Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2023 i Bird Watching

John Miles: Geltsdale RSPB, near my home, and the highlight is always the Black Grouse there. Ruth Miller: The Great Orme, which is a Local Nature Reserve. It’s great! My favourite bird there is the Chough. David Chandler: Ouse Fen RSPB, which is at the end of my road. Favourite bird there? Bittern? Crane? Hobby? Hard to choose! …and the Bird Watching team’s answers Matt Merritt: Kelham Bridge, a Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust reserve. There’s always something interesting, from Cuckoos in spring to wintering Snipe. Mike Weedon: I love the Nene Washes RSPB, just east of Peterborough and home to a few breeding pairs of magnificent Cranes.…

twitter.com/BirdWatchingMag facebook.com/BirdWatchingMag RARITY RATINGS Common, widely distributed Localised - always a treat Very scarce or rare HAWFINCH The large, big-headed and huge-billed Hawfinch is a prize find anywhere in the UK, though official BTO stats show there are perhaps 10,000 to 15,000 wintering each year. They can be very hard to find, though, as they are shy and unobtrusive birds, their plumage blending in beautifully with the fallen leaves among which they seek seeds to crush. Many birders only see them as they perch more prominently high in tall trees of a regularly visited arboretum, on their way to roost. Luckily, they have a very distinctive silhouette and even in flight, the front-heavy, short-tailed profile and broad, white wing bands make them straightforward to identify. Listen for the high-pitched ‘tick’…

The times below are for high tide, when waders and wildfowl will be pushed closer to dry land… 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 Felixstowe Pier (-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…

1 GEESE AND SWANS We get huge numbers of Pink-footed Geese, but check them carefully for White-fronted Geese and both Taiga and (especially) Tundra Bean Geese, which often tag along in small numbers. And while, for some of us, any truly wild swans are a big deal, Bewick’s Swans are much less common than Whooper Swans, so check herds of the latter for their subtly different cousins. 2 DUCKS Recent years have seen increasing numbers of still scarce Ring-necked Ducks wintering in the UK, and they’re usually found hanging out with Tufted Ducks. Lesser Scaup is scarcer again, but again keeps company with Tufties, while winter’s the time to check every Teal you see in case it’s a Green-winged - they have a vertical white stripe just in front of their wings,…

30-MINUTE BIRDER The first thing I notice when I wake up is the unrelenting noise coming through the cottage window. Given we came from south London last night, it might be a surprise that I think early morning background noise on the edge of the Eryri National Park in Wales is noteworthy. But the cottage is a mere 40 metres from the River Conwy — wide, rocky and delightfully clattering at this point in its course. Less delightful is being sandwiched between the busy A5 and A470 — the town of Betws-y-Coed hasn’t been dubbed “the gateway to Snowdonia” for nothing - and hikers and cyclists like to set off early to trail hotspots. The second thing I notice is the sound of Coal Tits. Yes, of course we have…

As well as easy access from the A-road network, Frampton Marsh is also accessible via public transport: Train: Boston is the nearest train station, about 4 miles (6.4km) away. There is a taxi rank at the station. Bus: The nearest bus stop is in Kirton village, approximately 3 miles (5km) from the reserve. The 113 Brylaine bus and the 58 Kimes bus run from Boston from Monday to Saturday. The ‘Call Connect’ on demand bus service from Boston operates 7am7pm weekdays, 8am-6pm Saturday. For more details, call: 0845 2343344 or visit: lincsinterconnect.com. Jonny stayed at: The Old King’s Head in Kirton, just 3 miles/an hour’s walk from the reserve, a 16th Century Grade II listed building. It is a rare example of the Fenland Artisan Mannerist style, restored by Heritage…

As we all know, what we call garden birds are a diverse bunch of species who are attracted to the habitats which surround our homes. Some nest in our houses, some enjoy our trees, bushes, and lawns as feeding, roosting and nesting habitats. Some come for the water and food we put out for them. Many garden birds are woodland birds (which see our environs as extensions of their natural domain), and some are here because other birds are here and may potentially (and unintentionally) provide a tasty snackette (Sparrowhawks being the main ‘culprits’). Anyhow, here are six birds found frequently in gardens. The challenge is to identify them, name them and then see how right you are with your answers, by turning the page to see our solutions and…

