Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2017 i Bird Watching

Our recent #My200BirdYear Readers’ Day at Frampton Marsh RSPB was a big success. The weather and birds co-operated, of course, but it was really all down to you, and your enthusiasm and passion for birdwatching. We hope that #My200BirdYear has helped stoke that passion, so whether you’ve taken part this year or not, why not sign up for 2018 and take your birdwatching to another level? In this issue, we look at birding without the car (page 32), a small but valuable step towards reducing carbon emissions. We’d love to hear your own best ‘green’ birding sites, so drop us a line and tell us what they are, and why you love them. Finally, I’m intrigued to see what you think of Merlin, an app that could change the face…

Find the location closest to your destination and add or subtract the hours and minutes from the high tide time at London Bridge, below. SOUTH WEST Weston-Super-Mare (+5:05) Barnstaple (+4:30) Newquay (+3:32) Falmouth (+3:30) Plymouth (+4:05) Torquay (+4:40) Bournemouth (-5:09)* Portland (+4:57) St Peter Port (+4:53) Swanage (-5:19)* Portsmouth (-2:29) Southampton (-2:53) SOUTH EAST Ryde (-2:29) Brighton (-2:51) Eastbourne (-2:48) Dungeness(-3:05) Dover (-2:53) Margate (-1:52) Herne Bay (-1:24) Southend-on-sea (-1:22) Clacton-on-sea (-2:00) EAST ANGLIA FelixstowePier (-2:23) Aldeburgh (-2:53) Lowestoft (-4:23) Cromer (+4:56) Hunstanton (+4:44) WALES Colwyn Bay (-2:47) Holyhead (-3:28) Barmouth (-5:45) Aberystwyth (-6:11) Fishguard (+5:44) Swansea (+4:42) Milford Haven (+4:37) Cardiff (+5:15) NORTH WEST Whitehaven (-2:30) Douglas(-2:44) Morecambe (-2:33) Blackpool (-2:50) NORTH EAST Skegness(+4:29) Grimsby (+4:13) Bridlington (+2:58) Whitby (+2:20) Hartlepool (+1:59) Blyth (+1:46) Berwick (+0:54) SCOTLAND Leith (+0:58)…

Scientists have found that city Sparrowhawks in Scotland are more successful than their country cousins. Researchers from RSPB Scotland and the Scottish Raptor Study Group examined differences between populations of the birds in Edinburgh and in the Ayrshire countryside from 2009 to 2012. They found that territories in the urban environment were occupied far more frequently than those in the rural study area, and that the city hawks also had significantly higher breeding success. Of the 20 breeding attempts that failed, only two were recorded in the urban study area. The number of nest desertions was also much higher in the latter. In total, 195 Sparrowhawk pairs were located in the two study areas across 117 separate sites or ‘territories’. The paper has been published in the journal Écoscience. Sparrowhawks…

Whatever you think about climate change, the scientific jury is not out. That it is happening, and that our own species is part of the problem, is supported by very substantial scientific consensus. It affects people, it affects the planet, and it affects birds. The prediction is a global temperature rise of 1.5°C or more by the turn of the century, with raised sea-levels and extreme weather events that are more frequent and even more extreme. So, what does climate change mean for birds? Actually, it depends on the bird. There are plenty of common species that seem to have benefited from our less wintery winters, and springier springs. There are, for example, more Grey Herons and more Wrens, in part at least, because of more amenable winters and springs.…

MORE SITES For a full list of the sites we’ve featured, go to birdwatching.co.uk/gbindex K E Y 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…

DWARFED by Morecambe Bay , which its waters run into, this estuary is often missed by the birder. Its only ‘fame’ is a tidal bore called the ‘Arnside Bore’, which rises to half a metre as the tide rushes in. It has a history of good birds and, recently, has been a great place to watch Ospreys fishing, often flying over from the Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s reserve of Foulshaw Moss, on the other side of the estuary. In its early stage, as the River Kent comes down from Kentmere above Kendal, the marsh fields can be one of the few locations in Cumbria to find Yellow Wagtail. Erosion here encourages Little Ringed Plover to join spring and autumn waders, such as Whimbrel, Black-tailed Godwit and Greenshank. Local breeding waders include…

