Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2025 i Bird Watching

birdwatching.co.uk/my200 Of the many changes that we've seen in birdwatching in recent decades, an increase in representation might just be the most important, in the long term. Groups like Birds & the Belles (pictured above), who we meet on page 32, are helping to make sure that birding isn't just seen as a predominantly male pastime, and of course there are several organisations committed to addressing the under-representation of other groups, too. The result, hopefully, is good for both birding and for conservation – a broader base of support, and more people simply enjoying birdwatching, is a good thing all around. Elsewhere in this issue, you'll find that there's a festive feel to things, so enjoy some Christmas Day birding then maybe settle down with something warming to drink and…

twitter.com/BirdWatchingMag facebook.com/BirdWatchingMag RARITY RATINGS Common, widely distributed Localised – always a treat Very scarce or rare STONECHAT In winter, Stonechats disperse from their upland heath and moorland habitats, and spread over most of the country, where there are suitable rough, weedy fields and the like. Though they are hardy birds, the coldest winters can have severe effects on the population. However, extreme cold is rare in recent years, and this has surely contributed to a more than doubling of the breeding population in the past 30 years (to c65,000 pairs). Look for these little beauties along fence lines or on top of small bushes or ‘weeds', from which they search for hairy caterpillars or similar invertebrate prey on the ground. They are often found in pairs, so when you see…

birdwatching.co.uk/my200 #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 Our wintering wildfowl are settled in for a season of grazing, swimming and snoozing, but many species are present in such numbers that a cold-weather movement could send a few to your patch – particularly if it includes an area of…

Snow is increasingly uncommon in our islands, in this time of climate change and, generally, warmer winters. Of course, things may be different where you live, espcially in more northern climes, such as Scotland, where there still may be plenty of the white stuff to go around. Besides hindering access to the wider outdoors for us birders, snow can bring hardship to birds, reducing availability of food and liquid water, and it can force ‘cold weather movements', with birds shifting to more favourable conditions, be they in relatively favourable refuges such as gardens, or in a different region. Snow also brings with it its own ‘lighting conditions', sometimes increasing contrasts, sometimes illuminating birds in reflected light. Here are six birds in snowy conditions for you to try to name. Once…

In association with os.uk/osm MAX MILES ON FOOT: 2 MIN TIME: 3 HOURS St Mary's Island and Wetland Reserve is a significant site on the north-east coast of England. The island is accessed by a 200-yard tidal causeway which gives excellent viewing in its own right. The site features a variety of habitats, from clifftop grassland to a small sea stack, plus sea cliffs and rocky and sandy shorelines. The island is a magnet for many species of waders. The wetland area is a Local Nature Reserve and has a circular walk all around with several viewing screens. There is a car park at the southern end also with a screen. Various ducks and Snipe are usually present. STEVE NEWMAN WHERE TO WATCH 1 Areas of Willow trees are on…

In association with os.uk/osm MAX MILES ON FOOT: 5+ MIN TIME: 4 HOURS The varied and bird-abundant habitats of Knapp Copse Local Nature Reserve have evolved over the last 40 years from what was, almost unimaginably, a landfill site until 1982. Superbly well-managed by the Wild East Devon team of the local council, the reserve can be accessed via a network of public and permissive paths – although the area of the capped-off landfill is not accessible. Add in an exploration of the surrounding countryside and you have a fabulous, wildlife-rich walk which could throw in a few treats: we saw White Wagtail, Firecrest and Marsh Tit. SIMONE STANBROOK-BYRNE WHERE TO WATCH 1 The East Devon Way (EDW) runs south-east through the reserve, passing through woodland, orchards and beside streams.…

What young Ravens need, it seems, is followers. Does this sound familiar at all? We might think that our social media world, with its emphasis on recruiting people to take notice of us, might be a peculiarly human thing. But it seems not. Imagine the scenario. It's winter, and food is scarce, and a pair of Ravens finds a carcass. Although pairs are territorial, much of the Raven population consists of birds, especially youngsters, that wander around widely and independently. It just so happens that a wandering individual comes across this pair and their bounty. Hungry (or more accurately, ravenous), it tries to tiptoe in and grab some of the carcass, but the territorial pair easily force it away. What does it do? It recruits followers. It goes around the…