In association with os.uk/osm MAX MILES ON FOOT: 3 MIN TIME: 4 HOURS The publicity it has gained from the BBC’s Springwatch series means this is a popular destination for birdwatchers, but with so many public footpaths around this area of the Wild Ken Hill estate, access is not a problem. A fire in 2022 caused some damage but there is plenty to see. JOHN MILES WHERE TO WATCH 1 The wetlands area, via the flood bank in the Snettisham Coastal Park, is ideal for a number of scrub species to get you going, with Long-tailed Tits, and even Nightingale possible in spring, along with Cetti’s Warbler singing, often close to the many pools in the park. Several ducks are possible here, along with Coot and Moorhens. 2 Once on…

In association with os.uk/osm MAX MILES ON FOOT: 6 MIN TIME: 4 HOURS The meandering River Culm, at just 17 miles long, is quite a short river, but it packs a lot of excellent wildlife habitats into those miles. Add in farmland and historic mixed woodlands above the valley, between the villages of Uffculme and Ashill, and you have a very good variety of birding sites. SIMONE STANBROOK-BYRNE WHERE TO WATCH 1 The Culm can be joined at the bottom of Mill Street in Uffculme, with footpaths travelling in both directions along its banks. All three hirundines are found around the river during spring and summer, and it is also abundant with ducklings in spring, mainly Mallard (but also some feral Muscovys). Also look for Little Egret, Grey Heron, Kingfisher,…

Name me a person who hasn’t seen this biggish black-and-white bird with a long black tail in a garden or local park. Or, subliminally at least, hasn’t heard the scolding chatter of a group of these ruffians, intent on diverting the local cat from its bird-catching duties. The feathered entity I speak of is, of course, the Magpie. The polarising Magpie. In ancient Rome, the Magpie was associated with magic and fortune-telling, while, in Scandinavia, witches rode Magpies and sometimes transformed themselves into them. In Germany, it was considered a bird of the underworld, and in Scotland, it was said that Magpies had a drop of the Devil’s blood on their tongues. Add to that collection of myths, the ‘One for sorrow, two for joy’ nursery rhyme, and their supposed…

Two things may have struck you already. One, the magnification – is that enough for birdwatching? And two, the price – I don’t often review binoculars with a sub-£100 price tag. This one has fully multi-coated lenses and an HD optical system. If you’re strapped for cash, buying a binocular as a gift or looking for an inexpensive second binocular, could this be it? ‘Only’ 6.5x Most birdwatchers use 8x (or 8.5x) or 10x binoculars. So, why go for a lower magnification? The detail you can, or can’t, see is not just about magnification. If it was, we’d all use 20x binoculars. It’s also about the quality and stability of the view. A 20x binocular magnifies your handheld wobbles 20x. A 6.5x magnifies them 6.5x. And, for the same size…

HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR 2023? #My200BirdYear challenge Although we try to emphasise that a lot of the best birds, and the best birdwatching, can be found out in the wider countryside and coastal areas, as well as in cities and your own gardens, it’s a safe bet that most of you have your own favourite reserves. One of ours, which has been attracting an amazing variety of rare and scarce visitors just 45 minutes away from our office, is Frampton Marsh RSPB (pictured above). In this issue, the like-minded Jonny Rankin explains why it’s such an important and hugely enjoyable site Elsewhere, John Miles looks at the rise of rewilding, which, it’s to be hoped, will be responsible for revitalising our bird life in hitherto ignored areas, because while…

Each month, we have a bit of a guess at which extreme rarities may come along. There is glory for anyone finding any of these three ‘megas’. CRAG MARTIN This not particularly migratory, largish hirundine is a bird of cliffs and crags (and buildings which imitate them) in southern Europe etc. There have only been 15 accepted UK records. Most are from spring, but about a quarter are from November. You should really take a second (and third) look at any hirundine you see during this month. GREATER YELLOWLEGS This North American Tringa used to be a great rarity. But recent years have seen an increase in numbers, with c.20 of the 55 or so accepted records since the turn of the millennium. Look for a Greenshanksized and shaped bird…

Root crop Some Lepidoptera are named after their caterpillars’ food plants. One such is Turnip Moth. The name always prompts a giggle - unless you have an allotment or are a farmer. Its caterpillar gnaws through wild and cultivated versions of carrot, beet, cabbage and, of course, turnip. Interestingly, Turnips are not only a common resident moth, but also a notable immigrant - so a sudden spike in numbers in your moth trap is as likely to relate to an arrival from overseas as to a local mass emergence. MAMMAL Rutting bucks Whereas male Red Deer are called stags, those of Fallow Deer (as seen here) are known as bucks - an idiosyncrasy reportedly introduced by the hunting community. In early November, many bucks will still be rutting, with plenty…

