Inhoudsopgave van May 2020 - Bird Watching

1 PURPLE HERON The Purple Heron is a rare visitor to the UK, though in recent years there have been breeding attempts, and it may yet become another ‘expected’ heron colonising the wetlands of the British Isles. Purple Herons tend to be shyer and more elusive than their larger, more robust Grey cousins, often spending annoying amounts of time hidden in vegetation, stealthily hunting. Look for the long thin bill, the purple and orange tones, and the huge yellow feet, often splayed in flight. 2 WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN Another very scarce passage bird which often appears in May, the White-winged Black Tern in spring is a spectacular looking bird. Apart from the whitish upper wings, the underwings have dramatic contrast between the jet black coverts and the paler flight feathers.…

One of the most underrated joys of May nights is experiencing the ‘roding’ of Woodcocks. Roding is the term used for the distinctive breeding display flight and corresponding calls of males. Males patrol a large area of woodland and fly just above tree level at dusk and dawn and in the night, with rapid wingbeats, following great figures of eight or ovals over the territory. As they fly they alternate soft, deep croaks with very high-pitched repeated ‘kvik’ calls. Sometimes, more than one male will meet and compete in mid-air. Head out to a suitable damp wood preferably with substantial rides or clearings. And keep your eyes peeled and your ears open!…

BIRD 1 Judging by those chalky cliffs, this photo looks like it was taken at the Bird Watching favourite site of Bempton Cliffs, East Yorkshire! But this isn’t a site ID competition, let’s concentrate on the birds. There are three in this photograph; the (blurred) pure white one with black wing tips and a yellow head is an adult Gannet. But what of the penguin-like birds on the rocks? Their upright stance and black-and-white plumage suggests they are auks, and they are obviously not Puffins or Black Guillemots. Guillemots are dark brown where these are black. Also, the bill is laterally compressed, has a white line crossing it and there are white lines from the top of the bill toward the eyes. These birds are obviously adult Razorbills. Key features…

MAX MILES ON FOOT: 1 MIN TIME: 3 HOURS More than just an observatory, with mixed habitat around the area offering some great birding at all times of the year. A walk along the dunes can be uplifting; everything blends in, and wildlife flourishes along with the golfers. JOHN MILES WHERE TO WATCH 1 An area often missed out by birders, but when visiting Islay just drop down the A83 to see. Your first port of call can be the minor road to the airport, giving you views of a wetland ideal for breeding waders and grazing geese. Look for hunting Hen Harriers in winter. Use the minor road to bypass Campbeltown. 2 Another wet field is found by Drumlemble, called the Laggan, where waders and wildfowl can gather. Look…

MAX MILES ON FOOT: 5 MIN TIME: 3 HOURS This is the largest tract of woodland in Cheshire, at 2,400 acres, comprising broadleaved and coniferous woods together with boggy pools, some of which are SSSI status. The forest is notable for its rare plants and dragonflies; and boasts a healthy list of breeding birds. PETE HACKETT WHERE TO WATCH 1 From the visitor centre follow the path and take the left-hand tracks towards the masts. Here, good views over the forest can be had and onwards into seven counties; with the opportunity for visible migration during spring and autumn. Look out for raptors which may include Goshawk, particularly in early spring. 2 Check grassland for Mistle and Song Thrushes, Meadow Pipit and Green Woodpecker. During winter, there will be flocks…

MAX MILES ON FOOT: 3 MIN TIME: 2 HOURS Hemsted Forest is part of a former ancient wildwood that once stretched uninterrupted across the Weald of Kent and Sussex. Today, it is managed by the Forestry Commission. Stands of mature deciduous survive to support the declining Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Marsh Tit. Summer attracts a few pairs of Nightjar and Tree Pipit to recently felled plantations, plus scrub warblers and Nightingale. Scanning across the woodland canopy may yield scarce raptors such as Honey Buzzard and Goshawk. PAUL TRODD WHERE TO WATCH 1 Check the broadleaf trees around the car park for spotted woodpeckers, tits, Nuthatch and Treecreeper. From the elevated clearing to the south, scan above the canopy for soaring raptors such as Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Hobby, plus Jay,…