When we think of herons, we normally fixate on the idea that the family members largely look like our beloved Grey Heron, or streaky-brown like the Bittern, or white like many of the egrets, sometimes augmented with a splash of orangey buff. But there is another colour combo to add to the mix. A rich blend of electric blues, greens, purples and a drop of maroon. Esteemed ladies of gentlemen of the birding world, allow me to introduce to you, if you haven't already had the pleasure, the curvaceous form of the Agami Heron. This creature has to be one of the sexiest birds on long legs and, for my money, the most beautiful member of the heron tribe. I can still remember the first, and (so far) only time…

LIFESYSTEMS DUAL-PALM RECHARGEABLE HANDWARMERS £34.99 Charge it up via USB or a mains supply and slip it in your pocket for some portable finger-warming on wintery birding trips. The split magnetic design means you can pull the two halves apart and have one in each hand. They heat up in 10 seconds, emit heat for up to nine hours and have three heat settings. And you can use them as a powerbank (USB-C). Each half weighs 113g and measures 63x109x20mm. lifesystems.co.uk BIOLITE RANGE 400 HEADLAMP £53 A slimfit, USB-C rechargeable headlamp that can shine white light to see where you're going, or red light to reduce disturbance to the wildlife. It's submersible waterproof – so will certainly cope with a bit of rain – will shine for six hours at…

In association with Highlights ‘Megas’included Mourning Dove on St Agnes, Scilly, Eyebrowed Thrush on St Mary's, Scilly, Lanceolated Warbler at Nanjizal, Cornwall, Steppe Grey Shrike at Mullion Cove, Cornwall and a Black-billed Cuckoo found dead at Ilfracombe, Devon. AVON CLEVEDON TO WESTON-SUPER-MARE: Clevedon had Black Redstart and Tree Sparrow (17th). Sand Point had a Black Redstart, good numbers of Brambling, redpolls and Crossbills over, and a popular Snow Bunting (28th-31st). Weston-super-Mare STW had a Hen Harrier (17th & 24th). Uphill had a Brent Goose, 76 Sanderlings (27th), Razorbill, and two Glossy Ibises (9th). SEVERNSIDE: Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetlands had three Avocets, 59 Black-tailed Godwits, Ruff, eight Curlew Sandpipers, three Little Stints, four Jack Snipe, two Sandwich Terns and Water Pipit. Severn Beach had Little Gull, Storm Petrel (4th), two Leach's Petrels…

In association with Highlights Rutland Water hosted an obliging and showy Baird's Sandpiper. Leicestershire/Rutland also produced an American Golden Plover at Eyebrook and a Snow Bunting at Beacon Hill CP. DERBYSHIRE HIGHLIGHTS: These included a cracking Grey Phalarope at Waterswallows Quarry (7th-9th), with a storm-blown juvenile Gannetat Carsington Water (15th). Glossy Ibis was seen on and off at Willington Wetlands (22nd-30th) with the long-staying Ruddy Shelduck at Staunton Harold Reservoir (12th & 14th-19th). A Wood Lark flew over Highoredish (8th), with another over Pride Park Sanctuary LNR (8th). A Lapland Bunting also flew over Highoredish (14th) with a Firecrest at Carsington Water (31st). The juvenile Garganey was seen again briefly at Willington Wetlands (20th). A Grey Plover was at Carsington Water (4th-18th) with a Knot (14th), and a Little Stint…