Formerly the site of a corn mill and later a forge which utilised the water of the Plants Brook, which flows from nearby Sutton Park, the area was transformed into reservoirs supplying drinking water to the local area. Apparently, these were the last reservoirs to be built in the Birmingham area and, after they were decommissioned, they were used for testing torpedoes during World War II! A more tranquil setting exists today, with an excellent boardwalk skirting the aptly named Kingfisher Pool and a further three pools to explore. The area was designated a Local Nature Reserve in 1991 and is run by Birmingham City Council, which saved the area from becoming a landfill site. Wildfowl congregate in good numbers during the winter period and the surrounding woodland offers the…

This winter walk, along the north shore of the River Severn, is centred on the town of Lydney and overlooks the vast intertidal mudflats of the estuary, towards the landmark of Berkeley power station on the southern side. An old canal cuts into the river at Lydney that was formerly used for transporting coal and iron ore from the nearby Forest of Dean up river to the Black Country. The hinterland section winds through low-lying farmland, with the New Grounds being a particularly good spot for roosting waders and geese at high tide. With wintering White-fronted Geese present in the region, grey goose flocks are worth checking for something rarer, as are swan flocks for Whooper and Bewick’s. Birds of prey are a given along the floodplain with Merlin, Peregrine…

We have a small walled patio which abuts the bungalow, the dominant feature being the fish pond. The early part of this year I noticed the fish were disappearing, I put it down to early morning visits by a Grey Heron. Not so, one morning I spotted a Herring Gull happily negotiating the pond, oblivious to the fountain playing on its back. Fishing? I wonder... I set the sun lounger up as a hide with a mirror showing me what the camera could see. This very wary gull visited the pond early mornings and being so close to the bungalow, I had to crawl under the window out of sight to reach the remote shutter release and align myself with the mirror. I got many shots over several mornings, one…

SAMSUNG GALAXY S8 PHONESKOPE CASE, £49 If you have a scope and a Samsung Galaxy S8, this moulded case allows you to connect them together and take still images or videos, or just use your phone as a viewing screen. You’ll need to buy an eyepiece adapter, too – either the C3 custom-fit adapter (£25) for a specific eyepiece or binocular, or the U1 or U2 universal adapter (£32) which connects your phone to a range of scopes, binoculars, monoculars and even microscopes. www.phoneskope.co.uk SEALSKINZ WATERPROOF BEANIE, £25 This beanie will keep your bonce warm and dry. Its acrylic knitted outer repels the rain. Then there’s a windproof, waterproof and breathable membrane. And then there’s a micro-fleece lining. Its knitted construction improves the fit and it’s available in three sizes…

What first sparked your interest in birdwatching, and when? I’ve always been an inquisitive person with a love for the outdoors; a fanatical interest in fishing from a young age meant I spent many hours sitting quietly by the water. As a result, close encounters with birds and other wildlife were a common occurrence. And, yes, I really did have a Kingfisher sit on the end of my fishing rod. More than once, actually. Who was your birdwatching inspiration or mentor? No one person really, rather a handful of people over the years. Early on it was a friend’s mother who was a keen naturalist, in later years close friends - fellow BPOTY directors Paul Sterry and Andrew Cleave, in particular. Do you bird alone or with a friend? It…

THE DOGWOOD TREES are in bloom in early April in North Carolina. Their delicate and beautiful white flowers single them out from the rest of the foliage that lines the interstates. Many of the other trees are draped in purple Wisteria that has grown and clung to the branches. Above them Turkey and Black Vultures circle in groups, tilting on the wing. They are ubiquitous, giving a flavour of what it must have once been like to have Red Kites all across the UK in centuries gone by. The Turkey Vultures are distinguished by their red heads, slightly narrower wings and the pale band of feathers right along the outer edge of each wing. The forests of North Carolina are some of the most biodiverse on the North American continent,…

David Tomlinson is a birdwatcher, photographer and tour leader, but he stayed close to home to see Little Owls. Page 40 Dominic Couzens is a well-known author of birding-related books and in this issue he takes you into the secretive world of Water Rail. P48 David Tipling is a renowned wildlife photographer who has captured some wonderful images of birds. Join him on page 74 David Lindo has birded all over the world under the moniker of The Urban Birder. This month he takes us to Frankfurt. Find out more P86…

