Migration by Malva

Puzzle explanation

The grid’s main diagonal contains MINSMERE, a nature reserve run by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, which features many migratory birds.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Moved letter Answer Explanation
Across
1 tr(e)ad → trad(e) ABUSIVE BUSI(ness) in AVE
7 (A)te → te(a) CHAI CHAI(n)
10 C(l)am → Ca(l)m HUSO HUS(h) + O’
11 b(r)ead → bea(r)d BAWN AWN after B(akery)
12 cour(s)ing → (s)couring LANT L(urcher) + AN’T
13 (w)ary → a(w)ry MEROSOME MORE * + SOME
14 (S)even → de(s)ign PLAIN PLAN around I
15 (T)sar → s(t)ar HESPER ESP in HER
16 tick(s) → (s)tick ARCANE CANE after (A + R)
18 cloth(e)s → B(e)ars HAICKS HACKS around I
22 Boom(s) → Bo(s)om BUST BU(t) + ST
24 (e)ar → ar(e) ANT A + N(ullify) T(innitus)
25 Cull(s) → (S)cull OAR AUROCHS * − SUCH *
27 Ta(s)te → (S)tate OMAN O’ + MANGO − GO
28 st(e)ak → stak(e) KGOTLA TALK * around GO
29 m(e)at → mat(e) REEFER FEER < + E + R
31 care(s)s → (s)cares SKRIKS KISS * around (K + R)
32 Kill(s) → (S)kill ARTEL ART + EL
34 finge(r) → f(r)inge HIELAMAN HIL(t) around (fring)E + A + MAN
35 fea(t)s → feas(t) GALA AL(e) in GA
36 right(s) → rue(s) USER RUES *
37 Ang(e)l → Angl(e) RAKE WAKE with (Gab)R(iel) for the first letter
38 pace(s) → (s)pace EMEU EM + EU(k)
39 tart(s) → (s)tart ALFORJA OLAF * + R(osalind) +JA(m)
Down
1   HARP R(andom) in HAP
2   BULLYRAG BULLY + RAG
3   SUMAC CAMUS <
4   BIEN BIDDEN − DD
5   OVARIES OS around VARIE(d)
6   ENSATE NEAREST * − (rapie)R
7   ECLOSION COLONIES *
8   CHAMPAC PAC(a) after CHAM
9   THIRSTY THIRTY around S
17   ABOITEAU (IDEA ABOUT − D(eluge)) *
19   KNEE-JERK KNEE + JERK
20   BOSKAGE GE after (B + OAKS *)
21   BROILER BOILER around R(eally)
23   TROMMEL MOR < in ((pea)T + ELM *)
26   KILLUT KILL + (c)UT
30   FEART F + E(nglish) + ART
32   AFAR RAFA <
33   LEAF LEAFLET − LET
Back to 2016 menu