Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2025 i Bird Watching

Summer is well and truly here, meaning that, for many of us, there’s more chance to get out and watch birds. Like three of our contributors (left), I’ve been enjoying watching Swifts screaming over the rooftops, with young birds already starting to test their flying skills as I write this. But they’re far from the only attraction. Juvenile waders (like the Little Stint, above) will soon be starting to make their way south, so sharpen up your identification skills with this month’s ID Challenge on page 39. And, on page 33, Marc Abbott takes a look at the joy of ‘mini twitches’, those spur of the moment birding expeditions that you fit into a corner of a busy day, and that so often end up delivering the unexpected. So, enjoy…

twitter.com/BirdWatchingMag facebook.com/BirdWatchingMag RARITY RATINGS Common, widely distributed Localised – always a treat Very scarce or rare JUVENILE CURLEW This month is a great time to be on the look-out for wandering Curlews, particularly juveniles. Having dispersed from the breeding grounds on damp moorland and heath etc, the youngsters head off to the coast, and will call in at suitable wetlands for a wash and brush up, and perhaps a quick feed and sleep, on the way. Unlike most waders, juvenile Curlews look very similar to their parents. The easiest way to distinguish them in August is that the juveniles tend to have much shorter bills than the adults. Remember, as a rule, male Curlews have much shorter bills than females; but juveniles’ bills (especially juvenile males’) are even shorter. REDSTART…

#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. YOUR LOCAL PATCH Late July runs seamlessly into August as everything seems to get rather quiet. However, look closer and it becomes apparent migration is slowly limbering up – and towards the end of the month there will be almost too many options of birding…

In association with os.uk/osm MAX MILES ON FOOT: 3 MIN TIME: 3 HOURS Coldingham Bay suffers from the fact that is right next door to St Abbs, and many birders don’t bother to explore it, which in my opinion is a very big mistake. This is a clifftop walk with the option to go inland via a circular route. There are numerous benches where you can sit and have lunch or sea-watch should you wish. There are areas of grassland and farmland either side of the paths giving you species such as Stonechat and Reed Bunting. A dense area of woodland is found at the south side and two sea stacks close to the cliffs. Pallas’s Warbler and Olive-backed Pipit have been recorded here. STEVE NEWMAN WHERE TO WATCH 1…

In association with os.uk/osm MAX MILES ON FOOT: 4 MIN TIME: 2.5 HOURS Dinton Pastures is a large country park near Wokingham in Berkshire. The area was formerly a gravel extraction site that was repurposed in the 1980s and now the lakes attract large numbers of both surface feeding and diving ducks in the winter, whereas in the summer the location appeals to breeding warblers, Common Tern, Lapwing and Little Ringed Plover. Other summer visitors to include passage terns and hirundines. There are seven lakes in total and two rivers; the main Black Swan Lake is used for watersports and boating but one lake, Lavells, is designated as a nature reserve. The area is fantastic for large gull numbers in winter; this includes Black-headed, Common, Herring, and Lesser Black-backed. ABIGAIL…

GET IN TOUCH birdwatching@bauermedia.co.uk facebook.com/BirdWatchingMag twitter.com/BirdWatchingMag Bird Watching, Media House, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA White Starling I have seen this leucistic Starling a few times over the course of 2025 when walking my dog but never had my camera with me. It’s not always with the local congregation and in fact rarely is, but it finally appeared in a near neighbour’s garden when my camera was close enough to get to before it disappeared again. Attached is a heavily cropped image, but I am so happy to have finally captured a photo of it, given the rarity value. Roger Sparks Reader Shots Send your snaps to: birdwatching@bauermedia.co.uk to be in with a chance of seeing your photo in print. All images should be high resolution JPEG files. WE LOVE……

David Chandler: “Swift. Evocative screaming and fighter pilot fly-bys. They leave too soon, though.” Amanda Tuke: “Seeing my first London Swift is such a buzz and symbolises the start of summer. I could watch them for hours.” John Miles: “Nightjar, as it is a new breeding bird by my house, along with Black Grouse and Pied Fly.” Ruth Miller: “It has to be the Swifts as they scream over the town. Sadly decreasing in numbers but still hanging on, they symbolise summer and take me back to my Swift-filled childhood.” …and the Bird Watching team’s answers Matt Merritt: “Our cover bird, the Hobby. Elegant, dashing and, these days, seemingly everywhere.” Mike Weedon: “There are many obvious choices, but I will go for one which is the opposite of obvious: singing…

