Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2019 i Bird Watching

The next time you see a Pintail, says bird guide Ian Parsons, make sure you fully appreciate the amount of miles it clocks up in its lifetime. P20 Steve Wiltshire extols the virtues of a visit to north Norfolk and highlights the birding hotspots to head for on page 35 Renowned bird author Dominic Couzens tells a fascinating story of a seemingly unremarkable bird – the Collared Dove. Page 41 Bird guide Ruth Miller comes face to face with a number of great birds, including one called Maria, on a trip to Ecuador on page 44 The Urban Birder David Lindo heads to the Danish capital Copenhagen for some city birdwatching on page 84…

The drake Pintail has to be one of the finest looking birds in Britain. With its long neck, small head and extended tail feathers, this is a bird that screams style and elegance, either when in flight or out on the open water. Although only a small number actually breed here, we are lucky to have almost 30,000 of these dapper ducks wintering with us each year. They start arriving in September, with the numbers reaching a peak in December, by the end of February they are beginning to return to their breeding grounds, so now is the best time to make the most of these beautiful birds being here. The Pintail has one of the largest distributions of any bird and was once the world’s most numerous duck (the…

The chances are that, apart from what you can observe for yourself, there is only one thing you know about the Collared Dove and its life. Famously, this bird arrived in Britain under its own steam in the 1950s and became common and widespread here at extraordinary speed. That is the Collared Dove’s identity, its eyebrow-raising claim to fame. No conversation about the bird ever strays from this path. This is partly because the takeover of Britain was so extraordinary, but also partly because the dove itself seems, conversely, to be so entirely lacking in any unusual attributes which might take the conversation in a different direction. Rarely do we correlate success with being unremarkable, but in the Collared Dove’s case we do. It came, it conquered, life went on…

The 100-acre woodland garden was created in 1912 by Lady Grace Campbell, whose nephew, Reginald Farrer, was one of those intrepid plant hunters, scouring far-flung corners of the globe for exotic flora. Farrer’s books changed the way we designed our gardens, rejecting stiff Victorian formality for a more naturalistic planting style. The steep-sided Crarae Glen was the perfect place to experiment with the trees and shrubs brought back from China, Nepal and Tibet. All rocky ravine and rushing water, the Crarae Burn tumbles down to Loch Fyne. Add about 50 different habitats, from cliff-like crevices to wet woodland, and you have the reason three generations of the Campbell family – Lady Campbell, her son Sir George, and his son, Sir Ilay – were able to recreate a corner of the…

College Valley is part of the Northumberland National Park, and is one of England’s best kept secrets, with only one road in and out, although the southern end is overlooked by The Pennine Way, some 10 miles from Kirk Yetholm. At the base of The College Valley lies the hamlet of Hethpool. To your right as you descend the metal road, cultivation terraces in excess of a thousand years old hug the slopes. What makes College Valley so special from a birding point of view is that you can see lowland species such as Blackbird and Great Spotted Woodpecker from the car park at the bottom of the valley and, just 20 minutes later, be looking at high moorland species, such as Red Grouse, Whinchat or even Golden Eagle. In…

Thirlmere is a reservoir in the Lake District, created in 1894 when the area was dammed and flooded, drowning two villages in the process, Armboth and Wythburn. It now provides the city of Manchester with its water. When the reservoir was built, most of the surrounding hillsides were bare of trees and foresters had to carry buckets of soil up the hillside to plant them. Move on to the present time and ‘native’ comes into the equation – so many of the Douglas Firs and even Beech have been removed, replaced by oak, birch and many self-seeded willows. A tree that was here before the last Ice Age, European Silver Fir, has its largest British specimen on the west side of the water. The remaining big Douglas Firs attracted early…

Situated at the head of Nidderdale, this Yorkshire Water site can be explored using this circular route around the water, well away from traffic, not like its neighbour in the valley, Gowthwaite. The reservoir, completed in 1936, is remote and peaceful and surrounded by impressive scenery. It is fed almost exclusively from Angram Reservoir, which in turn is fed predominantly from the flanks of Great Whernside. I had a classic day with little wind and sunshine. The woodland birds are a great start before approaching the reservoir. A nestbox scheme encourages Pied Flycatcher to breed here, along with many tits and the odd Redstart. Both Dipper and Grey Wagtail are found in these lower reaches, along with many warblers. The waders are in great numbers with Curlew, Snipe and Redshank,…