In association Highlights Two outstanding birds featured – a White-throated Needletail at coastal sites in East and North Yorkshire (including Scarborough) and a Black-faced Bunting at Spurn, East Yorkshire. LINCOLNSHIRE HIGHLIGHTS: The Lesser Yellowlegs was still at Baston Pits (4th-6th). A Lapland Bunting flew over Gibraltar Point (6th), with another at Wolla Bank (17th). A Ring-necked Duck was at Boston (15th). A Richard's Pipit was at Gibraltar Point (20th). A Ferruginous Duck was at Langtoft Pits (from 23rd). A Serin was at Chapel St Leonards (24th). A Gull-billed Tern flew past Sandilands (24th). A Red-backed Shrike was at Saltfleetby (from 29th). A Grey Phalarope was at Mablethorpe (30th). GIBRALTAR POINT: Highlights included up to 51 Crossbills (1st), a Cattle Egret (1st), a Sooty Shearwater, (4th), a Great Skua (4th), a…

Ruth Miller: “It would have to be a Redwing, with a red berry in its bill, obviously!” David Lindo: “For me, the Waxwing should be the Christmas pin up. It's as simple as that.” David Chandler: “Wild swans amid frost and mist. For me, that's Whoopers mostly, but a few Bewick's would be good.” Amanda Tuke: “What could be more festive than a Redwing visiting from snowy northern climes?” …and the Bird Watching team's answers Matt Merritt: “One Christmas Day, I unexpectedly had a little flock of Yellowhammers visit my little garden – I'd love them to return.” Mike Weedon: “On our first ever family Christmas Day walk, we found two Tawny Owls snuggled together in the open – one grey, one brown. A magic memory.” Cover pic: Green Woodpecker…

It may have seemed a little morbid to my friends and family, but I always had an interest in dead birds. As a teenager, I would scour the local storm-lashed shoreline for perished specimens, and I would slam on my bicycle brakes at the sad sight of yet another road casualty. Sometimes I would simply examine these deceased birds in detail, or check them for rings, while occasionally, I would also attempt to preserve them, in part or whole depending on the species, and condition. And while I may no longer cart recently departed birds home as regularly as I once did, I do still, like many other birders, have a tendency to check out any feathered corpses I come across while out and about. I may not add any…

One dark autumn evening I look back through my bird records and spot that there's a list I haven't yet uploaded. It was compiled during a walk I co-led back in August at Beddington Farmlands in South London. The shout-out had come via the permit-holders’group – “Is anyone available to co-lead a visitors’walk in a couple of weeks time?” – and I raised a digital hand. Considerable effort is put into giving other birders guided access to the Beddington Farmlands, in negotiation with the site owner, and I try to contribute whenever I can. While I'm quite content birding on my own, I'm naturally a sociable birder, so a group walk like this is always a pleasure. And the participants are often an interesting spectrum, from experienced birders to complete…

In association with os.uk/osm MAX MILES ON FOOT: 6 MIN TIME: 5 HOURS The promontory between Ardersier and Nairn, jutting into the Moray Firth, comprises a variety of habitats including a tidal creek, grazing land interspersed with ditches, scrub and marshes plus a shingle headland affording views across the firth and the open sea. In contrast, Carse Wood completes the suite of habitats, thus ensure a wide range of species throughout the year. PAUL TRODD WHERE TO WATCH 1 The conifer plantation margins of Carse Wood are home to specialist birds such as Crested Tit and Scottish Crossbill along with, and more likely, Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Lesser Redpoll, Siskin and Common Crossbills. Also, across the woodland complex there is a good chance of noting Jay, Treecreeper, Brambling, Great Spotted Woodpecker,…

In association with os.uk/osm MAX MILES ON FOOT: 3 MIN TIME: 4 HOURS The landscape around Westleton is situated within the Suffolk Coastal Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and includes a variety of habitats from farmland, scattered woodland and heaths through to wetlands in the flood plain of the Minsmere River. PAUL TRODD WHERE TO WATCH 1 Farmland and hedgerow birds typically include resident Kestrel, Buzzard, Red-legged and Grey Partridges, Sky Lark, Linnet, Yellowhammer, Reed and Corn Buntings, plus a chance of remnant winter visitors such as Golden Plover, Redwing and Fieldfare. Early spring migrants such as Wheatear, Meadow Pipit and Chiffchaff pass through with Whitethroats and Lesser Whitethroats, Swallow and Yellow Wagtail to follow. Barn and Little Owls are also present. Arable fields when being tilled can attract flocks…