NO LIME LIKE THE PRESENT If you have ever parked a car underneath a lime tree, you might have found it splattered with a sticky residue. This is honeydew produced by Common Lime Aphids. With their bright colouration and striking markings, these tiny creatures repay close attention. The spring generation reproduces asexually, but the summer ‘brood’ comprises winged males and non-winged females that mate in the ‘normal’ way. ORTHOPTERAN Don’t get bogged down One of my favourite summer past-times is to track down the sounds issued by members of the orthopteran orchestra and discover which cricket or grasshopper is responsible for which particular stridulation. If I am exploring a lowland bog, valley mire or wet heath, I will particularly listen for a rapidly ticking (if somewhat buzzy) watch, which hopefully…

A ruling party MP was challenging proposed planning legislation, as has every conservation organisation in the UK. Another ruling party MP labelled him part of the ‘Hedgehog Hezbollah’. Intemperate language is often engendered when politicians defend the indefensible. Apparently, those of us opposed to sweeping away protection for wildlife are just Barn Owl bonkers. If we rail against government designating a flood plain awash with SSSIs as perfect for housebuilding, we have bats in the belfry. If you think it wrong that infrastructure projects are not subject to the planning rules that you and I are, you get labelled a newt nutter and Otter obsessed. Guess what? I am otterly opposed to blind single-mindedness. I’m a tree-hugging, woke, anti-hunting, harrier-loving, vegetarian, eco-freak, and proud to be ridiculed as such. I…

There aren’t many occasions when I’d be grateful for hearing that I’ve missed a bird, but today is one of them. Over the past couple of weeks I’ve been hunting for Marsh Tits in the few areas of South London where they were recorded as “probably breeding” in the 2017 London Bird Atlas. It was likely to be a challenge. Marsh Tits were recorded breeding in only 177 of London’s 856 recording squares in the late 1960s and this had fallen to 32 squares by 2013. The population decline in London is consistent with results elsewhere from the BTO’s Breeding Bird Survey which reports that numbers of recording squares with records of this Red-listed bird have decreased in south-east England (down 47% between 1995 and 2023) although there are some…

Living in Wales, you would expect us to be sheep experts, if the jokes are to be believed. But the Chingjing Farm Hotel at the foot of the Hehuan Mountain (Hehuanshan) in Taiwan took the sheep theme to another level. From the magnificent carved ram in reception to the sheep-shaped soaps in the showers, sheep featured everywhere, and the Taiwanese tourists loved them, which – along with the pink cherry blossom – had them snapping selfies everywhere. Luckily, we were there for the birds, though the real sheep in the hotel pasture did make handy landmarks for pointing out the skulking endemic Taiwan Bamboo Partridges beside them. Our main target birds, however, were up the mountains, and we lumbered up the switchback road into the Taroko National Park in our…

In association with os.uk/osm MAX MILES ON FOOT: 2 MIN TIME: 2 HOURS This varied and well-maintained site close to the border with Warwickshire is excellent in spring and summer for singing warblers, but there’s plenty of interest here in the colder months of the year, too, and always the chance of a surprise. MATT MERRITT WHERE TO WATCH 1 The lake has two hides, with feeders by the larger one - these can attract a wide variety of small birds, including Marsh Tit and Coal Tit. Among the other features are a Sand Martin bank, a reedbed that has breeding Reed Warblers, and regular Kingfisher sightings (often on a perch near the Sand Martin bank). Snipe are present in autumn and winter, and passage waders include the likes of…

Four ‘problem’ birds Q I am relatively new to birdwatching/photography and have a few species I am struggling with. I hope you can help me in identifying them. They were taken at various sites in Scotland. Mark Robertson A Your four birds, Mark, are Meadow Pipit, Sedge Warbler, Lesser Redpoll and Chaffinch. Perhaps, rather than spelling out all the identifying features here, you can look up each species in, for example, the Collins Bird Guide (or other fieldguide) or check them against online information and/or photographs. Whistling ducks? Q I took the attached photo (through some reeds…) of birds seen in the Combe Valley Country Park near Filsham Reedbeds Nature Reserve in St Leonards, Sussex, in April. After much amateur sleuthing the only thing I can find as a possible…

Last month, I shared some of the images captured on my recent visit to Anglesey. These focused on the species that draw many people to the island at this time of the year, a location famous for its iconic breeding seabird populations and resident specialists. While I thoroughly enjoy photographing these species, I never turn down the opportunity of photographing the smaller and more common subjects, if the chance presents itself. With its diverse habitats, Anglesey is a haven for a whole variety of bird species, and many of the common birds we encounter on our own doorsteps are often abundant and obliging. Over the years, I have amassed a collection of photographs of birds from Anglesey that I regularly encounter at home, but there is something about the light…