Valley Wetlands, an RSPB reserve, comprises three small lakes and pools with surrounding reedbeds, while a low hillock provides a good overview of one of the best lowland lake systems in Wales – tranquility amid the bustle of RAF Valley. The air base opened in 1941, and currently has some 1,500 personnel, civil servants and contractors. It’s home to No. 4 Flying Training School, responsible for training the UK’s next generation of world-class fighter pilots, and also to the Mountain Rescue Service; after all, Snowdonia is but a short flight away. In 1942, as peat was being dug from Llyn Cerrig-bach, one of the small pools, a wonderful hoard of 181 artefacts of bronze and iron came to light. These included seven swords, six spearheads, part of a bronze trumpet,…

This reserve, on the edge of The Wash, has quickly become a favourite with birders (and Bird Watching staff), not only because of its recent record of attracting rare vagrants such as Long-billed Dowitcher and Black-winged Pratincole, but also because a visit at any time should bring a long and varied list of sightings of rather commoner birds. Careful management of water levels on the freshwater scrapes is crucial to this, but there’s also a wide expanse of saltmarsh, damp meadows and ditches, hedges, and a small reservoir, so variety is the key here. While autumn and spring are probably the best times to visit, with migrants passing through as well as the resident birds, and the prospect of the highest tides, a visit at any time should be rewarding.…

Any sizeable reservoir in central England becomes a focus for both birds and birdwatchers and Thornton is no different, being a good place to see a variety of waterbirds, with a few surprises and an occasional rarity thrown in. A lack of muddy shoreline means there are rarely many waders, other than passage Common Sandpipers around the dam and the outflow, but scan what margins there are for Snipe in winter, at least. The commoner wildfowl are a given, but check for scarcer species. Gulls tend to be Black-headed, in the main, with most of the more unusual birds turning up in the roosts at Cropston and Swithland, two other Charnwood Forest reservoirs, but scan anyway. Similarly, check all the grebes carefully – while Great Cresteds predominate, Red-necked and Black-necked…

Positioned five miles to the south of Colchester, the sprawling freshwater reservoir of Abberton covers more than 1,200 acres and is one of the most important of its kind for birds in the East Anglia region. The western section has more natural banks and riparian vegetation associated with Essex Wildlife Trust nature reserve, but much of the 12-mile perimeter is concrete banked, particularly at the eastern end where the deepest water abuts the dam. This walk covers the section between the two villages of Peldon and Abberton, affording views across the eastern arm, along with farmland habitat and a copse in between from public footpaths. Being so close to the Essex coastline, this famous old reservoir can attract huge numbers of waterfowl each winter. In among the flocks of common…

The Stodmarsh area of the Great Stour river valley has been much manipulated by mankind down the centuries; from medieval monks who used the valley for grazing horses, to the 20th Century coal mining industry. The resulting landscape is now a National Nature Reserve under the management of Natural England, with a mosaic of lakes, meres, ditches, fen, reedbeds, wet meadows and a small wood, a haven for a wide variety of flora and fauna. Thoughtfully located hides and viewpoints along the way enhance the walkers’ wildlife experience, without being too intrusive. Marsh Harriers are commonplace, with lesser numbers of Hen Harriers most winters, both of which roost in reedbeds at dusk. Other raptors to look out for include Merlin, Peregrine and Buzzard. The open fields at Grove Ferry sometimes…

It’s always a pleasure to find a birdwatching site that provides you with a beautiful walk, no matter what you do or don’t see, and Cuckmere Haven comes very high on any list of those. The walk along the valley, from the Seven Sisters Country Park car-park on the A259 to the haven itself, offers gorgeous views in peaceful surroundings, accompanied in spring and summer by the singing of Sky Larks. The river itself (it’s canalised, but the original meanders remain alongside) tends to attract the commoner wildfowl species, and the wader scrape and other muddy areas rarely attract large numbers of anything, but the area really comes into its own during spring and autumn migration, when the valley acts as a funnel for passerines arriving from the continent and…

Regular readers will know that I spend a lot of time chatting to my neighbours – as a relative newcomer to the village, they teach me so much about the area and the wildlife that inhabits it. Starting a conversation with someone passing my gate often results in surprising discoveries and so I potter about the front garden as often as I can. I do so love a distraction! Last month, I told you about the Swallows who’ve been filling the sky with their shapes and this month, they’ve taken to lining up on the telegraph wires, which would make a pretty picture, but I never seem to get there in time. I mentioned this to the man who lives in the cottage with the cutest name and he said…

