Indholdsfortegnelse for January 2018 i Bird Watching

If you’re reading this while relaxing in the satisfaction of having completed our #My200BirdYear challenge, well done! But don’t overdo the celebrations – we would love you to do it all again (if you want!). Starting on page 20, we’ve got tips and advice on how to see more birds than ever, including elusive migrants like the Dotterel above, one of my ‘bogey’ species. But there’s no better place to start than with our cover star, the Hawfinch. This winter’s invasion of these beauties means you should be able to catch up with one early in the New Year, and on page 34, Dominic Couzens explains how there’s much more to them than meets the eye. And that’s what we’d like #My200BirdYear 2018 to do – if by the end…

This month we celebrate the reprieve of the Lesser Redpoll. Early last year the recognised ‘authority’ on what birders ‘can tick’, the British Ornithologists’ Union (BOU), announced that from the start of 2018 it would be adopting the taxonomy of birds followed by the International Ornithological Congress (IOC). In essence, this would be an exercise in splitting and lumping, leading to minor tweaks in the British List here and there. This would bring ‘armchair ticks’, as birds such as the Bean Goose were ‘split’ into more than one species (Taiga Bean Goose and Tundra Bean Goose). But, this would be countered by the ‘lumping’ of others, such as the Whimbrel and the (rare in the UK) Hudsonian Whimbrel. One species group which, potentially, was due for lumping was the redpoll…

Find the location closest to your destination and add or subtract the hours and minutes from the high tide time at London Bridge, below. SOUTH WEST Weston-Super-Mare (+5:05) Barnstaple (+4:30) Newquay (+3:32) Falmouth (+3:30) Plymouth (+4:05) Torquay (+4:40) Bournemouth (-5:09)* Portland (+4:57) St Peter Port (+4:53) Swanage (-5:19)* Portsmouth (-2:29) Southampton (-2:53) SOUTH EAST Ryde (-2:29) Brighton (-2:51) Eastbourne (-2:48) Dungeness(-3:05) Dover (-2:53) Margate (-1:52) Herne Bay (-1:24) Southend-on-sea (-1:22) Clacton-on-sea (-2:00) EAST ANGLIA FelixstowePier (-2:23) Aldeburgh (-2:53) Lowestoft (-4:23) Cromer (+4:56) Hunstanton (+4:44) WALES Colwyn Bay (-2:47) Holyhead (-3:28) Barmouth (-5:45) Aberystwyth (-6:11) Fishguard (+5:44) Swansea (+4:42) Milford Haven (+4:37) Cardiff (+5:15) NORTH WEST Whitehaven (-2:30) Douglas(-2:44) Morecambe (-2:33) Blackpool (-2:50) NORTH EAST Skegness(+4:29) Grimsby (+4:13) Bridlington (+2:58) Whitby (+2:20) Hartlepool (+1:59) Blyth (+1:46) Berwick (+0:54) SCOTLAND Leith (+0:58)…

Blue Sky Wildlife, an online collection of unique birdwatching and wildlife tours from around the world, launched less than two years ago, has won the TravelMole Best Responsible Travel Site for 2017. Blue Sky Wildlife is the digital wildlife trading name of BluSky Marketing, which has been heavily involved in Birdfair since 2009, having supported more than 100 exhibitors. It was that which provided the inspiration for Chris Larsen to launch Blue Sky Wildlife with Richard Goodchild (a digital consultant) in collaboration with Birdfair co-founder Tim Appleton. “Blue Sky Wildlife is one of the only responsible tourism websites in the world dedicated to ecotourism and wildlife tours, with conservation a key focus. This is vital to how we present more than 75 wildlife tour operators and companies to a global…

Last January, we invited you to sign up for the very first #My200BirdYear challenge. The idea is simple – see at least 200 bird species during the course of the year, whether on your own patch, your county, in the UK, or wherever the fancy takes you. You responded brilliantly, with nearly a thousand of you signing up (as we go to press in early December), and hundreds completing the challenge (also as we go to press – plenty of you are using the last weeks of the year wisely, mopping up a few extra species to get you over the line). Whether you took part in 2017 or not, we’d like to invite you to sign up for 2018. The rules, as we’ve said, are down to you. We’re…

