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44 Articles

Back in the spring, we enjoyed a great day exploring some of the best birding spots in the Peterborough area with a small group of our subscribers, getting great views of the likes of Crane (above), Marsh Harrier, Little Owl, and all three egrets, as well as a wide range of waders and warblers. We're planning to do the same again on 11 October, with a group of subscribers joining Mike Weedon and myself to watch the best of the autumn's birds. So, subscribe now to be in with a chance of joining us on future events. Wherever you're birding in October, please give some thought to the issues raised in David Lindo's article on page 26 – it's up to all of us to play our parts in getting youngsters interested…

YOUR BIRDING MONTH

BIRD OF THE MONTH BLACK REDSTART The Black Redstart is a very scarce breeding bird, with perhaps only about 60 pairs across the country. As David ‘The Urban Birder’ Lindo would tell you, it is just about the classic ‘urban bird’, particularly in the UK. It first bred here in the 1920s, and numbers grew during WWII, when the bombed landscape of London, for example, resembled the rocky habitat this chat prefers in the southern part of its European range. The fact that they breed in cities and are associated with industrial sites (often shunned by the Black Redstart's ‘enemy’, the Robin) means that estimating numbers is tricky. But, it is easier to assess numbers in winter, when 500 or so birds are in the country. They are also seen on migration, with…

YOUR BIRDING MONTH

FIVE BIRDS TO FIND IN OCTOBER

twitter.com/BirdWatchingMag facebook.com/BirdWatchingMag RARITY RATINGS Common, widely distributed Localised – always a treat Very scarce or rare WHEATEAR Autumn is not autumn without Wheatear passage. Yes, 170,000 pairs of these large ground chats nest in the UK, but they are mostly nesting in the north and west, so most birders only see them close to home on passage. Wheatear passage peaks in September but is still going strong into October. Autumn Wheatears in fresh, buff-tipped plumage, look quite different from their birds in spring garb, when buff tips have worn off to reveal brighter colours. So, expect males, females and youngsters all to look buffy golden brown. All have the striking white rump and black-and-white tail. Wheatears love short-cropped areas on which to feed. Expect them in such habitat, running around Rabbit warrens etc. FIELDFARE Though a few pairs nest…

FIVE BIRDS TO FIND IN OCTOBER

RARITY PREDICTOR

ALDER FLYCATCHER Officially, there have been just two UK records of this North American Empidonax flycatcher in the UK (Cornwall, October 2008; Norfolk, late September 2010). But a couple of members of this extremely tricky genus appeared in Wales during the great North American passerine influx of last autumn, and may well find their way to being accepted. MOURNING DOVE There have only been half a dozen or so officially accepted UK records of this small North American pigeon, with Scotland (especially the Northern Isles and Outer Hebrides) completely dominating the records (mostly in late October). So, that is a clue to where and when the next will appear. LEAST BITTERN The first and only (so far) Least Bittern on British soil was found moribund on 7 October 2022 at Scousburgh, Mainland Shetland. It died…

RARITY PREDICTOR

Five commonest gulls

Great Blackbacked Gull ● Very large, ‘white-headed’ gull ● Blackish mantle ● Long, very thick yellow bill ● Wings almost heron-like in flight ● Yellow legs Herring Gull ● Large, ‘white-headed’ gull ● Pale grey mantle ● Long, thickish yellow bill, ● Short wings ● Pink legs Lesser Black-backed Gull ● Large, ‘white-headed’ gull ● Dark grey mantle ● Long, medium thick yellow bill, ● Long wings ● Yellow legs Black-headed Gull ● Small, hooded (with remnants of hood in winter) gull ● Pale grey mantle ● Short, thin red bill ● Pointed wings ● Red legs Common Gull ● Medium-sized, ‘white-headed’ gull ● Mid/pale grey mantle ● Short, thin yellow bill ● Long wings ● Dull greenish legs…

Five commonest gulls

UK TIDES OCTOBER

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) Soutw-sea (-1:22) Clacton-on-sea (-2:00) EAST ANGLIA Felixstowe Pier (-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) Dundee (+1:12) Aberdeen (-0:18) Fraserburgh (-1:28) Lossiemouth (-2:00) Wick (-2:29)…

