Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2024 i Birdwatch

SEAWATCHING is among the most challenging forms of birding, which makes it so rewarding yet also sometimes exasperating. One August some years ago now, while sat seawatching at the Bridges of Ross in Co Clare, a shout went up for “Wilson’s!” The young, ultra-keen and impressionable me was desperate to get on the bird, for Wilson’s Storm Petrel would have been a tick at the time. Despite very patient directions from all of those sat alongside me that had already locked on to the bird, I was struggling. I could feel my pulse quickening and the frustration growing. Eventually, after what felt like the umpteenth scan of the same patch of sea, a small black-and-white bird appeared among the swell, pogoing its way slowly westwards at about middle distance. The…

I had been planning to visit Orkney for several years. The anticipation of seeing rare and wonderful birds was a great incentive for me to finally get the trip sorted, and on Thursday 20 June 2024 we arrived in Scrabster for a two-night stop before travelling across to the islands. Staying at The Ferry Inn, we ate locally at The Upper Deck Restaurant, which boasted ‘wonderful views across the harbour’ – little did I know how wonderful they were to be … As we were ordering our meal, I noticed three birds in the harbour. Eager to know what they were, my friend Jane offered to go to the car to retrieve my bins. I quickly identified two Common Eider and one Guillemot. Happy with that, we ate dinner, I…

Britain and Ireland’s maritime position on the north-western edge of Europe means that there is great potential for seawatching throughout the year. Huge quantities of seabirds arrive to breed or pass by during their migrations, with the peak in both numbers and diversity occurring in late summer and early autumn. Among the most desired of all target species at this time are storm petrels. These tiny birds live epic pelagic lives, coming ashore to their colonies under the cover of darkness but otherwise spending almost all of their time far out at sea. This makes seeing them a challenge, enhancing their appeal among birders and meaning that stakeouts on windswept headlands or organised boat trips are generally required to connect with them. In Britain and Ireland, there are three regularly…

IN photography, depth of field describes the distance between the nearest and furthest objects that are in acceptably sharp focus. While birders often prefer optics that offer a wide depth of field that minimises the need for readjusting the focus wheel to keep the bird sharp, bird photographers love the opposite; a narrow depth of field to help reduce distractions in the background, isolating the bird in the photo and therefore helping it to stand out. Depth of field is controlled by the aperture or ‘f number’ in your camera. If the maximum aperture of your set-up is f/6.3, using this setting is known as shooting ‘wide open’, and provides the narrowest depth of field. Changing the aperture setting on your camera (‘stopping down’) to, for example, f/13 (two stops down…

AUGUST is definitely autumn as far as I’m concerned! With plenty of species now on the move, there’s lots to search for on your local patch. Birds can arrive throughout the day, so if time allows it’s well worth visiting more than once or trying a few different local sites. Weather: south-easterlies Light south-easterly winds are ideal in August, especially when combined with cloud or rain as dawn breaks (or later in the day), causing falls of birds. Alongside the common passerine migrants such as Willow, Sedge, Reed and Garden Warblers, Blackcap and Lesser and Common Whitethroats, it’s possible that you’ll encounter something a little scarcer, too, with Spotted Flycatcher or Whinchat among those species eagerly sought. Pied Flycatchers pass through in small numbers away from key migration sites on the…

A new study has revealed what Brits think of Ring-necked Parakeets, with city-dwellers and younger people found to be more accepting of the non-native species than older, rural-based residents. The study, published in NeoBiota, revealed UK residents’ complex perceptions of the parakeet – an introduced species now prevalent across various urban and rural settings in the country. An online survey of 3,947 British residents investigated the awareness of and attitudes towards Ring-necked Parakeet in the UK. Key findings revealed a high awareness (90.2%), with a significant proportion able to identify the bird by name. Preferences for having these birds in local neighbourhoods were low (7.8%), with a notable difference in perceptions towards the parakeet’s presence in urban and rural areas. Respondents seemed to accept the presence of parakeets in urban…