Get ready for the Big Garden Birdwatch The RSPB is urging birders, gardeners, schoolchildren and anybody with an interest in the natural world to take part in its Big Garden Birdwatch, on 26-28 January, 2024. More than half a million people took part in 2023, counting more than nine million birds. Participants are asked to spend an hour counting the birds in their garden, balcony or local park, then send their results to the RSPB. To receive your free Big Garden Birdwatch guide, text BIRD to 82727 or visit: rspb.org.uk/birdwatch Golden Eagles thriving in southern Scotland The South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project has transported eight more Golden Eagle chicks from the Highlands, Perthshire, Angus and the Islands to a secret location in south Scotland, bringing the total population in…

You can track your progress in #My200BirdYear by joining us on the Birda app, as featured in our recent Gear Guide. Download the app, sign up for the #My200BirdYear challenge, and log your sightings as you make them. While you’re at it, Birda’s monthly and geographicallybased challenges are a great way of motivating yourself towards the bigger target, too, and by interacting with other users you can develop your ID skills. #My200BirdYear ticklist Download and print off our 2023 #My200BirdYear ticklist to track your progress throughout the year… www.birdwatching.co.uk/my-200-sign-up So, what are you waiting for? Sign up at birdwatching.co.uk/my200 and join the thousands already rising to the challenge.…

Scientist and birder Ruth Simberloff, from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, tells Amanda why she’s fascinated by San Francisco’s White-crowned Sparrows Ruth is part of a larger research team which has a particular interest in the impact of noise pollution on birds. During lockdown in 2020, with temporarily reduced noise pollution, the team noticed that White-crowned Sparrow song became more complex, and seemed to carry further across San Francisco. Then, the obvious question was how does the typical noise pollution in a city like Frisco impact on bird territory size? Ruth’s study showed that urban White-crowned Sparrows weren’t transmitting their songs as far, and did have significantly smaller territories than rural birds. “I was surprised how small and densely packed the territories in the city could be”, she says.…

In association with os.uk/osm MAX MILES ON FOOT: 4 MIN TIME: 3 HOURS I have always wanted to climb this summit after seeing it so many times from the Islay ferry, and what a gem, with a circular walk thrown in as well. JOHN MILES WHERE TO WATCH 1 This is definitely a ‘green’ lane, with grazing fields either side of it and rough scrub like gorse and male fern growing at its start. Look out for Linnets feeding along its way, and Goldfinches. The fields can have both Rooks and Jackdaws feeding, with passing Curlew and Lapwing. 2 You have to leave the lane as the willow scrub closes in. Here in summer you will find Willow Warblers and Whitethroats breeding, along with redpolls. The walk up to the…

In association with os.uk/osm MAX MILES ON FOOT: 2 MIN TIME: 3 HOURS This urban seaside walk combines two beautiful public spaces. The first, at Enbrook Park, boasts a babbling chalk stream in a wooded ravine that is a local hot-spot for viewing Firecrests. The Lower Leas Coastal Park is a short walk along the promenade, and is attractive to resident and migrant birds, with the added bonus of seawatching potential from nearby Mill Point. PAUL TRODD WHERE TO WATCH 1 The mature woodland of Enbrook Park attracts a few Mistle and Song Thrushes among visiting groups of wintering Redwings and Fieldfares. Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Stock Dove, Jay, Sparrowhawk and Tawny Owl are all possible, alongside numerous Chaffinch and Goldfinch, plus a few Greenfinch and the…

GET IN TOUCH birdwatching@bauermedia.co.uk facebook.com/BirdWatchingMag twitter.com/BirdWatchingMag Bird Watching, Media House, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA Alaskan surprise When you are out in the field trying to find birds, it’s very easy to forget what an amazing privilege it is to experience great wildlife. This came home to me recently on a very special trip to Alaska. We were in the remote town of Nome, which can only be accessed by air or sea. We had stopped at a pond where there was old gold mining equipment. I spotted some Long-tailed Ducks, but the sun was directly in my face. I decided to try to get to the other side to get some photos, which entailed fighting my way over rough ground and through bushes. Finally, I was in position, but…