UK TIDES OCTOBER

Beyond Birdwatching

WONDER OF THE DAY Autumn's most eagerly awaited moth is Merveille du Jour. A fusion of peppermint, black and ivory, it melds wonderfully onto lichen-swathed bark. Widespread throughout much of Britain, it appears to be spreading north. Coming to a garden near you soon? CADDISFLY Notched wing Caddisflies are remarkable insects that start their larval life underwater. The immature Mottled Sedge weaves a silken case in which to live, strengthening this with leaf fragments. Two generations of adults emerge each year: one in spring and the other in autumn. Adults are readily identified by a prominent notch in the outer margin of the forewing. ORTHOPTERAN Garden grasshopper Find a sunny, grassy place – maybe an unmown lawn – then listen for a single short ‘chirrup’ at short intervals. This is a male Field Grasshopper rubbing its legs…

Beyond Birdwatching

Those of you with a sense of nostalgia may recall that, more than a decade ago, Bird Watching ‘invented’ a thing called Birding Lunch. The idea was, instead of sitting at your desk, spreading crumbs on the keyboard, or even worse, staring at your phone screen for an hour, to go out, on at least one lunchtime a week, to do a spot of birding. The clue was in the name. Of course, we encouraged participants to share their findings and experience on social media (which seemed much more innocent in days of yore). IMHO it was great: I spent many a happy lunch at Ferry Meadows CP, a mile from BW HQ. Way before the days of our flexible #My200BirdYear challenge, Birding Lunch is not the only natty wheeze we…

Tracking change as we birdwatch

Welcome to a regular round-up covering survey updates, discoveries, current research, and other stories from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) headquarters in Norfolk. The BTO is a non-governmental, non-campaigning organisation focused on securing the future for birds and nature. It uses robust science, monitoring, and data to help inform environmental decisions. The heart of BTO encompasses three key areas: birds, science and people. And, of course, much of what we achieve couldn't be done without the dedication and expertise of our many volunteers. Each month we'll discuss some key projects and explore how the data we gather helps build knowledge and the potential to protect our birdlife, and we'll hopefully help inspire you to get involved! Jon Carter When I first started birding I, like many others, would keep copious…

Tracking change as we birdwatch

Become a better birder with BTO training courses

Whether you are relatively new to birdwatching or a seasoned field ornithologist, there is always something new to discover. Maybe you struggle with identifying autumn waders, or wildfowl? How about gulls and raptors? Well, help is at hand! BTO run a wide range of both in-person and virtual online courses each year, for beginners, active birders, developing surveyors and conservation professionals. We take you through all stages: from learning to identify common birds by sight, to increasing your repertoire of species, then on to identification by sound. We provide a series of free online videos to help separate confusion species, and then help you to take your birdwatching to the next level by discovering what is involved in surveys and offering survey-specific workshops to hone your skills to perfection. Training courses for…

Become a better birder with BTO training courses

Grumpy Old Birder

The cat, the frog and the Blackbird… sounds like one of Aesop's fables. However, it is an experience bringing to mind how the animal kingdom, with the exception of many Homo sapiens, looks out for its kin, and the commonwealth of nature. A Tiger stealthily steps through the Indian forest, every footfall avoiding a snapping twig or rustle of leaves. High above, in the canopy, a troop of Macaques spots the predator, despite its stealth and camouflage. First one and then the whole band screech and whoop their alarm calls. An unwary Chital raises its head… its dappled markings are not enough to keep it safe… warned by the monkeys, it bounds away, startling its fellows, who scatter to confuse the Tiger's eye. The sun was setting while we waited for the…

Grumpy Old Birder

Sign up to #My200BirdYear

1 CHECK THE WEATHER Autumn storms, in particular, can throw all sorts of species our way from both east and west, from American waders such as Pectoral Sandpiper, to eastern European birds such as Aquatic Warbler. But bad weather can ground any migrants, so try going birding just after heavy rain to see what's come down. 2 TRY, TRY AND TRY AGAIN As in spring, persistence is the key to autumn birding. Factors such as the weather mean that things can change very quickly, so visiting the same site in early morning and just before dusk can produce wildly differing results – flocks of waders such as Dunlin or Black-tailed Godwit, for example, can make brief stop-offs at even the most unlikely scrape. 3 TAKE YOUR TIME If there are gaps on your list, target…