Loch Druidibeg was originally established in 1958 to protect Greylag Geese, which, at that time, were rare breeding birds in the Hebrides. Since then, due to protection and farming, the geese have expanded their population and the designation of a National Nature Reserve was dropped. The area has a mixture of habitats, from alkaline machair grassland through oligotrophic loch to acidic moorland. This walk takes you around the moorland, lochs and back via the richer agricultural land by the main road. What you see will be very much dependent on the season in which you visit. The area is well known for breeding Hen Harrier, Merlin and Short-eared Owl. When I visited, we found a roost site for Short-eared Owl, containing in excess of 50 pellets, mainly of voles. Golden…

The north Norfolk coast has so many birding riches that you can stop pretty much anywhere and be relatively certain of finding something of interest, but Holkham has long been one of the jewels in its crown. The reserve offers something for all birders. You can make a relatively short visit yet still see a huge number of wildfowl, by simply viewing from Lady Anne’s Drive – on a winter’s day, Marsh Harriers are likely to be visible hunting in the distance, while Barn Owls can come in very close, so engrossed in their hunting that they don’t seem to notice that you’re there. Best of all though, are the Pink-footed Geese. Towards sunset, they start to arrive from feeding sites inland, with great skeins flying out of the sunset…

Few birding walks traverse such magnificent surroundings as Woburn Park, complete with its famous stately home, the ancestral seat of the Dukes of Bedford since 1547. The abbey is set within 3,000 acres of the Lower Greensand Ridge complete with open deer pasture, ancient parkland oaks, and mixed woodlands. There are many ponds and large tree-fringed lakes throughout the walk, the best being at Drakelow and Basin Ponds and Eversholt Lake, any of which could yield wintering Goosander or resident Mandarin. Lakeside Alders and birch can attract small flocks of redpolls and Siskins among the more numerous Goldfinches. All three species of woodpeckers are present in the park, including (of course) the elusive Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, which is easiest to locate in late winter when it begins ‘drumming’. Historically the…

The Swale NNR is situated at the eastern end of the Isle of Sheppey in one of the finest winter birding areas in southern England. Raised bunds and three hides afford good viewing across the marshes, where small hillocks are relics of past salt workings. Arable land around Muswell Manor to the north gives the chance of finding the declining Grey Partridge and Corn Bunting, while Snow Bunting, Shore Lark and even Richard’s Pipit have been noted in recent winters along the shoreline. Combine all this with the tidal Swale channel to the south and the North Sea and you have the recipe for a bird-rich winter walk. The open vistas are attractive to a wide range of grassland birds such as Lapwing, Golden Plover, Curlew, Sky Lark and Meadow…

Can you name this corvid please Q I recently photographed the corvid in the attached photo flying over Mayday Farm in Suffolk. When I took the picture I thought it was just a Carrion Crow, but after looking at it more closely on the computer, the tail looks more like a Raven. Could you please let me know what you think? Richard West, Brandon, Suffolk. A We would tend to agree with you, Richard, this bird does look to be a Raven. The tail is long and wedge-shaped (Carrion Crows’ tails are shorter and square); the neck is long and thick (giving a ‘cross-shaped’ flight profile) and the bill is thick and heavy, and even shows a hint of feathering on the upper side. Finally, the wings look long and…

A HISTORY OF BIRDS Simon Wells, White Owl, £16.99 Writing a history of birds may sound like a pretty ambitious enterprise, but Simon Wills does an excellent job of making it readable and entertaining, as well as educational. Rather than attempting to be absolutely comprehensive in covering millions of years of evolution, or getting bogged down in taxonomy, he tackles the subject species by species (or sometimes by wider family groups), bringing folklore and cultural representations of birds into the mix as well as actual history, and keeping the tone fairly light. Illustrated with plenty of good colour photos taken by the author, its the sort of book that you'll dip into again and again, and it'll have you trotting out all sorts of amazing facts and trivia to your…

What first sparked your interest in birdwatching, and when? As a small boy, hearing a Tawny Owl hooting when returning home one Christmas night from a family party, and very soon afterwards being given the Observer’s Book of British Birds. Who was your birdwatching inspiration or mentor? My English teacher often brought natural history into our lessons; I remember writing an essay about bird migration. He encouraged me to join the local naturalists and on one field meeting loaned me his binoculars (I hadn’t a pair of my own) to watch a Peregrine. What a moment! Do you bird alone or with a friend? Usually alone or with our youngest grandson. Your dream bird to see? Bar-headed Geese flying high on migration through the Himalayas. Your favourite birding spot? Elegug…