Q These two were spotted on and under the feeders in our garden in Elmley Castle, Worcestershire, in February. A Goldfinch in the foreground gives an idea of the size. We would be very interested in your thoughts as to what they might be. Carol Newman A These tiny, little, streaked birds are Lesser Redpolls, Carol. The one facing us is showing the lovely pinky-red breast of an adult male. Note his black face and small black bib, as well as the red forecrown which gives these birds their name. Lesser Redpolls are smaller and browner (with buffer tones, for instance in the wing-bar) than the scarcer Mealy (aka Common) Redpoll, which is often very frosty looking.…

This is an exciting and rewarding return to the outdoors for those of you who have missed Scotland’s wide-open spaces and wonderful wildlife. We celebrate by seeking the special resident species, and also visit the east, west and northern coasts, where winter birds are gathering in good numbers, guaranteeing absorbing birding as we maximise our list during a busy period in the Scottish birding calendar. This exciting holiday is ideal for general birders who want to see Scotland’s birds in autumn, as well as those who like to keep lists. Our main priority will be specialities best sought in the Highlands: Capercaillie, Ptarmigan, Black Grouse, Golden Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, Scottish Crossbill and Crested Tit. We also seek a host of northern winter visitors and spend time concentrating on any available…

RED SIXTY SEVEN CURATED BY KIT JEWITT BTO, HB, £19.99 A collaboration between 67 writers and 67 artists, this handsome book is aimed at highlighting the plight of the species on the Red List – the most vulnerable birds in the UK. Proceeds go to support conservation work, so it really is a very good cause, but the book is worth buying on its literary and artistic merits alone. Contributors include the likes of Chris Packham, Samuel West, Natalie Bennett, Carry Akroyd, Darren Woodhead, Clare Stares, Patrick Barkham, Mike Dilger, Mark Cocker and our very own David Lindo and Dominic Couzens, and one of the most pleasurable aspects of reading it is the very personal angles that the writers bring to their accounts of each species. Making that personal connection…

1 Shetland 2 Orkney 3 Outer Hebrides 4 Mull, Argyll 5 Loch Ruthven, Highland 6 Strathdearn, Highland 7 Insh Marshes RSPB, Highland 8 Loch Garten RSPB, Highland 9 Loch of Strathbeg, Aberdeenshire 10 Aberlady Bay, Lothian 11 Belfast Lough, Belfast 12 Leighton Moss, Lancashire 13 Farne Islands, Northumberland 14 Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB, Cheshire 15 Woolston Eyes, Cheshire 16 Fairburn Ings, West Yorkshire 17 Alkborough Flats, Lincolnshire 18 Spurn, East Yorkshire 19 Gibraltar Point, Lincolnshire 20 Frampton Marsh RPSB, Lincolnshire 21 Rutland Water, Rutland/Leicestershire 22 Attenborough NR, Nottinghamshire 23 Titchwell Marsh RSPB, Norfolk 24 Cley, Norfolk 25 Castor Hanglands NNR, Cambridgeshire 26 Woodwalton Fen, Cambridgeshire 27 Nene Washes RSPB, Cambridgeshire 28 Venus Pool, Shropshire 29 Conwy RSPB, Conwy 30 South Stack, Anglesey 31 Ynys-hir, Powys 32 Upton Warren, Worcestershire 33…

RACING FOR FUN Bird races or ‘Big Days’ are the closest we birders get to getting involved in competitions within our hobby. The classic Big Day is a 24-hour affair, usually in one calendar day, when you try to identify (see or hear) as many different bird species as you can. This can mean recording any bird, anywhere, but generally birders tend to have geographical limits, most commonly county boundaries. But it could be around your local area, or patch, or wherever… Big Days, especially when called bird races, are usually done in teams of up to four participants, and there are differing ‘rules’ about how many birds need to be recorded by each team member (usually all of the members, or perhaps a majority of them must be happy…