Sign up to #My200BirdYear

Giving a good impression

Back in spring 2024, I was commissioned to teach a beginners’ wild flower identification course in West Norwood Cemetery, an urban cemetery in inner London. “I'd love to teach an introduction to urban birdwatching for beginners here, too”, I'd said impulsively, thinking it would be great to try to create memorable formative experiences for future urban birdwatchers. A date in the summer was ear-marked, and, as the day approached, I experienced excitement but also a sliver of apprehension. What could I possibly hope to achieve in just 90 minutes? How could I help beginner birdwatchers have a memorable experience in such a short session? Many of the birders I talk to tell me how they first became interested in birdwatching as children or teenagers, and they often benefited from the presence…

Giving a good impression

What was the most valuable birdwatching tip you received when you started out?

Jen Jones: “As a soil scientist, the first problem I had was to look up, not down, which had been my default for years! Thankfully, my early forays were with kind, patient birdwatchers who were not too intent on ticking their next sighting.” Amanda Scott: “I was always too quick to grab my bird ID book, until a birdwatching friend told me to first note as much as possible about the bird – feathers, behaviour, song etc – before it flew away. Only then, look it up!” Dusty Gedge: “As a kid, I used to hear a song or call I didn't know, and would spend ages pursuing said bird until the bird and the song were connected. When you put effort in, you never forget.” Paul Gamble: “Give as much time as…

Passing on the birding flame

My route into becoming a birder was not a very conventional one. I didn't have a family member introduce me, nor did I have a teacher at school to take me under their wing. Instead, I was very unusual, in that I came into birding of my own volition, having been seemingly born with an inbuilt interest. Although encouraged by my mother, my interest in birds was mainly fuelled by my overwhelming desire for knowledge. When I was growing up, it was probably easier to become fully engrossed in a hobby or pastime, as there was usually nothing else to do. In those days, nobody around me talked about the environmental issues of the time, nor did I make the connection between my love for nature and how that slotted into the…

Passing on the birding flame

Wildlife along the wall

No one will have missed hearing of the famous Sycamore tree in a gap in Hadrian's Wall, featured in the 1991 film Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, being illegally cut down last year. It was World news, though it is a non-native species to Britain. But, because of the film, I took my kids to see the tree at the time, and so have they taken their kids, too. People's ashes have been left there, others have proposed there, and it was England's Tree of the Year in 2016. No wonder millions were sad to see its untimely demise. So what does it have to do with this story? Well, Hadrian's Wall, built from AD 122 to define the northern limit of the Roman Empire, runs across the narrowest part of Britain,…

Wildlife along the wall

Glorious Great Bustards!

The car park of a village hall seemed an unlikely starting point for a special excursion to see a rare bird, but we followed our instructions and parked up, before greeting another couple already waiting there, armed with binoculars. Bang on time at 9.15am, a sturdy Land Rover rounded the corner and out stepped our guide for the morning, Steve Colwill. After introductions and an explanation of the morning's plan, our excited group of six people climbed aboard and we headed out onto Salisbury Plain in search of our target bird: Great Bustard. As we drove, Steve set the scene for us with some history about the Great Bustard Group. Great Bustards once bred in Britain but, sadly, these impressive birds were driven to extinction by the Victorians. Not only did…

Glorious Great Bustards!