A bunting identification feature in the December 2023 edition of Birdwatch stated that “until fairly recently, the idea of locating an out-of-range Cirl Bunting … would have been unthinkable given their extremely localised British range in the South-West. However, this species is a conservation success story … as a result, extralimital birds have been recorded in recent years.” Only a few months on from that article, Durham, Kent and Sussex have all enjoyed their first Cirl Bunting records in decades. At this point, it’s safe to say that Cirl Bunting has become a true British success story and now, after a long spell in the mire, the species once again appears to be ready to break out from its south-west English strongholds. Having previously been widespread in southern England and…

The complete package We’re thrilled to announce that we have launched Bird News Ultimate PLUS – our most complete bird news membership tier and an essential new tool for birders. As well as receiving instant bird news on all devices, Bird News Ultimate PLUS members gain exclusive access to a complete digital archive of Birdwatch magazine dating back to its establishment in 1992, as well as our extensive library of special editions. What’s included • Every magazine issue, from the latest release back to issue 1, can be read online at the click of a button, giving you unrivalled access to a wealth of top birding content including finder’s accounts, ID guides, species profiles and entertaining comment. What’s more, your new digital copy of Birdwatch is eco-friendly and helps you…

Spoon-billed Sandpiper is a charismatic wader suffering from a litany of threats as its numbers dwindle. Not only is its appearance unique, but the innovatory conservation techniques deployed to try to save it are almost unprecedented too. Many of its problems are directly or indirectly caused by humans, including habitat loss, climate change and hunting, while adding conflict or war into the mix can exacerbate matters, meaning little chance of conservationists being able to intervene. The species breeds solely on tundra at the far eastern tip of Russia, passing through North Korea, South Korea and China on migration, and wintering mainly in Myanmar, with a few birds reaching Bangladesh, Vietnam and Thailand. This route takes the tiny peep directly through three countries considered by Western governments as part of the…

‘Big days’ have long been an established part of the birding calendar. During a big day, small teams of birders record as many species as they can find in a defined area over a 24-hour period. In the UK, such events are often conducted within a county or bird-club recording area. Some birders undertake a big day on 1 January to get the new year list off to a strong start, but most emphasis is placed on choosing a spring date, when migration is in full flow and a range of summer and winter visitors are possible, affording the greatest range of species to target. In my home county of Oxfordshire, the big-day record stood at 114 species for many years until 2021, when a team surpassed this with 117.…

The vast plains of India’s eastern Uttar Pradesh state are a tapestry of lush, vibrant wetlands. Bordered by the Himalaya to the north, Uttar Pradesh falls within the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Also known as the North Indian River Plain, it arcs across more than 700,000 sq km and is one of the most fertile places in the world, fed by the network of rivers that flow down from the mountains. Within the shimmering freshwater marshes of this flooded landscape, there is one striking silhouette that is unmistakable to all who live there – that of Sarus Crane. Standing at almost 2 m tall, with a crimson head and grey plumage, these cranes are a symbol of grace and resilience embedded in the subcontinent’s culture. Though also found across much of South-East…

WHILE August sees many of our summer migrants starting to depart southwards, for many of us, Swallows remain very much in evidence throughout the month. Some may still be feeding a second brood, and if you’re lucky you may get an opportunity to photograph an adult on the wing delivering food to a fledged youngster. Often the adult will consistently come in to deliver the food at the same angle depending on the wind direction, enabling you to get in the right position so that both birds are in the plane of focus, and both faces are visible. Swallows form flocks in late summer, and they can offer good photographic opportunities. In my local area, these tend to gather on overhead wires, which isn’t great for perched shots, but there’s…

BIRD migration is a complex subject. Very different strategies can be employed between species, and few undertake the same routes or stop-overs. Among populations of the same species, you might imagine that there is little variation, but nothing could be further from the truth. What is referred to as differential migration within a species varies due to differences in either the age or sex of the birds migrating. In spring, male birds tend to migrate first and so arrive at the breeding sites before the females, this being known as protandry. In species where roles are reversed, such as Eurasian Dotterel and Red-necked Phalarope, the females arrive first. One of the most striking differences occurs in migratory populations of Chaffinch. In Scandinavia, females and juveniles migrate further south in Europe,…

