Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2024 i Bird Watching

What’s your favourite ‘comeback’ bird, the species that have staged spectacular recoveries? Amanda Tuke: “Bittern… from UK extinction in the late 19th Century, to recent records of 200+ pairs and an increase in breeding range.” Stuart Winter: “Watching Peregrines on pylons, chimney stacks and office blocks in my Beds patch is a reminder of how they were once persecuted to near extinction.” Bo Beolens: “Chough… the king of crows is not only really handsome but its Kent coast reintroduction should also lead to restoration of habitat in the overcrowded south-east.” Ruth Miller: “The Peregrine, once in steep decline thanks to the use of DDT, now a bird thriving in our cities and living right on my doorstep.”…

twitter.com/BirdWatchingMag facebook.com/BirdWatchingMag RARITY RATINGS Common, widely distributed Localised – always a treat Very scarce or rare AVOCET Having returned to breed in the UK (in Suffolk) in the 1940s, the Avocet has gone from strength to strength, with about 2,000 pairs breeding (mainly coastally in eastern, southern and north-western England). Nearly 9,000 Avocets winter in the country (with many in south-west England). Unmistakable and beautiful, these elegant waders are always a pleasure to watch, whether feeding on foot or swimming, or seen in flight. RED-BREASTED MERGANSER Of our three merganser species (the others are Goosander and Smew), the lovely RbM is the most marine, favouring inshore coastal waters and estuaries (but occasionally venturing inland). In all plumages, they have spiky crests and long, fine, upturned red bills (lacking an obvious…

Hibernator Like The Herald, which starred in the January issue, The Tissue survives winter as an adult, hibernating in dark places such as caves. This moth has a delicately lined, glossy upperwing, which explains its rather odd name. When The Tissue was formally described in the 18th Century, Peter Marren explains in his book Emperors, Admirals and Chimney Sweepers, ‘tissue’ referred to partly transparent woven gauze, often with a silky sheen. AMPHIBIAN The mating game Smooth Newts should be on the move this month, relocating from dark, damp places on land to small breeding ponds. They particularly prefer ponds that are free of predatory fish and have a neutral or slightly alkaline pH. For the latter reason, the UK’s most common and widespread newt is usually absent from uplands, with…

Eagles favour seabirds A new study has shown that lambs are not a major food source for breeding Whitetailed Eagles in Scotland. The research, covering 1998-2017, found seabirds and fish are their most important food source, while the occurrence of lamb in their food has decreased as more pairs have established. The study, published in the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club journal Scottish Birds, said the most common prey item found in nests is now Fulmar – 30% of items per nest – with lamb now only accounting for 6%. Beaver release in Cairngorms approved NatureScot has approved Cairngorms National Park Authority’s application to translocate Eurasian Beavers to the Upper Spey catchment in the National Park, with the first three sites receiving beavers in the coming weeks and months. The ‘keystone’ species…

No. No. No. Nope. And not that one, either. There is still one individual which looks hopeful, but she’s busy preening so it’s hard at the moment to see whether she has the lighter head and pale ring at the base of her bill, which we’re looking for. She finally settles, revealing a dark head and definitely a crest. So, no again. Cindy and I are scrutinising each of the female Tufted Ducks on Lisvane Reservoir in north Cardiff. A female Ring-necked Duck has been here, on and off, over the past few weeks, and was seen yesterday. We finally come to the conclusion that we’ve drawn a blank, and, just as we agree it would be nice to have definite confirmation, East Glamorgan County Recorder Phil Bristow miraculously appears…

Mega: Magnolia Warbler. St Govan’s Head… T he above text message from Rare Bird Alert, on the evening of 20 September, 2023, left the strains of Alanis Morissette’s Ironic worming their way into my ears. A bad month’s birdwatching had just got a whole lot worse. Autumn was in full swing and my birding mojo had already dived into the undergrowth like a vanishing Locustella warbler. Our local patch, a glorious migration hotspot for an annual feast of chats and flycatchers, had been put out of bounds by the arrival of a private Pheasant shoot. School run duties for the grandchildren meant early morning ‘vis mig’ watches up in the Chiltern Hills were off the agenda. There was also a new season of football fixtures to referee, several tantalisingly close…