Birds of prey are among the most popular of species among birdwatchers. Even as some become increasingly common, encounters with raptors are invariably thrilling. However, birds of prey are among the trickiest of birds to identify. They are often distant, sometimes give very fleeting views at high speed, show considerable (and often very confusing) ‘intraspecific variation’, and can look alarmingly similar to other species. In this month's ID Challenge, we feature the smaller species of raptor. Here are six of these which regularly occur in the UK. All you have to do is to try to name each of the smaller birds of prey featured. When you are happy with your answers, please turn the page to see the answers, and the reasoning we used to reach those answers. And, as always,…

Answers & solutions

ID TIP! Falcons have dark eyes (often with a yellow eye-ring), while some broad-winged raptors have brightly coloured irises. BIRD 1 We start with arguably the trickiest challenge bird, this month, although this trickiness is mainly because the raptor is obscured behind branches. The small hooked bill tells you it is a smaller species and, if you've read the tip in the circle above, you'll have noted that the yellow of the iris suggests this is a broad-winged raptor rather than a falcon. A smaller ‘bop’ with a yellow eye should narrow down the options. Plumage-wise, the upperparts, including crown and cheeks, are dark brown with golden fringes on the back, there is a pale supercilium (‘eyebrow’) and reddish bars on the breast. This is a juvenile Sparrowhawk. Key features • Yellow eye • Small…

Answers & solutions

ID Tips & tricks

ID TIP! Buzzards are of similar size to Marsh Harriers, but have shorter tails, broader wings and a bulkier overall look. Juvenile harriers Harriers are medium-sized raptors with long wings and long tails, which often patrol close to the ground on wings held in a shallow ‘V’. Juveniles are birds which were hatched and fledged this year, before they have moulted into their first version of adult-like feathers. Here are the three most regular species (not including the rare Pallid Harrier). Concentrate on size and structure initially, before moving on to plumage detail. Marsh Harrier • Large harrier, stocky build, broad wings • Five prominent primary ‘fingers’ • Dark chocolate brown upperparts, golden fringed • Dark chocolate brown underparts • Creamy-orange crown and throat Hen Harrier • Medium harrier, medium-slim build, medium wings • Four prominent primary…

ID Tips & tricks

MAX MILES ON FOOT: 5 MIN TIME: 4 HOURS A walk between two rivers in the Cairngorms Dulnain Bridge, on the northern rim of the Cairngorms National Park, is situated at the confluence of the rivers Dulnain and Spey, complete with associated water-course habitats including flood-meadows, marshes and gravel islands. The countryside sandwiched between the two arms of the rivers features predominantly pine plantations, but with a scattering of birch scrub and low-level pasture land to break up the monotony of the conifers. Classic Highland species such as Crested Tit and Dipper are assured, while there are plenty of opportunities to tackle the thorny identification conundrum of the crossbill tribe, should you wish to do so! PAUL TRODD WHERE TO WATCH 1 Check from the road bridge along Fraser Road for Grey Wagtail, Dipper, and…

In association with os.uk/osm MAX MILES ON FOOT: 2 MIN TIME: 2 HOURS Varied birding with views across to the isles This is a Woodland Trust property consisting of 80 acres of woodland overlooking the waters of Oban, offering a great walk as you wait for your ferry to arrive to take you out to the isles. The walks are well used by locals and you can finish off with a castle and a chance of numerous seabirds on your walk back. JOHN MILES WHERE TO WATCH 1 You may start your walk accompanied by the sound of Herring Gulls, but the wood contains the classic species which are often harder to find on a trip to the isles. The Blackbirds are joined by German and Russian birds for the winter. Hooded Crow reign supreme, while Rooks…

MAX MILES ON FOOT: 5 MIN TIME: 3 HOURS Mixed habitats in a Lakeland landscape The area around Buttermere is owned by the National Trust, with high crags either side of the mere and lowland ‘lambing’ fields on the south-east and north-west side of the mere, making for a variety of birds and habitats. JOHN MILES WHERE TO WATCH 1 Starting at the small car park at Gatesgarth Farm, you can start picking up farmland birds in summer, such as Pied Wagtail, Swallow and Collared Dove. The buildings here look ideal for Barn Owl, but that would be an evening trip, when you might also pick up Tawny Owl and Woodcock. 2 Follow the path into the lambing fields where the richer grass may attract local breeding geese like Greylag with the odd Canada – a…

