Sommaire pour March 2019 de Bird Watching

Bird guide Ian Parsons on Wheatear – the bird whose name was censored in the 17th Century! Find out more on page 18 John Miles meets TV presenter Iolo Williams and finds out why he was happy to receive an early morning call from Chris Packham on page 26 Renowned bird author Dominic Couzens discovers the secret of the under-appreciated Reed Bunting song on page 33 Back garden birder Clare Howcutt-Kelly on the joy of having live birdsong concerts in her garden every day. Read more on page 56 Urban Birder David Lindo might surprise you with the variety of birdlife he found on a trip to Motherwell in Scotland. Join him on page 72 GET IN TOUCH: Bird Watching, Media House, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA…

Baker’s nestbox call Naturalist and television presenter Nick Baker is calling for more people to put up nestboxes, as 2019 National Nestbox Week, which runs from 14–21 February, begins. Nestbox Week 2019 is recommending birders visit nestboxweek.com  to learn about nestboxes and the British species that use them, and to build a nestbox for their own garden (instructions on website). Nestbox Week 2019 also celebrates the latest edition of the BTO’s definitive guide to nestboxes in Britain. Completely rewritten and redesigned, Nestboxes – Your Complete Guide contains practical expert advice and in-depth species-by-species profiles, with easy-to-use construction diagrams. Help our owls The BTO needs your help to monitor possible declines in our Tawny Owl population. Its Tawny Owl Calling Survey calls for people to listen for the distinctive…

The Wheatear has many old names attributed to it from across the British Isles and while the name of White Arse may well have been deliberated changed to Wheatear to avoid upsetting people, there are plenty of other old names for this lovely bird. Many, like Chuck , Chack , Chock and Chickell are onomatopoeic and make reference to the call of the bird, others such as Snorter , Horse Smatch and Hedge Chicker also relate to this sound. Names such as Fallow Chat and Clodhopper relate to the birds often being seen on open bare ground on migration whilst they search for food, while Furze Chat and Coney Chat relate to typical breeding sites of gorse (furze) covered heaths and…

KEY Sites may be best visited by car, or a car may be required to get from point to point. Requires birding to be done on foot. Specified points to visit, but can be done in any order (known as KEYPOINTS) Specified points to visit and are best done in numerical order (known as WAYMARKERS) NB: The MILES ON FOOT is the amount of miles you will need to walk and not necessarily the amount of miles in the whole route. The TIME is how many hours we recommend. So, if there are fewer miles per hour, it could be that there is more to see. COLLECT & KEEP Every month we bring you 10 more sites to build up your GO BIRDING collection…

POST CODE PH36 4JA GRID REFERENCE NM814618 HOW TO GET THERE: The A 861 takes you to the village after the Corran ferry from the east [A82] and the B8007 from the west onto the A861 at Salen. For the woodland, cross the bridge over the River Strontian and turn right. Follow this road for 2.2 miles to the signposted Airigh Fhionndail car park (Forestry Commission Scotland) at the start of the reserve. The grid reference here is: NM 825 633 WHERE TO PARK: Some birding from the car and lots of parking in the village. There is a good car park for the woodland with maps to show you the trails TERRAIN: Mixed walking with grassland around the loch but solid paths in the woodland. Best to use boots…

GRID REFERENCE: SE 940 930 HOW TO GET THERE: From Scarborough, take the A171 to Scalby, then the minor road to Hackness, then Langdale End WHERE TO PARK: Langdale End Grid Ref: SE 940 913 TERRAIN: Level by the river but hilly elsewhere. Can be muddy after rain so good boots recommended ACCESSIBILITY: No disabled access. Dogs on lead FACILITIES: None on site but pub in village PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Nearest Railway Station is Scarborough. National Rail Enquiries, tel: 08457 700 240. Bus Services, Traveline tel: 08712 002 233 ORGANISATIONS: Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, web: ywt.org.uk COUNTY RECORDER: Ian Court, email: iancourt@mypostoffice.co.uk MAPS: OS Explorer OL27, OS Landranger 101…

1 From the church follow the shropshire Way across open land checking for pheasant, partridge, sky Lark and Buzzard. red Kite are seen more often in North shropshire these days so be aware. 2 Then check the wooded area for Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, woodpeckers, sparrowhawk, Dunnock, house sparrow and possible Tree sparrow. 3 And here check for Chaffinch, the common tits, Blackbird and the pond for Moorhen. 4 Finally, check for Yellowhammer, Greenfinch and hirundines in summer.…

