Indice dei contenuti per February 2020 in Bird Watching

Tour guide/writer Ian Parsons: Oystercatcher, it looks brilliant with that orange bill contrasting with the black-and-white plumage Conservationist Alex White: Lapwing. Occasionally, I see chicks fledge on local farmland. I love listening to their call Bird author Dominic Couzens: Golden Plover. Just for the sheer melancholy beauty of its crystal-clear flight song Tour guide Ruth Miller: Snipe. I love its intricate cryptic plumage which always gives me a thrill when I pick one out Urban Birder David Lindo: Wood Sandpiper, impressive with an unobtrusive yet very distinctive plumage…

RARITY RATINGS Common, widely distributed Localised – always a treat Very scarce or rare 1 WAXWING Yes, the Robin was voted as Britain’s favourite bird in David Lindo’s poll a few years ago. But that was possibly because the voting public are not aware of, or perhaps forget such wonders of nature as, the Black Grouse, the Black-throated Diver, the Bearded Tit and the wonderful, gorgeous, and frankly, extremely desirable Waxwing. No, they are not as common as Robins, and can even be quite rare (depending on which side of the country you live), but Waxwings are the sort of bird which turn the heads even of ‘members of the public’ who never look at a bird from one year to the next. Crested, soft-plumaged, beautifully marked, and producing a…

New Year’s Day ‘bird races’, or ‘big days’ or ‘dashes’ are challenging, especially compared with the spring equivalents. For one thing, the date is fixed in stone, there are no second chances. Plus, the weather is often appalling. Compared with May, there is hardly any daylight. And also compared with May, there are hardly any birds, with not a hint of the spring passage which brings those lovely summer migrants! So, in landlocked places like the Peterborough Bird Club recording area, New Year can be very tough. Every year, we dream of reaching 100 species, and every year the elements and the birds align to deliver somewhere between 85 and (exceptionally) the late 90s. On 1 January 2020, I was accompanied by my friend Hugh Wright, who, 20-odd years my…

RSPB’s cash boost The RSPB has received a £2,850.84 donation from the Society of International Nature and Wildlife Photographers (SINWP) Bird Photographer of the Year 2019 Competition. Well over 2,000 images were entered into the competition and from the minimum £1 per image donation, the competition raised £2,850.84. Colin Jones, The Societies’ Company Director said: “I am thrilled to present the RSPB with this donation. The competition was a huge success and we would like to thank all the entrants for participating and donating towards this fantastic cause.” View the winners here: sinwp.com/bird/2019-1st.htm Northants report The latest Northamptonshire Bird Report, covering 2018, has been published, 50 years after the first one. It is a special edition with some extra features and more photos. They are available for £9 from Oundle…

There can’t be many of us for whom a new year doesn’t bring a fresh surge of enthusiasm for birdwatching, a new impetus to get out there and see more birds, and see them better. That might be because you’re a lister, and can’t wait to see if you can beat your past records for species seen on your local patch, or throughout your county or bird club area, or maybe across the whole UK and beyond. But it might just be that you want to fit more birding into your busy life. Perhaps you’re a relative newcomer to the hobby, or maybe you’ve rediscovered it after years away. Whatever the case is with you, #My200BirdYear is the perfect way to channel your energy. Add your own twist It’s very…

I actually can’t remember much about it, but my old pre-school teacher regularly reminds me that, as a three- or four-year-old, I would spend most of my hours standing at the window watching the birds outside on the tress, and continually asking what they were called. By the time I left for primary school I probably knew more bird names than letters of the alphabet. This experience, together with my mum taking me Badger-watching and a very enthusiastic teacher at primary school, is what kick-started and encouraged what I hope to be a lifelong interest in not only birds but all wildlife and nature. I’m not particularly well known in the wildlife community for birdwatching. My interest encompasses all species, from butterflies and beetles, to birds and Badgers, basically whatever…

Much bird identification is done on ‘jizz’, looking at the overall impression a bird gives, its subtlety of movement, tail flick or wing-beat, or flight style. At other times, feather detail and key characteristics are necessary. Many of us know many things about bird ID, but if you were asked to draw the head of a Blue Tit, could you get the pattern right? How about the wing-pattern of a Chaffinch? Here are a bunch of photographs showing a diverse range of birds. All they have in common is that we have zoomed in a bit to show not the whole bird, but a key part of it. All are regular British birds and all you have to do is put a name to each. Then turn the page, to…