In association with os.uk/osm MAX MILES ON FOOT: 8 MIN TIME: 5 HOURS Loch Ba, on Mull, was the first location in Britain where White-tailed Eagles nested after their reintroduction. It is a wonderful walk, with little gradient and with so much different habitat to explore. WHERE TO WATCH 1 As you walk through the gate along the track, check the conifers for Crossbills and Goldcrests. Once by the loch, scan the water for divers, with a good chance of Great Northern in winter and Red-throated in summer. There are always eagles in this area, so scan the hills and woods to see what you can find, sometimes with both Golden and White-tailed Eagle flying together 2 The track takes you by some wonderful birch woodland, so listen for Wood…

GET IN TOUCH birdwatching@bauermedia.co.uk facebook.com/BirdWatchingMag twitter.com/BirdWatchingMag Bird Watching, Media House, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA A special Christmas Robin Recently, while playing golf, I noticed a small bird hop up from the ground and settle on a bare branch, just a few yards away. I watched it moving about for a short while, and my instant reaction was, “What on earth is that?” I had no binoculars with me or camera, or phone, and playing in a competition, we had another group of players following close behind, so could not hang around. My initial thought was a flycatcher because of its colouring, but this was mid-November! Surely, they are all well on their way south on their migration journey, in southern Europe or northern Africa.I returned to the spot afterwards,…

The Chough is a member of the crow family (Corvidae). But when considering its life history, you should perhaps imagine a conversation at a family dinner table, where the child and heir suddenly makes an announcement. In a break from previous generations of, say, lawyers, the child has decided to be an organic gardener – cue gasps and general horror, and adaptation for all. So, the Chough, relative to the other crows of Britain, is a maverick; it is the upstart crow, you might say. The Chough, therefore, doesn’t eat carrion or general refuse, or form large flocks on ploughed fields, or build obvious nests. It doesn’t caw, but just utters a joyful ‘chee-ow’, which tells us that its name is always pronounced wrongly – we say chuff, but it…

I’d call this a smock, not an anorak. It’s something you might take if you’re travelling light, or want something in the bag for when the weather becomes windier or wetter. It’s a very well made garment. The fabric is 73% recycled polyester and 27% polyurethane and has “PFC-free impregnation”. It is softer, suppler and quieter than you might expect, and is a pleasure to wear. In the field, fabric noise was not an issue. This anorak is not heavy and can be stashed away in the zip-up kangaroo pocket – and can then be used as a small pillow. The kangaroo pocket is about 33cm wide and 15cm deep – it will easily take a notebook and a fairly large mobile phone, or an OS map. There are also…

HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR 2024? #My200BirdYear challenge It can sometimes feel as though the natural world, and our bird life more specifically, is facing inexorable decline, so it’s always worth reminding ourselves that there ARE success stories, involving species that have come back from the brink. Our cover bird, the Chough, is one of those, with very encouraging population and range growth in some parts of the UK (especially Wales), and more likely to follow. And, in this issue, Dominic Couzens takes a close look at what might be (against strong competition) our most charismatic corvid. It’s also that time of year when Big Garden Birdwatch provides a snapshot of garden bird populations, and this year I plan to use it to kickstart a year of more systematic bird…

BLACK-FACED BUNTING The first Black-faced Bunting was at Pennington Flash CP, Greater Manchester in March to April 1994. Most of the other eight or so records have been in October, but there have been one or two February records of this eastern Asian species elsewhere in the Western Palearctic. Could this year see the UK’s first in Feb? STELLER'S EIDER This small, very rare, northern eider has 30-odd UK records, though about half of these (especially in the 1970s into 1980s) probably refer to the same returning individual. Nearly all records come from Scotland, particularly Orkney and the Outer Hebrides (where the returning birds were seen). BELTED KINGFISHER Though most records of this large North American kingfisher came from April, some earlier records have occurred on this side of the…

PATCH DIARY Last year ended with a bit of a mid-December flourish, with the addition of my second ever Peterborough-area American Wigeon, a dozen or so Mealy Redpolls and some much-craved Waxwings. The latter (I saw four) were in the car park of the offices which contain Bird Watching magazine, feeding on the scattered Rowans, there. These took my 2023 local year list up to a ‘respectable’ 187. It is 2 January 2024 as I write, and I’m still recovering from yesterday’s New Year Big Day. This year, for the challenge to see and hear as many species as possible on Day One, I was joined by my friend Hugh Wright and my son Eddie. Hugh has supreme ears and eyes, and Ed brought the youthful enthusiasm and energy of…