If you’re already planning on taking Bird Watching’s #My200BirdYear challenge in 2020, or if you just want to see the very best of Scotland’s birds in winter, then this fun holiday is for you. Get your New Year birdlist off to a cracking start with a week of birding across the Highlands from coast to coast! For the second week, you’ll be joined by Bird Watching editor Matt Merritt as well as Heatherlea’s own expert guides. Top priorities will be the resident specialities – Capercaillie, Ptarmigan, Black Grouse, Golden Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, Scottish Crossbill and Crested Tit – but you’ll also be able to look for a host of northern winter visitors, and finally round-up rarities. By the end of the week, you should have seen around 120 species. There’ll…

This month-Grey Phalarope Sometimes, Grey Phalaropes turn up on shallow coastal pools – often not much more than large puddles. This individual favoured, of all things, a children’s paddling pool located within sight of the sea on the Sussex coast. The location allowed photographers to capture images practically at water level, with the classic reflections that result from this low angle approach. Grey Phalaropes seldom keep still and you will need a fast shutter speed to capture their movements as they dip into the water, swim and twirl on the surface. Unless the bird happens to be momentarily static, a minimum of 1/4,000s is recommended, with an even faster speed needed if you want to ‘freeze’ water droplets. Grey Phalaropes mostly pick food (typically plankton) from the surface of the…

SOUTH WEST Highlights Just as the country was reeling from blurry photos of what appeared to be a Brown Booby off the north Kent coast, clearer photos of a definite Brown Booby off St Ives, Cornwall, appeared (in the last week of August)! This second-summer bird stayed long enough for visiting birders to get incredible views. Then it was off. But a second Cornish Brown Booby was waiting down the coast at The Lizard… AVON CLEVEDON-WESTON-SUPER-MARE: Common Scoters included four at Weston-super-Mare, one off Clevedon, with perhaps the same five at Severn Beach (10th). Clevedon-Yeo had 14 Little Egrets, 340 Knot, a Ruff, Little Stint, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank and six Whimbrels. A Marsh Harrier was at Wick St Lawrence (4th). A Wryneck was at Channel View (29th). SEVERNSIDE: Two Fulmars,…

Since its foundation in 1949, Swarovski Optik has specialised in the production and innovation of premium quality, high-precision optical instruments at its base in Absam, in the Austrian Tyrol. Many of these, such as the EL binoculars and the ATX and BTX families of spotting scopes, have proved ground-breaking, and helped change the way we observe birds, and nature more generally. “Constantly improving what is good,” has been the company’s motto right from the start, with a focus on exceeding customers’ expectations and surprising them with the quality of the products, and the superb customer service and after-care offered. All products are manufactured with ultra-precise tolerances of less than a hair’s breadth, which along with high-precision lenses and prisms assure optical perfection. Our products and innovations Here are just some…

COMMON NIGHTHAWK This very rare American nightjar (with only about 20 UK records) has a massive bias of occurrence to the Isles of Scilly, though occurrences in Nottinghamshire and London show that they could potentially turn up anywhere! September and October are the months to seek them. EASTERN CROWNED WARBLER Since the first accepted record of this Phylloscopus warbler, as recently as October 2009, at South Shields, Durham, there have been just three further records (all in October): one in Hertfordshire, one in Cleveland and one in East Yorkshire. SIBERIAN THRUSH There have only been a dozen accepted records of this rare thrush from, you guessed it, Siberia, in the UK. All those this millennium were on Shetland and all in late September or October.…

VIOLET DELIGHT At first glance, the mighty Violet Ground Beetle looks uniformly black. But when it catches the light, you should discern violet fringes to the wing casings and a purplish-blue tinge to the thorax. Flip enough logs and stones and you’ll find one. FUNGUS Autumn gold Fungi are such a prominent feature of autumn that it pays to spend part of October on your hands and knees, rummaging among terrestrial vegetation. Golden Spindle would certainly light up any such foray. Its narrow, cylindrical, finger-like fruits reach for the sky in unimproved grasslands and woodland clearings, between late summer and November. BUTTERFLY Blazing departure Given how widespread the Comma is, it may seem surprising that, two centuries back, this butterfly was restricted to a small area either side of the…

Despite my previous 120+ columns, it is only weeks ago that I made it to the allotted biblical span. If one were to be guided by what is on offer to us septuagenarians, I should now like wartime songs, waltzing and switching my electoral preference to the politics of selfishness. Oddly, I’ve found that while the young are often accused of being selfish, it’s their elders who tend to practise it! However, despite my deafness, I prefer Katy Perry to Perry Como and despite my great age, I’d give my vote to Greta Thunberg not those fiddling while the country burns. People of my age will be very lucky to be around still when the water wars and mass migrations that striking schoolchildren fear, begin, but we are the ones…