Dominic Couzens is a well-known author of birding-related books. He takes a look at the awe-inspiring Hawfinch on page 34 Writer and bird guide Ian Parsons reveals why we shouldn’t take the House Sparrow, one of our most common birds, for granted. Page 44 Bird record holder, and latest BW contributor, Ruth Miller, reveals her love of watching geese on the move on the north Norfolk coast. Page 50 Tour leader and author Neil Glenn reveals the birding delights you can expect on exotic trips to Peru and Uganda. Pages 74 and 78…

MAMMAL VOLE VILLAIN American Mink are justly reviled across the British Isles and infamous for their predation of Water Voles. As its name suggests, this is a non-native species – and one that initially escaped from fur farms in the mid-20th Century. Clearly, this is one species that you should be rather happy not to encounter (for it suggests that control methods are working). But should you wish to see one, January is a decent month to try, as waterside vegetation is limited, so Mink find it harder to hide. JANUARY SEVERAL SPECIES OF BUTTERFLY, SUCH AS SMALL TORTOISESHELL, HIBERNATE AS ADULTS – BUT WINTER SUN MAY PROMPT THEM INTO WAKEFULNESS. THEY ARE OFTEN IN POOR NICK! MAMMAL WATERWORLD  Non-native deer tend not to receive a favourable press, their browsing…

The RSPB’s Project Puffin has started to solve the mystery of why some Puffin colonies in the UK are in dramatic decline, after scientists analysed more than 1,400 photos sent in by the public. Some estimates say that without help, more than half the global Puffin population will disappear within the next 40 years. Last summer, RSPB scientists asked the public to help build up a snapshot of what Puffins are feeding their young, at as many colonies as possible. With the aid of these ‘Puffarazzi’, 1,402 photos of Puffins bringing food to their chicks were collected. These have helped identify areas where Puffins are struggling to find the large, nutritious fish needed to support their chicks. Early results suggest that the diet of Puffins vary significantly around the UK…

NEW FINCH SPECIES Finches on the Galápagos Islands have been discovered in the process of becoming a new species. Researchers followed the entire population of finches on a tiny Galápagos island called Daphne Major for many years, and noticed a newly-arrived male Cactus Finch mating with one of the local Medium Ground Finches, producing fertile young. Almost 40 years later, the progeny of that original mating are effectively a new species. The new finches on Daphne Major are larger than other species on the island, and have taken hold of new and unexploited food sources. MISSING HARRIER APPEAL Police and the RSPB are appealing for information following the disappearance of a satellite-tagged Hen Harrier near Carlisle. The harrier, named Manu, was one of a nest of two chicks monitored and…

The Northumberland coast is becoming a year-round destination for birdwatchers, offering so much, including amazing history with its castles, and islands full of birds. Holy Island’s causeway means you may have to wait for the tide to drop, wondering what you might find once you can get across, so The Snook offers a great place to wait. A quick look at the Hawthorn bushes by the small car park before you cross may give you an idea if there is a fall of birds on the island. I once had a Pallas’s Warbler here, but even lots of Goldcrests can suggest that things are going to be interesting. The causeway itself is a year-round location for waders, with channels left by the falling tide offering species including Redshank, Curlew, Bar-tailed…

This is an interesting reserve in an area known as the Oswestry Uplands, an area of Carboniferous Limestone in lovely, unspoilt countryside. The views are remarkable, too, especially when you see a Goshawk. The diversity of habitat helps to give a good range of birds, from quite a number of Pheasants to a Red Kite in the sky above. Streams through and in the area attract Dipper and the woodlands have all three woodpeckers plus Pied Flycatcher in summer. Because of the lime-rich soils here trees and shrubs differ a little from other areas, so Ash, Aspen, Hornbeam and the Wild Service Tree are here, together with the Catty-Tree (the local name for the Common Spindle Tree). There is quite a range of other flora and plants, with the Stinking…

This is a very interesting area, with woodland, lakes and open areas, plus hills that are easy to access if you have the time and the energy. The walk I’ve suggested covers about three miles and, because of the lakes, you will need your bins to get the best from it, but there is also Red Kite, Buzzard and Raven high in the sky to focus on. Shobdon was a Domesday village called Scepedune, and later was a safe overnight stop for drovers from Wales taking their stock to Leominster for sale. With hills on one side and marshland and a river on the other, they probably felt that it was an ideal spot, but I don’t suppose they realised at the time what a good birdwatching area it would…