NEWS & OPINION Whoever thought that the ‘cancel culture’ would impact birders? Maybe I should have expected it, as Ostriches are falsely supposed to bury their heads in the sand. ‘Cancelling’ people or problems doesn’t actually solve anything. Exactly what does it achieve? Being in denial about anything is no way to change things for the better. So, the American Ornithological Society has decided to change some ‘common’ names of birds because they are named after people. Why? Because some of the people so ‘honoured’ were nasty. Never mind that those same people stay commemorated in the scientific names, and in common names out of their purview (i.e. the rest of the world) that still commemorate many of the same people. I have written eight books about zoological eponyms, that…

“My role is to act as a focal point to coordinate and encourage the submission and storage of bird records. This includes the day-to-day reports made by local birders, but also for birders visiting the county. These reports are used in the preparation of an annual local bird report, and the relevant data are forwarded onto various regional and national organisations, so, in my case, for the Welsh Ornithological Society, as well as the Rare Breeding Birds Panel, for inclusion in their own periodic publications.”…

In association with os.uk/osm MAX MILES ON FOOT: 1 MIN TIME: 2 HOURS Effectively part of Leicestershire Wildlife Trust’s large Charnwood Lodge reserve, this compact and manageable portion (known locally as ‘The Rocks’) is popular with birders, as well as dogwalkers and general visitors. It offers very wide views in all directions, with Birmingham, Cannock Chase, the Peak District and the Trent Valley all visible, and it’s a regular stopping off point for a number of migrants. WHERE TO WATCH 1 Walking from the layby on Warren Hills Road, check the first field – in some years it has held mixed finches, including Brambling. The little copse will have common woodland birds, plus Jay. 2 The granite outcrops (some of Britain’s most ancient rocks) offer good spots to sit and…

As a recent newcomer to Milverton, Somerset, and indeed to the UK, on my walks through the village I have seen very few birds and can assume that this is due to the seasonal migration that takes place in the autumn, and the onset of winter. Is anyone able to help with a checklist of any birds that may remain at this time of year, and how I can attract them to my garden? Gary Davidson The editor says: Having a relatively mild, island climate, the UK is an important wintering ground for many birds which find the frozen continent too extreme. So, despite summer visitors having departed, there should be plenty of wintering birds out there. Whether there is a specific checklist of winter birds, we are not certain.…

Sometimes you make a plan, and then life throws you a curveball. Should you stick to Plan A and carry on regardless? Or should you change your arrangements because of the new situation? It’s a tough decision, and one we often face, given the vagaries of the Welsh weather. However, if in doubt, our motto is ‘Stick to Plan A’ and usually it all works out fine. Not long ago was a prime example of this. We had planned to spend an autumn day exploring the uplands of North Wales, visiting a huge area of commercial forestry, open moorland, and sheepwalk, to look for the special birds that inhabit this area. It is not densely populated with birds, but with plenty of time and effort to look, those species that…

As I outlined in last month’s article, winter and early spring can provide some of the best garden bird photography opportunities of the year. With the birds in good condition, and the sun lower in the sky, it is my favourite time of the year to be photographing my garden regulars. As you prepare to photograph your garden birds, by now your feeding station and perches will be set up and positioned in favourable locations, and the birds coming regularly for food. What you will now need to consider is positioning yourself in the correct area, and taking the measures required to ensure that the birds continue to use the feeders and perches, and are not unnerved by your presence with the camera. Before taking up your camera, take some…

MALMO WOODPECKER NESTBOX, £29.99 The name suggests Sweden, but fear not, this is not a flatpack nestbox. It’s a designer home for woodpeckers but they do have to put a bit of effort in – it’s their job to make the hole a bit bigger. The Malmo is a hollowed-out, FSC certified Birch log. You can unscrew the roof to put a bit of soil in – that could make it even more of a des-res. Place it two or three metres up and watch out for the woodpeckers. Approx 57cm high. birdfood.co.uk TAWNY OWL NESTBOX, £130 This won’t work in everyone’s garden. But wouldn’t it be great to provide a home for Tawny Owls? This box is made in the UK with FSC certified timber. It has a removable…