Birding will, of course, have to take a back seat for much of the time during the current unprecedented situation, but in this period of self-isolation and lockdown, there’s no reason why birds can’t continue to delight and enthrall. There are the opportunities offered by back garden birding, of course, and you can find out a lot more about that by visiting our website (birdwatching.co.uk), our Facebook page, and our Twitter feed (details at bottom of the page). But there’s also the pleasure of planning ahead, so that when life is able to return to normality, you can watch birds with your knowledge enhanced, and your love of birding taken to new levels. So stay safe, but try to make some birding – any birding – part of your daily…

Nightjar The beautiful churring song of the male Nightjar is one of the strangest (yet most beautiful) sounds of any British bird. You may even get a glimpse of the magical birds floating around in their heathland habitat. Listen also for the ‘koowick’ call of the male and the wing-clapping display. Spotted Crake A scarce, thinly, yet widely distributed bird of suitable wetlands, the Spotted Crake is another summer visitor which is rarely seen, but where present, is definitely audible. The far-carrying call has a similar whip-like quality to the Quail’s call, but is a single repeated note and is much louder! Corn Crake The Corn Crake is largely a bird of the north-west of the UK, especially the Hebridean islands. The males produce a rasping infinitely repeated ‘crex crex’,…

Flying storm petrels: Storm petrel vs Leach’s Petrel Storm Petrel ● Very small (15-16cm) ● Plain upperwing ● White line on underwing ● Plain white rump ● Square tail Leach's Petrel ● Small (18-21cm) ● Pale diagonal on upperwing ● Plain underwing ● Hint of dark rump centre ● Forked tail Four stages of maturing Mediterranean Gull SNAP IT! Have you taken a great shot of a seabird? If so, why not share it with other readers; send photos to: birdwatching@bauermedia.co.uk NEXT MONTH’S CHALLENGE Heathland birds ID TIP! Some seabirds take several years to reach fully mature plumage; this is epitomised by the Gannet, which has different plumages for about five years…

MAX MILES ON FOOT: 2.5 MIN TIME: 3 HOURS South Walney has a great record of producing the goods at any time of year. Although the gull colony can be noisy in summer, passage continues to move through the area, hence the observatory monitoring this movement. JOHN MILES WHERE TO WATCH 1 Once on the island you have several locations to visit to find the birds. Try seawatching across the Irish Sea, with great opportunities of mixed auks, shearwaters and gulls travelling to feed. Look out for high tide waders and even the odd Water Pipit, which is best found in the horse fields. 2 The shallow bays here are full of Spartina, offering Adders cover from the many raptors lurking around the area. Little Egrets are common all year…

MAX MILES ON FOOT: 3 MIN TIME: 3 HOURS The star bird of the high ground is without question the Black Grouse, the uplands at World’s End its stronghold in Wales. However caution must be exercised at all times; only watch from the road, especially at spring ‘lekking’ time, an experience well worth a short night’s sleep, as you need to be in position in your car by day break. DAVID SAUNDERS WHERE TO WATCH 1 From the car park, search with binoculars for the Black Grouse busy with their spring time courtship displays, the ‘lek’, as the males display their charms in a social dance, commencing with a ‘Sneeze and Jump’ movement as they prepare for battle with their rivals. 2 If unsuccessful at point 1, drive gently north,…

MAX MILES ON FOOT: 3 MIN TIME: 3 HOURS On the northern margins of the New Forest NP, Landford Common includes all the classic forest habitats in a relatively tight area and is perfect for a morning or evening birding walk. Heathland vegetation predominates, perfect for Dartford Warbler, Wood Lark and, at dusk, Nightjar. Also, Golden-ringed Dragonfly, Sand Lizard and Adder (dog-walkers be aware) PAUL TRODD 1 From the car park scan eastwards across the forest for raptors: Kestrel, Hobby, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard are most likely, plus a chance of Red Kite, Goshawk and even Honey Buzzard. Swifts and hirundines also feed above the canopy. Open ground attracts the likes of Mistle Thrush, Green Woodpecker, Pied Wagtail and Stock Dove, to feed. 2 The small block of woodland by Plaitford Common…

