Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2024 i Bird Watching

Four lucky Bird Watching Members enjoyed our recent Members’ Day after winning the opportunity to go birding with Mike Weedon and myself. Adrienne Angelesau, Chris Hare, Donnah Thompson and Ian Willis joined us to explore some of the sites near Peterborough, that Mike writes about in his monthly Weedon's World column, as well as to try out some binoculars kindly provided by Hawke Optics. We started at the Nene Washes, calling in to see Great White, Little and Cattle Egrets in a single field near Whittlesey, before going on to Eldernell, where Cuckoos, Sedge Warblers, Lesser Whitehroats and more were singing, Bitterns were booming, Snipe were drumming, and a single very active Crane was probably the main highlight. We called in to see Pergerines at a local church (Pictured right)…

Vanessa Wright: Askernish Golf Club lies right on the west coast of South Uist, bordering the Atlantic. I regularly see Oystercatchers probing the greens for worms, and the occasional White-tailed Eagle flies overhead. Andrew Malone: I have birdwatched on Whitstable and Seasalter golf course in Kent almost daily for the past 30 years, witnessing colonisers (Cetti's Warblers and Little Egrets), local extinctions (Mistle Thrush and Linnet) and rarities (Rustic Bunting, Marsh Warbler, Bee-eater, Montagu's Harrier, and Serin). Sophie Harris: Golf courses on the coast are fantastic spots for birdwatching. This time of year you can see amazing migrants, like Wheatear, as well as rare birds like Shore Larks. But there's always danger with flying golf balls, which often stray onto the path, so it can be stressful. Phil Woollen: A…

SITE REPORT LINDISFARNE I wake to the sound of Redshanks skittering in alarm, and the onomatopoeic call of the Curlew, first one, then more, in answer. A straggly skein of Brent Geese moves across the winter sky, and of course there are gulls, too, lots of them. Beyond the geese, the low sun is silhouetting a familiar outline, one that has been part of my birding life for 35 years, but which more importantly represents the earliest attempt at bird conservation in the history of these isles. And, grabbing my binoculars from the windowsill, I can see a little flock of the very species that were the subject of that attempt. But more of that later. Holy Island, or Lindisfarne, sits just off the coast of Northumberland, a few miles…

ID TIP! Partridges are considerably smaller than grouse (apart from Ptarmigan, which are found in different habitats, i.e. at high altitude) Partridges and female Pheasant We have two species of partridge in the UK and one well established pheasant. Here is how to tell them apart. Grey Partridge • Smallish, medium-sized, short-tailed gamebird • Overall greyish plumage • Orange on face • Rusty bars on flanks • Brown ‘horseshoe’ on belly • Mottled brown back with fine white streaks Red-legged Partridge • Smallish, medium-sized, short-tailed gamebird • Overall brownish plumage • Black and white face; white throat, white supercilium • Black, brown and white bars on flanks • Grey upper belly, rusty lower belly • Brown back Pheasant (female) • Large, very long-tailed gamebird • Buffish-brown blumage • Rather plain…

MAX MILES ON FOOT: 3 MIN TIME: 3 HOURS Don't miss this quiet but productive corner of north Norfolk Weybourne is not on everyone's radar for a site to visit, given the plethora of great sites in north Norfolk, but I have had success there, especially in the autumn. JOHN MILES WHERE TO WATCH 1 This coastal location is a good draw for migrants at any time of the year, with the car park a good start, with the chance of Snow Bunting in winter. Look out for wagtails in spring, with the chance of Yellow, White and Pied Wagtail. And autumn is ideal for species like Pied Flycatcher in the scrub, along with other gems. 2 You can walk east along the Norfolk Coastal Path (now called the King…

MAX MILES ON FOOT: 14 MIN TIME: 10 HOURS River and reedbeds, coastal cliffs and downland Although I explored all these sites on a one-day stout walk, the different areas of Freshwater ‘island’ can also be visited by car. The western River Yar (there are two Yars on the island) rises north of Freshwater Bay, then runs north to Yarmouth, at one time making an ‘island’ of the south-west corner of the Isle of Wight. The area provides many varied habitats, and the recent reintroduction of White-tailed Sea Eagle to the Isle of Wight means that there is a fighting chance of spotting them around the coast. SIMONE STANBROOK-BYRNE WHERE TO WATCH 1 At its source, the River Yar is unusually wide, and these upper reaches are a designated SSSI.…