OSPREY JET 18 KID’S BACKPACK £70 Get one and they can do some carrying! An easy-access 18L pack with two stretchy mesh pockets, a big front pocket, a zipped lid pocket, a sleeve for a 1.5L water reservoir (buy separately) and a safety whistle. The ventilated backpanel includes 50% recycled foam and the main, accent and bottom fabrics are 100% recycled with no PFAs. In green canopy, blue spikemoss or euphoria purple — all colours you can visualise instantly… 48.5×26.5×25.5cm. 500g. osprey.com LIFEVENTURE LARGE SOFTFIBRE RECYCLED TOWEL £17.99 A fold-up-small towel made from recycled bottles. Yes, you can dry yourself with bottles. It absorbs 9× its weight in water and dries 8× faster than a regular towel. It’s soft, strong and very long, loaded with Polygiene permanent odour control and…

The best rare birds seen all around Britain in May The quality and quantity of rare birds in the UK usually goes up a notch or two between April and May, and so it proved this year. For the purposes of squeezing the most important rarity news into this review, it is arguably best to divide the birds covered into three broad categories: land birds, wading birds and raptors. Let’s start with land birds, as this group included arguably the most exciting rarities of the lot. The cherry on the cake was a Savannah Sparrow, found by legendary Shetland-based birder David Cooper on his home island off Unst (at Skaw), on 12th. This was just the fourth UK record of this North American yellow-browed ‘sparrow’ (American sparrows are close relatives…

HOBBY Many birds have clichés associated with them. The ghostly Barn Owl, the thieving Magpie, and the dazzling Kingfisher come to mind. The one most frequently used with the magnificent, dashing master of the air which is the Hobby is that it looks like a ‘giant Swift’. And it is true (at a distance, and in silhouette, of course)! The long pointed wings and relatively short tail and small head and bill all emphasise the comparison with the unrelated insect-eaters. Like Swifts, Hobbies are summer visitors to the UK, appearing from the later part of April, and leaving in the autumn. They chase flying birds, particularly hirundines, but the bulk of their diet is flying insects, taken on the wing by grabbing with the feet, then passing to the bill…

In the previous episode of Weedon’s World I talked about my early May ‘Big Day’, the highlight of which was seeing a young male Red-footed Falcon at Baston Fen, south Lincs. Well, I saw the same falcon a few days later near Langtoft, about two miles to the south. How do I know it was the same bird? Luckily, it was photographed well at both sites, and comparison of the stage of moult of the wings and tail, and ‘streaking’ on the breast etc., confirmed it was the identical bird at each site. It always seems amazing to me how we can recognise individual birds, often by subtle plumage characteristics. About seven years ago, I wrote about a particular Black-winged Stilt which wandered between Frampton Marsh RSPB, Lincolnshire, Rutland Water…

When it comes to monitoring the UK’s breeding birds, we have a reasonable idea of how many of our nesting species are faring, thanks to thousands of keen volunteer birders who contribute to the long-established Breeding Birds Survey (BBS). However, there are some areas that are really under-recorded, for obvious reasons – they’re difficult to access and monitor! In an effort to improve our knowledge, BTO launched Upland Rovers, a survey that encourages birders to help fill in some gaps, in those trickier to reach spots. Among the least recorded areas are the UK’s vast uplands, which support important populations of breeding waders, raptors, and songbirds. An improved understanding of population changes in these species would be of immense value, with respect to conservation management, land use and climate change,…

My first question is about your newest book, Chris Packham’s Birdwatching Guide. What gave you the idea for it? “The book’s subtitle is ‘from beginner to birder’ and I wanted to help people develop as birdwatchers from scratch. We all have to start somewhere, but I think many beginner birdwatchers feel intimidated by the amount of knowledge that they imagine they need to get started. They don’t want to be found out not knowing the difference between a Blackbird and a Ring Ouzel, or a Song Thrush and a Mistle Thrush. But really, this couldn’t be further from the truth. The birdwatching fraternity is really welcoming and we love sharing knowledge. So we really need to break down that ‘perceived intimidation barrier’. So, that is what I tried to do…

Many birders are a bit scared by waders. It’s the challenge of identification and the fear of misidentification in front of other birders which is dreaded. This dread is a shame, as waders are among the most exciting, diverse and charismatic birds, and we do pretty well for them in the UK. Part of the perceived headache with shorebird identification comes from their treatment in old fashioned field guides, which usually presented breeding plumage and winter plumage individuals, but rarely juveniles. However, in late summer and autumn, it is juveniles which make up the vast majority of waders seen in the UK. Each juvenile has a distinctive, often very attractive plumage. And this is recognised in ‘modern’ books like the Collins Bird Guide. So, there is no longer an excuse.…