GRID REF: SO 827 623 POSTCODE: WR6 6NJ HOW TO GET THERE: Located approximately 7 miles north-west of Worcester. From Ombersley, take the A4133 and turn onto the A433 at Holt Heath. Turn left at the Holt church sign and follow the road to the pools. Nearest motorway M5, exit junction 5 WHERE TO PARK: Small car park by the fishing pool. Can be very muddy in winter and is on a slope from the road TERRAIN: Fairly easy walking. Walking boots recommended during the winter months ACCESSIBILITY: Accessible at all times FACILITIES: Try the Holt Fleet for refreshments and food. Plenty of facilities in nearby Droitwich or Worcester WEBSITE: worcesterbirding.co.uk for regular bird updates of the area. PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Buses travel to Holt Fleet ORGANISATIONS: West Midland Bird Club,…

GRID REF: TL 118 302 POSTCODE: SG5 3JZ HOW TO GET THERE: Take the B655 Hitchin Road from Barton-le-Clay to Hitchin. After 3 miles stop at Pegsdon WHERE TO PARK: In Apsley End Road near The Live and Let Live pub TERRAIN: Mostly unsurfaced paths and tracks, some steep inclines ACCESS: Year-round access on public footpaths FACILITIES: None on site apart from The Live and Let Live pub at Pegsdon. A full range of facilities can be found in nearby Hitchin PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Arriva Buses operate a service from Barton-le Clay to Hitchin that stops at Pegsdon close to site. Web: arrivabus.co.uk ORGANISATION: Bedfordshire Wildlife Trust. Web: wildlifebcn.org tel: 01234 364 213 CLUB CONTACT: Bedfordshire Bird Club, web: bedsbirdclub.org.uk COUNTY RECORDER: Steve Blain, tel: 07979 606300, email: recorder@bedsbirdclub.org.uk MAPS: OS…

WATER RAIL The Water Rail is a celebrated bird. It is usually the pig-like squealing uttered from a reedbed that first alerts us to its presence. Famously secretive and hard to see, it really is a special moment when one steps into view. There are more than 150 species of rail on the planet and interestingly, the Water Rail’s closest relatives emanate from the Pacific islands, according to genetic evidence. You can encounter this enigmatic species in well-vegetated wetlands across Europe, Asia and North Africa. There are in excess of 1,000 breeding territories in the UK, but there are probably many more. Like most rails, being secretive makes it hard to survey. However, if you have never seen one close up maybe a trip to Baron’s Haugh could cure that.…

SORA There have been fewer than 25 UK records of this small North American crake (or rail if you prefer). Many of these have been in the winter time (December to February), with at least one being present into March (notably a bird at Gibraltar Point, Lincolnshire in 2006). About half the records have come from Scilly, but they could turn up in any suitable habitat. If it is good enough for a Water Rail then it could have a Sora! AMERICAN ROBIN Another American species (the clue is in the name), with fewer than 40 accepted records; some five or so being in March. Most birds in late winter and early spring are thought to be long-stayers, having crossed the pond in the previous autumn. This gives them plenty…

Owl pellets are the cylindrical (or rather lensoid) regurgitated masses of indigestible matter (fur, bones and so on) produced by owls. They are often found near roost sites or under regular perching spots. Owls usually produce one or two pellets per night. Analysis of the pellets can give a pretty good indication of what the owl had been eating. Owl pellets (Barn Owl pellets shown on right) can be dissected wet or dry. For best results, soaking the pellets in water for a day or so is recommended. Then you can use tweezers (plastic ones are best), or nimble fingers, to gently pull the pellet apart and separate the fur from the bones, teeth and so on. Bony contents can usually be identified to body part (skull, jaw, rib, leg…

The Water Pipit is a bird which always keeps you at arm’s length and is very difficult to get to know. But I have, in the last month or so, become somewhat obsessed by these curious LBJs. As you will know if you read Dominic Couzens’ fascinating piece in the February BW, Water Pipits are weird birds. Although closely related to Rock Pipits, those stalwarts of rocky coasts, Water Pipits nest in high mountainous areas in continental Europe. It is only in the non-breeding season that they head downhill, north and west, to winter in grassy, reedy wetlands (nothing like the breeding grounds) and live up to their name. Back in the noughties, when guiding reader holidays to the Picos de Europa, I first became somewhat familiar with Water Pipits…