A new study enlisted the help of more than 20,000 children from UK schools, as part of a project called What’s Under Your Feet, to dig up small patches of their playing fields in the name of science, and count how many earthworms they found. The young citizen scientists also counted the birds on those fields. The results showed that the numbers of earthworm-eating birds, including Blackbirds and Robins, were strongly linked to the number of earthworms present. Importantly, there was no link between earthworm numbers and counts of bird species that do not eat worms, such as Goldfinches and House Sparrows. The research suggests that monitoring long-term changes in the populations of some bird species could help monitor the health of our soils, too. Lead author of the study,…

If you don’t want to carry, or can’t afford, a monster telephoto lens, but want to catch images of birds, a bridge camera could be the answer. The images won’t be professional quality but may be better than you expect, will help with ID and provide social media fodder. This review focuses on some P950 features that will interest birdwatchers, based on a short review time. Massive zoom range This new Nikon looks like many bridge cameras – DSLRlike with a fat lens on the front. It weighs just over a kg and is bulky; but with a 24-2,000mm zoom (35mm equivalent – that’s just the optical zoom), you can’t complain and, in practice, carrying it was not a problem. Thankfully, it has ‘Dual Detect Optical Vibration Reduction’ to help…

THE BIRD SPECIES Breeding colonies are the best places to see incredibly attractive birds like Puffins, Guillemots (one above, left), Razorbills (two canoodling above), Shags, Fulmars, Kittiwakes and Gannets. And they can often be seen by the thousand! SCENERY TO DIE FOR Our so-called ‘seabird cities’ are on some of the most spectacular scenery anywhere in the British Isle: precipitous, vertical cliff faces and stacks, often several hundred feet high, plunging down to the sea. These cliffs are some of the last landscapes left in the UK which are (almost) untouched by Man’s influence. Their very inaccessibility (to us and other potential dangers) is one of the reasons sea cliffs make such a suitable habitat for nesting seabirds. UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL Seabird cities may offer some of the best…

THE HEAVENLY CHOIR The dawn chorus is, of course, that period in the early morning (around dawn!) when all birds seem to want to sing simultaneously. Singing at this time of year has at least three clear meanings. Firstly, a song says, I have survived the night to other birds in the area (particularly ones of the same species). Secondly, it can be used to proclaim ownership of a territory. Thirdly, though it is getting late in the year for some species, it is a way of advertising to potential mates. WHY DAWN? Singing at dawn conveys these messages before the business of feeding for survival (or perhaps gathering food for nestlings) begins. There is a similar chorus at dusk, though usually this is not so dramatic. CHORUS LINE Different…

BITTERN Bitterns are booming. The breeding population of this most elusive of all our reedbed dwellers has grown massively in the last decade or two. In spring, males begin their famous foghorn-like booming call, which is one of the most extraordinary sounds made by any British bird. The deep sound (reminiscent of the sound of a distant cow or someone blowing across the top of one of those old-style cider jugs) is far-reaching and most frequently heard in the crepuscular hours or even through the night. If you get lucky, you may see a Bittern rise from its reedbed and fly low over the reeds, looking at first glance more like an owl or Buzzard than a heron, before dropping back down out of sight. If you are even luckier,…

May is arguably the best month for migration. In contrast with the wonderful autumnal migration season, most of May’s migrating birds come wrapped in their breeding finery. The Turnstone is a classic case. It is a familiar wintering bird (with nearly 50,000 individuals), when its dull brown-black-and white plumage helps it meld into the rocks and seaweed of the wave-battered shore. But they do not breed in the UK, preferring the high Arctic coasts all round the globe as their nesting areas. Come May, though, they migrate through the country as birds transformed. Now, the back has new splashes of brick orange, the complex face pattern is crisp and well-defined, and the crown (especially of males) tends towards white. Of, course, like many of our waders, Turnstones are mainly coastal…

