Innholdsfortegnelse for Autumn 2024 i Bird Watching

HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR 2024? #My200BirdYear challenge There are a few reserves that have acquired semi-legendary status among birders. Some because, like Cley NWT or Dungeness RSPB, they record a bewildering number of major rarities, and others because they offer the guarantee of great birding at all times of year, with a very high probability of seeing some iconic species. Leighton Moss RSPB is one of those, and on page 33, Mark Cocker marks its 60th birthday with a look at what has made it such a special site for birdwatching, and for wider conservation. It's somewhere I always make the time to call in at when I'm passing on the M6, on my way to and from Scotland. Elsewhere, on page 26, Paul Brook looks at birding and…

UPLAND SANDPIPER With only a tad more than 50 accepted UK records (since 1847), including 14 since the turn of the millennium, this is a seriously rare North American vagrant. The last occurrence was at Sennen Cornwall, last October, while Cornwall and Scilly hog a high proportion of all records. GREY CATBIRD Notoriously, there have only been two accepted UK records of this North American mimid (relative of mockingbirds, thrashers and tremblers): a highly elusive bird at South Stack, Anglesey in early October 2001, and a long stayer in the second half of October 2018 at Land's End, Cornwall. Time for a third! BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER Last autumn's exceptional influx of North American ‘wood warblers’ brought perhaps half a dozen of these humbug-patterned Nuthatch-impersonators, including a ridiculous three on Bardsey Island,…

PATCH DIARY As I am sure you are already aware (partly because we are always banging on about it in BW), the heat of summer can bring subdued bird activity and leads many a birder to pursue invertebrates and mammals, and even botanical treats. And I admit to being one such birder, easily distracted by other stuff when the birding is less exciting. Often this is not a deliberate turning away from birds, but more a side effect, an add-on to a session looking for birds. An example came in mid-August, when I figured it was time to search for Whinchats. I missed Whinchat in the spring (when, admittedly, they are at the best looking), so have been hoping to bump into a late summer/early autumn one. As it happens,…

NEWS & OPINION A while ago I was approached by a remarkable woman asking for help for a project she has set up. Lucy Mathen, an Indian-born British BBC journalist, often reported ‘third world’ tragedy to the world. After working on a documentary about women in Afghanistan she resolved that the next time she was in a place where people were suffering, she would not report on it, but do something to help. True to her vow, she retrained as a physician in London and ended up specialising in ophthalmology, part of which was a course in India where she saw how cataracts were leading to blindness, where there were no clinics ordinary people could afford. Shortly after finishing her training, she set up a charity, Second Sight (www.secondsight.org.uk), to…

Ed Drewitt: “I am part of a team ringing and studying Pied Flycatchers in the Forest of Dean – it is one of the longest studies of this species, starting back in the 1930s! We have an insight into their lives for only six or seven weeks each year. Even more surprising is when I catch an adult bird that is five or six years old, meaning these Robin-sized birds have been to West Africa and back in each of those years.” Laura Tuke: “I had been training as a bird ringer in Dorset for three years when, one day, my trainer passed me a bird bag without any comment and I pulled out a surprise. It was a dream bird, a fantastic Wryneck, complete with its bark-like plumage and…

Don't compare: We probably all compare ourselves to other people in some way, perhaps without even realising it. This is rarely a good thing. In my case, comparing myself to other birders is a great way to ruin my favourite hobby. Some wise words from fellow birding writer Hep Cairnswood – one half of the Considerate Birders – in this very magazine are my new guide to handling this: “The final part of being a Considerate Birder is celebrating others for their experiences and sharing their joy. It can be difficult when your social media is filled with brilliant images of something you've never seen… Someone seeing a rare bird doesn't mean that we never will. We intend to watch birds for many years to come, so we're in no…

In association with os.uk/osm MAX MILES ON FOOT: 2 MIN TIME: 2 HOURS Carrifran is one of those places where a bare hillside has been transformed with the planting of three-quarters of a million native trees; not only species you may know well, but also alpine species on the very tops. There's a good variety of birds to go with them, especially in spring. WHERE TO WATCH 1 The main trail takes you in a circular walk covering just short of a mile, while the longer walk is 2.5 miles. Spring is a great time for a visit, as so many birds have made what was an open upland into their new breeding area. Willow Warblers may be the commonest, but they have been joined by Chiffchaff in this new…

In association with os.uk/osm MAX MILES ON FOOT: 4 MIN TIME: 4 HOURS At just short of 1,000 feet, Inkpen and Walbury Hills are notable high points on the English chalk lands, and as such the views from this section of the North Wessex Downs AONB justify a visit for that alone. Open, stony arable land and grassy downland interspersed with scrub make for ideal habitat to attract grounded migrants, where rarities such as Stone-curlew and Dotterel have been discovered in the past. The scarp slope makes for an ideal viewpoint from which to observe visible migration of passerines and raptors on the move. WHERE TO WATCH 1 A good viz mig spot around dawn for overhead migrants. Early autumn typically brings, Swallow, House Martin, Meadow Pipit, Sky Lark, Pied…