Has it ever struck you just how scattered and fragmented our conservation areas and wildlife protection movement is – a bunch of green cliques rarely coming together; our differences dividing us rather than being united by our common aims. Are you a member of half a dozen wildlife organisations? I belong to the BTO, RSPB, county trust, my local bird observatory and two tiny independent conservation groups. I also visit reserves run by the National Trust, WWT and the Hawk & Owl Trust, an independent national nature reserve and two privately run conservation initiatives… mostly in my county. The wildlife lobby is nationally strong only because the RSPB is Europe’s biggest member organisation… but, remember the Rio Declaration “Think Globally, Act Locally” because we MUST! Chris Packham’s Manifesto for Wildlife…

With a team of nearly 200 people and a network of more than 20 wildlife conservation partners throughout Europe, CJ Wildlife are the market leaders in the design and development of wildlife care products and have played an important role in the growth of the bird food market over the past 30 years. UK households now spend around £297 million a year caring for their feathered friends, and as a result we attract over 80 wild bird species into our gardens compared to just 18 back in the late 80s. Established in 1987 by passionate ornithologist and agricultural expert Chris Whittles, who researched the benefits of supplementary feeding for garden birds, the company started developing and testing seed mixes on their farm in Shropshire. This resulted in an innovative new…

The reviews aren’t kind. “A brief, simple verse,” says the Collins Bird Guide, without much enthusiasm. The RSPB Handbook of British Birds calls it “Repetitive… a collection of a few metallic notes ending in an unremarkable flourish.” Meanwhile, Britain’s Birds is downright rude: “Monotonously repeated…disjointed, short, simple, slow…” it declares, damningly. Oh dear! You wouldn’t wish your own vocal efforts to be described so harshly, would you? You might just decide to keep quiet. Thankfully for us, though, the Reed Bunting doesn’t keep quiet. And that’s just as well, because this particular songster tells a remarkable tale within its “short and repetitive” ditty. And you might be surprised to know that you can decode quite a bit for yourself, if you listen carefully. So, pick a still March day, get…

Most of the history of Strontian dates from the beginning of lead-mining in the 1720s, but its greatest historical claim to fame is that the element Strontium was discovered here and named after the village. The mines are no longer active, but the area attracts a great many geologists every year. It’s funny how a single bird seems to do the same for birdwatchers! Yes, a Black Duck from America has been a magnet for birders for many years. It is a male and mates with the local female Mallards, and the fun is looking for the many hybrid ducks found in the area in their various plumages. You should not visit the area for just this duck and hybrids, though, as it has much more to offer. The village…

This is Yorkshire’s second largest natural lake, after Malham Tarn, dug out by a glacier with moraine dumped at its outflow. It is in an area with several new birding sites along the River Ure, and all need more coverage, as birds drop in from afar. It includes a wonderful circular walk of four miles, offering open water, scattered woodland, freshwater marsh, hay fields and running water. The area could also brings you into contact with moorland birds, while driving over the top to get here. The area has a Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Reserve at the southwest end, covering 91 acres, mainly of lowland meadow and marsh. The valley is full of breeding waders with lots of Curlew, Lapwing, Oystercatchers and a few Redshank. Common Sandpiper is found around the…

A whole day could easily be spent here, owing to the wide variety of natural habitats on offer. The river itself is fascinating, with Grey Heron and Kingfisher and also Sand Martins nesting in parts of the riverbank. Its steep sides are an ideal place for them. A variety of trees, open areas and hills add to the possibilities. Birds of prey can be seen, with Sparrowhawk particularly active along the woodland edge. This is a huge area with lots of possible tracks so the choice is yours to how far you want to go exploring. Ensure that you cover the River Derwent for a couple of miles or so. The woodland areas and the hillside with Broxa Forest are good areas but can add a mile or two to…

Hadnall is a small village dating back to the 1086 Domesday Book (or earlier) a few miles north of Shrewsbury and not far from the site of the big battle of 1403. In fact, there are mysterious markings on the church wall, which are attributed to the archers sharpening their arrowheads before the big battle. So, follow the Shropshire Way across an open area with lots of hedges and trees and invariably you’ll see a Buzzard gliding above. There are lots of patches of woodland so woodpeckers (Great and Lesser Spotted) should be seen with Green a distinct possibility, too. The more common birds such as Rook, Carrion Crow and Woodpigeon will be seen all round the walk, with Wren, House Sparrow (check for Tree Sparrow) and Dunnock always around.…