GET IN TOUCH birdwatching@bauermedia.co.uk facebook.com/BirdWatchingMag twitter.com/BirdWatchingMag Bird Watching, Media House, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA Jack thanks On 26 October, I travelled to Rutland Water NR, in the hope of catching a glimpse of Jack Snipe, which had been reported from one of the hides. On arrival, my heart sank, since one fellow birder had seen nothing of them, and had been there for an hour. However, with a group of us scanning the reedbed for a further 15 minutes, we located at least three, and I secured this valuable tick for my year list. My point is that, sometimes, more experienced birdwatchers don't realise what a huge impact their willingness to share their knowledge and skills can make to us novices. So, thank you to anyone in the ‘Shoveler…

BIRDS OF CUBA BY ARTURO KIRKCONNELL & ORLANDO H GARRIDO HELM FIELD GUIDE, SB, £30 This is a very handy book to have when visiting Cuba, which I did on a reccy for a readers’offer for the magazine back in the 1990s. This is the second edition, full of coloured pictures of the many habitats found on the island. An important part is the section on migration and over-wintering of North American birds, not to mention some wonderful endemics, such as the smallest bird in the world – the Bee Hummingbird. The book has a good mix of illustrations of the birds along with distribution maps and, of course, the best birding areas to go to. BOOK OF THE MONTH HOW BIRDS FLY BY PETER CAVANAGH FIREFLY BOOKS, HB, £40…

In association with Highlights Kent had Pallid Swift and Pallid Harriers (also seen in East Sussex) as well as Hume's Leaf Warbler, at St Margaret's at Cliffe, and a Long-billed Dowitcher roosting at Worth Marshes RSPB. BEDFORDSHIRE HIGHLIGHTS: A Great Grey Shrike was at Clophill Lakes NR (24th). Two Glossy Ibises were at Harrold and Odell CP (17th & 30th-31st). A Ring Ouzel was a visitor to The Lodge RSPB (16th) and a Black Redstart was recorded at Bedford (20th). A Scaup was seen at Brogborough Lake (30th). Robin Chittenden. For the latest bird news please phone 09068 700 245. Calls to 09068 700245 cost 65p per minute plus your phone company access charge. Service provided by Birdline East Anglia – for enquiries please call 07941 333 970, www.birdlineeastanglia.co.uk BERKSHIRE…

In association with Highlights A first-winter Brown Shrike was at St David's, Pembrokeshire, and a Semipalmated Sandpiper at Goldcliff Pools NR. Pallid Harriers were seen at a few sites in the south, including Gower, Glamorgan and Dowrig Common, Pembs. ANGLESEY HIGHLIGHTS: A White-rumped Sandpiper was at Malltraeth (17th-18th), possibly the first ever record of this species on Anglesey. Amazingly another was found at Malltraeth (22nd-23rd), plus two Curlew Sandpipers, two Ruff and a Merlin. At South Stack, Firecrests were recorded on four dates (11th-17th), Redwing and Brambling (12th), Ring Ouzel, Chiffchaff and Blackcap (14th), Yellow-browed Warbler, Crossbill, Fieldfare and Wheatear (17th). At Holyhead Breakwater CP, there were two Leach's Petrels (5th), Firecrest plus over 100 Goldcrests (8th), Brambling (12th), Redwing (13th) and Yellow-browed Warbler (15th-17th). At Cors Ddyga, there were…