Gardens & gardening For many of us, helping birds begins at home. And home means our immediate surroundings, the buildings we live in, but also, vitally, our gardens. In an age when much of the countryside is dominated by agriculture which can be at odds with wildlife, birds need all the help we can give them. As we all know, birds need food, water and shelter, the latter of which includes somewhere to nest as well as somewhere to rest and sleep and stay out of the sight/reach of predators. There will be more on the food and water later, but here are a few pointers to simple things to do (or indeed not do), to make your garden as bird-friendly as possible, with particular emphasis on the autumn. Resist…

Here is advice based on that provided by the RSPB What you need: • A plank of wood 15cm x 1.4m long x 1.5-1.8cm • Pencil or pen and tape measure • Strip of rubber (eg from an old bicycle inner tube) • Wood saw • Nails • Screws • Drill 1 Measure and cut your wood according to the diagram on the right. Preferably using a special drill bit, use this to make the hole, with different dimensions for different species, as below. 2 For hole diameters, go for 25mm for Coal Tits, Marsh Tits and Blue Tits, 28mm for Great Tits and Tree Sparrows, 32mm for Nuthatches and House Sparrows. A Starling box needs to be 25-30% larger with an entrance 45mm across. 3 Nail all the pieces, except the roof, together. The sides, back…

We huddled together just before a bend in the narrow forest trail, silent, motionless, our binoculars poised for rapid lifting. The path was level but the terrain around us was vertiginous, steep hillside above, sheer drop below, the vegetation a mix of low bushes, spindly trees and thick rope-like vines, all covered with moss and lichen. We waited. The Ecuadorian, subtropical forest lived up to its damp reputation, as a drip fell from an oversized leaf above me and ran down the back of my neck, but I didn’t flinch. Then, from just around the corner ahead of us floated a voice. ‘Maria! Maria!’ it carolled, bouncing off the steep hillside before being absorbed by the dense, dripping trees. Again, ‘Maria! Maar-ee-aa!’ came his call, as our host backed around…

GRID REF: NR 983 970 POSTCODE: PA32 8YA HOW TO GET THERE: From the south: An hour drive from Glasgow, by Loch Lomond-side (A82) to Tarbet, then take the A83 towards Lochgilphead passing Inveraray with the gardens signposted from the road after Furnace. Alternatively, from the north: From Oban, Dalmally, Fort William, etc, take the A85, and just outside Dalmally, the A819 will take you to Inveraray, continue 10 miles south west on the A83 WHERE TO PARK: Large car park on site TERRAIN: All paths are hard underfoot but wheelchairs only in lower area. Stout footwear is advisable FACILITIES: All in Iveraray or Lochgilphead PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Buses run between Glasgow and Lochgilphead; ask to get off at the garden. Trains leave from Glasgow Queen Street, Fort William or Oban.…

GRID REF: (Mounthooley) NT 882 226 POSTCODE: NE71 6TP (for Cuddystone Hall) HOW TO GET THERE: Travelling north out of Wooler on the A697, take the B6351 at Akeld. From the west, take the same road at Town Yetholm. Arriving at Westnewton there is a sharp right-angled double bend turn at the Hethpool signpost – follow the road into the Valley WHERE TO PARK: Free car park at the entrance to the valley or buy a permit from Savills in Wooler on the day, which allows you to drive the three miles up the valley and park at the hostel TERRAIN: Narrow tarmac roads with livestock, deer and wild goats crossing over and wide grassy paths. The track inside the Hen Hole is very narrow and steep and can be…

GRID REF: NY 315 169 POSTCODE: CA12 4TP HOW TO GET THERE: Come off the A66 at Trelkeld coming from the east, heading towards Ambleside on the B5322, later joining the A591. The car park is well signposted. From the south the A591 brings you up from Kendal and Windermere WHERE TO PARK: There is a large car park (with its own ice cream van!) TERRAIN: Away from the minor road most paths are well maintained but there are some steep areas to walk. Best to use stout footwear ACCESSIBILITY: All year round walk FACILITIES: Keswick or Ambleside PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Trains to Workington on Carlisle/Barrow line and Penrith on main London line but buses run from Carlisle, Whitehaven and Penrith to Keswick and Ambleside. Traveline, tel: 0870 6082608 LOCAL GUIDE:…