A Cumbria teenager has launched a campaign to ensure a bright future for Britain’s raptors. Isaac Johnston, 19, from Bowness-on-Windermere, (pictured) is an apprentice conservation officer at the Cumbria Wildlife Trust. He said: “Raptors are so exciting to watch. When you’re studying other birds and a raptor comes into view, the whole dynamic changes.” But his main concern is the persecution of raptors because of the perceived threat they pose to game birds. Now, with the help of Fixers, a UK charity which gives young people a voice, Isaac has launched a campaign to raise awareness of their plight. “I want to stop the unnecessary persecution of birds of prey. The Hen Harrier is most at risk, as it’s widely persecuted wherever it’s left in the UK. It’s really struggling…

“We are being left behind the rest of the world in imaginative planting” I watched the World Athletics Championships Marathon wending its way through the historic streets of the City of London and was struck by two things over and above my dual admiration and horror that anyone can run more than 26 miles in a couple of hours, and that anyone would want to. Surely, a gentle stroll (or in my case lurch) a few meters down a track to a bird hide would ease their stress levels and keep them fit in heart and soul, if not in body. Having spent a lot of my working life in the capital, I was struck by its fine architecture and reminded of the splendid street names. Who would name a…

“Back at base, I consulted my well-thumbed Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe. I had a suspicion that my bird was an owl, but what sort?” SPECIES FACTFILE LITTLEOWL Scientific name: Athene noctua Length: 23-27.5cm Wingspan: 56cm UK numbers: 5,700 breeding pairs Habitat: Lowland farmland with hedges and copses, parks and orchards Diet: Birds, small mammals, beetles and worms Though it was over half a century ago, I still vividly remember my first encounter with a Little Owl. I was on holiday with my parents on the Costa Brava, then a much wilder place than it is today. An old farm track wound its way up into the hills from where we were staying, threading through acres of aromatic maquis – a miniature forest of Ilex,…

If you have ever been to North Uist either getting on or off the ferry, the chances are you didn’t realise that it offers such a great walk. It takes in large numbers of waters, a ‘camera obscura’, a National Marine Park; and it’s also a place where rarities drop in. Before you start looking for them, though, there is the question of the local birds, with a pair of White-tailed Eagles seen as my ferry came to dock. There’s a good chance you may see at least one by scanning the sea and hills. Then there are the divers, with many Great Northern in winter/spring and Red-throated nesting on the inland waters, with the occasional Black-throated just to keep you on guard. You can’t leave out Black Guillemot, Eider,…

Shropshire has some beautiful countryside, and this area is no exception. This part of the canal was ‘cut’ through a rocky, tree-lined hillside and you can’t help but appreciate the hard work that was put into it. It’s now a lovely, level walk and with nature all around. Lots of Mallards breed here and, in the middle of the year, you will see several families along the walk. Mute Swans also breed here and you will certainly see the resident Grey Heron in his usual pose. On the southern part of the canal, there are areas of reeds where Reed Warblers and Reed Buntings can be seen and there is plenty of woodland in the area where the usual types of bird can be found. It always feels exciting to…

This is an interesting walk by part of the River Wye, where birds in plenty can be seen. We then join the Wye Valley Walk and the Three Choirs Way across countryside and partly by the River Frome, a smaller river where other birds such as Dipper can be seen. The River Wye is the fifth longest river in the UK, about 130 miles from Plynlimon in mid-Wales to the Severn Estuary, and part of it forms the border between England and Wales. So, although this walk is only a small part of it, think of all the birds along the way. Certainly at the start of this walk you will see the ‘local’ Mute Swans and Mallards, Canada Geese and, probably, Cormorant. At any point, of course, look out…

BUILDING OF THE first sea defences commenced in the 2nd Century by soldiers and their slaves, perhaps from the garrison at Caerleon, just nine miles away and one of only three permanent Roman fortresses in Great Britain. Over subsequent centuries improvements were made, culminating in the massive embankment we know today, creating immediately inland one of the largest ‘hand crafted’ landscapes in Great Britain. Wentlooge Level is distinguished by regularly planned blocks of long, narrow, and generally straight-sided fields, separated by drainage channels, now an important wildlife feature. The Severn Estuary, the most significant tidal resource in Great Britain, has the third greatest tidal range in the world, with high tide reaching to 49ft above low water. Small wonder when vast areas of mudflats, rocky and sandy shores are exposed…

