At the lake, they replenish energy reserves before continuing over the Alps. If you want to watch migratory birds at the Bavarian Chiemsee, you can, for instance, go to Chieming, where you will encounter several species at the shore.

In September and October, many places in Lower Lusatia become loud. Then numerous cranes, geese, and swans land in the Niederlausitz Landrücken Nature Park to fuel up for their onward journey to wintering grounds. The Luckauer Basin is particularly popular.

If you want to see the cranes here with your own eyes, you should visit the nature park in the late afternoon or evening. Around 1,700 cranes live here year-round, and up to 15,000 more birds join during migration.

In the large wetlands around the Steinhuder Meer in Lower Saxony, huge flocks of birds rest each fall to fuel up for the onward journey south. If you visit the Steinhuder Meer early in the morning, you will be able to witness the departure of numerous gray and bean geese.

At sunrise, they set off to search for food in the surrounding meadows after spending the night on the water. In the western part of the Steinhuder Meer Nature Park, you can particularly observe this spectacle.

The small off-coast island of Heligoland in the North Sea is a paradise for bird-watching enthusiasts. When the migratory birds head south, it becomes particularly exciting here. The small island offers a perfect resting spot for birds coming from the far north.

Until early November, you can observe rare species on the beach and cliffs here. They fill up on small seaweed flies and berries before continuing south. Species you can observe here in October include forest and water pipits, goldcrest warblers, and little buntings.

Looking for more inspiration? Find tips for all top travel destinations at bettercities.net.