GRID REF: SE 067 765 POSTCODE: HG3 5ST HOW TO GET THERE: Heading south off the A1 the A61 brings you to Ripon and then follow the B6265 to Patley Bridge. Heading north from Harrogate you can turn off the A61 onto the B6165 and follow onto Patley Bridge. From here take the minor road to Ramsgill. Follow on for the reservoir WHERE TO PARK: Car park by the dam TERRAIN: A mixture of rough, uneven tracks, tarmac roads, and moorland paths. Some sections can get muddy and boggy at wetter times of year. There are some steep climbs. Sturdy boots, waterproofs and appropriate warm layers are recommended, as this is an exposed area where the weather can quickly change ACCESSIBILITY: All year round FACILITIES: In Patley Bridge and also…

GRID REF: SH 313 765 POST CODE: LL65 3NA HOW TO GET THERE: Cross most of Anglesey on the A55 (North Wales Expressway) before leaving this for Valley, then almost immediately turn south at the first roundabout for Llanfihangel yn Nhowyn and RAF Valley WHERE TO PARK: S pace for 12 cars at the southern edge of the nature reserve TERRAIN: Good footpaths which can become very muddy, so not suitable for wheelchairs and some boardwalks ACCESSIBILITY: Open at all times FACILITIES: None on site, the nearest toilets are in Valley, 3.5 miles away, or continue to Holyhead PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Good train and bus services to Valley and Holyhead with a regular bus service to RAF Valley, less frequent on Sundays Traveline Cymru 0871 200 2233, web: travelinecymru.info ORGANISATIONS: RSPB,…

GRID REF: TF 358 390 POSTCODE: PE20 1AY HOW TO GET THERE: The reserve is signposted from the A16 between Boston and Kirton. Follow the brown signs to RSPB Frampton Marsh WHERE TO PARK: There’s plenty of parking (60 spaces, including six blue badge) opposite the visitor centre. The road goes on as far as the sea wall, but parking along here is discouraged as it blocks access TERRAIN: Tarmac road and firm gravel paths for most of the reserve, although muddier paths out the estuary and reservoir, or along the top of the sea wall ACCESSIBILITY: Visitor centre has disabled access and hides are accessible, too. Paths open all hours FACILITIES: Visitor centre has hot drinks, sandwiches and snacks, and toilets. There are several hides PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Nearest railway…

GRID REF: SK 474 077 POST CODE: LE67 1AR HOW TO GET THERE: From the A50 at Markfield, take Thornton Lane towards Desford, and turn right into Reservoir Road (signposted Thornton) WHERE TO PARK: Free parking at the village end of the dam, with a few free spaces at the far end too (but be careful not to block access, and when pulling into the road) TERRAIN: Firm gravel path all the way round (although it is prone to developing large puddles), suitable for wheelchairs. The paths through the wood are muddier, although one is wheelchair accessible ACCESSIBILITY: Open every day, dawn to dusk. Dogs allowed FACILITIES: Fishing lodge has refreshments, toilets (including disabled) and baby-changing facilities ORGANISATIONS: Seven Trent, web: stwater.co.uk CLUB CONTACT: Leicestershire and Rutland Ornithological Society, web:…

GRID REF: TL 990 178 POSTCODE: CO5 7PS HOW TO GET THERE: From Colchester, take the B1025 south for 4 miles towards Mersea Island. Turn right at Abberton and first right in the village for another 2 miles signposted to Peldon WHERE TO PARK: Along Malting Road and walk down Lodge Lane to site. Alternative parking can be found in Church Lane, Abberton TERRAIN: Mostly on the level with good paths, some surfaced and suitable for wheelchair users ACCESS: Year round access on public footpaths FACILITIES: The Plough in Lower Road, Peldon is highly recommended. The Essex Wildlife Trust Visitors Centre at Abberton Reservoir, south of Layer-de-le-Haye has a café, toilets, picnic area, interpretive boards, hides and children’s play area PUBLIC TRANSPORT: First Group Buses operate the No 67 Service…

GRID REF: TR 222 609 POSTCODE: CT3 4BP HOW TO GET THERE: From Canterbury take the A257 east to Sandwich. After 2 miles turn left to the village of Stodmarsh. Once in the village turn left past the Red Lion pub to site WHERE TO PARK: Reserve entrance TERRAIN: Mostly on the level with a variety of paths, some surfaced and suitable for the disabled to the viewpoint, others very heavy going when wet, particularly by the river along the Lampen Wall and out towards Marsh Hide ACCESS: Year-round-access on public footpaths FACILITIES: Information boards and toilets in the car park. Hides and viewpoints The Red Lion in Stodmarsh serves food as does the Grove Ferry Inn. There are further facilities in Upstreet PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Stagecoach buses operate from Canterbury…