I am writing to express my disgust with a group of birders I have just seen while going to view a Pallas Grasshopper Warbler. On arriving at the site at Burnham Overy Staithe in Norfolk, I was surprised to see approximately 30 birders standing alongside a path by a dyke. About four men were in among the reeds and swinging sticks in what appeared to be an attempt to disturb the bird. On asking the watching birders what was going on, and was no-one going to say anything, I was told by three separate couples that when anybody had remarked before then the ringleader had ‘fronted up’ to the person in an almost threatening way. On my return from the front, I then saw that about 20 birders had crossed…

The fleece supreme? Most people reading this own at least one fleece – these days, you can pick one up for very little money. Not so the Taiga. This is an expensive fleece. It came my way after reviewing the Halcon waterproof and commenting to Páramo that it wasn’t totally silent – I found that out looking for wolves in Sweden. So, they suggested the Taiga fleece. This is a quality item – it’s cosy, comfortable, and yes, it’s quiet. The zips work easily and smoothly and the pocketing is very good. There are two zip-up hand-warmer pockets, a very large vertically-zipped chest pocket, big enough for a Collins Bird Guide or an iPad mini, and a smaller, horizontally-zipped chest pocket. It’s made of Nikwax analogy fleece which is not…

IF you’re planning on taking a birding holiday next year, here’s half a dozen great ideas on where to go, from family-friendly locations such as Crete, to destinations more likely to appeal to the experienced lister, such as Colombia, as well as a couple of less well-known destinations, North Carolina and Flores. What they all have in common, of course, is great birds – you’ll come back from each and every one of them with new ticks on your list, and most importantly, with great memories. Just remember to send us your photos and stories, wherever you go, and enjoy birding the world!…

TRUNDLING ALONG A succession of motorways towards Gatwick Airport, car rammed with suitcases and four-year-old daughter, I learnt of an Alpine Swift circumnavigating buildings a mile or two south of the runway. The swift seemed a fabulous omen: this sleek aeronaut was one of a score of exciting Mediterranean species that we hoped to see on our family holiday to the Greek island of Crete. To enjoy one even before we checked in would be too good to be true. Indeed, it was too good to be true. Once the pre-Easter traffic finally dispersed sufficiently for us to reach Gatwick, the skies had darkened and the swift was roosting out of sight. Perhaps we were being greedy, and ought to have bided our time. For the first bird species we…

Matt: I saw a Hooded Crow while my London-bound train was halted somewhere near Luton Mike W: I left South Kensington and ‘tubed’ to my home in Tooting to walk to a Pied-billed Grebe! Mark C: Taking trains across the fens is a great way to watch my favourites: Marsh Harriers. SIGN UP FOR OUR 200 BIRD CHALLENGE! BIRDWATCHING.CO.UK/MY200 Get in touch with Bird Watching Bird Watching, Media House, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA birdwatching@bauermedia.co.uk facebook.com/BirdWatchingMag twitter.com/BirdWatchingMag…

EASTERN BLACK REDSTART Last year was a record-breaking year for this gorgeous eastern subspecies of the Black Redstart. With rich orange underparts, it looks something like a mix between a male Redstart and a male Black Redstart. Rocky eastern coasts of the north-east of England were favoured last autumn, with a couple of birds in Cornwall and one in the Midlands. PINE GROSBEAK Pine Grosbeak is one of those hugely desirable and suitably rare birds from the north that UK birders crave. Big and beautiful, these mega-finches have occurred a few times in November, like the bird which was seen at Easington, East Yorkshire in 2004. STEPPE GREY SHRIKE Although on most listers lists, thanks to some obliging individuals, the Steppe Grey Shrike remains a very rare bird. November has…

“They breed just once a year, and a female will lay 8 – 10 eggs in her clutch. However, up to 20 black-and-white ducklings can emerge from each burrow...” Shelducks are a familiar sight on flat, muddy shores, where their large black-and-white bodies stand out among the smaller estuarine waders and wildfowl. Unlike most other waterfowl, they nest in holes in the ground, often occupying Rabbit burrows in sand dunes, though they will also nest in cavities formed by tree roots, or among other objects, such as hay bales. Though most often seen by the sea, they can also live comfortably inland, and the Breckland landscape around my home in Norfolk was historically a stronghold for breeding Shelducks. The sandy soil and dry climate meant that this area was poor…