Q I was recently on holiday in the Algarve and, while there, I took a walk in the Vilamoura Environmental Park. Having seen a few Marsh Harriers, I saw a harrier in the distance, that I thought was probably another, although it looked a bit slimmer. I managed to take a few photos but, looking at them, I can't tell what the bird is. The photos attached aren't great – heavily cropped and there was a heat haze – but it doesn't look like a Marsh Harrier to me. Can you help with the identification? Joel Rawlings A Your bird is certainly not a Marsh Harrier, Joel. One reason why we can be so sure of that is that, on a Marsh Harrier, there are five obvious ‘primary fingers’ (the…

SAVE MONEY! If you plan to book and you're not already a Bird Watching Member, subscribe NOW – you'll save more than enough to cover the cost of the subscription. See p6 to sign up. This October, Bird Watching magazine editor Matthew Merritt and assistant editor Mike Weedon will be joined by Scottish birding aficionado and UKBS editor Gordon Hamlett to lead a week of wildlife watching, based at the lovely Grant Arms Hotel in Grantown-on-Spey. The hotel boasts high quality en suite rooms and traditional Scottish fare prepared with local ingredients, and while it takes care of bed, breakfast and dinner, we'll provide optional guided walks, expert tips, bird quizzes, and evening talks. We'll be within easy reach of sites in the Highlands, along the Moray Coast, and the…

Highland Birding Join Heatherlea for this superb holiday, looking for all the best wildlife in the Scottish Highlands. Heatherlea has more than 30 years of experience in guiding birdwatchers in Scotland and beyond, and has been running readers’ holidays in conjunction with Bird Watching for more than 20 years. Late summer is a fantastic time for birding in the Highlands, with the highest concentration of breeding birds, as most youngsters will have fledged. With raptors taking to the wing for the first time, mountain species with well grown chicks, auks on the open water, and passerines gearing up to head south, bird activity is high. On this varied tour, we visit the local pine forests, moorland habitats, rugged west coast, and the southern end of the Cairngorm Mountain range. Being…

If your birding is in need of a reboot or new direction, or even if things are going swimmingly and you just want a little extra inspiration, the Global Birdfair, from 12-14 July, is an absolute must-visit event. It takes place at a new site, Lyndon Top on the banks of Rutland Water, right next to the Lyndon Nature Reserve, with views across Manton Bay and its Osprey nest. As always, there will be three days of events, including lectures, quizzes, demonstrations and awards ceremonies, featuring some of the biggest names in the worlds of birding and conservation. Exhibitors from all over the world will be present. You can talk to tour companies about how to broaden your birding horizons, check out all the latest gear on offer from the…

In terms of optical values, the Noctivid marries the best of today's most innovative and proven technologies. Ideally balanced, this binocular is compact, stylish and elegant, yet incredibly rugged and durable. It boasts the highest light transmission, unbelievably lifelike colours, maximum contrast, and an extra-large field of view, all of which make the viewing experience with Leica Noctivid more intense than ever before. ● Leica are well established in the optical world, for producing high quality optical products, and the Noctivid offers great depth of field, wide field of view, natural colour, robust build, and a balanced, user-friendly design. ● Leica are renowned for the neutrality of their colour image. This is helped by the fact that Leica has the lowest stray light ratios – higher stray light values normally…

Amanda Tuke: “It's always a delight seeing Bearded Tits – I think they're such striking little birds.” David Lindo: “There's a lot to choose from, but Black Terns are absolutely gorgeous birds!” Ruth Miller: “It would have to be the Lapwing, a beautiful, charismatic bird that I see as the symbol of a healthy wetland.” Dominic Couzens: “Cetti's Warbler. I love its commitment to being loud absolutely all of the time; a real head-banger!” …and the Bird Watching team's answers Matt Merritt: “It has to be the Bittern – hearing them booming is great, but seeing one come out of hiding is even better.” Mike Weedon: “I am very fond of Water Rails. Heard much more than seen, but a really fine looking bird when on show.” Cover pic: Marsh…