It feels like you could be a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of Birmingham, and being so close to the busy motorway and airport connections of the West Midlands, this walk offers a fair variety of habitats. This rural location near the county border with Warwickshire, of which Berkswell was formerly part, offers an easy walk with plenty of interest which includes pools, woodland and some farmland and gravel extraction pits. The award-winning village of Berkswell, with its 12th Century Norman church and nearby stately Berkswell Hall, proves that you do not have to travel too far from the sprawling conurbation to find some relaxation and tranquility. The village gets its name in part from a well near the church which is still present today. So after…

Any suitable areas of water and pastureland bordering the River Severn will hopefully offer some decent birding, and here the habitat fits the bill nicely. The small villages around Holt are set in mainly agricultural and market gardening land, with small areas of woodland and mainly shallow pools. This is a pleasant walk through Holt, which follows the Severn Way to the Holt Fleet Inn. As well as the wildlife along the way, there is the 12th Century church of St Martin’s and the little-known Holt Castle, both of which are listed buildings. We start at the small fishing pool which attracts a few Siskin and redpoll during the winter months. The pool is fairly quiet bird-wise, but a couple of drake Smew made it their home while they moulted…

On the Bedfordshire/ Hertfordshire border, Telegraph Hill is situated at the north-eastern extremity of the Chiltern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and commands spectacular views north, towards the Lower Greensand Ridge, and the clay vale of Bedford beyond. The steep scarp slope is clothed in a mixture of scrub and sheep-grazed downland, complete with an old quarry, while several areas across the site are managed by the Wildlife Trust for plants and associated insects. The walk takes in arable farmland, copses and plantations affording a good cross section of migrant and resident birds. The dry river valley is a noted stopping-off point for Ring Ouzels which favour the slopes around the old quarry, but, when disturbed, can just as easily be encountered on the farmland hedgerows to the south.…

Nowhere else in Great Britain are there such extensive exposed Carboniferous Limestone sea cliffs as those of the Castlemartin range. Rising to about 150ft, the tops in large parts level before dropping vertically into the sea, they extend some seven miles from Linney Head in the west to St Govan’s in the east. Cliffs have wonderful place names like Hanging Tar and Hobbyhorse Bay, Moody Nose, Bullslaughter Bay and Huntsman’s Leap. The huntsman, so tradition tells us, leapt the chasm to escape creditors, then, on returning to check on his feat, died from the shock. Choose a good vantage point to rest and reflect on how your walk is progressing. Spare enough time to appreciate your surroundings as you look seawards. On a clear day, Lundy Island, 33 miles distant,…

The Wallasea Island Wild Coast Project is in the middle of transforming this island into a landscape of marshland, lagoons, ditches and sea. More than three million tonnes of earth were brought by boat from the tunnels and shafts created by the Cross Rail scheme in London. The reserve now covers more than 1,820 acres, with two thirds of the reserve now transformed from arable farmland to saltmarsh, mudflats, lagoons and grazing marsh. A visit to Essex has to take in this transformation, which is one of the largest in Europe and now the wildlife is really taking off. Last year saw a remarkable movement of Mediterranean Gulls come to the reserve and breed, with many pairs found along with the many Blackheadeds and Common Terns. It is years since…

The Lower Leas Coastal Park is one of the hidden jewels of public parks in the south of England and is unique in being situated on a cliff slip, which occurred long ago, in 1784, between Sandgate and Folkestone harbour. Paths laid down from the bandstand on The Leas during the Victorian era onwards, included the famous ‘zig-zag path’ to access the beach and coastal promenade. Extensive work was carried out in the early years of this century creating the award-winning park as it is today. The laying of formal gardens, an avenue of Holm Oaks and shrub planting has complemented an existing woodland on the under-cliff, along with an amphitheatre and outdoor activity area for children who visit. Despite being well used by the public there is still much…

There’s a time of day when the birds become shadows, their silhouettes shifting from bush to bush, when their song is naked without being cloaked by the bass of passing traffic and when the air smells of earth and open fires. That time of day is dusk and it’s one of my favourite times of the day – no matter what the month. It’s a ritual for me when I’m home to make a cup of tea, unlock the door and head outside into the back garden. I like it when there’s a slight nip in the air, enough to see the steam rising from my mug. When commuters are shutting down their laptops and looking forward to bathing babies and kissing them goodnight, I’m in the garden watching the…