June has traditionally been considered one of the quietest birding months, with the volume of news dropping right off for a few sleepy weeks before autumn migration starts to get going again in July. In recent years, good influxes of species such as Rosy Starling, Blyth’s Reed Warbler, Black-winged Stilt and Black-crowned Night Heron have ensured this month has seemed altogether more dynamic than has traditionally been the case, although there was more of a return to expected form in 2024. That said, a regular turnover of new rarities ensured that there was something on offer for everyone this month. The rarest bird of June was an immature Red-footed Booby that was photographed sat on a boat at Worbarrow Bay, Dorset, on the evening of 24th. It follows hot on…

Growing up in Northumberland meant there was no shortage of great places for me to go birding. The county is blessed with a range of different habitats, from coastal marshes to upland moors. However, whenever anyone asks me to name my favourite place, one location stands ahead of all the others: Holy Island. I recently moved away from Northumberland but miss being able to visit the island on a regular basis. Whenever the weather looked favourable for migrants and school – and then work – allowed, I would make my way to the island to enjoy some birding at this spectacular location and to join the search for rarities. The island is probably best known in the birding community as a hot-spot for migration – it has a long history…

Birds communicate constantly. Their exchanges of information are varied yet permanent. We can look at them, or photograph them of course. But above all, we must listen to them, and patiently try to decipher their encrypted messages. Keen birders have thus long known that it’s best to be able to recognise birds in the field by ear, since we often hear them long before we manage to get views. Have you ever been blown away by an intense day of bird migration? Let us set the scene. It’s October and thousands of birds are moving. Chaffinches fill the sky with their voices, in a mixed chorus shared with Eurasian Siskins, Meadow Pipits, Song Thrushes and the occasional Reed Bunting. You can hear distant plovers too, while Common Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps…

I have to say that August is one of my favourite months. The feeling of summer winding down, tired and ready to give way to autumn, but still with the warmth and abundance of life of earlier in the season, is a joy. Migration is in full swing as birds depart their breeding grounds. August also marks a time of change in the garden, as the floral fireworks of high summer slowly transition to the somewhat more muted tones of early autumn. Here I summarise a few jobs to consider in your wildlife garden in the month ahead. Leave plants to form seedheads and fruits It’s all too tempting now that many plants – particularly native species – are finishing flowering to start hacking back old growth, but from a…

STUDIES of autumn migration of several bird species in recent years have shown distinct changes which have been linked to changes in climate and habitat. Some populations of birds are now not completing their traditional migration journeys, instead stopping in areas which are now able to support them before reaching their historical destinations. This phenomenon is called ‘short-stopping’ and it appears to be most prevalent among waterfowl. Among the many birds coming to Britain for the winter, short-stopping has been detected in Tufted Duck, Goosander and Common Goldeneye – for these species, numbers have declined at the south-western limit of their wintering range, which includes Britain and Ireland. An estimate of the numbers lost in Britain matches higher numbers found wintering further north in Sweden and Finland. The most dramatic…

CAMBODIA used to be in the news headlines as a war zone, but now, 50 years on, it is a safe and attractive destination. Some tour operators combine it with a trip to Laos, which is far less birdy. After arriving at Phnom Penh, it is worth allocating at least one day to visit the world-famous temples at Angkor Wat. Cambodia’s most recent endemic, Cambodian Tailorbird, was only discovered in 2009 and can be seen at several hot-spots near the capital, and new sites for it are still being discovered. Rather than being a discovery, Cambodian Laughingthrush was split from White-necked Laughingthrush in the early 2000s. It can be seen at Cambodia’s tallest mountain, Phnom Aural, some 100 km north-west of Phnom Penh. Also present on the mountain is Chestnut-headed…