Here is our regular guesstimate of which extreme rarities may be up for the finding this month. Any of these three birds would make a fine feather in the finder's cap. BAILLON'S CRAKE A bird which has undergone a range expansion on the continent, the tiny Baillon's Crake remains a treasured find in this country. Usually detected by its weird, frog-like song delivered in the middle of the night (and sometimes by day). ELEGANT TERN A bird which is more or less regular these days in Spain, the Elegant Tern remains a very rare bird in the UK. Time for another! HUDSONIAN GODWIT This North American godwit stands out from the crowd (at least of Black-tailed Godwits) by its dark underwings, as seen in flight, and in this photo (bottom…

When I imagine a wetland, the first image that comes to mind is a Marsh Harrier effortlessly gliding over rustling reeds, talons dangling like landing gear as it searches for its next meal. Having visited south-eastern marshland reserves like Stodmarsh since the mid-2000s, this isn't an uncommon sight for me, and I'm somewhat ashamed to admit that I've grown quite blasé about seeing Marsh Harriers. Of course, they're still lovely birds to see, especially during their aerial courtship displays, but I find myself scouring the horizon for more elusive birds instead. The same can't be said for my 57-year-old father, who still positively vibrates when spotting the black-tipped wings of a Marsh Harrier. In his own words, “in the ‘70s they were as rare as rocking horse poo!” As a…

I stayed at The Mill House, situated literally on the water's edge, overlooking Lindisfarne Bay, just a couple of miles off the A1. The oldest part of the building dates back more than 300 years and the site has links to Lindisfarne Priory itself. The house has now been converted to a modern, luxury, self-catering holiday home to welcome groups of up to eight people, and while it's a wonderfully comfortable base from which to explore the whole of Northumberland, you can enjoy amazing birdwatching without ever leaving the comfort of the lounge, which enjoys superb views across to Holy Island and the mudflats between, and south to Bamburgh Castle. With a scope, I was able to watch almost all the species mentioned in this article while enjoying my morning…

MAX MILES ON FOOT: 5 MIN TIME: 6 HOURS A tidal island with seabirds, waders and lots more Most people come to this small island off Colonsay to see the Priory, but hopefully they don't miss the amazing birdlife that's here, too. JOHN MILES WHERE TO WATCH 1 The first thing you have to know is the island is tidal, and you can only get there at low tides. While waiting, check out the waders using ‘The Strand’, with chance of Bar-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Turnstone and Greenshank. 2 The island is famous for its high numbers of breeding waders, so a spring visit gives you a chance of an amazing display from species like Lapwing, Redshank, Snipe, Ringed Plover and Dunlin. Large numbers of Golden Plover and Whimbrel can pass…

MAX MILES ON FOOT: 2 MIN TIME: 2 HOURS Explore one of the capital's oldest reserves This site is the London Wildlife Trust's oldest nature reserve and is part of the last remnant of the ancient North Wood that, once upon a time, stretched from Croydon to the Thames. This remaining mix of new and ancient woodland in Dulwich is an unusual site because it also contains the remains of Victorian gardens and a former railway tunnel that once took Victorians to visit the Crystal Palace. Today, the tunnel is a registered bat roost, and the woodlands that have been saved from development are now home to a good mix of birds, from Tawny Owls to the occasional Hawfinch. Parts of the woodland are also now protected from visitor erosion…

Which whitethroat? Q While on a visit to Abberton Reservoir, Essex, at the end of Aprll, I took this photo, and can't decide if it's a (Common) Whitethroat or Lesser Whitethroat. Hoping you can help me out with this. Chris Farrell A Thanks for the photo, Chris. We can say with confidence that your bird is a Lesser Whitethroat. Why? Key features include the overall ‘cold’ colour, particularly of the wings, which look distinctly rufous on Whitethroat. Other features include the dark ear coverts (the patch behind the eye), looking almost like a ‘mask’; the dark upper bill (paler on Whitehroat); dark legs and the relatively short tail, which is long on Whitethroat. Wader confusion Q Please could you help with this wader seen on Newgale beach, Pembs on 15…