In association with os.uk/osm MAX MILES ON FOOT: 4 MIN TIME: 3 HOURS This area of Cumbria is a real jewel with sand dunes, fresh water, an estuary, scrub and amazing views around the area. It is managed by the National Trust and is also a National Nature Reserve. JOHN MILES WHERE TO WATCH 1 As you leave the car park check the scrub for warblers moving up the coast in spring. Both Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat are likely here, with Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff as well. The car park may well have Pied Wagtail, but also look out for White Wagtail. Even Firecrest and Barred Warbler have found here. 2 The dunes are a great area for migrants like Woodcock and Snipe in the wet hollows. Even Jack Snipe…

In association with os.uk/osm MAX MILES ON FOOT: 3 MIN TIME: 3 HOURS The coastal section of this circular walk tracks the South West Coast Path within the Jurassic Coast. The inland section of the walk passes through a combination of arable farmland and classic sheep-grazed chalk pasture. Small woods along the way add to the variety of birds on offer where Roe Deer and Brown Hare are present. PAUL TRODD WHERE TO WATCH 1 In autumn check around the pub and cottages for late broods of House Martins on overhead wires. The rocky foreshore below Black Head is a favourite spot at low tide for a foraging Grey Heron, Little Egret, Oystercatcher, Redshank or Turnstone, plus the occasional Purple Sandpiper and Dunlin in winter. Passing Common, Sandwich or Little…

The female Stock Dove must be the easiest date in the world to impress. Out there in the big wide world, the jungle of life, males of various bird species are compelled to sing with vigour and invention, display brilliantly, protect a territory and often go through a repertoire of physical contortions, all under a female’s critical eye. But the male Stock Dove can just laugh at those unfortunates. Its display is ridiculously simple. Literally, all it does is fly from one tree to another, maintaining the same altitude. As it takes off, it performs wingbeats deep enough for the opposing wingtips to snap together and make a clap, and it will also glide with its wings in a somewhat unimaginative V, about 15° above the horizontal. It might also…

The British birding scene was thrown into a frenzy the day that a Cedar Waxwing was discovered among a flock of its more regular cousins in a Nottingham street. The year was 1996 and the bird was feeding on ripened Rowans with a locally historic flock of around 500 Bohemian Waxwings (the international name for ‘plain old’ Waxwing). Hundreds of twitchers descended upon the area to catch a glimpse of this Nearctic first for mainland Britain. There was an earlier record though, hailing from Shetland in 1985, when a singleton put in a two day performance on the island of Noss. That record was initially placed in category D1, implying that there was some doubt as to whether it could have naturally occurred there perhaps instead having hitched a ride…

PANTANAL WILDLIFE BY JAMES LOWEN BRADT, SB, £19.99 Our James has done it again, this time travelling to a legendary part of Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay for the latest in Bradt’s guides. The book is full of colour photos, helping you decide what you want to go and see, and to recognise it when you do. It sets out all the best areas and even the tour companies you could use to visit the area (some of which have paid for advertising in the book). The species accounts are split up into families, so you can easily find whatever you need within the nearly 200 pages. This is a fine and very portable guide to a huge area of wilderness. BOOK OF THE MONTH FENLAND NATURE BY DUNCAN POYSER &…

SOUTH WEST Highlights The rarest confirmed bird was a Solitary Sandpiper, photographed on St Mary’s, Scilly, on 14th. Though the showy Spotted Sandpiper at Chew Valley Lake, Somerset, (25th to 28th) was better watched. There were Devon reports of Lammergeier and Black-winged Kites which are to date unconfirmed. CORNWALL WEST CORNWALL: Marazion had a Savi’s Warbler and Wood Sandpiper (to 10th), a Curlew Sandpiper, and up to five Garganeys. A Nightingale was at St. Ives (1st). A Black Kite was at Zennor and Canon’s Town (1st), Penzance (2nd), Redruth (3rd) and Lands End (4th). Croft Pascoe had a Purple Heron (2nd). A Glossy Ibis was at Crows-an Wra (2nd-5th). Kynance Cove had a Subalpine Warbler (2nd-3rd), Red-rumped Swallow (3rd), Red-footed Falcon (8th-20th), and Hoopoe (9th). Red-footed Falcons were at Ruan…