GET IN TOUCH birdwatching@bauermedia.co.uk facebook.com/BirdWatchingMag twitter.com/BirdWatchingMag Bird Watching, Media House, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA Unusual garden visitor While watching TV around 8pm, an unusual bird appeared in one of the trees by our lounge window. I managed to grab a few shots with my camera (see the photo above)and then a bit of research on the internet revealed we had just had a Red-vented Bulbul in our garden! We live in Fearnhead, close to Warrington.. Spencer and Sue Bennett The editor says: A remarkable garden bird! Red-vented Bulbuls are popular cagebirds. They are native to the Indian subcontinent, but have spread widely through accidental and deliberate release, as far as Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, USA and Argentina. According to its Wikipedia page, it is included on a list of…

It's possible you might never have heard of an Aquatic Warbler. It is, after all, very rare in Britain and not a typical species for this column. But I make no apologies for shouting out about a very special and valuable bird. It's valuable because it is one of the very few that are confined as a breeding species to Europe and nowhere else. It is mainly found in Poland, Belarus and Ukraine, which at the moment feels like a bad lifestyle choice. There might still be a small population remaining in western Siberia, but nobody is sure; they were last recorded in 2000. If still in existence, this remnant is incredibly isolated, perhaps as far as 4,000km from its conspecifics. The current overall estimate is fewer than 30,000 individuals,…

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) Soutw-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 EAST Skegness (+4:29) Grimsby (+4:13) Bridlington (+2:58) Whitby (+2:20) Hartlepool (+1:59) Blyth (+1:46) Berwick…

Welcome to a regular round-up covering survey updates, discoveries, current research, and other stories from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) headquarters in Norfolk. The BTO is a non-governmental, non-campaigning organisation focused on securing the future for birds and nature. It uses robust science, monitoring, and data to help inform environmental decisions. The heart of BTO encompasses three key areas: birds, science and people. And, of course, much of what we achieve couldn't be done without the dedication and expertise of our many volunteers. Each month we'll discuss some key projects and explore how the data we gather helps build knowledge and the potential to protect our birdlife, and we'll hopefully help inspire you to get involved! Jon Carter SURVEY Crucial wetlands study This month, we'll look at the Wetland…

SET A TARGET OF SEEING 200 BIRDS IN ONE YEAR! #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 TAKE STOCK Go through your list, and identify any species that you feel you should have seen by now, and concentrate your efforts on finding them. Some may be relatively scarce, but some will be…

What's the most important thing ringing has told us about birds? Mark: “When ringing started here at the start of the 20th Century, people were surprised to hear that Swallows went to southern Africa. Understanding bird migration, and proving links between continents, led to the realisation that conservation of birds has to be an international effort.” Why is ringing still important? Lee: “Annual monitoring to give year-on-year changes is the priority now. We're able to look in depth at population changes – we can say, for example, things like ‘Reed Warblers have had a good year this year’, or ‘Barn Owls have had a bad year’. And, with standardised ringing effort, through the Constant Effort Site scheme (CES), we can look at numbers of birds changing over time, and can…

ID CHALLENGE ID TIP! Mergansers, aka sawbills, are fish-eating ducks with narrow, pointed ‘un-duck-like’ bills, with serrated edges Small female diving ducks Drakes of most duck species can be easy to identify, while females can be more challenging. Here are four females of our common small diving duck species, to highlight the key characteristics. Tufted Duck • Small tuft at back of ‘square head’ (yellow eye) • Dark brown plumage, paler flanks • Can show white blaze (usually absent) • Small bill; black bill tip; dark grey bill pale band near ‘nail’ Scaup • Rounded head, never a tuft, steep forehead (yellow eye) • Dark brown head, breast and tail; grey back and flanks • Usually obvious white blaze on face • Large bill is blue grey with black largely…

In association with os.uk/osm MAX MILES ON FOOT: 4 MIN TIME: 4 HOURS Situated on the edge of a former coal mining area, this quiet corner of Derbyshire offers the chance to look for woodland birds, as well as to finish up with some wetland species as you reach the Trent. It can be easily extended or shortened to suit. WHERE TO WATCH 1 Use the hide to check the area around for commoner woodland species such as Great, Blue and Long-tailed Tits, Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, and more occasional Coal Tit or Marsh Tit. Expect Jays, too, especially in autumn, while, in spring and summer, warblers will include Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler and Blackcap, plus occasional Lesser Whitethroat. 2 Check the area along the stream for both…