In association with Highlights Megas included a White-throated Needletail in Aberdeenshire and Highland, Siberian Thrush on Mainland, Shetland, Rufous-tailed Robin on North Ronaldsay, Orkney and a Great Crested Flycatcher on Shetland, sadly not seen by any birders. ARGYLL HIGHLIGHTS: Best birds were Hume's Leaf Warbler at Balephuil (21st), just the second for Western Scotland, juvenile White-rumped Sandpipers at Vaul Bay (4th), Balephetrish Bay (6th-15th) and Hough Bay (6th-10th), a Todd's Canada Goose with the Barnacle Geese (from 15th), a first calendar year Lesser Scaup at Loch a’Phuill (31st) and two Yellow-browed Warblers at Balephuil (14th-17th). Other good birds included four Goosanders in West Tiree (3rd-6th), a Med Gull at Barrapol (6th), Siberian Chiffchaff at Balephuil (16th-19th), two Waxwings near Loch a’Phuill (25th) and a Carrion Crow at Balinoe (27th-30th). There…

While we often hear calls to get more and more children interested in birds and wildlife, the subject of what they use to watch them is not much spoken about. I was interested to look at the idea because of my grandkids, of course. Presently I have one aged eight, and others aged seven, five and three. I have used binoculars myself since I was aged around seven, starting with an ex-military pair which had spots and lines on the image, which I think were for judging objects to aim at, and certainly not birds! My interest in wildlife, especially birds, gained me my first real pair when I was around 11, as a prize from school, and I used them for many years. So, I'm going to look at…

SNOW BUNTING The beautiful and exotic Snow Bunting is a rare breeder on mountains in Scotland, with perhaps 60 breeding pairs clinging on to the highest peaks. In winter, this small population moves to lesser uplands, and is supplemented with birds from Iceland and Fennoscandia, particularly to North Sea coasts. Our wintering population is estimated to reach about 15,000 birds, which seems a high count considering how sought-after and revered encounters are. There is something magical about accidentally putting up a flock of these beauties from a shingly shore – where they have been creeping along unseen, quietly feeding, then rise up with flashes of extensive white in the wings. Adult males have the most white in those wings (most of the wing apart from an outer triangle of black),…

In early October, I was lucky to be invited to join a small group for a short ‘familiarisation trip’to Estonia and Latvia. Those of you with the longest memories may recall that I have visited Estonia a couple of times before, including the most recent trip in October of 2022. That trip was with Tarvo Valker (Estonia's premier birder and bird guide), and was largely a ‘vis mig’trip. Observing autumnal visible migration is superb in Estonia, as millions of birds flee the winter of Fennoscandia, crossing south over the Gulf of Finland branch of the Baltic. In 2022, Tarvo and I counted a mainland Estonia record of 11,400 Fieldfares in a day at a site called Puise on the west coast. This October's trip was unusual (at least for me)…

Family myth has it that, when my mum was pregnant with me, a wasp went down the back of her dress and stung her seven times. Sadly, I can no longer fact-check this. However, I can say with certainty that, should a wasp secretly enter any room I'm in, I can detect it, as a shiver goes down my spine. Am I deluded, has the myth trained me, or was it my childhood experience of many wasp stings (we had a pear tree and it was my job to pick up the fallen fruit and suffer the wasps’assaults)? For much of my life, the presence of a wasp made me reach for the fly spray… in much the same way as my mum, when her lepidopteraphobia was triggered by a…

Ray: “Where I have played bird sounds it has been as part of a licenced bird ringing project.” Toby H: “I would not mimic [or] play recordings during breeding season. I haven't seen any studies on this topic but it would make sense that excessive mimicry could lead to negative social ability in birds targeted by this practice.” Jenny Thompson: “I used an Audubon bird sound maker in the past, and it works well for Robins and Blackbirds, but I've long since stopped. I think it's particularly dangerous to do so in deep winter and during the breeding season, when birds are foraging for much needed food, and setting up territories and nests. We don't want to deter them from feeding sites, or lead them to abandon chicks.” Pat Nair:…

