Birdwatchers have been treated to a wave of migratory birds that were blown to the island from Hurricane Imelda last week.

Several species of cuckoos, warblers and other birds stopped in Bermuda to rest and refuel before many continued their migrations to the Caribbean and South America.

Miguel Mejias, an ornithologist and birdwatcher, said that some of the creatures may stay for the rest of the week, while others will remain until next spring.

He added: “This storm must have grounded at least 3,000 or 4,000 birds, so I’ll be driving and I’ll be seeing blackpoll warblers darting across the road or cuckoos bursting out of the hedgerows while I’m driving.

“There are just so many birds that it’s hard for the average person not to see them.”

Dr Mejias said that September and October marked the peak of the autumn migration for about 700 million birds flying out of Canada and the US.

He said that some took transoceanic flights over the Atlantic and may have their migrations disrupted by bad weather.

Dr Mejias said that, during these times, many birds were forced to make emergency landings in places like Bermuda — something he said was “unfortunate for the birds, but to the delight of the birdwatchers”.

He explained: “Bermuda’s the only significant landmass in the western North Atlantic Ocean and it’s a critical refuge for lost and tired birds.”

Dr Mejias said that the most abundant bird species to come from Hurricane Imelda, which passed over the island as a Category 2 in the early hours of Thursday, had to be the blackpoll warbler, which are common across Canada, Alaska and the northeastern US.

The small songbirds grow to just under 6 inches in length, with wingspans of about 7.9in to 9.8in and weigh about 12 grams to 15g.

Dr Mejias said that blackpoll warblers usually only came in small groups, with the most recent large stop happening in 2016 after Hurricane Nicole.

He added: “When they’re grounded, these birds usually stay in Bermuda for about a week.

“They feed on caterpillars, spiders, different kinds of berries and they replenish their fat reserves so they can continue their journey back down to South America.”

Other eye-catching species this year, Dr Mejias said, included the Connecticut warbler, a bird species from southern Canada that was rare to find in Bermuda, and the bobolink, a type of blackbird that grows to about 7in in length with a wingspan of about 10.6in.

Dr Mejias said that many of the birds feasted on insects, making them perfect for getting rid of any pests.

However, he warned that they often reach Bermuda exhausted and may be in need of rehabilitation.

He told the public that an exhausted bird could be recognised when it is laying on the ground and barely reacting when a person is close.

Dr Mejias said that exhausted birds should be handled using gloves, picked up delicately by cupping them and placed in a closed cardboard box with a towel or paper towel.

He added that people should then contact the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo to help get the creatures rehabilitated and released.

Dr Mejias told the public not to try to catch a bird if the creature was able to get away.

He also warned cat owners to keep their pets indoors, as the animals were known to target birds, though he added that dead bird species are also helpful for BAMZ’s museum.

As for those who wish to spot the birds, Dr Mejias said to follow their calls.

He said: “The blackpoll warbler has a very distinct, insectlike buzzing call when it flies.

“You can also listen for the bill snaps — there are so many birds that, I’m not exaggerating, you can actually hear their bills snapping when they’re catching insects and it sounds like little twigs snapping.”

• To report an exhausted or injured bird, contact the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo at 293-2727