“It was only with reluctance that we left that cliff as, again, I could stare out to sea all day” My late mother liked going on birdwatching walks; apart from the bit when you stop to look at birds. She used to complain about any stuttering hesitation and point out (in no uncertain terms) that she could not abide all the stopping and hanging around. She wanted to keep moving, get somewhere; actually walk. I think I am more or less the opposite of this. The walking aspect of walking is the bit I am not so keen on. Mark Twain (I think) said “Golf is a good walk spoiled”. I am inclined to think that a walk is a good walk spoiled. I like there to be a purpose…

The Rialto Nature and Place Poetry Competition 2018, run by poetry magazine The Rialto, in partnership with the RSPB, BirdLife International and the Cambridge Conservation Initiative, is open for entries. Judging the competition for the first time will be multi-award-winning Belfast poet Michael Longley CBE, who will pick the winning five poems. Editor of The Rialto, Michael Mackmin, said: “We’re delighted Michael Longley accepted our invitation to judge the Nature and Place Poetry Competition this year, especially given the strong presence of nature and place themes in his own work, which serves as an inspiration for many readers and writers of poetry.” Now in its 5th year, the Nature and Place Poetry Competition has a first prize of £1,000, and second and third place prizes of £500 and a place…

SOOTY SONGBIRDS Soot trapped in the feathers of songbirds over the past 100 years is causing scientists to revise their records of air pollution. US researchers measured the black carbon found on 1,300 larks, woodpeckers and sparrows over the past century. The study also boosts understanding of historic climate change. Their analysis of more than 1,000 birds shows that black carbon levels peaked in the first decade of the 1900s and that the air at the turn of the century was worse than previously thought. RSPB’S NEW CHAIRMAN The RSPB has elected a new chairman. Kevin Cox, a former magazine publisher, was elected as the successor to Professor Steve Ormerod at the charity’s AGM. A former RSPB Council member, he has also served on council and as a trustee of…

SPECIES FACTFILE Scientific Name: Garrrulus glandarius Length: 32-35cm Wingspan: 54-58cm UK numbers: 170,000 breeding territories Habitat: Likes areas with acorns Diet: Mostly acorns, nuts, seeds and insects. Will eat nestlings of other birds and small mammals When we think of the crow family, or the corvids as they are correctly known, we conjure up an image of a large black (and sometimes black and white) bird, but one of the members of this widespread family doesn’t correspond to this stereotype of monochrome appearance. Oh no, this is a bird from a different palette indeed. Jays are surely one of our most beautiful British birds, yet many people in this country aren’t aware of their existence. I have had countless conversations with non-birders who have excitedly told me they have just…

Whittle Dean is the catchment water for Newcastle and is fed by two more reservoirs further north, at Colt Crag and Hallington. It boasts the only birdwatching hide along the Hadrian’s Wall Trail, from Wallsend to Bowness on Solway. But, even with the thousands of walkers passing by the site, few use the hide – unless it’s raining! The site is partly managed by the Northumberland Wildlife Trust, is well watched by locals, and can turn up some surprising birds, the reason being that it lies on the migration route named ‘the Tyne Gap’. This is the shortest crossing of Britain from the Solway/Irish Sea to the North Sea and is used by so many species. Bad weather can see birds dropping to feed and rest, and what better place…

Cley should not need any introduction, being the oldest Wildlife Trust reserve (created in 1926) and one of the best bird reserves in Britain. It boasts a list of birds most site would be envious of. Even St Margret’s Church in the village has a stainedglass image of a White-crowned Sparrow. Winter sees thousands of geese come to the area, with both Pink-footed and Brent Geese drawing oddments including tundra Bean, White-fronted and even Barnacle Geese. Wigeon, Teal, Pintail, Shoveler and Mallard are the dabbling ducks, here, while small numbers of Tufted make up the site’s diving ducks. Seaducks found here include Eider, Common Scoter and Long-tailed Duck, which can be seen offshore. Birds of prey include Marsh and Hen Harrier, Rough-legged Buzzard, Peregrine and Merlin, with both Barn Owl…

