Inhaltsverzeichnis für April 2020 in Bird Watching

A fluttering violin melody gathers pace, soaring over the orchestra, as it reaches its highest notes and spinning into a gentle downward spiral. Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending mimics a bird in flight as it embarks on a morning journey across a waking landscape. The musical style is described as pastoral; an idyllic depiction of rural Britain. It’s an exceptionally beautiful piece, and offers 15 minutes of pure escapism – the next best thing to the bird’s own song. The Lark Ascending was composed in 1914, at the start of World War I. Legend has it that the English composer was walking in Margate when the germ of the melody first came to him. He was put under a citizen’s arrest as he made a note of the tune, accused…

Homemade apple birdfeeder An apple birdfeeder? I had neither seen nor heard of such a thing before volunteering with my local Wildlife Trust as part of the education team. Now this is one of my favourite nature craft activities – and the birds in my garden love them! This activity is perfect for children, under adult supervision. You will need: Here is the equipment list, listing everything you will need to complete your birdfeeder: ● 1 medium to large apple (if you don’t have any apples going spare, an empty coconut shell is an excellent alternative) ● A knife ● Something thin and round (e.g. chopstick or wooden skewer) ● A ball of string ● Scissors ● Lard or suet ● Seed mixtures (e.g. black sunflower seeds, niger seeds, peanuts…

MAX MILES ON FOOT: 5.5 MIN TIME: 4 HOURS Of the six sea cliffs I visited in Caithness, I found this one a real treat. The headland makes a great cetacean and bird migration watchpoint. JOHN MILES WHERE TO WATCH 1 After making your way through Wick, you come to a little hamlet of Staxigoe; first checking the small harbour for auks and gulls. You then start your walk along the cliffs towards the lighthouse. 2 The going can be rough, especially as you have to walk round several ‘geos’, but make sure you stop and scan the sea for movement of divers, sea ducks and gulls in winter. Check vegetation for passing migrants, as several rare birds have been found close to the head, such as Siberian Chiffchaff, Stonechat,…

MAX MILES ON FOOT: 1 MIN TIME: 6+ HOURS With few seabird colonies visible on mainland Mull, a trip out to the offshore island of Lunga is a great way to add not only breeding seabirds to your list, but also feeding and passage species around the island. JOHN MILES WHERE TO WATCH 1 Leaving from Tobermory allows you to pass by two White-tailed Eagle territories close to the shore. The boat often stops to show passengers these birds. Look for whales on the journey, too. 2 Leaving from Ulva pier allows you to scan for Otters around the many rocky headlands. There will be the chance of Black Guillemot, Shag and even Great Northern Divers around the area. Ulva is famous for its wintering Hen Harrier ‘Wendy’. 3 Leaving…

MAX MILES ON FOOT: 4 MIN TIME: 4 HOURS Another superb headland and always well worth the three miles circular walk. On 24 April 1988, it was the site of the UK’s only a Moussier’s Redstart, a male! DAVID SAUNDERS WHERE TO WATCH 1 A sheltered valley, with residents like Great Spotted Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush, Nuthatch and Treecreeper being joined in summer by Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Spotted Flycatcher while visitors include Water Rail and Firecrest. 2 Needle Rock has long supported a colony of Guillemots and Razorbills, their season short, just 50 or so days from when the egg is laid until the chick departs for the open sea, the only reminder of their presence the white-washed empty ledges. 3 No visit to would be complete without sighting…

MAX MILES ON FOOT: 5 MIN TIME: 5 HOURS A short drive from the Channel Tunnel terminal at Calais, east along the coast, delivers the birdwatcher to Gravelines and the coastal dunes and saltings west of Grand-Fort-Philippe, together with a series of freshwater lagoons, marshes and copses. PAUL TRODD WHERE TO WATCH 1 From the fort scan the canal for gulls and terns, plus Common and Green Sandpipers along the margins. The saltmarsh attracts passage Redshank, Bar-tailed Godwit and Whimbrel, Wheatear and Blue-headed Wagtail. Check the copse by the park for grounded warblers, flycatchers, redstarts, Nightingale and Serin. 2 A roadside pull-in overlooks old gravel pits and flooded fields, ideal for passage waders such as Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper and Whimbrel, plus Little Egret, Spoonbill, gulls and terns. Avocet, Black-necked Grebe,…