Q I spotted the unusual duck shown on the attached photo at Leighton Moss RSPB, Lancashire, and wondered if it is a hybrid - perhaps a Teal x Shoveler cross? The RSPB offices were closed by the time I left the site, so there was no-one there to ask. Stella Summers A That really is a striking-looking duck, or rather drake, Stella. It has the overall look of a Shoveler, but (as well as other plumage features) has a clear vertical white line in front of the eye and richly orange flanks and breast (which should be dark red-brown and white respectively on a ‘pure’ Shoveler). This bird is very likely a hybrid between a (Northern) Shoveler and a Cinnamon Teal (a North American species), showing features of both. As…

#HATSONFORMIND, £10 Go Outdoors (and other retailers) are selling hats that could keep your birding head warm, where all of the profit goes to MIND, the mental health charity. There are several celebrity-designed hats on offer – take your pick from the Julia Bradbury, the David Seaman or the Sean Fletcher. There are two designs for children (£8) and coordinating flasks as well. I don’t know why they vary, but Julia has the most recycled content. Available from 2 November. gooutdoors.co.uk STORMSURE BOOT, SHOE & WADER REPAIR KIT, £9.48 Has your Avocet seen better days? Does your Oystercatcher leak? This boot, shoe and wader repair kit could give them an extra lease of life. Joking – it’s for your footwear. Your cracked, leaking footwear. It includes flexible repair adhesive, transparent…

SOUTH WEST Highlights In association with In brief, the region had an exceptional month of rarities, including Northern Parula, Black-and-white-Warbler, two Bobolinks, a Cliff Swallow, and a Northern Harrier from across the Atlantic, supported by Red-footed and Brown Boobies, and a South Polar Skua at sea, and Pallas’s Grasshopper and Eastern Olivaceous Warblers, plus a Yellow-breasted Bunting from the east! AVON CLEVEDON-WESTON-SUPER-MARE: A Swift was over Weston-super-Mare (17th). Sand Bay held 38 Whimbrels, and a few Sanderlings and Curlew Sandpipers (1st). Clevedon-Yeo had a Curlew Sandpiper (10th), Spotted Redshank (17th), Greenshank, Merlin and White Wagtails. Sand Point logged an Arctic Skua (19th), Osprey, Marsh Harrier, Merlin, Hobby, Grasshopper Warbler and Firecrest. SEVERNSIDE: Pilning Wetland had a Pink-footed Goose (30th), Garganey, 15 Avocets (4th) and Little Ringed Plovers (to 16th). Aust…

PATCH DIARY Last month, you may recall, I was whining about how poorly my local year listing was going, while relating some stuff I had seen which many patch-watchers would be more than grateful for. This past month, without wanting to reveal the plot, things have been largely the same, with one or two stand-out exceptions. As you will doubtless be aware, late September saw an exceptional windblown wave of warblers, waders and whatnots to Wales and beyond. Inevitably most of the fun was to be had in the west of the country, where the hurricane named after prominent birder Lee Evans [not really] blew a crazy array of pretty wee birds. There was a first for the UK in Canada Warbler, a second which felt like a first in…

NEWS & OPINION ‘Kronk’ said the obliging Raven passing overhead. Hawkeye and I watched it into the distance as it seemed to hiccup in flight every time it called. Lovely. It then struck me that, in more than 60 years of binding, I’d never heard a Raven calling in flight. Come to think of it, I’d seen many Ravens, but heard very few, and always distant. A Cetti’s Warbler whispered across seven fields as if in residence in my ear. This was at a site in the UK where they first established a sustained breeding population; by now there are dozens and dozens of pairs in the reedbeds and scrub. Of course, I see them occasionally, but hear them hundreds of times. Some birds are like that, great at vocalising,…

Birding is about community. It’s about not only seeing birds but also sharing what you’ve seen with others. It’s about the bonds such sharing creates. It’s about friendships; friendships that endure across both miles and years. At Celestron, of the many things of which we’re most proud throughout our more than six decades of creating optical instruments, few are more dearly held close to our hearts than the knowledge that our binoculars and spotting scopes are used by birders around the world in forming and strengthening this enthusiastic and enduring community. While we have long been a friend and enthusiastic member of the birding community with Bird Watching, we are now deeply honoured also to be a partner with them in #My200BirdYear, Working together, it is our fondest wish that…