My Wren visit I enjoyed the article by Ian Parsons about the Wren in his kitchen and it reminded me of a similar situation I experienced in October 2010. I was observing from a hide at Langford Lakes, Wiltshire, when I heard a fluttering noise. As I looked towards the source of the sound, I saw a Wren, which had entered through a knot hole in the structure. It flew around for a few moments and then settled on a window sill. I approached it, expecting it to take to the air, but it sat quite still, whereupon I placed my finger against its breast and Moroccan it duly climbed on to it; it Marsh even Owl allowed me to gently stroke it. I thought that this deserved a photograph…

This five-day break is held in partnership with Bird Watching and includes: ● Five nights’ dinner, bed and breakfast ● En suite rooms are equipped with hairdryer, tea and coffee-making facilities, TV and toiletries ● Gala dinner ● Programme of evening talks and quizzes by Bird Watching’s Matt Merritt, Mike Weedon and Gordon Hamlett ● Guided walks ● Films and entertainment ● No single supplement Leaders: Matt Merritt, Mike Weedon and Gordon Hamlett Please note: a car is essential on this break. Cost: Bird Watching subscribers ● Standard Room £361 dinner bed and breakfast, per person, Superior Room £461 DBB, pp ● Bird Watching non-subscribers Standard Room £379 DBB pp, Superior Room £484 DBB pp ● Extra nights: BW subscribers £80pp per night DBB standard room, £99 superior; non-subscribers £83pp…

AMERICAN ROBIN This much-loved bird is deemed as a national treasure by American birders and non-birders alike. There are many that will not accept that the object of their adoration is actually a member of thrush family Turdidae and not an actual type of Robin. Being migratory, in parts of its extensive North American range, it is hailed with equal reverence as a harbinger of spring and winter, depending on where you live. And as a highly migratory bird it is also inevitable that some get blown off course to show up in the UK. So it is well worth keeping an eye out for a strange red-bellied thrush visiting your garden! Fascinatingly, a recent study of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene indicates that this species is not part of…

STEPHEN MOSS Tour leader Stephen is one of Britain’s best-known naturalists, authors and wildlife TV producers. His TV credits include Springwatch and Birds Britannia, while his many books include The Robin: A Biography. Stephen moved to Somerset 12 years ago with his family, and loves showing people the bird and wildlife wonders of his adopted home. GRAEME & KAY MITCHELL ran a holiday company for 25 years. Having settled with their family in Somerset two decades ago, they founded Somerset Birdwatching Holidays in 2017. Graeme’s guiding skills and Kay’s wonderful cooking make them the perfect hosts for your stay.…

No matter how long you’ve been birdwatching, it’s a fair bet that you spend a lot of time watching the birds in your own garden. And if you don’t, why not? There’s no better way to get used to commoner birds, and to observe their behaviour, than at the feeders. If you’re like me, you’ve probably also spent a long time trying to photograph your garden visitors. But, unless you’re lucky enough to have a shed or summer house that doubles as a good hide, plus co-operatively quiet and indoor-loving children and dogs, it can be a lot harder than you might think. So, Bresser’s SFC-1 camera might be just what you need. It’s basically a trail camera. which takes photos and videos both day and night of whatever moves…

WILD PLACES UK – THE UK’S TOP 40 NATURE SITES IOLO WILLIAMS, SERIN, £19.99 This is a follow-up to Iolo’s last book - Wild Places: Wales' Top 40 Nature Sites – where he covered some of the top Welsh places in which to see wildlife. So, don’t worry, the new book is not 39 sites in Wales and one in Scotland (he is passionate about his home nation). The map shows a wide distribution around the UK and yes, before you ask, there are a few in Wales! As Iolo says in his introduction, it is hard to pick 40 sites out of hundreds that could be covered, and some you may not agree with, as we all have our own favourites. The book starts in the north, with Shetland,…