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. 1 Bullfinch by Norman Clarkson Camera: Nikon Coolpix P610 Lens: 150mm Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec Aperture: f/5.6 ISO: 400 2 Goldfinch by Kevin Bowers Camera: Nikon D500 Lens: 600mm Shutter Speed: 1/640 sec Aperture: f/6.3 ISO: 1250 3 Woodpigeon by Eunice Kelleher Camera: Nikon D300 Lens: 270mm Shutter Speed: 1/500 sec Aperture: f/5.3 ISO: 640 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker by Trevor Partridge Camera: Canon EOS 7D Lens: 260mm Shutter Speed: 1/640 sec Aperture: f/6.3 ISO: 200 WE LOVE All the photos are superb, but Norman’s Bullfinch is particularly delightful: such a beautiful, shy bird…

Q Recently, I have been woken up just before sunrise by a singing bird quite near my garden. I haven’t been able to see it recently (I suspect it is singing from one of my neighbours’ trees). And by the time I am up and about, the bird seems to have gone quiet. It is a very beautiful song, consisting of simple pure-toned phrases which are repeated a few times, before moving onto a new one. The tone is a bit like a Blackbird but not quite. Also, whatever the singer is, it sounds like it has been to a wetland, as it has a few repeated phrases which sound like Redshank and Oystercatcher calls. Is it a Starling, which I read are master mimics, or something quite different? Please…

If you’ve never been birding in Spain, then there are few better places to start than Catalunya in September, and specifically the Ebro Delta, a bird-rich wetland that’s in many ways man-made, but which boasts an enviable number and variety of birds, and what might be the best birdfair in Europe outside of… well, Birdfair. But much more of that later. Before heading to the delta itself immediately on arrival at Barcelona Airport, we first took a long detour inland, exploring an area of rocky mountains and deep valleys around Flix, and specifically the Reserva Natural de Sebes. Situated beside the Ebro, it has reedbeds managed using Camargue horses, and the result is a wealth of species, with Bittern regular in winter, and Purple, Squacco and Night Heron present at…

After the success of last year’s tours, we are delighted to offer readers another chance to visit Somerset, now considered among the best places in Britain to see – and get great views of – some of the country’s most sought-after bird species. The Avalon Marshes are the heron capital of Britain, with up to seven species breeding there. And, in winter, they play host to one of the greatest of all British birding spectacles: the famous Starling murmurations. Great White, Little and Cattle Egrets float over the reedbeds, or fish in the watery ditches known as rhynes. Bitterns, too, are often glimpsed as they fly low over the reeds. In spring, you can watch Hobbies chasing dragonflies, Marsh Harriers performing their sky-dance and Cuckoos calling over the reeds, and…

Add food  A first stage to attracting birds is to put out feeders (plus water) or at least food. So, if you are weary of just seeing Blackbirds, House Sparrows and pigeons, this is the next step to diversity. Add special foods eg niger seeds, mealworms, nuts  One of the quickest ways to attract birds to any garden is to put out food. This may be in a plastic seed feeder, or in a special cage for peanuts or fat balls, on a bird table or indeed on the lawn. Varying the food you put out can make a difference to the birds you get. At its simplest, you could put out niger seed to attract Goldfinches. Mealworms can attract insect eaters: typically Robins, but you may get lucky and…

At some stage, every land mammal in the UK has been recorded in a garden, somewhere (no, not all in one garden!). But, how can you encourage mammals to visit your garden? Here are some tips to attract some of the main mammalian players to a garden. Bats In general, bats will visit gardens with plenty of nocturnal, flying insects. So a decent wildlife garden, especially with a pond, can substitute for a ‘natural woodland glade’. Bats roost in hollows in trees or in roof spaces, if they can get access. Or, you can put up a bat box for them to roost in. Rodents Every garden will have rodents, at least visiting. These will probably include Grey Squirrels, Wood Mice and Bank Voles, though you will no doubt be…

The start of April will see myself and Mike Weedon enjoying a few days on Speyside in the company of you, the readers – we’ll be hoping to see the likes of that glorious Black-throated Diver above, during our packed schedule. But much of this issue, and much of birding in April, can be about staying close to home or sitting still and letting the birds come to you. Whether it’s listening to the dawn chorus and trying to ID the singers (p30), doing all your birding within a couple of miles of home (p20), or spending 36 hours in the heart of the Caledonian forest encountering Capercaillies and Crested Tits (p34), it’s all about taking the time to see the great variety of birds that are out there. Try…