In association with os.uk/osm MAX MILES ON FOOT: 3 MIN TIME: 1.5 HOURS Stunning views with moorland and woodland birds This north-western corner of the North York Moors National Park rises steeply from the surrounding countryside to give spectacular views, which include the distinctive landmarks of Roseberry Topping and the Captain Cook Monument. This route includes part of the Cleveland Way, combining open moorland with patches of plantation forest. PAUL BROOK WHERE TO WATCH 1 The walk starts and ends at the Lordstones Country Park car park. In winter, the trees and hedges around the car park, and the feeders outside the café, are great for close views of woodland birds, most notably Crossbills. 2 Follow the Cleveland Way to start with, before branching off to the left through a small plantation, look and listen for more woodland…

FELBRIGG ESTATE

MAX MILES ON FOOT: 2 MIN TIME: 3 HOURS An overlooked corner of a celebrated birding coast This National Trust property is noted for its fine buildings, but the grounds are a magnet for birds and wildlife as well. Although not often on the radar for birders in Norfolk, it should be given a good walk around and a thorough checking. JOHN MILES WHERE TO WATCH 1 Walking away from the hall, you can view the open fields looking for geese among the resident Greylag and Canada, with both European White-fronted and Egyptian found. The open areas have Sky Lark and Meadow Pipit, but check out the cattle for signs of Cattle Egret or a passing Glossy Ibis. 2 Walk to the churchm scanning the mature park trees for signs of Little Owl or Stock Dove.…

FELBRIGG ESTATE

In association with os.uk/osm MAX MILES ON FOOT: 2 MIN TIME: 2 HOURS Waders, wildfowl and woodland birds in the Midlands Blithfield Reservoir is such a large site that it can be a rather daunting undertaking to try to cover it in one go. However, Tad Bay is a relatively small, but often very rewarding, corner that is easily manageable in a couple of hours if you're passing by, or just short of time. MATT MERRITT WHERE TO WATCH 1 Newton Hurst Lane: Use the pull-in at the side of the lane and scope a small area of Tad Bay, to see what's around – expect large numbers of wildfowl and commoner waders such as Lapwing. The view is restricted while trees and hedges are in full leaf, but from late autumn to late spring the vista…

MAX MILES ON FOOT: 4 MIN TIME: 3 HOURS Look for woodland birds and migrants on passage On the outskirts of Cambridge can be found the Gog Magog Hills, their gentle gradients a contrast to the flat landscape of the rest of the county. The landscape of Magog Down and the adjacent Wandlebury Park on the other side of the A1307 offers chalk downland meadows and mature woodland that attracts a variety of summer and winter migrants, as well as providing a safe home for all-year residents thanks to careful site management by rangers and volunteers. Recent conservation work includes the addition of nestboxes in the woods to encourage breeding, as well as new hedges planted and seed strips sown to provide food supplies in the winter. ABIGAIL HAMILTON-THOMPSON WHERE TO WATCH 1 The copse…

In association with os.uk/osm MAX MILES ON FOOT: 3 MIN TIME: 3 HOURS Visible migration on the Chiltern Hills This woodland and downland walk in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty commands panoramic views across the Tring Gap to the west, a natural break in the Chilterns bisected by the Grand Union Canal. Classic chalk downland habitat of scrub and sheep-grazed turf combines with steep coombes and mature seminatural deciduous and coniferous woodlands to ensure a rich and varied walk for late migrants, incoming winter visitors and resident species alike. PAUL TRODD WHERE TO WATCH 1 From Clipper Down viewpoint, scan for overhead visible migration, typically Sky Lark, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Redwing, Fieldfare, Starling, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet and Reed Bunting, plus a chance of redpolls, Brambling and Siskin as the season…

MAX MILES ON FOOT: 4 MIN TIME: 3 HOURS Waders, raptors and wildfowl on the Medway estuary A winter walk along the southern borderlands of the River Medway estuary takes in panoramic views across intertidal mudflats, islets and creeks at low tide, and open water towards the deeper channel of Ham Ooze at high tide. Suitable habitat, then, for thousands of shorebirds and wildfowl, as well as a nationally important haunt for large flocks of Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits. Adjacent farmland, orchards, a wood and scrub ensure a wide range of species throughout the seasons PAUL TRODD WHERE TO WATCH 1 The track by the Wharf borders a wood attracting a few wintering Woodcock and one or two lingering Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs amongst resident Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Tawny Owl, Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers, Treecreeper, Long-tailed…