As anyone who has heard the far-reaching ‘song’ on holiday by the Mediterranean will tell you, the rare Hoopoe is, of course named after that somewhat monotonous, repeated ‘ hoop-poo-poo’ sound. So, presumably, the bird’s name should be pronounced ‘hoopoo’ (rather than ‘hoopoh’). Therefore, questions must be asked as to why the bird is not call a ‘Hoopoepoe’. But, the genus Upupa at least addresses this anomaly, to an extent.…

VEINS OF LIFE Tell-tale green-grey stripes that vein its underwing differentiate Green-veined White from Small White. This butterfly loves lush vegetation on damp ground. PLANT Woodland angel Wherever you see Bluebells, look for Yellow Archangel a few weeks later. This attractive plant thrives in similar old woodlands and beneath mature hedgerows. Although part of the dead-nettle family, its leaves offer no sting. The sunny flowers whorl just above leaf height. MOTH Dancing moths In sunny arenas – glades within woodland or their scrubby edges, perhaps – look for groups of small black insects bouncing up and down as if on a yo-yo. These will likely be gatherings of male Green Long-horns – moths, but not as you may know them. Waggling preposterous antennae four times their body length, these boys…

Last year, the Hawk and Owl Trust was half a century old. It was founded in 1969 because of concerns about the alarming decline in numbers of Peregrine and other raptors. Today, the registered charity says it is still dedicated to the conservation and appreciation of wild birds of prey and their habitats. It publishes a members’ magazine ‘Peregrine’ and educational material for all ages. The trust maintains that it achieves its major aim of creating and enhancing nesting, roosting and feeding habitats for birds of prey through projects which involve practical research, creative conservation and education, both on its own reserves and in partnership with landowners, farmers and others. Members are invited to take part in fieldwork, population studies and surveys. Its intentions appear honourable. However, in recent years,…

MAX MILES ON FOOT: 3.5 MIN TIME: 3 HOURS Holy Island is one of those tremendous locations not just for its history, but for its bird life. There are tidal areas, channels, dunes, harbour, and little thorn bushes, with the potential for magic hiding in every one! JOHN MILES WHERE TO WATCH 1 Once you have crossed the causeway you feel you are in heaven, with the potential of so many good birds. Park up and walk through the village. Many Sycamores here may draw in rare warblers in the autumn. Turn into the lane by the information centre onto the Straight Lonnen (lane) and then right up the Crooked Lonnen by the farm. Large numbers of House Sparrows, Collared Doves and Starlings are here. 2 The Crooked Lonnen has…

MAX MILES ON FOOT: 2 MIN TIME: 2 HOURS This is essentially a hill and woodland area with a stream flowing past and a smallish pond in a large, often soggy, field area. The area is not far from the seaside, and plenty of gulls are here every day visiting the pond and field; so it’s worth checking them. BERNARD JONES WHERE TO WATCH 1 Park carefully on the roadside then walk down towards the stream and check for a possible Dipper. In the field and pond area the gulls spend much time. 2 Walk up to the woodland and check the hedges and one or two gardens you pass for Blackbirds, House Sparrows (check flocks for Tree Sparrow), Song Thrush, Blue, Great and Coal Tits, Dunnock, Robin and Wren.…

MAX MILES ON FOOT: 1 MIN TIME: 2 HOURS A few years ago, the lagoons at this gravel pit were a good place to find passage waders, plus breeding Little Ringed Plovers. The growth of reeds and scrub have changed their nature entirely, but there are still great birds to find even on a brief visit. MATT MERRITT WHERE TO WATCH 1 There’s a large lake opposite the main pits. Park on the grass, and view from in between the bushes – Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Coot, Tufted Duck and Mallard are regular, but also expect Little Grebe and Great Crested Grebe; plus other duck species in winter. When I was last there, a Peregrine was attempting to flush the wildfowl. 2 As you walk from the road through the…