April is surely one of the top four birding months in the UK, and some would argue it is the best month of all. Spring migration of birds in breeding finery is well underway, with birds heading both in and out as well as through the country. The dawn chorus is reaching full swing and many of the birds which make summer a delight are appearing. Here are five cracking birds to enjoy this month. 1 SONG THRUSH Although they will have been singing now for a few months, that does not diminish the beauty of the song of the Mavis. Along with the song of the Blackbird it forms the core (or at least the flute in the woodwind section) of many a dawn chorus throughout the land. Song…

We have four species of grebe that regularly breed in the UK. Two are reasonably common birds, while two are rare and localised nesters. All can be seen during April in breeding finery, if you know where to look… Great Crested Grebe Our commonest, most widespread and most obvious grebe, Great Crested Grebes are much bigger than the other three British breeders. They also have the most famous and easy to observe dancing display, where both individuals in the pair mimic each other’s actions. Magnificent. Little Grebe The real titch of our grebe species, the Dabchick really is a little grebe! They are often quite shy and retiring (certainly compared with Great Crested Grebes), preferring to linger round the margins of water bodies and hide in vegetation or dive under…

The Gay Birders’ Club (GBC) reaches its 25th birthday this year, and it’s celebrating its silver jubilee by buying 25 acres of forest in Mexico as a contribution towards tackling the climate emergency. The group was founded back in 1995 by a group of 10 gay men. Several gay women soon joined in, and the club grew rapidly, with the female members now slightly outnumbering the men. The Club started before the repeal of Section 28 and before the equalisation of the age of consent. Chairman Mike Pollard said: “It was not always so easy as it is now be out at home, at work or when out birding, and GBC provided a wonderfully supportive and sociable ‘space’ for us to connect. We’ve come a long way since then!” The…

We all need to slow down, occasionally. When it comes to birding, taking things easy can be a positive advantage. It was with this ethos that I set forth into the Rothiemurchus Forest, at the northern end of the Cairngorm mountains. I had 36 hours to myself, and I hoped to get up close and personal with some of this special habitat’s iconic species. Now, 36 hours is quite a long time to be out for, so the more important parts of your birding gear are the ones that will keep you alive. I carry a small stove for my main meal and endless cups of fruit tea. A sleeping bag, roll mat and a bivvy bag, (this is really just a breathable waterproof covering) provide me with shelter for…

BIRD 1 We start with a pretty warbler which you may find easy or indeed tricky, depending on which part of the country you live in and/or your experience. The dark eyestripe and the greenish tones immediately narrows it to one of the Phylloscopus or ‘leaf warblers’. Once upon a time our three British breeding leaf warblers were all called ‘willow wren’. It was only the 18th Century naturalist Gilbert White who realised there were three species, that we now call Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Wood Warbler. We can identify this one using the following features: Very long primaries; white fringed tertials; white belly; long, bright yellow supercilium (‘eyebrow’) and yellow upper breast; bright green upperparts; pale legs and feet. It is a lovely Wood Warbler. Key features ■ Very…

MAX MILES ON FOOT: 4.5 MIN TIME: 3 HOURS Maybe it’s not known as well as the Old Man of Hoy, but this 70m stack is also a great place for rock climbing (which limits the breeding seabirds). JOHN MILES WHERE TO WATCH 1 This is a wild walk with the added attraction of possible cetaceans, especially from the car park, where there may be a small mobile café in the spring and summer. It also a great place to scan for seabirds and divers, with White-billed Diver joining the Great Northerns here. Check the lighthouse for migrants as Collared Flycatcher was once found here. 2 Walk along the cliffs checking the sea for movement. The main seabird breeding cliffs are hard to observe and you have to watch the…