GRID REF: TV 519 995 (this is the main car-park for the Seven Sisters Country Park) POSTCODE: BN25 4AB HOW TO GET THERE: Take the A259 coast road from either Brighton or Eastbourne – the river is just over a mile east of Seaford WHERE TO PARK: There’s a large pay and display car-park just to the east of the river – cost is minimum £3, but the machines take cards and you can also pay by phone TERRAIN: On the east side of the river, tarmac path eventually giving way to hardcore and then shingle. On the other side, the paths are muddier and more uneven, and there are stiles throughout. But the walks are largely on the flat ACCESSIBILITY: The paths west of the river are difficult for…

● As you’ll see from our feature on helping birds earlier in the magazine, this is a very busy time of year if you’re trying to garden with birds and wildlife in mind. But it’s worth reiterating a few key things to remember... ● DON’T disturb potential shelters for Hedgehogs, amphibians and reptiles, such as leaf piles and log piles, or if you have to tidy them up a little, move them to where they can remain in place all winter. ● DO leave at least one of your garden borders intact throughout autumn and into winter, as the seedheads will provide valuable food for visiting birds. ● DON’T forget to leave any windfall fruit and berries to lie (assuming you’re not going to eat them yourself, or turn them…

STEPHEN MOSS Tour leader Stephen is one of Britain’s best-known naturalists, authors and wildlife TV producers. His TV credits include Springwatch and Birds Britannia, while his many books include The Robin: A Biography. Stephen moved to Somerset 12 years ago with his family, and loves showing people the bird and wildlife wonders of his adopted home. GRAEME & KAY MITCHELL ran a holiday company for 25 years. Having settled with their family in Somerset two decades ago, they founded Somerset Birdwatching Holidays in 2017. Graeme’s guiding skills and Kay’s wonderful cooking make them the perfect hosts for your stay.…

Copenhagen is a pretty cool city. It has some great architecture, plenty of green and blue spaces and its citizens, many of whom are seated on bicycles, are friendly enough. But the Danes seem to keep their bird information close to their chests. Despite there being established grapevines, they are in Danish and getting access to them can prove to be pretty difficult. In short, general online information about the birds of Copenhagen is pretty scant. So, as a visiting birder you have to keep your eyes open and not forget to look up. The latter action is particularly important from mid-August into October, when raptors from further north and east are on the move. The famous migration watchpoint, in nearby Falsterbo in Sweden, is literally across the water, as…

Day 1: Saturday Arrival, welcome, briefing and dinner. Days 2-7: Sunday to Friday In these six days we concentrate on looking for Black Grouse, Red Grouse, Capercaillie, Golden Eagle, Crested Tit, Scottish Crossbill and (weather permitting!) Ptarmigan and Snow Bunting as priorities on local days. We search for these in a range of habitats from the mountains and high hills, to the pine forests and moors. Our daily itinerary will be flexible, and on our other days we visit coastal sites spending time on the Moray Coast and possibly the Black Isle. Up to date bird news and the weather conditions will help to dictate these days, with your guides deciding whether we head to the far West Coast to look for Black Guillemot, White-tailed Eagle, Twite and Great Northern…

Grey Phalaropes are amazing birds, similar to other waders in some respects, but with habits akin to ducks. They nest on land, of course, but spend the rest of their lives on water, where they are buoyant and adept swimmers. Most of the time, they live on the open ocean, but in autumn, and occasionally winter, storm-driven birds linger on coastal pools, or occasionally inland reservoirs. Grey Phalaropes make ideal photographic subjects: assuming a degree of common sense on the part of the photographer, they are almost completely indifferent to people.…

What first sparked your interest in birdwatching, and when? I’ve always watched the birds passing over my garden. I used to like to wonder where they came from and where they were heading. As a small child, I loved to look up at them and try to imagine what it would be like to fly over and look back down on my garden, the village and its surrounding fields. Who was your birdwatching inspiration or mentor? Probably not a person you’d normally associate with birdwatching, but Charlie Hamilton James and his relationship with his local Kingfishers. I loved how one minute he explained that as a camera person you shouldn’t get involved with the birds you are filming, then a few moments later he runs across the garden to help…