ECUADOR QUITO I consider myself unusual as a birder. When I was recently invited to Ecuador to speak at their South American Bird Fair, my first thought was not about luxuriating in the country's forests, watching and listening for its unique and gorgeous avian forest dwellers. Instead, and in keeping with my moniker ‘The Urban Birder’, I was fixating on the birds that I might encounter in the capital city, Quito. Fortunately, my itinerary allowed for me to spend a few days in and around the city either side of my engagements. Quito, officially known as San Francisco de Quito, has a population of 2.8 million, and is the second highest capital city in the world. Indeed, when I first arrived, I was not prepared for being up at 2,850m.…

UKBIRDSIGHTINGS The best rare birds seen all around Britain in April Dominating UK-wide rarity proceedings during April, this year, were a couple of Dark-eyed Juncos. In case you don't know, the Dark-eyed Junco is a rather finch-like New World sparrow from North America, which occurs in 14 or 15 subspecies, some of which are very distinctive (so much so, that they have at times been considered different species; though interbreeding is common around the contact zones). The subspecies form into clusters, and the birds we see as rare visitors in the UK are of the slate-coloured group, also known as Slate-coloured Junco. These are classically birds which, in the UK, appear (like Hoopoes on vicars’ lawns [per Bill Oddie]), in people's gardens, and have departed before anyone gets to hear…

If you're new to birdwatching, the range of binoculars, spotting scopes and, these days, even thermal imaging devices, can be a bit bewildering. So, there are a few things to bear in mind before you part with any cash. Decide what you need Have a think about the sort of birding that you do. If you're not sure yet that it's going to become an all-consuming passion (who are we kidding – it will), then you won't want to spend too much initially, but there are plenty of excellent binoculars available for under £300, even for under £150. You can always upgrade later, and similarly, once you know you're hooked, that will be the time to think about scopes or other devices. Do you get what you pay for? On…

BIRD OF THE MONTH MARSH HARRIER For years, Bird Watching magazine has been telling people that, contrary to expectations, the Marsh Harrier is a rarer breeding bird in the UK than the Golden Eagle. Furthermore, we have pointed out that, despite popular perception, the Marsh Harrier is a rarer nester than the Hen Harrier. But, things change, and sometimes for the better! These days, according to the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) there are 590 breeding pairs of Marsh Harrier, 545 pairs of Hen Harrier and 510 pairs of Golden Eagle. The Marsh Harrier is a modern success story, with the BTO recording a 36% increase in its breeding population over the most recent period for which results are available (2008-2018). This success story is remarkable, not only as a…

Pied Wagtail ● Medium-long tail (for a wagtail) ● Black back in male ● Dark grey back in female ● Big black ‘bib’ ● Much white around face ● Smudgy flanks, white belly Yellow Wagtail ● Short tail (for a wagtail) ● Green back in both sexes ● Female generally duller than male ● Yellow throat ● No bib, but ‘necklace’ on some juvenlies ● Bright yellow underparts Grey Wagtail ● Long tail (even for a wagtail) ● Mid-grey back in male and female ● Big black ‘bib’ (mainly breeding male) ● White supercilium and submoustachial stripe ● Lemon-yellow underparts, especially undertail coverts…

NEWS & OPINION A Blackcap, a Garden Warbler and a Song Thrush walk into a bar… well, actually, they break into a bar… of birdsong. How do I know this? Actually, I don't. I am physically and mentally challenged. I could just blame the fact that I have lost all the hearing in one ear and about 60% in the other. Without my hearing aid in, I cannot hear things like, “do you want a cup of coffee?” or “what would you like for dinner?”; with my hearing aid in, I can't hear things like, “it's your turn to clean the shower” and “have you put the bins out?”. The truth is, I was always rubbish at song, losing my hearing made virtually no difference to my ID abilities. I've…

Dr Marie Althorn, RSPB Business Conservation Advisor, in conversation with Amanda about birds and golf courses. Amanda: I don't play golf myself but I come from a family of golfers, and my dad, who was a birdwatcher, talked about birds he'd seen when playing. Are you a golfer as well as a birder? Marie: I worked for a number of years as an ecologist, play golf myself, and, like you, come from a family of golfers. Golf and nature conservation came together four years ago. What are the opportunities golf courses offer as bird habitats? There are more than 3,000 golf courses in the UK, equating to 126,000 hectares of green space. While levels of footfall and access for dogs varies between courses – high levels of these often disturb…