MAX MILES ON FOOT: 3 MIN TIME: 2 HOURS Numerous pools, boardwalks and feeding stations make this an ideal place to drop into or even take a picnic along and spend more time enjoying the wildlife. Bordering the Trent, a range of woodland birds may give close views and there is also a hide overlooking one of the pools. PETE HACKETT WHERE TO WATCH 1 The pools hold common ducks in winter, with occasional visits of Gadwall, Shoveler, Teal and Pochard, while there is a chance of a Water Rail skulking in the reeds and Reed Warblers singing during the summer. 2 A feeding station attracts the usual suspects, including such treats as Reed Bunting, Goldfinch, Long-tailed, Coal, Blue and Great Tits, while arguably best of all, Nuthatch can give…

MAX MILES ON FOOT: 4 MIN TIME: 3 HOURS Looking out over the flatlands of south Cambridgeshire, as well as into Essex, this Hertfordshire site offers great walking and the chance of some interesting birds on the edge of Royston. The downs near the town, including Therfield Heath, were once well known as a wintering site for Hooded Crows – the logo of the town’s newspaper is a Hoodie, and they were sometimes called Royston Crows. Those days are gone, but there’s still much to enjoy here, not least the ubiquitous Red Kites. MATT MERRITT WHERE TO WATCH 1 Start from the car-park next to the sports centre, walking south-west towards the toposcope at grid ref TL 343 403. There’ll probably be Black-headed Gulls on the rugby pitches, but check…

Goose conundrum Q These photos were taken in Poznan, central Poland in November 2019. The goose was on the river bank with a group of Mallards. Although we didn’t get a photo of them together, the goose wasn’t much larger than the ducks. Looking through all the books and ID guides I can find no species that seem to exactly match this bird. The size and colouring suggest a Pink-footed, but this goose clearly has orange legs and a pink bill. It seems too small for a Greylag and, again, the legs and bill are the wrong colours. The legs and size would match a tundra Bean Goose, but the pink bill is wrong. The legs and bill colour would match a White-fronted but it doesn’t have the markings on…

Spring in Scotland means rich wildlife potential amid rugged beauty, and you can join us there for an exclusive trip from 29 March to 3 April. Bird Watching magazine editor Matthew Merritt and assistant editor Mike Weedon will be joined by Scottish birding aficionado and UKBS editor Gordon Hamlett, to lead a week of wildlife watching, based at the lovely Grant Arms Hotel in Grantown-on-Spey. The hotel boasts high quality en suite rooms and traditional Scottish fare prepared with local ingredients, and while it takes care of bed, breakfast and dinner, we’ll provide optional guided walks, expert tips, bird quizzes, films and evening talks. From our Highland location, we’ll be within easy reach of sites such as Glenmore Forest Park, for Crested Tits and Crossbills; the Cairngorms, for Ptarmigan and…

I’ve been wearing a Tilley since 1992, though do take it off from time to time. BW’s Mike Weedon is often seen in one, too. My first one wore out and Tilley honoured the lifetime guarantee and replaced it. A Tilley really is a hat for life – mine have protected my bonce from the sun on countless occasions and four continents. The Hiker’s Hat is different from the Tilleys I’m used to. For a start, it’s lighter. It’s made from 98% organic cotton and 2% spandex and weighs just over 100g. It has a mesh band just below the crown for ventilation and a HyperKewl™ insert in the crown – more on that later. There’s a hanging loop on the rear brim – Tilleys never used to have one…

January hardly produced the most startlingly new array of rarities. But, for year-listers, there were plenty of high-quality hangers-on, on which to build the foundations of the 2020 count. Things did kick off in some style in Norfolk, however, with a male Desert Wheatear at the sea defences near Eccles-on-Sea. Initially found on the last day of 2019, it was relocated on New Year’s Day and was still present to 6th. Also on 1 January, a female Bufflehead turned up at Stithians Reservoir, Cornwall, the next day relocating to the Camel Estuary (though not seen afterwards). This bird has potential to be a genuine wild bird, unlike the two probable escapes in the Midlands and North East. Also in Cornwall, a Ross’s Gull was seen briefly off Portscatho. At the…

There are all sorts of reasons to watch the birds in your garden. Getting familiar with them gives you a great grounding for exploring further and discovering a wider world of species, for starters. For another, by encouraging them you’ll be helping birds that, in many cases, need a helping hand because of the degradation of other habitats. And of course, as important as anything else: it is fun, and easy – you can watch birds and their behaviour at close range, in warmth and comfort. So, we hope you’ll enjoy trying out some of the tips and advice contained in these pages. We can’t guarantee that you’ll get dozens of hitherto unseen species flocking to your garden, but you’ll certainly get some, and you’ll get a lot of pleasure…

