Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2024 i Bird Watching

What’s the best bird you’ve ever seen on a non-birding holiday? Amanda Tuke: “The Pileated Woodpecker that we saw a few metres away on our Californian honeymoon was fabulous.” Ian Parsons: “Starlings murmurating at Aberystwyth pier; anon-birding birding experience that will live long in the memory.” David Chandler: “Nightjar. ‘That’s made my day’ I said. I was on my honeymoon.” Ruth Miller: “Wallcreeper on the walls of Dracula’s castle in Transylvania, Romania, on a sightseeing holiday. What a bird in such an amazing location.”…

twitter.com/BirdWatchingMag facebook.com/BirdWatchingMag RARITY RATINGS Common, widely distributed Localised - always a treat Very scarce or rare IICTERINE WARBLER Late spring 2024 was a very good season for Icterine Warblers, especially in the northern isles, with an exceptional influx at the same time as a major wave of Red-backed Shrikes. Late August is a traditional time for hoping to find (or at least see) one of these sturdy, long-winged, slow-moving, yellow-and-green tinted, ’open-faced’ (lacking a dark eyestripe, unlike Willow Warblers) Hippolais warblers, from continental Europe. They are scarce passage visitors (though they have bred), and most frequently seen at coastal migrant hotspots. CURLEW Our largest wader, the magnificent Curlew is most frequently seen around the muddy margins of our islands, its call one of the most evocative sounds of mudflat and…

UNDERWATER SURPRISE China-marks represent some of our most remarkable moths. We think of moths and butterflies as winged creatures whose realm is the air. Yet for most of its existence, the Small China-mark (this is a male) lives underwater. China-mark caterpillars boast adaptations, such as being able to breathe through their skin or trapping an air jacket next to their body, which enable them to develop in an aquatic domain. The adults are best seen around water, too - but on the air-breathing side of the surface! PLANT Lagomorph limb? A widespread plant of dry grasslands and sandy ground, Hare’s-foot Clover flowers from June to September. Its usual name stems from the downy hairs that cover the pale rosy flowerheads. These give the appearance of a hare’s paw… although you…

Strictly eagles at Moffat festival The programme for the Moffat Eagle Festival 2024 (6 to 8 September) has been unveiled, as the pioneering South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project revealed 47 Golden Eagles now soar in southern Scottish skies, the highest number in the past three centuries. The Project also announced that Hamza Yassin, wildlife cameraman, presenter, author of Be a Birder, and winner of Strictly Come Dancing 2022, will be the keynote speaker for the festival. More info about the project: www.goldeneaglessouthofscotland.co.uk Woodcock survey paints mixed picture The latest survey of the UK’s resident Woodcock population shows numbers still declining, although slower than previously. The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust and the BTO teamed up in 2023, finding that, in parts of England, numbers of breeding Woodcock were increasing.…

H oopoes are wonderful birds, a unique species that combines bold markings, an amazing crest, a floaty flight and an evocative voice. They are birds that birders always want to see. They are found as a breeding bird throughout much of Europe and, for many of us, they are associated with Mediterranean holidays. But they are also a bird that turns up in Britain every year — wandering individuals that bring delight to many, usually in the months of April and May, when more than a hundred individuals can appear all across the country. Like many spring wanderers, the birds aren’t normally around for very long, but just occasionally a pair will stay long enough to breed, and that’s exactly what happened in 2023 in Leicestershire, with a pair of…

In association with os.uk/osm MAX MILES ON FOOT: 2 MIN TIME: 3 HOURS Loch Don is a sea loch off the east side of Mull, which, compared to others on the island, is very shallow, offering waders the chance to feed. It has three roads from which you can view the area for birds. WHERE TO WATCH 1 The village is a good starting point if you park off the road as it is a single track. You can walk around one set of houses to view the many islands at high tide, but also the mud flats at low tide, so look out for Shelduck, waders and mixed gulls like Common, Herring, Lesser Black-backed and Greater Black-backed Gulls. A Little Gull was a rare find here, while a Bonaparte’s…

In association with os.uk/osm MAX MILES ON FOOT: 2 MIN TIME: 1.5 HOURS Nunhead Cemetery is a Victorian burial ground dating to 1840, with ornate monuments and a roofless Gothic chapel. It is now a dedicated nature reserve. Due to the largely overgrown nature of the site and the fact that it is the nearest large woodland to the centre of London, the grounds are a haven for birds, with more than 60 species breeding there. Some parts of the site are busy with dog walkers and runners, but there are a number of quieter paths where you can be alone with nature. WHERE TO WATCH 1 From Ash and Sycamore woodland, and the formal avenue of Lime trees, attract breeding birds such as Jay, Sparrowhawk, Tawny Owl, Wren, Blackcap,…