Happy New Year. The festive season is just about complete, play-time is over, and now is the time to knuckle down to the serious business of getting on with 2018’s #My200BirdYear. A group of birds which is best to start early with are the birds of prey. Once you tot up all the hawks, kites, eagles, harriers and falcons, there are several species in this group that should make it to your year list at some stage. But, this is winter, so don’t expect summer visitors such as Hobby or Osprey. And, of course, we haven’t put this sort of bird in this quiz (or have we?). As per usual, all you have to do is put a name to each of these six regular British birds of prey. Once…

I enjoyed the article on Magpies. When we used to keep chickens, at least two generations of Magpies learnt to sit on a tree branch just above the henhouse and wait for the hens to come out after giving their particular “I’ve-just-laid-anegg” ‘cluck’, then they would go straight in after the eggs. They ignored any other comings and goings in and out of the henhouse, and any other type of ‘cluck’. Clever!…

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Matt: In the UK, Red-backed Shrike. I scan horse paddocks and scrubby fields for them constantly. Mike W: The bird I yearn to see more than any other in the world is the mighty Blakiston’s Fish Owl. Mark: I would really love to see a Waxwing in Peterborough, perhaps even very close to home. SIGN UP FOR OUR 200 BIRD CHALLENGE! BIRDWATCHING.CO.UK/MY200 Get in touch with Bird Watching birdwatching@bauermedia.co.uk Bird Watching, Media House, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA facebook.com/BirdWatchingMag twitter.com/BirdWatchingMag…

NORTHERN HARRIER The North American equivalent of the Hen Harrier, this is a very similar species. With ringtails, apart from the orange underparts, concentrate on the head pattern (especially the dark head of Northern). Males are ‘easier’ as they have a distinctive patterned underside. AMERICAN COOT First appearing in 1996 (at Stodmarsh, Kent), American Coots are still pretty rare, with only 11 accepted records. But with some long-staying birds, records have become more regular in recent years. Check Coots carefully for white in the tail and dark on the bill. BRÜNNICH’S GUILLEMOT A rare northern auk, Brünnich’s Guillemot is like a thicker billed, darker version of the Guillemot. Usually requires a close, inshore view to confirm identification. Mid-winter is the best time to find one. HOW DID WE GET ON?…

“Surely, it is not beyond the brains of the BTO to produce a redesigned, high contrast, readable ring” Every day, as I am sure I have mentioned before, I cycle to work through Ferry Meadows CP, which is only a mile away from the BW office in Peterborough. And, of course, every day I do a bit of birding along the way, particularly scanning the three lakes which sit in a meander of the River Nene, and have a habit of drawing down birds which use the river as a migration route and want to ‘cut the corner’. One place I always check is the little T-shaped pontoon bridge outside the watersports centre on the largest lake, Gunwade. Gulls (and the odd tern) use it for a rest and a…

The distribution, numbers and behaviour of birds in the UK are changing because of a changing climate, according to a new report. The State of the UK’s Birds 2017 (SUKB) this year highlights how many of the UK’s species are already being affected by climate change, responding to UK average summer temperatures having increased by nearly a degree Celsius since the 1980s. It highlights how species’ distributions are moving northwards, meaning many of our rarer breeding birds are at a high risk of extinction in the UK. For the likes of Dotterel, Whimbrel, Common Scoter and Slavonian Grebe, population declines have already been considerable. On the other hand, species that currently only have a toe-hold in the UK could have opportunities for colonisation and range expansion. Some with southerly distributions…

“So, why are 51 magnificently mature trees being replaced by 64 saplings? It’s not that they are dangerous, but that they might become so” Who could resist running one’s hand along the skin-smooth bark of a Beech tree or hugging a Hornbeam? Can anyone doubt the primal pleasure of hearing the wind ruffling the leaves of a poplar or knowing of the reassuring longevity of a craggy old oak? Well, the answer turns out to be the municipal muggers who are more concerned by possible litigation than certain deforestation. In a week where I received an invitation from the London Borough of Waltham Forest to the opening of their new nature reserve, I also read about the utter foolishness of another London borough. It seems Wandsworth council have plans to…