Swarovski is also about more than just superb optics for observing wildlife. Its company philosophy is one with environmentally-friendly production at its heart, and it has a long-term commitment to conservation projects around the world, as well as being a long-term sponsor of the British Birdwatching Fair. So, if you buy Swarovski products, you know we’re aiming to help people to love nature, and encouraging them to treat it with care and respect. We make every effort in our daily work and as a company as a whole to live and operate according to this vision. Our aim is to get even more people to love nature and its beauty, thus helping them put nature conservation into practice in their everyday lives. We believe that people are particularly committed to…

Binoculars and spotting scopes: both essentially performing the same function, yet with clear differences in terms of appearance and application. When starting out, many birdwatchers will immediately default to a pair of binoculars, thinking that they are more appropriate for their ability level. While this may be true in terms of their ease to direct and focus, spotters such as the Meade Wilderness 20-60x80mm, can also be surprisingly simple to set-up and use, tailored to all ages and abilities. The choice of equipment should be driven first and foremost by the purpose for which it is intended to be used. For example, if most observations are made from home or other fixed location where there is ample opportunity to set up a sturdy base, a spotter would be a wise…

Sustainability is the buzzword right throughout all sectors and especially when it comes to food and farming. For James and Nick Parrish, sustainable farming has elevated the Parrish’s farm from a family-run farm growing onions and shallots to an award-winning sustainable business growing and supplying some of the best wild bird food available on the UK market today. Ivel Valley Bird Food has swept up a host of awards over the last four years, including The Best Wild Bird Food Supplier 2019 (UK Enterprise Awards 2019), all of which are a testament to the hard work and passion the brothers have put into growing their sustainably-run bird food business. Nesting in Bedfordshire The Parrish farm is nestled in the beautiful British countryside and as you ramble down a country lane…

In a market saturated with low quality, wheat-based bird seed mixes, James and Nick realised the importance of ensuring our native birds are fed on high-quality food all year round. They enlisted the help of Mike Smith, the farms expert ornithologist, who has an MSc in Ornithology, specifically studying the supplementary feeding of garden birds. Mike consulted on the development of the 5-A-Day Ready Peck seed and suet range which is built around 5 key ingredients; suet, oats, seeds, nuts and either fruit or insects, with the aim of minimising waste and maximising energy. All of Ivel Valley’s own seed mixes are wheat-free, with ingredients chosen for their high nutritional value, including the specialty mixes for Robins, Finches, and Tits which have particular feed and feeder requirements. As well as…

After the Rutland Birdfair, in the second half of August, I spent a few days in Serbia, at the invitation of David Lindo. As you will have read in this magazine, David is a frequent visitor to this fascinating, landlocked, south-eastern European country; but it was all new to me. David is of course, ‘The Urban Birder’, a London-born, lifelong birdwatcher, very much at home birding in cities across the world. I come from the suburban Surrey fringe of south London (though, of course, I now live in Peterborough), and I like to tease David by styling myself ‘The Suburban Birder’, generally shunning inner city birding for something a bit more green and woody. We flew in to Belgrade airport and immediately drove roughly north-west to where we were staying,…

Bittern boom boon Bitterns have enjoyed their best year since records began, according to a new survey by the RSPB. Since 2006, there has been a year-on-year increase in the number of Bitterns making their home in Britain. This year, numbers reached record levels, with 198 males recorded at 89 sites. They had completely disappeared in Britain by the 1870s, before recolonising early in the 20th Century, then found themselves back on the brink in 1997, when numbers dropped to 11 males. Booming was reported from five new sites. Pitta needs help Gurney’s Pitta – a rare, ground-dwelling bird – is facing extinction, with extensive forest clearance having destroyed large areas of its habitat, a new study by Fauna & Flora International shows. It found that the habitat of Gurney’s…

It’s best done in late autumn or winter, because that will give time for vegetation to grow in and around the pond, and because the ground is likely to be a lot softer for digging! Here’s editor Matt Merritt’s step-by-step guide to creating your own mini-wetland… 1 Dig an irregular-shaped hole (ours was tadpole-shaped, 2m x 0.75m), for a more natural look. It doesn’t have to be too deep (50cm is fine), but should slope from one end to the other, with a shallow end giving easy access for birds. Use a spirit level to check the sides are level – if they aren’t, build up one side with soil from the hole. 2 Line the hole, ideally with a sturdy piece of carpet, which will protect the liner from…