GET IN TOUCH birdwatching@bauermedia.co.uk facebook.com/BirdWatchingMag twitter.com/BirdWatchingMag Bird Watching, Media House, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA Arty sparrow photo Please find attached a photograph taken early this morning that provides a rather unusual perspective of a House Sparrow drinking the fresh overnight dew from the kitchen roof. I was standing directly underneath the bird and was glad that it remained long enough for me to take a couple of pictures on my phone. The bird is relatively clear, despite being photographed though the glass and a film of water — the clear blue sky was obliging, too! A big thank you to my grand-daughter Lili for initially spotting the bird and bringing it to my attention. Ian Govier Steam bath A friend took this photo with her mobile phone. She says…

In high summer, seabird colonies are full of noise, activity and drama, and no episode in this real-life play is quite as involving as a pirate stealing food from a hard-pressed commuter at the colony. If you are fortunate enough to witness it, it leaves a mark on you. A seabird comes back after a fishing trip, often with its prize (or prizes) held very obviously in the bill, as its chicks await at the nest site. Then the shadowy form of its abuser approaches, nearer and nearer. You plead with the parent to fly faster, but the thief invariably steals in, snatches away the hardearned delivery and makes off with it. It’s a minor tragedy for the parent and its young, and it feels like a terrible waste of…

The Goldfinch is one of those birds that I have just always remembered seeing. They have been ingrained in my birding memory for as long as I have been aware of birds. Indeed, I actually cannot even remember the first time I ever saw one. I also think that the Goldfinch is one of those birds which, if you were to start birding today for the first time, would definitely be on your list by the end of the session. But, as distinctive as they are to you and me, it was quite a shock to recently see people posting images of these pretty birds on Facebook ID Group pages asking for help with their identities. Maybe I have been taking these lovely birds for granted all this time. Of…

WHERE TO WATCH BIRDS IN… BY VARIOUS HELM, SB, £27.99 This series has taken on something of a new look, and it is now adding smaller, lesser-known birding areas, with completely up to date coverage. Already in 2024, we have had Surrey and Sussex covered by Matt Phelps and Ed Stubbs, and South East England (which is Essex, London and Kent) by David Callahan (a regaulr in this magazine). They are packed with information, and can be just about the best thing in your collection if you’re living in the areas covered, or just visit regularly. There are excellent maps to help you get to the vital locations, while the bird information is second to none. Start saving up, as more are on the way! BOOK(S) OF THE MONTH AN…

HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR 2024? #My200BirdYear challenge The Hoopoe that graces our cover this issue (and is pictured, above) is one of those species that never fails to raise a gasp of delight, whether you see them popping up on vicars’ lawns and business park verges in the UK, or on their more familiar breeding grounds around the Med. I’d guess that many, if not most, of us have first encountered them while on a beach holiday in Spain or similar — they’re a reminder that you can usually fit in a bit of quality birding wherever you are! Elsewhere, we take a look at the whole issue of bird names, one which has caused considerable debate in the USA. There are a few changes I’d love to see,…

Here is our four-weekly guess at which outlandish, far-fetched rare birds may be making an appearance in the country. LITTLE BUSTARD Despite having more than 200 UK records, the Little Bustard is a very rare birds these days, with only half a dozen seen this century (one of which was shot!). They can turn up at any time, but the last accepted bird was seen in August 2019 at Mickletown, West Yorkshire. That bird was also spotted in late June at Slimbridge WWT, Gloucs. But, you never know, there could be an August arrival. BROWN BOOBY Though only first definitely recorded in the UK in August 2019, the Brown Booby is now almost an expected bird each summer around our coasts (with a few last year), so it feels a…

Early June saw me coming as close as ever to losing my birding mojo. On the morning of Sunday 2nd, my big boy’s camera was pinched from my car. I didn’t notice until much later in the day that it was missing. I would like to say thank you very much to everyone who offered sympathy and alerted the wildlife community (and beyond) on Facebook (and beyond) to go searching in the field, where I thought I may have misplaced my camera gear. But no, it was nicked, and it was not nice. Within a few days, I had replaced the camera and lens with secondhand, half-price stuff, and consoled myself that the stolen, battered camera body was bordering on unusable. But my desire to go birding was severely dented.…

NEWS & OPINION I’m writing this before the General Election, safe in the knowledge that it will influence no-one, as you will read it long after your vote has been cast. Because of our crazy system, most of your votes will have been wasted, given that 60% of voters don’t vote for the party that wins. I hope I’m wrong, but I doubt there will be any Green MPs. On standing down as party leader, Caroline Lucas said how exhausting it had been to be a lone voice of opposition to short-sighted policies that wreck the world. Just one voice for around three million people! I often hear people say that we all want the same thing… we just don’t agree on how to bring that about. How I wish…