Sanderling Very white looking Very active In small flocks at the tide line The whitest of our small coastal waders and certainly the most active. They are often described as looking like clockwork toys, although they never seem to unwind very quickly. A bird of muddy or sandy beaches that gathers in small flocks at the tide line. Smaller than the Knot, they are still plump and short-billed but their legs are black and proportionately longer, turning to a blur when they run about, making it impossible to see the trademark lack of hind toe that separates them from all other Calidris waders. They feed by sight, chasing morsels that the last wave has stranded on the sand, but they will probe when away from the…

This wonderful collection brings together three superb volumes featuring our favourite birds. Each programme offers expert advice and top tips on identification, behaviour and more as you enjoy an amazing insight into the world of birds and how they live. From town to woodland, field to wetland and mountain to coast, this is a fascinating study, featuring best-known birds including Starling, Nightingale, Barn Owl, Kingfisher, Curlew, Puffin and more. and more, accompanied by beautiful footage of these much-loved birds. Includes Song Thrush, Starling, Robin, Blue Tit, Goldfinch, Nightingale, Green Woodpecker, Goldcrest, Buzzard and Long-eared Owl. Volume two focuses on two habitats - fields and farmland and lakes, rivers and wetlands. The programme covers identification, behaviour and more, accompanied by beautiful footage of these much-loved birds. Includes Barn Owl, Lapwing, Magpie,…

1 Blackwater Arboretum, Hampshire Good numbers have roosted in the ornamental conifers, here, but you need to try to see them before they disappear into cover – watch the treetops at dawn and dusk. 2 Dolgellau, Gwynedd The woodlands around this North Wales town may host as many as 50 breeding pairs of Hawfinches – other populations are in the Conwy Valley and the Vale of Clwyd. 3 Bedgebury Pinetum, Kent The diversity of tree types and other vegetation makes this a good all-round birdwatching site, but Hawfinches are the star attraction. 4 Lynford Arboretum, Thetford The Breckland is a good area for Hawfinches, and this is an extremely good spot, thanks again to the variety of trees to be found here. 5 Brierley, Gloucestershire The Forest of Dean is…

MORE SITES For a full list of the sites we’ve featured, go to birdwatching.co.uk/gbindex 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…

What an amazing reserve this is. In its previous life, the reeds were corn stalks, as the place was drained by a coal-powered pump, but the lack of coal in the war years meant the place flooded and the local estate saw a rise in wildfowl using the site and kept the area for shooting. The reedbed grew and the reserve was created to guard the Bittern population. I worked here for 18 months from 1976, under John Wilson, the first warden for the RSPB. I managed to catch a Bittern with my bare hands and rush it to John for his approval! Much has changed since then. Bearded Tits first nested in reeds owned by the railway, and Marsh Harriers have arrived and now even winter here. Mallard used…

A steep climb but worth every breath for the lovely views both east and west along the Tywi Valley. From here you can look down on circling Buzzards and Red Kites, and feel, at least for a moment or two, that you share the air space with tumbling Ravens. Even in its ruinous state, much having long since been removed, Dryslwyn Castle is a formidable structure, one of the most important to be built by a Welsh chieftain and long associated with the princes of Deheubarth (a kingdom in southwest Wales) and the great Lord Rhys who died in 1197. His sons fought over their inheritance and eventually it fell to the English crown in 1287. The Afon Tywi sweeps past the foot of this isolated castle hill, a journey…

Snow Buntings by Trevor Bird Camera: Canon EOS 1D X Lens: 600mm Shutter Speed: 1/2,500 Aperture: f/7.1 ISO: 2,500 Moorhen by Kev Bowers Camera: Nikon D7200 Lens: 150-600mm Shutter Speed: 1/2,000 Aperture: f/6.3 ISO: 400 Bar-tailed Godwit by Paul Ward Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II Lens: 500mm Shutter Speed: 1/2,050 Aperture: f/4 ISO: 160 Stonechat by Peter Sharpe Camera: Nikon D500 Lens: 400mm Shutter Speed: 1/1,250 Aperture: f/6.3 ISO: 3,200 Grey Phalarope by Jim Hutchins Camera: Canon EOS 1D X Lens: 800mm Shutter Speed: 1/500 Aperture: f/9 ISO: 250 SEND US YOUR BEST PHOTOS Send us your best birding snaps to birdwatching@bauermedia.co.uk every month to be in with a chance of seeing your photo in print. All images should be high resolution (300dpi). Get in touch with Bird Watching…