1 GREAT WHITE EGRET Our star species – and the proud logo of Somerset Birdwatching Holidays – is one of Britain’s greatest conservation success stories. Having arrived on the Avalon Marshes less than a decade ago, these stately white herons now breed in large numbers, and sightings are absolutely guaranteed. 2 BITTERN Or ‘toasted heron’, as one local schoolboy named it. One of Britain’s most elusive species, the Bittern has made an extraordinary comeback, from just 11 booming males in the 1990s to more than 50 now on the Avalon Marshes alone! We’ll keep a sharp eye out for these charismatic birds as they appear momentarily on the edge of a reedbed, or fly overhead. 3 CRANE Europe’s tallest bird – and one of its most spectacular – can be…

WILKO EASY CLEAN BIRD TABLE, £15 I don’t think you were expecting to read about Wilko in this learned journal… This bargain-loaded store has a Wild Bird range and it includes this bird table, at a bargain price, of course. It’s 120cm high and is made from FSC China Fir. The range also includes bird foods, feeders and the ‘premium’ version of this table – which costs twice as much but has a composite slate roof – for a better class of garden bird. wilko.com HILLTREK SUILVEN VENTILE FIBRE PILE SMOCK, FROM £250 The Suilven (named after a mountain) is designed for the cold. The outer is tough, quiet, breathable, showerproof Ventile® and the deep fibre pile inner is quick drying, keeps you warm, even when it’s wet, and wicks…

SOUTH WEST Highlights The touring (presumed American) Royal Tern turned up on Scilly, on 26th, visiting St Mary’s and Tresco during the day. A first-winter male Desert Wheatear was found on St Agnes, Scilly, on 15th, remaining well into January. AVON CLEVEDON TO WESTON-SUPER-MARE: Clevedon-Yeo logged a Brent Goose (14th), five White-fronted Geese (27th), five Common Scoters (29th), a Bittern (9th), two Great White Egrets, 35 Knot (12th), a Spotted Redshank (13th & 27th), 32 Grey Plovers, a Jack Snipe, Whimbrel (12th), Yellow-legged Gull (27th) and Merlin (9th). Nine Goosanders were on the Blind Yeo. Clevedon Pier’s Black Redstart remained. Seawatching at Weston-super-Mare produced a Great Northern Diver (8th) and Great Skua (9th). There were 440 Shelducks at Uphill and 200 at Sand Bay (9th). The Uphill/Bleadon Levels area had…

The Sand Martin is traditionally the earliest hirundine (swallow or martin) into the UK in the spring, with many turning up during March. They nest in sandy banks, often near water, but the nesting area is not necessarily the first place you will see one this month. Usually, you will encounter your first Sand Martins of the year feeding over water, sometimes a long way from the nesting grounds. Like other hirundines they are diurnal migrants and will ‘stop off’ to feed on recently emerged insects from lakes or gravel pits etc., along the way. Listen for the soft, buzzing call and look for these little, brown heart-warmers at a watery site near you, this March…

Ringed Plover Dumpy and pretty, the Ringed Plover is mainly a coastal breeder, but several also nest inland at suitable gravel pit sites and so on. Small, and stripy, but bigger and more rounded than the Little Ringed Plover; the bill has a bright orange base, the legs are similarly orange and there is an obvious white wing bar seen in flight. Golden Plover A bird which breeds in upland moorlands, the Golden Plover is a major flock former in the winter, regularly found in flocks of several thousands strong, which may occur on coastal marshes but also on inland fields, often with Lapwings. Golden spangled upperparts and white underwing are the key attributes here. In breeding plumage they get black bellies and variable amounts of black on the breast…

Spring has sprung. March is here, migration is already in, if not full swing, then at least some kind of preliminary movement, with the first summer visitors arriving and other birds already sweeping in and out of the country. In this month’s challenge, we are looking at six birds which often appear in the first few months of the year. Some are birds which winter here, but have their numbers boosted in spring; others are ‘proper’ spring visitors. All you have to do is look at the photographs and try to name the early migrants featured. As ever, there are no trick questions, and all the birds are regular UK species (not extreme rarities). Then, as usual, turn the page to see our identifications and the reasoning behind them. Then,…