Amanda meets Dusty Gedge, aka Mr Black Redstart, to hear how he’s supported London’s Black Redstart population Dusty Gedge tells me that from 1997 to 2005 he was up almost every morning before 5am to look for Black Redstarts all over London, and built up what sounds like encyclopaedic knowledge from first-hand observation. Over that time period, he estimates there were up to 20 pairs in the city, each year. I ask what tips he has for finding them in May. “It’s not easy, as most of the males have stopped singing by mid-May. Around the middle of June, when they have young, they’re noisy and more active.” He tells me that it’s always worth looking out near Peregrine nests, too – his thinking is that the raptors give them…

Mention the Isles of Scilly to a group of (usually male) birders of a certain age and they will reminisce about the golden era of the 1970s and 1980s, when the green army invaded these peaceful islands off the Cornish coast each year in pursuit of migrants. This was before my time, but my other half, Alan, cut his twitching teeth as a teenager on these islands. He told exciting stories of traumatically rough sailings to the islands on the Scillonian, affectionately known as the ‘Vomit Comet’ for obvious reasons, sleeping rough in tents, piling onto ferries between the islands in response to bird alerts, brisk jogs to remote corners where rare birds were lurking, and the relief and ecstasy of catching up with Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Bobolink and other mouthwatering…

In association with os.uk/osm MAX MILES ON FOOT: 6 MIN TIME: ALL DAY This is a wave-formed shingle peninsula sticking out into the North Sea, and owned by the National Trust. The peninsula was formerly administered by the Ministry of Defence, which conducted secret military tests hereduring both World Wars and the Cold War. WHERE TO WATCH 1 While waiting for the ferry, check for passing terns, gulls and waders using the tidal channel. There are also Sycamore trees, so look for warblers in spring and autumn, as Siberian Chiffchaff and Two-barred Warbler have been found here, along with other passage birds. The ferry is only a short ride to the peninsula. 2 A good start is the airfield, where water can draw more common passage waders, like Dunlin, Sanderling,…

Join our dedicated #My200BirdYear Facebook group and share your best birding experiences and images with the community: facebook.com/groups/My200BirdYear Mirror rage We are Bird Watching magazine readers of many years, but cannot remember ever reading about bird behaviour quite as extreme as that of our resident male Bullfinch. We wonder whether any of your readers could shed some light on it. For almost two weeks, we have been visited by a male Bullfinch, who spends most of the day sitting on the wing mirror of our car, facing the passenger window, when it is parked in the drive. The car is only used infrequently throughout the week. When the bird isn’t on the car, it is on the windowsill of the downstairs room opposite, trying to get in through the often…

UK conservation status: Red Roseate Tern is one of the UK’s rarest breeding birds, with just one functional colony at the RSPB’s Coquet Island in Northumberland. The 19th Century millinery trade, and egg collecting, almost resulted in extinction, but thanks to protection and legislation, numbers began to recover until the 1960s. Since then, it has suffered a massive decline (between 1969 and 1992, the UK population shrank from 1,018 pairs to 57)* and much conservation effort has been focused on monitoring and research in order to begin to restore both species range and population. As a migratory bird, it faces many threats along its staging and West African wintering sites, so international collaboration, policy and advocacy work is key. In the UK, the small population lacks resilience and is extremely…

This jacket offers an alternative to garments made from Ventile or other fabrics. It’s made from “tough”, “directional”, Nikwax® Analogy® Waterproof fabric. Apparently, you can make pin-holes in it and it still keeps water out, and minor damage can be stitched up and the jacket still do its job. ‘Directional’ doesn’t just mean breathable. The fabric moves liquid (think sweat), not just water vapour, away from the inner. For £400 this needs to be very good, and have a good life expectancy. It is very well made. The fabric is soft and flexible, and the Halkon is comfy to wear and has good freedom of movement. It isn’t completely silent, but any fabric noise wasn’t an issue during an early morning Bittern survey (Bitterns boomed, a Hobby was up early…

#My200BirdYear ticklist Download and print off our #My200BirdYear ticklist to track your progress… www.birdwatching.co.uk/my-200-sign-up 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 geographically-based 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. 1 LEARN TO ID JUVENILES There’ll be lots of young birds about in August, so see if you can identify as many as possible. Not only will it help you identify the individuals themselves, but it will also get you thinking hard about structure, especially of…

Am I going to have to amend my overseas bird lists? Eschew that charming Wilson’s Warbler that joined me as I rested on a log in a Canadian preserve? Must I expunge Brewer’s Blackbird from my Texas list, or modify the name of that Worthen’s Sparrow that I searched so hard for in Northern Mexico? Culture is carried incidentally in the language we use. What is considered acceptable changes as cultural norms do, and sometimes it is important to change the language we use in order to modify society. Greybeards like me have seen great changes over the past four or five decades; changes for the better, for the most part. Racist, sexist and homophobic language was the norm for south London cabbies in the 1970s. They assumed I was…