Autumn is an exciting time of year to go looking for waders as you never quite know what you will find. At that time of year, wading birds are gathering in increasing numbers on our shores as breeding birds, hopefully bringing some juveniles, return to their wintering grounds, and in addition to the regular species, there's always the chance of something more unusual accompanying them. It's usually best to visit an estuary on a rising tide when the incoming waters push the birds closer to the shore, or just as the tide is falling to expose fresh mud packed with invertebrates for hungry waders. We visited Conwy RSPB reserve on a rising tide, when the water in the Conwy estuary was high enough to cover the mudflats, so the birds…

In association with os.uk/osm MAX MILES ON FOOT: 1 MIN TIME: 1 HOUR This complex of former gravel pits next to the River Trent has a good record of attracting interesting passage birds, as migrants follow the river as well as the nearby M1. At all times, there's a good scattering of common species, and although there's a lack of wader habitat these days, the area is underwatched so there's the chance of making your own discoveries. MATT MERRITT WHERE TO WATCH 1 The pits themselves are fished, and the disturbance, plus a lack of muddy shores, makes waders other than Oystercatcher unlikely. In summer, Hobbies are sometimes seen hunting the hirundines, while Common, Arctic and Black Terns all pass through – they may use the nearby motorway as a…

It's October, it's 5.30am and dawn is a couple of hours away as I pull the car into the car park. The RSPB volunteers are already there, directing cars and ensuring that everything remains orderly. I head for an empty space and guide the car between the bay lines before killing the engine. As silence descends and the interior lights burst into life, the anticipation of what is to come suddenly feels much keener. My companion and I leave the comfort of the car and step into the morning chill of the Norfolk coast. The hushed tones of early morning greetings and friendly chatter reach our ears as other early birds don coats, hats, and boots before heading out to the beach in time for dawn and the spring tide.…

In association with Highlights The star rare bird of the region was the Turkestan (aka Red-tailed) Shrike at Dunwich Heath NT and Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk. A Zitting Cisticola was again at Walberswick NNR in the same county. On 31st, a Black-browed Albatrosss passed Cley, Norfolk. CAMBRIDGESHIRE HIGHLIGHTS: The Lesser Yellowlegs remained at Etton-Maxey Pits until 15th and a Temminck's Stint was there (5th) and a Ring Ouzel (19th). A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Ferry Meadows CP (from 19th). A Ring Ouzel was at Fowlmere RSPB (15th) and Helpston (19th) and a Black Redstart was at Waterbeach Barracks (12th). A Great Northern Diver was at Grafham Water (11th). A Gannet flew north near Buckden GP (13th). A female Ferruginous Duck was at Brampton East Pit (from 25th). Eight Glossy Ibises were…

In association with Highlights Rare birds in the region included an adult Ross's Goose of unknown origin, seen at sites in Lancashire, including Marshside RSPB. A drake Lesser Scaup was seen at Pennington Flash CP, Greater Manchester. CHESHIRE HIGHLIGHTS: Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB had a Glossy Ibis (29th). New Brighton had small numbers of Leach's Petrel past (4th-5th), plus up to two Grey Phalaropes (4th-5th), Sabine's Gull (5th), and two Little Gulls (5th). Leach's Petrels were seen at a number of Wirral sites early in the month. WOOLSTON EYES: Ringing activities on No1 bed logged Goldcrest, Chiffchaff, Song Thrush, Coal Tit, Lesser Redpoll, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Redwing, a Robin ringed in 2022, Long-Tailed Tit and Bullfinch. No1 bed sightings included Crossbill, Great White Egret, Marsh Harrier (19th), Woodcock (26th) and 20…

1 Which country has a crane on its national flag? 2 What is the national bird of Iceland? 3 Which species has been recorded making the longest regular migration? 4 What is believed to be the fastest bird in the world, in level flight? 5 What is estimated to be the most numerous bird in North America (in spring and summer)? 6 Which three countries have the most bird species (one point if you get all three). 7 Möwe is the German word for what type of bird? 8 What is the world's heaviest flying bird? 9 Which bird species has the largest wingspan? 10 What is the most common national bird? 11 Which bird family did the Dodo belong to? 12 Australian Magpies aren't actually corvids – what family do they really belong to? 13 How long, on average, does a…