I first visited north Norfolk (specifically Titchwell) on a warm, sun-drenched, June afternoon many summers ago. I marvelled at the point-blank views of Avocets, Marsh Harriers and Bearded Tits, identified my first Little Gulls, and saw a Black-winged Stilt. And by the time a Bittern had begun booming, as evening fell, I was dizzy with birds and smitten with this exotic-feeling, flat, flinty, landscape. Years later, having now spent countless hours trudging Norfolk’s coastline between Snettisham and Sheringham, inevitably, the birding grandeur of that inaugural visit has faded. There have certainly been other memorable moments, but difficult days are now in the memory bank, too: winter expeditions when un-forecast, freezing rain began and just kept on coming; the seven hours in the field that produced a single, lonely Wheatear. Or,…

MORE SITES For a full list of the sites we’ve featured, go to birdwatching. co.uk/gbindex KEY Sites may be best visited by car, or a car may be required to get from point to point. Requires birding to be done on foot. Specified points to visit, but can be done in any order (known as KEYPOINTS) Specified points to visit and are best done in numerical order (known as WAYMARKERS) NB: The MILES ON FOOT is the amount of miles you will need to walk and not necessarily the amount of miles in the whole route. The TIME is how many hours we recommend. So, if there are fewer miles per hour, it could be that there is more to see. COLLECT & KEEP Every month we bring you…

1 At the bottom of the valley is a small car park which marks the limit of free public access by car. straight away you can scan the hilltops for Red Grouse and Curlew while the woodland walks can give you warblers and woodpeckers. Crossbill is often reported here, too. 2 Buzzard and sparrowhawk are often seen. stand on the bridge and look out for Dipper, Common sandpiper and the occasional Goosander. 3 If you have bought a day permit from Mounthooly, walk due south past the hide overlooking the old Black Grouse Lek site. Keep an eye out for Tawny and short-eared Owl. The gash of the Red Cribs appears in the valley wall in front of you and you’ll come to a small post next to an abandoned…

1 I usually stop off on the main car park on the A591 and walk down to the water from there. Look out for pipits, wagtails and finches en route. 2 Walk north towards the dam, with a mixture of conifers which may give you the chance of Crossbills. 3 The minor road on the west side of the water is an easy way to walk and view the area. The road was closed for over a year after mass timber extraction after ‘the beast from the east’ took out many trees. Look out for deer and squirrels in this area. 4 The crag areas hold some good raptors, so check for classic whitewash on the cliffs to see the main roosting sites. 5 Cross the main road and follow…

Bo’s reply on cats... I’ve never blamed pet cats for killing birds – it is always the cat lovers’ fault! Not so long ago a study in an English village showed that, for every dead animal dropped on a cat-owner’s doorstep, at least 10 were left where they were killed. Living on a slope, I have a wall ranging from three feet to six feet high, on top of which is a six feet high fence, and yet I am now building up another three feet of wire netting as nothing seems to stop my tiny yard attracting at least five different cats. They regularly kill ‘my’ birds and frogs. One correspondent said they were not prepared to ‘cage’ cats and keep them confined to their property, yet by law…

WINTER STARLING SPECTACULAR TOURS Choose from five dates, each with two days’ birding and two nights’ DBB – ● Fri 22 November to Sun 24 November 2019 ● Wed 4 December to Fri 6 December 2019 ● Wed 15 January to Fri 17 January 2020 ● Fri 24 January to Sun 26 January 2020 ● Thu 6 February to Sat 8 February 2020. Price £399.00 pp Single supplement £40.00 SPRING TOURS Choose from four dates, each with two-and-a-half days’ birding and three nights’ DBB – ● Mon 20 April to Thu 23 April 2020 ● Mon 4 May to Thu 7 May 2020 ● Tue 12 May to Fri 15 May 2020 ● Tue 9 June to Fri 12 June 2020 Price £565.00 pp Single supplement £60.00 DETAILS ● All…

The Honey Buzzard is a must-see raptor in the UK. We host a tiny breeding population of a common species that ranges across most of Europe and western Asia. Honey Buzzards are strongly migratory, spending the winter in tropical Africa. Hundreds of thousands famously pass over migration hotspots like Falsterbo in Sweden, the Straits of Gibraltar, Elat in Israel and Batumi, Georgia. Unusually among raptors, they put on weight before migrating and thus do not feed en route. It is said that its plumage similarity with the Buzzard is an adaptation to protect itself from predation from Goshawks. Apparently, the latter species is more cautious about attacking the more formidable Buzzards. Despite its name HBs – as affectionately referred to by birders – do not consume honey but the bees…