In association with os.uk/osm MAX MILES ON FOOT: 4.75 MIN TIME: 4 HOURS Wooded coombes and moorland on the edge of Exmoor Situated in a remote part of North Devon, not far from the county boundary with Somerset, Molland is one of the gateways to the open moorland of Exmoor. Approached through wooded coombes with fast flowing streams, the moorland itself is access land, offering a vast expanse of countryside for good birding. It's important to pick a clear day if you plan to explore off the beaten track. The village churchyard is well-managed for wildlife, so it's worth spending time quietly here. SIMONE STANBROOK-BYRNE WHERE TO WATCH 1 Around the village, look for the usual suspects found around human habitation: various tits, summer Swallows in the church porch, Wren and Dunnock. 2 Head east out of the…

GET IN TOUCH birdwatching@bauermedia.co.uk facebook.com/BirdWatchingMag twitter.com/BirdWatchingMag Bird Watching, Media House, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA Sabine confusion I was interested to read on page 71 of the September issue that the Sabine's Gull was named after Edward Sabine, and then on page 74 that the gull was described by Joseph Sabine in 1819. A look on the internet told me Joseph and Edward were brothers, but it is not all together clear to me after which brother the gull is named. The suggestion is that Edward found the gull in 1818 but Joseph named it a year later. Do you know what the truth is? Perhaps changing the name to Fork-tailed Gull will remove all doubt! John Edwards The editor says: One of the internationally recognised conventions of the giving of scientific names to animals is that the person…

Bedraggled mystery bird Q I recently enjoyed 10 (wet!) days walking in Galicia, in north-west Spain. I enjoyed seeing many interesting birds, including plenty of Black Redstarts and an occasional Hoopoe. I have been unable to identify this bird [above], however, which I saw perching on a branch in a field in the wooded hills near to Betanzos. Can you help me identify it, please? Simon Manley A Your bird, Simon, is a Zitting Cisticola, aka Fan-tailed Warbler, albeit a rather bedraggled-looking one. The shortish tail, longish, slightly down-curved bill, streaked upperparts, and long, thin, pink legs are the main features which identify it. This is a bird which has spread further north from its Mediterranean stronghold in recent decades, but has not yet made the leap to starting to colonise the UK. Turtle…

Nest-building Coot?

Q When I was at Sandwich Bay Nature Reserve in April, I took this photo of a Coot running with a large twig. Do you think it would be using it for nesting material? If so, is this common for a Coot to use such large twigs, or is it that they have no sense of scale? I have never noticed them do this with such a large twig before. Also, it looks like he pulled it out from the ground, judging by the roots on it. Andrew Roberts A Great photo, Andrew. Coots make somewhat surprisingly large nests, usually at the edge of waterbodies, or floating near the edge of them. These nests are constructed with a variety of sticks, reed stems and the like, and – believe it or not…

Nest-building Coot?

What links these species: Lapland Bunting, Baird's Sandpiper, (Northern) Wheatear and Grey Phalarope? The answer is that they are all regularly eaten as adults by Arctic Skuas. In fact, ‘strictly speaking’, none of them are eaten by Arctic Skuas, but by Parasitic Jaegers, which is the name given to the same species in North America (‘jaeger’ means ‘hunter’). In many parts of North America, breeding Arctic Skuas/Parasitic Jaegers have a broad diet, which encompasses adult and young birds, eggs, mammals such as lemmings, insects, berries and carrion. It's all good, rounded, healthy stuff, the sort of diet your doctor might prescribe for you: “Don't forget to take your sandpiper supplement.” Here in the UK, we only witness Arctic Skuas as food-parasites, stealing food from other birds. Hence it comes as a surprise…