TENGMALM’S OWL In 2019, there was the weird ‘outhouse’ Tengmalm’s Owl, on Orkney, followed by the lingering garden bird on Mainland, Shetland (which later was seen on Unst). What chance a repeat performance this month? MYRTLE WARBLER An impressive dozen or so of the 40-odd British Myrtle Warbler records (it is a North American ‘warbler’) have been during this decade. Of course most are in the autumn, but as testified by the Durham bird, found during the Big Garden Birdwatch in 2014, they can turn up in late winter. ORIENTAL TURTLE DOVE There have only been about 25 accepted UK Oriental Turtle Doves, and they are another bird which is capable of appearing in winter (and surviving modern mild UK winters!). Any turtle dove at this time of year is…

Most birdwatchers will be familiar with the Waxwing – it’s a bird that is a real winter treat, a beautiful splash of colour on those short, dark days. But how familiar are we, really, with this bird? We only see a snapshot of their lives, their behaviour and their ecology, but because that snapshot is familiar to us, we tend to think that it is the rule for the species in general. The camera never lies, but snapshots can be misleading. Here are a couple of examples of what I mean. We only see one species of Cuckoo in this country (other than vagrants of course), a snapshot, if you like, of the 150 or so cuckoo species in the world. We look at this snapshot and we take from…

The county of Hampshire is celebrated for its diverse habitats, which include the New Forest – a fabulous mix of forest and heaths – along with extensive chalk downland and diverse coastal areas. Unsurprisingly, this environmental variety, combined with its geographical location in central southern England, mean the county’s annual species list is impressive. Hampshire also happens to be home to the team behind Bird Photographer of the Year. Inspired by BW’s ‘My 200 Bird Year’, they are embarking on a sponsored challenge of their own for 2020. The Hampshire 150 Challenge, supported in part by Bird Watching magazine, but also by you, the readers, will raise funds for the BPOTY Conservation Fund; at the end of the challenge, the money raised will be used to help chosen bird-related conservation…

Alex believes that a lifetime of caring for the environment can start close to home with fantastic experiences. Along with a host of well-known contributors, he reveals the simple and low-cost ways that people can enjoy nature in his book, Get your Boots On. Together, they share their passion, reveal what got them into wildlife in the first place and show how to get closer to it. The book also offers indispensable advice for those who would like to get more involved, or even build a career out of their passion for wildlife. Illustrated throughout by Alex’s wonderful photographs, this book will appeal to young and old alike. It suggests: when and where to get out there; what to go looking for; how to do it; what to take… and…

It was the year after the Battle of Agincourt. England was on the up, having conquered large swathes of France. The Welsh Rebellion had been put to bed, while relations with the Scottish King James I were remarkably cordial. The great warrior King Henry V was a national English hero. Even the terror of the plague had receded once more. It was a propitious moment. This was the year that White Storks bred successfully in Britain for the first, and so far, only recorded time, 1416. A pair built a nest atop St Giles Church (now Cathedral) in Edinburgh and apparently hatched a chick. There is little doubt that White Storks had nested before on our islands, not just in prehistoric times, but also more recently. The village of Storrington,…

In response to your invitation in Bird Watching January 2020 ‘Start Close to Home’, this is some of my experience. In 2018, I had occasional visits from both male and female Great Spotted Woodpeckers. I decided to encourage them by drilling holes in the post from which my feeders hang and filling them with a peanut butter mixture for birds from my local hardware store. This proved to be very popular with all bird species (and squirrels) but especially the woodpeckers. In 2019, there were regular visits by two juveniles as well as (presumably) the parent birds. Attached is a triptych of some of the many photographs I took throughout the year showing the adult male and female as well as one of the juveniles. I’m hoping for a repeat…

Brazil’s south-western Amazon region remains little explored by birders. The area is vast and much of it remains inaccessible, but the BR-364 highway, constructed along its western edge skirting the borders with Bolivia and Peru from the 1960s-1980s, has opened up part of it: the state of Rondonia along the border with Bolivia and the state of Acre further to the north-west. The road has brought massive deforestation, particularly in Rondonia, where the coming of small-holders, loggers and ranchers means the jungle only remains in protected areas; but the state of Acre still retains 80% of its forest cover. However, given the current political situation in Brazil, Acre’s forest is threatened. Brazil’s president Bolsonaro intends to open up the Brazilian Amazon as much as possible to agriculture. Acre state is…