Just a few miles south of Holy Island, Bamburgh Castle stands on its rocky promontory. Most of the building is relatively recent, constructed by 19th Century industrialists, but the site has been fortified since before the Anglo-Saxons arrived, and was then one of the key sites for the kings of Northumbia (and before them, of Bernicia, a smaller constituent kingdom). For birders, the site is a great seawatching vantage point, but the Stag Rocks nearby are also a very reliable spot for Purple Sandpiper in winter. This subtly marked and hard to spot wader can be found on the rocks right at the edge of the crashing waves (usually in company with Turnstones), so a visit is always worthwhile.…

ID TIP! One of the best ways to identify Ptarmigan is simply by altitude. Once vegetation ceases, Ptarmigan seemingly thrive. BIRD 1 This gamebird appears to be having an energetic dust bath, but luckily, it is showing enough features to identify it with confidence. Starting at the head end, the typical ‘hooked’ gamebird bill is bright red, which is a giveaway from the start! There is also a red eye-ring roung the dark eye, and a broad black and brown eye-stripe, below a long, obvious white supericilium (‘eyebrow’). The throat is pale buff and there are some black streaks beneath it, if you look carefully. The cap and back are grey-brown. This bird can only be a Red-legged Partridge, an ‘introduced’ partridge, as well as one frequently released for shooting.…

MAX MILES ON FOOT: 15 MIN TIME: 4 HOURS A beautiful hidden valley with superb birds and views This is a route that you'll do mainly by car (or bike, if you're brave enough to tackle some big climbs), but there are several opportunities to stop and wander off the single-track road in search of birds, and the views can be breathtaking. MATT MERRITT WHERE TO WATCH 1 Hay Bluff can get very busy in summer, but spring and autumn visits can be most rewarding, with lots of Wheatears, possible Ring Ouzel and Whinchat, plus Mistle Thrush, Raven and Buzzard, and the possibility of the odd upland wader such as Golden Plover. 2 The area around Capel-y-ffin usually has plenty of Stonechats, and there's the possibility of all those species…

OPTICRON MM3 80 GA ED/45 FIELDSCOPE, £479 New from Opticron, this aims to give “the best possible performance in the smallest package at the most affordable price”. It's less than 30cm long, armoured, waterproof and made from alloys and polycarbonate, has dual-focusing, a lens hood and a rotating tripod sleeve, and weighs 1,382g. The price doesn't include an eyepiece. If you prefer a straight scope, there's one of those, too, for the same price. 10-year guarantee. opticron.co.uk MAKING A SPLASH BIRD COASTERS, £12 Coasters protect precious surfaces when you make a splash with your beverage. With a little bit of wit, this set of four coasters features water birds – Mute Swan, Avocet, Lapwing and Oystercatcher. Personally, I think Gannet and Kingfisher should have been in there – they make…

Thermal imagers are changing the way that many of us watch birds, and wildlife more generally, not just by uncovering what goes on in the natural world at night, but also by allowing us to watch skulking birds in impenetrable habitats by day. ZEISS's DTI range covers all the bases, with four main models offering something for everyone. For more information, see www.zeiss.co.uk DTI 1 ● Available in two models: DTI 1/19 and DTI 1/25 ● Compact design ● Easy operation, with ergonomic design ● Outstanding ZEISS quality at an entry-level price ● Transition zoom with 4x magnification From £1,475 DTI 4 ● Available in two models: DTI 4/35 and DTI4/50 ● Movement alert ● Preprogrammed button combinations ● Detailed image quality in any terrain with high-resolution 640 x 512…

PRODUCT GUIDE SPRING 24 This new adapter for smart phones enables you to take high quality photographs or videos of birds through your spotting scope or monocular (or even your binoculars), effectively turning your optical equipment into a zoom lens. It's easy to attach and use, meaning that you won't miss anything while you're in the field, and the product is universal – it can be used with Hawke's entire range of scopes, as well as all other brands, such as Kowa, Zeiss, Leica, Swarovski etc. Once set up, you can turn the phone (while still attached to the scope) to take portrait or landscape pictures or videos. It's compact and lightweight, so it's easy to take along with you whenever and wherever you're birding. ● For further information, visit…