MAX MILES ON FOOT: 3 MIN TIME: 5 HOURS The Baie d’Audierne is on the south-western most extremity of Brittany, near Quimper. It has lovely sandy beaches which are good for nesting sites for Kentish Plovers, which are often colour ringed, as well as many migrant shorebirds and seabirds, including colour-ringed Sanderlings. Bee-eaters and Hoopoes nest annually near Pointe de la Torche surfing centre. BERTRAM BREE WHERE TO WATCH 1 The Etang de Trunvel, on the Reserve Biologique de Trunvel-Treogat, has a ringing station where good numbers of Aquatic Warblers are ringed in autumn. Common Terns and Little Grebes nest in front of the hides here, and the reedbeds contain Savi’s Warblers, Zitting Cisticolas, Purple Herons, Marsh Harriers, the occasional Little Bittern, and many Bluethroats. Dotterel, and rare migrant waders…

Spotted Flycatcher Even a few years back, you’d probably have had to have been lucky enough to have a reasonably large, mature garden, to get this characterful species visiting or nesting, and recent declines have made them even harder to attract. But they will use open-fronted nestboxes, especially situated amid ivy or similar cover, and if you have plenty of mature greenery to help provide insect food, who knows? They hawk for insects from a prominent perch, darting out and catching them mid-air with an audible snap of the bill, before returning to the same spot.…

The three provinces that make up the eastern Netherlands – Flevoland, Overijssel and Gelderland – are home to a string of lovely country towns, whose long and often troubled history is recalled by a slew of handsome old buildings. Among them, Zwolle, Deventer and Zutphen are perhaps the pick, but there are intriguing former Zuider Zee ports as well, most memorably Kampen and Elburg. An hour’s drive east of Amsterdam, the renowned Oostvaardersplassen is an extensive area of shallow lakes, pools, reedbeds, Salix woodland and grassland, which has developed on a polder (Zuidelijk Flevoland, reclaimed in 1968), having been spared from cultivation. It’s situated south of the city of Lelystad and adjoins the Markermeer in the north. The site is the main roost for Anser geese from feeding areas in…

This column is dedicated to the celebration of urban bird sites within the world’s cities. It usually features the urban birding hotspots within largely recognised centres of humanity. But occasionally, it delves into the most unlikely places. This month, it is time to explore San Cipriano, a tiny township situated in thick forest, not a million miles away from Cali, Colombia. It is a small village verging on shanty town with no cars; the locals choosing to traverse on the back of old and often improvised motorbikes. They are friendly, Spanish speaking and are direct descendants of African slaves that escaped from the coffee plantations in the lowlands a couple of hundred years ago. Getting to San Cipriano is a wheeze. It involves precariously boarding a small, flat wooden trolley,…

Do you remember the good old days of February? Instead of the eternal worries about COVID-19, we birders were waiting for the endless westerly winds to at least give us the odd weekend off, so we could do what we like best: birding. The shortest month was, in short, annoyingly windy. Inevitably, this meant that many of the long-established rarities stayed put, and there was very little change in the main rare birds scattered around the country. This even manifested itself with the apparent rediscovery of last year’s Tengmalm’s Owl on Mainland, Shetland, this time at the Lyndsey Lea Plantation at Kergord, on 11th (after photos appeared of the owl there on 14 December 2019). The owl lingered for another dozen or so days, and was even ringed on 14…

GREY PLOVER Named for its grey-toned winter plumage (which distinguishes it from the golden plovers), in North America this wader is called the Black-bellied Plover. That name nods generously at the breeding plumage, and at this time of year, on their way north to establish nesting territories, they can look spectacular. Especially the males. There is something particularly attractive about black-and-white birds. And spring Grey Plovers have it in spades, with added spangles! TURNSTONE Turnstones are familiar birds from our coasts, where they waddle along, busily turning over seaweed, shells and stones looking for invertebrate morsels (or come up to brave wintering holiday-makers, and await chips!). In winter, they look like their rocky seaweed surrounds, dark and drab. In spring, though, they undergo a tremendous transformation. The head and face…