DOMINIC COUZENS ON THE… Do you remember the days when you searched in a box of chocolates for your favourite? Or maybe you are a fan of visual quizzes in which you have to pick out the cat in a sea of, say, sheep? To birdwatchers, the Brambling is that lovely exception — the scarce orange chocolate, the gold nugget in the stream, the standout in a crowd of Chaffinch mediocrity! It’s autumn, and birders just love finding Bramblings. The Brambling is the northern equivalent of its super-abundant relative, breeding mostly in sub-arctic birch scrub. Here, it is often the second most abundant bird after the Willow Warbler, and may nest in densities up to 52 pairs per square kilometre. It is the only European finch to evacuate its nesting…

In association with os.uk/osm MAX MILES ON FOOT: 2 MIN TIME: 3 HOURS Fisher’s Green is an important wetland site on the fringes of the Greater London area, comprising lakes, reedbeds, islands, shallow margins and willow scrub. The river, canal, adjacent woodland and farmland combine to form a mosaic of habitats ensuring a wide cross-section of birds throughout the year, but particularly in winter. PAUL TRODD WHERE TO WATCH 1 From the viewing platform or the new Wildlife Discovery Centre, carefully scan along the reedbed margins for a prowling Bittern as well as Grey Heron and Little Egret, plus the occasional Great White Egret. Open water on 70 Acre Lake attracts large flocks of wildfowl, and variable numbers of Smew and Goosander are likely amongst the numerous Pochard, Tufted Duck,…

RUTH MILLER OBSERVATIONS I have so much to thank my parents for. After all, they first got me into birdwatching. I grew up in the countryside of the North Downs in Kent, surrounded by woodlands and fields, where my parents encouraged me to wander and explore. The sun always shone, and I spent a happy childhood looking and learning. Well, maybe I exaggerate the weather, but my parents taught me well to look out for wildlife wherever I go. Birds will always be my first love, but have you noticed how, when you look for birds, you see so much other wildlife, too? Now I live in North Wales, and I regularly walk on the headland of the Great Orme in Llandudno. I’m always looking for birds, maybe the charismatic Chough…

Thanks are due to the Cromlix Hotel, near Dunblane, which hosted Matt’s stay. This five-star country house hotel is set in beautiful woodland, with plenty of birdwatching opportunities within the grounds themselves – Matt found Woodcock as well as owls and lots of finch and tit flocks – as well as being close to the A9, allowing easy access north and south. It’s owned by the local hero, tennis star Andy Murray, and his wife Kim, and features a wide variety of rooms and suites to suit all tastes. The hotel’s Glasshouse Restaurant is a highlight of any stay, with absolutely superb food created from locally sourced ingredients. Afternoon tea is available, too, and there’s an Art Deco bar where you can enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail. Further details, including prices…

SHARRON DIFFLEY NATURE WINNER What were the circumstances behind the photograph? I had finished cooking a full English breakfast for 30 people on Scout Camp (I’ve been a Scout leader for 15 years) and had gone for a walk around the campsite before starting on lunch. The iridescent green beetle caught my eye shining in the sun. How does winning make you feel? I am over the moon – it’s one of those ‘dream come true’ moments you never expect to happen. Why do the outdoors, photography and happiness go well together in your opinion? It’s important to take time to decompress and to notice the small things that are usually overlooked. I find walking and photography particularly mindful experiences, where you get to surround yourself with the beauty of…

FINDING W H HUDSON BY CONOR MARK JAMESON PELAGIC, SB, £21.99 BOOK OF THE MONTH I have been following Conor’s writing for some time and know he has been busy collecting all sorts of valuable information on Mr Hudson, a man who really started his birding over in Argentina, but who occupies a significant place in British conservation and nature writing. Conor sets out for the reader how Mr Hudson was also around in England at the time of the formation of the RSPB – he knew the ladies responsible for creating it well, and became a wildlife campaigner and writer once he had settled in the south of England. This excellent book justifiably puts Mr Hudson right up there with the finest. ONE THOUSAND SHADES OF GREEN BY MIKE…

Kirk Parsons, 28 September 2013 The day that really stands out as my best birding day ever is 28 September 2013. After chatting to the people manning a stand at Scottish Birdfair the year before, my wife Caroline and I had decided to holiday in Extremadura. My wife isn’t a birder, but she does love Spain, and where I’d been swayed by tales of Great Bustard, her interest had been piqued by wide open spaces, historical towns and the chance of peace and quiet. So, packing up my brand new travel scope, we set off for what was my first time birding abroad. On the day in question, we decided to drive to the Monfragüe National Park, which I’d been told was good for birding. We began at Monfragüe Castle,…