This month – Black-tailed Godwit Black-tailed Godwit flocks often engage in what looks like formation flying. And when banking and turning they often stay in pretty much the same plane of focus; this aids photography because, with a limited depth of field in play, this improves the odds of getting most birds in focus. When photographing the spectacle of numbers rather than an individual bird, a medium-length lens works best – perhaps a 300mm lens, with an aperture of f/8 or f/11 and a shutter speed of at least 1/2,500s. Arguably the most pleasing shots of birds are ones taken at eye-level with the subject, and with feeding Black-tailed Godwits, that means water level. This poses a bit of a challenge, given that they often feed knee-deep in gooey mud.…

CRAGHOPPERS MEN’S BISHORN JACKET, £200 This Arctic-style winter coat is waterproof and breathable, and has hollowfibre insulation and a warmth rating of 3 (whatever that means). Craghoppers say it is “an effective response to cold weather conditions”. Thankfully, the fur trim on the wired-peak hood is fake, but the 15 pockets including the bellowed lower ones with side hand-warmers and the touch-screen mobile phone pocket, are all real. 1,645g. S-XXL, in woodland green, dark navy, black pepper or aster red. Guaranteed for life. craghoppers.com TILLEY SLOUCH REVERSIBLE BEANIE, £40 Something different for your head from the Canadian hat-meister. This Tilley does not have a brim, but it is reversible – so if your mood changes, or you want to confuse the people you’re birding with, you can change…

What first sparked your interest in birdwatching, and when? My parents were keen birdwatchers and moved to Devon when I was a child in the 1970s – their interest ignited an interest in me. They bought me a pair of Carl Zeiss binoculars when I was 10 – I still have them. A superb present. Who was your birdwatching inspiration or mentor? My stepfather – he was, and still is, a knowledgeable birder, and is involved with the BTO. He opened my eyes to what was out there. Do you bird alone or with a friend? With my husband and we both volunteer at Bowling Green Marsh, our favourite RSPB reserve on the Exe Estuary, in Devon. It’s encouraging to meet so many keen, conservation-minded, kindred spirits there. Your dream…

With vegetation at its most minimalist this month, you may find your eyes readily wandering to lichen, such as this Xanthoria parietina, whose common names include the delightful Maritime Sunburst Lichen. MOTH Insulted moth The oak-loving Clouded Drab should be on the wing towards the month end. Variable in colour and pattern, these moths look less boring than their somewhat dismissive name suggests. Nevertheless, it is fair to say that late-winter moth traps do not harbour anything like the eye candy of spring and summer... MAMMAL Ratty’s back The year’s first attempts at sunny days often coax Water Voles out from their burrows. This rodent is active year round, but tends to remain tucked up underground for much of the winter. This species’ decline is well known – we may…

Extinction Rebellion, what’s it all about? Should we be supporting it or stopping their disruption and hippy naivety? Are they heroes or are they just uncooperative crusties and protesters of all kinds littering the road, as Boris Johnson says? Let’s see what they say… We are facing an unprecedented global emergency. Life on Earth is in crisis: scientists agree we have entered a period of abrupt climate breakdown, and we are in the midst of a mass extinction of our own making. Does anyone seriously doubt they are wrong about that? In their own words Extinction Rebellion is an international movement that uses non-violent civil disobedience in an attempt to halt mass extinction and minimise the risk of social collapse. Disruptive drones at airports apart, so far nothing they have…

“Let it not suffice us to be Booklearn’d, to read what others have written, and to take upon Trust more Falsehood than Truth; but let us ourselves examine Things as we have Opportunity, and converse with Nature as well as Books.” John Ray, The Wisdom of God Manifested in the Works of the Creation, 1691 I have always lived among the ghosts of naturalists. Several years ago, my wife and I were living in the Welsh village of Llanbadoc, just outside the town of Usk in Monmouthshire. Less than a mile from us stood the cottage where Alfred Russell Wallace was born in 1823. Similarly, my home village of Castle Hedingham in Essex contains the birthplace of Mark Catesby. Friends of ours owned the house, where we spent many an…