While the (hopefully) better spring weather and rising temperatures will get you out in the garden with the intention of tidying things up, be very careful not to disturb breeding birds. Don’t cut back hedges and shrubs until after the breeding season is finished, and try to find a quiet spot to move your feeders to, so that adult birds can continue to use them even while you’re out there working. This will help them save energy and time, and allow them to concentrate their efforts on finding vital invertebrate food for nestlings.…

Habitat considerations Habitat is an important consideration when identifying warblers. However, don’t become fixated on it. In some areas, for instance, Grasshopper Warblers favour reedbeds, while in others, they are found in dryer scrubby areas, a long way from such wetland habitats. As a rule, Whitethroats like rough grassland with scattered bushes and rambling hedges, while Lesser Whitethroats favour big, dense hedgerows (where they are easily concealed, but can still be heard producing their rattling songs). Also, Willow Warblers tend to be birds of newer tree growth, while Chiffchaffs prefer mature woodland (though there is considerable overlap). Dartford Warblers like heaths! The three ‘willow wrens’ Chiffchaff ● Dull green-brown upperparts ● Poorly defined pale supercilium ● Short primary projection ● Creamy underparts ● Plain tertials ● Dark legs/feet Willow Warbler…

MAX MILES ON FOOT: 4 MIN TIME: 3 HOURS The centrepiece of this birding walk to the south of Grantown-on-Spey is the famous boulder-strewn River Spey. The forest section has several stands of Scots Pines, giving a hint of old Caledonia, plus a more bird-rich deciduous wood by the road bridge. PAUL TRODD WHERE TO WATCH 1 From the bridge, check for Grey Wagtail, Dipper, and Common Sandpiper feeding in the rapids; the former two species often nest under the bridge or along the river banks. Pied Wagtail, Swift, House and Sand Martins hawk for insects over the river. Check the birch woodland edge on the south side, for the likes of Tree Pipit, Redstart, Pied or Spotted Flycatchers, Blackcap and Willow Warbler. Scan the hillsides for soaring raptors. 2…

MAX MILES ON FOOT: 2.5 MIN TIME: 1.5 HOURS This former corn mill site is an easy pleasant ramble, ideal for taking the kids and dog for a walk. With mixed woodland and the River Cole and Chinn Brook running alongside, and nearby Sarehole Mill, this provides some varied habitat. PETE HACKETT WHERE TO WATCH 1 The small pool hosts breeding Great Crested Grebe, Tufted Duck and sometimes Greylag Goose. Grey Heron are often present with occasional Cormorant. Swallows, House Martins and Swifts arrive in spring. Gulls are plentiful with regular Black-headed, Lesser Black-backed and Herring, with odd Common Gulls in winter, while at this time Goosander and Pochard visit. 2 The woodland attracts a few Lesser Redpoll and Siskin together with Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Treecreeper, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Sparrowhawk,…

MAX MILES ON FOOT: 3 MIN TIME: 2.5 HOURS A Mendip ‘gorge’ which is famed for butterflies and scarce wild flowers (and dormice!), as well as being a lovely spot to watch birds. The site comprises grassland, patches of heath and woodland. JOSH THOMAS WHERE TO WATCH 1 Disused quarry with typical species, such as Dunnock and Ronbin, with a sound track of singing Mistle Thrush (trying to outperform fly-over planes). 2 The ‘valley’ of the combe is a good place to listen and look for Marsh Tit. Typically, they will be low down, so spare yourself from the sort of ‘warbler neck’ you get for scanning tree tops for Coal Tits. That said, the conifers may hold Crossbill, Siskin and Godcrest, so your neck may get some exercise after…

Q I saw this bird in a garden in Worthing (about 50 yards inland) recently. It was roughly the size of a Blackbird, and strangely motionless. I did wonder if it was a juvenile Dotterel? My sister doesn’t think so and suggested sending it to you. Sorry the pictures are poor quality, just an old iPhone with a hedge in the way. Richard Clark A Judging by the pattern and shape of your bird (though not fitting the apparent size), it is a Robin. This is mainly based on the orange breast, face and forehead; contrasting with the plain grey-brown back and wings and white belly. Of course, it would not be a ‘typical’ Robin, in terms of plumage, but rather one with very washed out colour, with some kind…