We birdwatchers identify birds in a variety of different ways, without even thinking about it. Sometimes, it is a distinctive silhouette, sometimes the way a bird moves on the ground, or in the water, or how it flies. Sometimes, it is what we like to call ‘jizz’, that being the distinctive impression a bird gives ’as a whole’, including its appearance and its behaviour. Sometimes, though, it’s a particular feature, a particular detail which gives the identification away, even if nothing else of the bird is seen. Here are six birds to identify where using just a small part of the bird should suffice, to be confident in your conclusion. The challenge is to name them. Then, as ever, when you are happy with your answers, please turn the page…

In association with os.uk/osm MAX MILES ON FOOT: 4 MIN TIME: 4 HOURS Millions of people visit York to enjoy its history, shopping, restaurants and pubs, and attractions. But this beautiful old city, built on the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss, has plenty to offer visiting birders, too. Here are some urban birding spots you can combine with other activities on a day out. You can visit as many or as few of these sites as you like — they don’t have to be completed in a set route. WHERE TO WATCH 1 For some rewarding woodland birding to get your day started, pop into Askham Bog, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s oldest reserve, which is a short walk from Askham Bar park and ride. Look for Nuthatch, Willow Tit,…

In association with os.uk/osm MAX MILES ON FOOT: 3 MIN TIME: 3 HOURS Although just a few miles from the town of Tiverton and not far from the North Devon Link Road, this is an area of undulating farmland that feels remote. The route overlooks wooded valleys and, although it’s not known for rarities, there is a good variety of birds to look out for, as paths weave their way through a patchwork of fields and along old tracks. Allow time to visit the gem of a church that dates back to Norman times. WHERE TO WATCH 1 From Loxbeare, take the bridleway that starts at Loxbeare Barton, where Song Thrush are often in good voice. Goldfinch are likely around the Poplars. Head east, then south-east, looking out for Blackcap,…

Roof bird Q I would be grateful if you could identify the bird in the photograph. My wife Julia took the photograph from our bedroom window on 4 May. Peter Duffy A The unusual colour of your bird and its yellow plastic ring suggest your bird is a racing pigeon, or at least someone’s ’pet pigeon’ (either way, presumably tired and lost). Racing pigeons, in common with Feral Pigeons (which are the same species, with Rock Dove ancestors) come in all sorts of colour forms… Window woodpecker Q We have just moved into a new home with a woodland outside the front of the property. We hung some bird feeders outside and a woodpecker is helping itself to the suet balls. Are we doing the right thing? How can we…

One of the projects I have been working on over the past year or two is a podcast relating to wildlife photography with a good friend and, in my view, one of the most talented bird photographers in the United States. Our discussions often throw up ideas for magazine articles, and our last recording centred on bird photography clichés — the things that we had seen photographed again and again in the same way. When I studied what we had listed in our top 10, I realised that I had photographed very few of these subjects in these clichéd ways. This got me thinking about how my photography has developed, how my approach has changed, and how it now echoes many of the other facets of my life, recognising a…

NATURE SCAVENGER HUNT CARDS, £9 These might help some of the younger people in your life, or maybe some not so young people, to notice, connect and be wowed by nature. There are 34 scavenger hunt cards in the pack and an instruction card. The cards are prompts to search for pine cones, spiders’ webs and other natural wonders - use with respect for the natural world, of course. UK-made with vegetable-based ink on sustainability sourced card. Rainproof, shopping.rspb.ora.uk ROSKILDE CEDAR BIRD SEED FEEDER, £19.99 An attractive, handcrafted feeder made with FSC certified Cedar wood - it’s for those birds that appreciate a more elegant dining experience. The Roskilde has four feeding ports as well as space for more birds at the base. There are drainage holes - damp seeds…

SOUTH WEST Highlights In association with In an exciting month, a Cornish Crag Martin was overshadowed by a potential UK first, a Booted Eagle, over Sennen, Cape Cornwall and Morvah, Cornwall. The eagle was part of a big movement of Red Kites with accompanying Black Kites. AVON CLEVEDON-WESTON-SUPEB-MARE: Clevedon-Yeo had four Grey Plovers, a Greenshank and two Wigeon. Seawatching at Sand Point and Weston-super-Mare logged a Common Scoter (7th), 70 Bar-tailed Godwits, two Sandwich Terns (3rd) and four Gannets (11th). Sand Point also had a Short-eared Owl (6th), Wood Warbler, 17 Spotted Flycatchers (11th) and five Yellow Wagtails. Clevedon had a Pied Flycatcher (9th) and Wood Warbler (4th). SEVERNSIDE: There were 21 Avocets, a few Grey Plovers, four Little Ringed Plovers, Sanderling, a Knot, Curlew Sandpiper, 21 Bar-tailed Godwits, a…