Centred on the country estate of Wrest Park at Silsoe in the heart of Bedfordshire, this winter birding walk winds through a variety of farmland, including arable, stock-grazed and stubble fields. Copses and woodland strips add another habitat dimension and, at points along the route, Wrest Park has mature trees and formal gardens. On the farmland sections, check finch and bunting flocks for occasional small (and declining) numbers of Tree Sparrow and Corn Bunting, while Grey Partridge are occasionally present among the more numerous Red-legged Partridges. Birds of prey likely to be seen include both Buzzard and Red Kite. The woodland around the estate has formerly attracted small flocks of Hawfinch and Brambling among the avenues of lime trees, plus Siskin and redpoll in the lakeside alders. On farmland, keep…

Ok, November may not be the most snowy of months for most of us, but you may as well be prepared. Snow gives a light of its own, reflecting on birds, increasing contrast and intensifying plumage tones. It also rather fudges the habitat context that we often use to identify birds. Anyhow, here are six birds in, on or flying into a snowy environment. That is just about all that connects them. All you have to do is put a name to each bird. Then turn the page to see our answers and reasoned solutions; and turn another page to see more tips and advice for identifying winter birds. As usual, all are regularly occurring British birds, with no trick species thrown in to catch you off guard. We may…

Over the last few weeks, rush cutting has been taking place on Campfield Marsh RSPB Reserve to manage the wet meadow habit for breeding waders in spring, and, I suspect, to provide suitable grazing for the arrival of migrant wildfowl during autumn and winter. These areas are proving attractive to a range of wildlife, already, with Roe Deer bringing their young, corvids, pigeons and Starlings descending – but of particular interest have been the birds of prey who have gained better views of the small birds, small mammals and invertebrates they are hunting. To this end, a female/juvenile Marsh Harrier has been visiting fairly regularly – quartering the area. Fine, until the resident Buzzard finds it has an interloper to its patch and takes it to task! Such an aerial…

BIRDS IN PICTURES Markus Varesvuo New Holland, £30 This book should really come with a warning. If you're a photographer, it might just make you chuck your DSLR into the nearest skip and go and find something else to do instead of snapping birds. That's because, if you didn't already know from having seen his photos in the pages of this mag (and others) for many years, Markus Varesvuo manages to come up with one astonishing bird photograph after another. How, you ask, could anyone really do better than this? The species covered include everything from dancing cranes in Japan to the birds of his native Finland, but with all of them the same qualities shine through – a gift for innovative composition and capturing unusual or noteworthy behaviour, and…

CHA-CHALACAA!! CHA-CHALACAA!!” THE extraordinary rasping sound – part bird, part power tool – seems to come from all directions as dawn breaks and the forest awakens. It is being emitted by a raucous group of Colombian Chachalacas, crashing about in the treetops. I am not in the unchartered depths of the rainforest. I am in a cosy B&B not five miles outside a major city. And I have just been woken up by one of Colombia’s 79 endemic species. Such is the omnipresence of Colombia’s world-beating biodiversity, a staggering 1,950-plus bird species have been recorded here, making it far-and-away numero uno for avian biodiversity in the world. It has 300 more species than its nearest neotropical neighbour Ecuador, and more than twice as many endemics. The secret of its high…

F LORES HAS BEEN under Corvo’s shadow for too long, in my opinion. A far larger island with high peaks, lakes, ravines, forests and other types of habitat, it offers a huge opportunity for the birder. It is, however, a difficult island to bird and a little knowledge goes an awful long way to help you. I went to reconnoitre the island in the third week in September, a bit too early for the migration, but things were already starting to turn up, as the strong winds the week before were bringing birds in. There‘s another point here, too. Don’t rule out the island in the winter months, as many birds stay over. You’re going to have to allow for the weather maybe cancelling the inter island flights for a…

THE RAINFOREST AIR is thick with humidity, the visibility impaired accordingly. And somewhere concealed high above me in the treetops – excitingly, yet frustratingly – is singing the very bird that changed my life precisely 25 years ago. A small, canopy-dwelling passerine that revolutionised both my outlook on birdwatching and my attitude to life – simply by dint of its discovery. For a quarter of a century, I have yearned to see the Chocó Vireo – a dream that is surely about to be realised. I am birding at Mashpi Lodge, a simply astonishing five-star modernist hotel plonked in the midst of Ecuador’s Chocó cloudforest – one of the world’s top biodiversity hotspots – barely two hours north-west of the capital, Quito. I am on a whistlestop tour of ‘the…