BIRD OF THE MONTH KINGFISHER To quote S. Vere Benson in The Observer’s Book of British Birds, “This gem among birds is so brightly coloured as almost to dazzle the eye in certain lights. I have seen one on the wing looking like a bright blue light rather than anything solid. In another light the bird appeared comparatively dark”. This piece of writing so many of us read in our youth sums up the enigma of the Kingfisher. Even the use of the word ‘gem’ hints at the surprisingly (to some) small size, while the whole cuts to the chase that this bird’s appearance is light-dependent. Blue and green colours in birds’ feathers are (almost always) formed by the structure of the feathers rather than pigments. And the blue upperparts…

SET A TARGET OF SEEING 200 BIRDS IN ONE YEAR! If you’re reading this, then you’re already a birdwatcher of some sort, whether a full-on lister who travels the country and beyond to see new species for your life list, or someone whose attention and imagination has been caught by the colourful visitors to your garden feeders. Or anything else in between. So, why would you take up the #My200BirdYear challenge? Well, because there are always times when you need a bit of extra motivation, an end goal, and #My200BirdYear provides that. Essentially, the only person you’re ‘competing with’ is yourself. We challenge you to see 200 species of bird in 2024, but the rest is entirely up to you. You can set whatever geographical restrictions you like – on…

CARDIFF BAY AND WETLANDS RESERVE, STARTING FROM PENARTH (about 10 mins by train from Cardiff Central) If you start, as I did, from Penarth Rail Station, allow one to two hours to walk across the barrage and around Cardiff Bay to the Wetlands Reserve. En route, look out for grebes, Goosander, Turnstone, Mediterranean Gull and Kingfisher, plus reedbed specialists including Water Rail in the Wetlands Reserve. LISVANE RESERVOIR (just less than 30 mins, including a train from Cardiff Central plus a short walk) While you can’t walk all the way round Lisvane in the winter, it’s small enough to be viewable from the paths which are open, and has a bird hide on the east side from which you can scan for rarer ducks and even divers. When you’re ready…

The term ‘birds of prey’ is an odd one, isn’t it? It is not quite as strange as ‘gamebird’ or ‘wildfowl’, both of which have implications that the birds somehow exist or evolved to be hunted. The reason ‘birds of prey’ is odd is that just about all birds eat ‘prey’, or at least feed on animal matter at some stage in their lives. Blue Tits hunt caterpillars and other invertebrates, grebes chase fish, Wrens pick tiny spiders to eat, but you wouldn’t call any of them birds of prey. And, for the purposes of this ID Challenge, we are looking at the conventional hook-billed raptors (including hawks and falcons) as well as owls, a few of which are regularly seen by day. Please, simply name the birds on this…

AGP? Q I saw this little bird on a rock; it was at the Gann in Pembrokeshire. It has been suggested to me that it is a American Golden Plover. What do you think? Damon Hart A We agree, that your very nicely photographed bird is a moulting adult American Golden Plover, Damon. Pro-AGP (rather than European Golden Plover) features include the proportionately larger head and longer legs, the strikingly white supercilium (pale ‘eyebrow’) and the overall black-and-white appearance of the bird, while Golden Plovers are more golden, especially on the upperparts. The underparts also have, in addition to the black spotting (remnants of the breeding plumage), a certain grey ‘background’, particularly on the flanks. Finally, the longer primary projection (the pointy flight feathers protruding at the back, beyond the…

The Brahminy Kite is an attractive, and very familiar raptor, found in Australia, around the Indian subcontinent and south-east Asia. Its closest relative is the Whistling Kite, an all-brown sister species from Australia and New Guinea. Brahminy Kites are quite distinctive looking birds, with the adult’s reddish-brown body and wings contrasting with their white head and breast. Conversely, the immatures are brownish, looking very much like bulky Red Kites, but with a rounded tail. In their general appearance, adult Brahminy Kites have a strong superficial resemblance to several fish eagle species, which has no doubt led them to being also known as the Red-backed Sea Eagle in Australia. After all, as kites go, they are quite large and are fairly attached to coastlines and rivers, where they swoop down upon…