There are some birds in the field guide that instantly attract your attention and you think to yourself, “I HAVE to see that bird!’ The Shoebill falls into that category and captures the imagination in a way few other birds manage. One quick glance and you could be forgiven for mistaking it for a dinosaur. Although it was previously deemed a member of the stork family, it has now been classified as belonging with pelicans in the Pelecaniformes order. It inhabits swampy areas in Central and East Africa, and it was definitely top of our most-wanted list as we flew out to Uganda on our recent tour. We didn’t have long to wait before going in search of this oddball bird. Day one of our two-week trip saw us clambering…

POST CODE DL8 3DD GRID REFERENCE SD921876 HOW TO GET THERE: From major roads, turn off the M6 at Junction 37 through Sedburgh on the A684 and the A1M at Junction 51 via Bedale. Semer Water is off the A684 Hawes to Leyburn road. From the east turn at Bainbridge and from the west turn at Burtersett both roughly 4 miles from the water WHERE TO PARK: Large car park down at the lakeside which belongs to Old Blean farm where you pay and obtain a map of the walk. Limited free parking in Stalling Busk TERRAIN: Mixed walking with road, grassland and wetter areas. Best to use boots or wellies ACCESSIBILITY: Open all year but spring is a great time to visit FACILITIES: All in Hawes PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Buses…

1 After parking, follow the road checking for house sparrow, Blackbird, Chaffinch and Dunnock then to the bridge and take the track northwards, looking for Grey heron and kingfisher; 2 Check the length of the river for Grey heron, kingfisher, Mallard, Moorhen, Dipper and sand Martin. keep an eye out for Barn owl, Pheasant and sparrowhawk. 3 over the hills, ensure you check for raven, swallow, swift and the two common woodpeckers.…

GRID REFERENCE: SJ 505 217 HOW TO GET THERE: From the A49 north of Shrewsbury start at Hadnall Church WHERE TO PARK: Lay-by in the village near the church TERRAIN: Level ground ACCESSIBILITY: Limited disabled access. Dogs on lead and strict control FACILITIES: In Hadnall (shop, post office and pub) and Blackbirches Garden Centre (café and toilets) PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Nearest Railway Station is Shrewsbury. National Rail Enquiries, tel: 08457 700 240. Bus services Traveline, tel: 08712 002 233 ORGANISATIONS: Shropshire Wildlife Trust, web: shropshirewildlifetrust.org.uk CLUB CONTACT: Shropshire Ornithological Society, tel: 01743 761 507, web: shropshirebirds.com COUNTY RECORDER: Martyn Owen, 34 Peacock Hill, Alveley, Shropshire WV15 6JX, email: soscountyrecorder@gmail.com MAPS: OS Explorer 241, OS Landranger 126…

GRID REF: SP 244 791 POSTCODE: CV7 7BJ HOW TO GET THERE: Located approximately 8 miles to the east of Solihull. From the A452 near Balsall Common take Lavender Hall Lane and continue towards Coventry Road then turn left into Church Lane and turn right onto the car park WHERE TO PARK: Small free car park off Church Lane TERRAIN: A fairly easy walk with just small inclines in parts and a couple of stiles. Good walking boots should suffice ACCESSIBILITY: Open all times. Public footpaths bisect the area FACILITIES: Small village shop on Church Lane with the Bear Inn nearby. Plenty of other facilities in nearby Meriden or Balsall Common PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Nearest rail station is Berkswell around 1.5 miles away, web: nationalrail.co.uk / for bus information web: carlberry.co.uk…

GRID REF: SR 940 943 POST CODE: SA71 5EB ( for the military base at Merrion, Range East together with Range West forming the Castlemartin Tank Ranges) HOW TO GET THERE: Head south from Pembroke for about five miles on the B4319 before turning left on the minor road for Bosherston. Continue through the village to reach the coast. Alternatively, remain on the B4319 until shortly after passing Merrion Camp, then take the minor road left across the Range to reach the coast at Elegug Stacks, western most extremity of Range East WHERE TO PARK: Parking available at both access points TERRAIN: Cliffs with bays, fissures and blow-holes topped with maritime grasslands and low scrub ACCESS: The Pembrokeshire Coast Path in Range East is only open at weekends and on…