In 1990, I purchased my first top-end binocular. I wanted a Leitz Trinovid but they had been discontinued, and the very different and much heavier Leica Trinovid BA hadn’t yet made its debut. But now the old-style Trinovid is back, made in Portugal this time, with the “latest optical glass and coatings” and Leica rather than Leitz on the pricey red dot. Leather-clad lightness In looks, this is a retro-binocular. It is compact and elegant, an aluminium chassis wrapped in black leather with exposed black metal, most obviously around the objectives (so might be a little cold to handle if the temperature drops). It is lightweight and very good in the hands. It is light enough to use one-handed. The focusing wheel comes to hand easily, though at about a…

THE PELAGIC DICTIONARY OF NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BRITISH ISLES PETER J. JARVIS, PELAGIC PUBLISHING £35 With more and more folk getting into watching other forms of wildlife along with birds, this book offers you the chance to look up all those things you came across and wanted to know more about when exploring the British Isles. The book starts with abbreviations and acronyms, while part one explains the terminology used in natural history, and part two is a reference section on the individual species or species groups. For example, flicking through I came across ‘Glue Fungus’, which I was shown on a Nature Scotland tour on Islay this January by my youngest son, Ewan. He had his eye on this species having found it on Mull while hunting for…

SOUTH WEST Highlights An American Herring Gull (first-winter) was at West Bexington, Dorset, on 26th. Devon’s long-staying, first-winter drake Blue-winged Teal continued to show at Man Sands, Devon. A Long-billed Dowitcher was a bit further north in the same county, mainly at Bowling Green Marsh RPSB. AVON CLEVEDON-WESTON-SUPER-MARE: There were 13 Goosanders on the Blind Yeo and a Mandarin on the Land Yeo. Uphill had a Marsh Harrier (19th). Clevedon-Yeo logged 28 Avocets, 18 Grey Plovers, a Bar-tailed Godwit, Little Stint, two Spotted Redshanks, 1,500 Dunlin, 130 Knot, 490 Redshanks, seven Common Sandpipers, 55 Snipe, two Jack Snipe, two Short-eared Owls and a Merlin. Black Redstarts remained at Portishead, Clevedon Pier and Uphill. The Richard’s Pipit was at Channel View (10th). Woodspring Priory had a Firecrest (10th). SEVERNSIDE: An unseasonal…

Song Thrush Less common than the Blackbird, the Song Thrush is still a very common bird found in many gardens. The song is more likely to be heard at the beginning and end of the day more frequently than during the middle of the day. SONG ID Of a similar mid-tonal range to the Blackbird, each short phrase is repeated two or three times before a slight pause then the repetition of a new phrase. Chafinch One of the few birds which rival the Wren as the UK’s commonest bird, the Chaffinch is an unobtrusive breeder in gardens, but its song is a familiar sound of the suburbs, as well as the countryside. SONG ID The sweet mid-range song of the Chaffinch loosely tumbles down a descending scale ending with…

Time of day Think carefully about what time of day is best for photography in your garden. Time of day has a considerable bearing on the amount of bird activity; in general, maximum activity is in the early morning, providing interesting and more frequent subject matter. Too early, though, and the light will be limited. Also, low sunshine (ie of morning or evening) generally produces more pleasing lighting of the subject. Also, consider what direction the sun will be coming from, with respect to any hide, feeders, props etc. You may want birds to be backlit, or in full sun or lit from the side, all of which will vary with the time of day. Think of backgrounds  Just as feeders may look ‘ugly’ in bird photographs, so other things…

Most trail cams also take video, and some have a night-vision capability. They are generally triggered by movement, although some can also be set up to take photos or videos at timed intervals, or to take time lapse photos. So what should you be looking for if you’re buying one? Well, bear in mind: Image quality The resolution of the pictures taken is measured in megapixels (MP). In general, the more MP, the better the picture will be. You’ll need higher resolution for night-time images, but anything over 3MP should be fine for most needs. Trigger This is the time in which the camera detects movement and captures a picture. Basically, the quicker, the better. Battery The more features your camera has, the quicker it will drain its battery or…