DEUTER JAYPACK 34+ CAMERA BAG, £300 Apparently, with this bag you'll never miss a shot, so it's definitely worth the money. It's designed for a pro mirrorless or pro DSLR plus a pretty big lens. Features include a large, main compartment, zipped rear access, a top-loading lockable lid compartment, 15” laptop compartment, multiple zips and pockets, and gear straps. It has “stable standing” – it won't fall over. Made from 100% recycled pre-consumer waste with no PFAs. Redwood or black. deuter.com KEELA PRIMALOFT EXPEDITION SOCKS, £24.95 A fully cushioned, heavyweight sock for very tough conditions (like when the tea-room has run out of scones). Made from antibacterial PrimaLoft® silver and merino wool for comfort, warmth and performance. They wick moisture away and have ventilation channels, Cordura protection on the toes…

twitter.com/BirdWatchingMag facebook.com/BirdWatchingMag RARITY RATINGS Common, widely distributed Localised – always a treat Very scarce or rare REDSTART One of the small group of classic little passerines, which mainly breed in the north and west of the UK. For many of us the Redstart is encountered only on passage, in spring and autumn, in small numbers. They are shy birds, which prefer relatively undisturbed areas of hedges or fence lines, over short grass or similar, on which to pounce in search of invertebrates, before dashing back to cover. In autumn, males, females and youngsters tend to be buff-tipped and ‘fresh’ (which equates to ‘toned down’ in appearance). But, look closely and you should be able to age and sex them. And all have quivering tails on fire! LITTLE STINT This, frankly,…

NORTHWARDS BOUND Historically, Hoary Footman was exclusively a moth of south and west coasts. This century, a fresh wave of colonisation has taken south-east England by storm, and the species has rapidly moved north, to at least Norfolk. One possible explanation for this range expansion is the improvement in air quality that increased populations of lichen – the preferred foodstuff of its caterpillars. BUTTER FLY Third generation Living up to its name, Common Blue is the most abundant of our blue butterflies. It is also the most widespread, gaps on the map essentially being limited to montane Wales, upland Scotland and Shetland. If this year has been favourable – and, let's face it, the signs so far are not great – then a bonus third generation of 2024 may well…

Cuckoos are classic summer visitors. Their unique onomatopoeic song heralds the arrival of spring, and they have earned a place in folklore and superstition. I doubt there's a birdwatcher in the UK who doesn't get a thrill from hearing their first Cuckoo of the year. Sadly, these enigmatic travellers are in serious decline, and BTO scientists have been satellite-tracking them since 2011 to try to understand what might be driving these worrying declines. Thanks to their mysterious parasitic habits, Cuckoos have been well studied here during the breeding season. But, until recently, we knew little about the routes they took once they left our shores, or where in Africa they spent the winter months. Prior to satellite-tagging, there had only been a single recovery of a British-ringed Cuckoo in Africa;…

30-MINUTE BIRDER I'm bang on time for my assignation, at 5.30 on a pearly July morning. As I squeeze into a parking space by the gate to Botany Marsh, a Land Rover inside flashes its lights. Terry's been here since 4 o'clock as it takes him at least half an hour to get the nets up ready for 5am, when his six-hour bird ringing session is due to start. I pull on my wellies and climb onto the Land Rover passenger seat. “It would be difficult to find the ringing site if you've not been here before”, he tells me. Terry swings the vehicle sharply off a track into a reedbed, where deep ruts are just visible, created by three years of ringing. He tells me that while he's been…

In association with os.uk/osm MAX MILES ON FOOT: 4 MIN TIME: 3 HOURS Dodd Wood is managed by Forestry England, and was the location of a summer Osprey observatory, but the birds now nest well away from this location. The area is still ideal for a wonderful wildlife walk, though. WHERE TO WATCH 1 Park in the entrance to the forest opposite the start of Bassenthwaite Lake. You can scan the water by crossing the road, with views of the River Derwent entering the lake and also the wet fringes of the lake and out into deeper water. Look out for Sand Martins in spring nesting here and a good mixture of ducks in winter. 2 Walk up the forestry track, listening for woodland birds as you go. There is…

In association with os.uk/osm MAX MILES ON FOOT: 4.5 MIN TIME: 3 HOURS Away from Devon's popular south coast, the less frequented inland areas of the South Hams are characterised by soft hillsides, pockets of woodland and mostly small fields linked by thick hedgerows and laced with small streams. It is an area rich with farmland and woodland birds, including a few treats such as Cirl Bunting – rare in most of the country but with a healthy population in this area. WHERE TO WATCH 1 Before going anywhere, there are plentiful birds around the village: Swallow and House Martin are abundant in summer; Collared Dove, Jackdaw and Starling likely all year, plus ubiquitous Robin and Blackbird. 2 The hedged bridleway heading north from the village travels through pockets of woodland…

IMAGE SPEC Camera: Nikon Z9 Focal length: 600mm Exposure: 1/2,500 sec; ISO 1,000 The most expensive item of bird photography kit is undoubtedly the telephoto lens. At least, this is how it has always been in the past. ‘Invest in your glass’ is advice I have often heard from other photographers, and they are right, of course. The better optical quality of the lens you choose to deliver light to your sensor, the better the final image quality will be. And the more expensive the lens, the faster it will be, both in terms of its light gathering properties and autofocus performance. With this in mind, the traditional view is that prime lenses are the only real choice for the ‘serious’ wildlife photographer. While this may have been true in…