POST CODE: CM0 8HW GRID REFERENCE: TQ 945 946 HOW TO GET THERE: From Rochford, Essex, take the Ashingdon road until you see the brown tourism signs at Bray’s Lane and follow these to the RSPB Wallasea Island Wild Coast. Creeksea Ferry Road, Rochford SS4 2HD WHERE TO PARK: Car park at the end of the track on to the reserve TERRAIN: Most paths can be muddy at times ACCESSIBILITY: Public access all year round but look out for diversions and closures due to ongoing management FACILITIES: There are no facilities on site at the moment but the RSPB hope that in time they will add a reception hide to welcome visitors PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Loftman’s Corner, Canewdon, about 1.5 miles from reserve entrance. Stephensons Bus Route 60 runs from Southend…

GRID REF: TR 227 356 POSTCODE: CT20 2DR HOW TO GET THERE: From Folkestone town centre, follow road signs to the harbour. From the harbour, take the coast road west along Marine Parade which merges into Lower Sandgate Road WHERE TO PARK: Pay and display car park by the Leas Lift. Alternative parking is also available along Radnor Cliff, Sandgate TERRAIN: Mainly surfaced paths on level ground affording good wheelchair access ACCESS: Open access on public rights of way FACILITIES: Wardens hut, cafe, toilets, picnic area and various information boards PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Bus service along the coast between Hastings and Dover stopping in town close to site, web: stagecoachbus.com WEBSITE: www.freewebs.com/folkestonebirds/index.htm ORGANISATION: Folkestone and Hythe District Council, Civic Centre, Folkestone, CT20 2QY. Tel: 01303 853 000, web: folkestone-hythe.gov.uk CLUB CONTACT:…

● Help small birds out by tying up bunches of tiny twigs, dried moss, and other stringy vegetable matter near your feeders – they can use this in nest-building. ● Tumble dryer fluff can also be put out in the same way – snag it on branches for the birds to take. ● Hedgehogs and frogs should start to emerge after their winter hibernation. Of course, the best thing you can do for frogs and other amphibians is to create a pond, but failing that, leave some damp places in your garden, with long grass and stones for shelter, or place an old sink (with the plug in) or washing up bowl or similar container half-buried in the ground in a quiet spot, with a large stone inside it so…

Motherwell. Not an urban centre that you would associate with ornithological excellence, nor is it likely to be featured on the to-do lists of even the most dedicated travelling urban birders. Perhaps better known for its football team, that shares its name, you would hardly think that there would be more than Feral Pigeons to see in this large North Lanarkshire town of more than 30,000 people. Neighbouring Hamilton, and not a million miles away from Glasgow, this town has a surprising amount to offer. The largest expanse of birding opportunity in Motherwell is Strathclyde Country Park. Bordering Hamilton, it covers an impressive 1,100 acres (445 hectares) with the central feature of a large artificial lake, known as Strathclyde Loch. Don’t expect a quiet summer’s walk in absolute solitude, though,…

TO BOOK THIS TOUR: CALL 01934 712831 Choose from three, each with two-and-a-half days’ birding and three nights’ DBB • Thu 18 to Sun 21 July 2019 • Thu 21 to Sun 24 November 2019 • Thu 21 to Sunday 24 January 2020 ● DETAILS: All accommodation is en suite in luxury converted cottages or an adjacent B&B, and the holiday price includes dinner and drinks, self-service breakfast, pub lunch, all transport during your stay, and the services of our guides Stephen and Graeme. Group size maximum seven clients. ● PRICE: £565pp (deposit £100) Single room supplement £75pp…

Hides are a tried and tested means of allowing close encounters to be had with a wide range of species. Whether you use public installations or your own personal hide then the opportunities for photography can be superb 1 Public hides Many nature reserves are provisioned with large public hides. Most provide an excellent platform for observation but, from a photographic point of view, many are pointlessly positioned – too far from any action, or facing into the light for much of the time. There are a few, however, where some thought has been gone into their location and placement, and these can yield some great images. The downside is their public nature and fact that you have no control over the actions of others – loud voices, waving arms,…

Of course, the beauty of birdwatching is that pretty much anything can appear at any time, but the species on this list can all be expected to turn up in the UK over the course of a year, so use it to record what you’ve seen, and to work out where and when your best chance of seeing each bird is. Habitats are generalised guides to where each bird is most frequently encountered. They are not hard and fast. Similarly, the indicators of the time of year are just indicators about when a bird is most often seen, not fixed rules. XXX Common XX Less common or scarce X More scarce or rare R Resident all year S Summer visitor W Winter visitor P Passage V Vagrant (rare) Look for…