Three woodpeckers Woodpecker identification is easy in the UK. There are only three resident species (Wrynecks are regularly seen in small numbers on passage and any other species are just about unheard of). They can, of course be separated on size alone (Lesser Spotted is sparrow-sized, Great Spotted, Starling-sized and Green, Mistle Thrush-sized). But ID can also be instant using a few aspects of detailed plumage examination. Try these: 1 Green in plumage = Green Woodpecker 2 Yellow in plumage (eg rump) = Green Woodpecker 3 Red in moustache = male Green Woodpecker 4 Any red on undertail coverts = Great Spotted Woodpecker 5 Big white shoulder patches = Great Spotted Woodpecker 6 Red patch on nape = male Great Spotted Woodpecker 7 No red anywhere in plumage = female…

If I had to pick my favourite reserve in Britain it would be, without question, Titchwell Marsh RSPB on the north Norfolk coast, because it offers some of the best possible birdwatching experiences in the country, at any time of year. It is apparently the most-visited RSPB reserve in the country, so clearly, I’m not the only one who thinks this. It’s a historical site with evidence of human occupation dating back to Palaeolithic times. In the past it has been drained for farmland and during the two World Wars it was a military training ground and part of Britain’s coastal defences. Inundated again in the 1953 North Sea Flood, the land was bought by the RSPB in 1973 and managed particularly with Bitterns, Bearded Tits, Avocets and Marsh Harriers…

Is this a hybrid? Q This odd Pintail was at Keyhaven, Hampshire. It is obviously either a hybrid or a one-off colour variant Pintail. Any ideas? Chris Robinson A Firstly, from its colourful plumage, we can comfortably assume this handsome and unusual bird is a drake. Secondly, it is surely a hybrid of two of the dabbling duck species. Thirdly, judging partly by colour, and partly by the very long tail, one of the parents appears to have been a Pintail. The other (assuming it is a first generation hybrid) seems to be most likely a Wigeon or American Wigeon, judging by the pink breast, white patch near the tail and the odd head pattern. That said, some Anas duck hybrids seem to throw up odd patterns which look more…

Cleveland is a small and friendly city with fewer than 400,000 inhabitants, situated in the north of Ohio along the shores of Lake Erie. It’s not a glitzy city, although it is home to the nationally famous Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Cleveland had a disastrous pollution record in the past, with the lowlight being when the city’s Cuyahoga River unbelievably caught alight in 1969, due to all the toxic inflammable chemicals contained within it. Thankfully, things are different today. The rivers and other waterways have been cleaned up, along with stretches of land that were hitherto chemical dumping grounds. Unfortunately, many trees have been lost in the city, and it now has a paltry 19% tree cover, despite being once nicknamed the Forest City. However, there are plans…

WINTER STARLING SPECTACULAR TOURS Choose from two dates, each with two days’ birding and two nights’ DBB – ● Fri 24 January to Sun 26 January 2020 ● Thu 6 February to Sat 8 February 2020. Price £399.00 pp Single supplement £40.00 SPRING TOURS Choose from four dates, each with two-and-a-half days’ birding and three nights’ DBB – ● Mon 20 April to Thu 23 April 2020 ● Mon 4 May to Thu 7 May 2020 ● Tue 12 May to Fri 15 May 2020 ● Tue 9 June to Fri 12 June 2020 Price £565.00 pp Single supplement £60.00 DETAILS ● All accommodation has private facilities 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…

The Black-tailed Godwit has long legs and a bill to match, and an understated elegance that makes it an ideal photographic subject. Non-breeding plumage is rather uniform, but the diagnostic combination of white wingbar and black-and-white pattern on the tail provide striking contrast. Most wintering Black-tailed Godwits in Britain come from nesting grounds in Iceland. A few dozen pairs also breed in Britain but these overwinter in Africa. In locations where they are not disturbed ‘blackwits’ (to use their nickname) can become tolerant of people. Plus, there are plenty of reserves where hides and strategic walkways provide outstanding views of these elegant birds.…