READER HOLIDAY IBERIAN IDYLL

In a recent issue of Bird Watching, we looked at the birding riches of the Algarve, in southern Portugal. It's particularly good for waders, wetland birds and seawatching. But just to the north is the Alentejo, where steppe-like habitat plays host to species such as Great and Little Bustard, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Roller, Iberian Grey Shrike and Woodchat Shrike. There are plenty of raptors, too, with Iberian Imperial Eagle, Golden Eagle and Bonelli's Eagle, plus Black and Griffon Vulture. Around the beautiful, historic town of Mertola, overlooking the gorge of the Guadiana River, are species such as Blue Rock Thrush and Golden Oriole, plus a wealth of warblers, as well as possible Iberian Lynx. Next year sees the first ever Mertola Bird and Wildlife Festival, from 19-23 February, and just ahead of it…

READER HOLIDAY IBERIAN IDYLL

The south-east's greatest secret

Essex isn't the first county that comes to mind when planning a birding trip. But behind the clichéd façade of boy racers and manicured monocultural farmland, the county punches well above its weight. Some 390 species have been recorded within the official Essex Birdwatching Society (EBWS) recording area – that's four more than Hampshire and 62% of the official British List. Peppered among the county's sometimes austere landscapes and conurbations are numerous nature reserves, mostly managed by the RSPB or Essex Wildlife Trust (EWT), and expansive areas of habitat. Many are on the coast, where jigsaw puzzles of grazing, salt marsh and mud provide sustenance for hordes of waders, geese and ducks. Essex's leonine share of the Greater Thames Estuary ensures that this convoluted coast is of International Importance for wildfowl…

The south-east's greatest secret

A swift is a swift is a swift, right? Well, not quite. There are around 112 species belonging to 19 genera to be found around the world and many look very similar to our familiar (Common) Swift (i.e. small, dark and handsome). As a family, they are not very well known, with very few species studied to any degree. They all cut dark dashing shapes across the skies in which they occur, often zipping past so quickly that they barely leave a second for you to properly identify them. This is especially the case when you get two or more species occupying the same stretch of sky. In the UK, we can rest assured that most of the swifts that we will see are likely to be Swifts. If you were…

Soaring Scotland

SAVE MONEY! If you plan to book and you're not already a Bird Watching Member, subscribe NOW – you'll save more than enough to cover the cost of the subscription. See p6 to sign up. TO BOOK, CALL: 01479 872 526 This October, 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, and evening talks. We'll be within easy reach of sites in the Highlands, along the Moray Coast, and…

Soaring Scotland

It's all in the crop

Writing my piece on prime versus zoom lenses last month got me thinking about sensor sizes and the perceived extra reach afforded by cropped and micro four-thirds sensors over full frame sensors. This seemed like a good topic to expand upon, dispelling a few myths and looking at the pros and cons of the choices available. Let's get started by going back to the introduction of digital imaging and the first DSLRs released. Have you ever wondered why the full frame sensors are based on the dimensions of the old 35mm film? The answer lies with manufacturers realising that they had to make their new digital systems compatible with the lenses that fitted the old 35mm film camera range. These optics were designed to deliver the best optical image to the…

It's all in the crop

GPO PASSION ED 8X42 £409,99

German Precision Optics is a relatively new brand. The name alone may pique your interest – German, and precision. A glance at the price might pique your interest even more. The Passion ED range includes 8x and 10x32 models, 8x and 10x42 models, and 8x and 10x56 models. 8x42 is the birdwatcher's default spec, and the model this review concentrates on. GPO say, “You will not find a comparably equipped binocular in this price range” and that, “Every pair is 100% quality controlled in Germany before despatch”. So just how good is it? Seeing The view is wide and the image is clean, crisp and easy on the eye, with good colours – perhaps towards the cold end of the spectrum. On a sunny September afternoon at the RSPB's Berry Fen nature…

GPO PASSION ED 8X42 £409,99

ZEISS CONQUEST HDX 8X42, £1,075 A new Conquest, with “superior optical performance”. It has Lotutec® coating on the lenses, which improves wet weather viewing, and is tough, waterproof, shockproof and “designed to withstand the elements”, “whether extreme temperatures, wet or direct sunlight”. We might be putting some of those things to the test… 128m@1,000m/7.3° field of view, 2m close-focus, 16.5mm eye-relief. 150mmx119mm. 715g. 8x32, 10x32 and 10x42 also available. zeiss.co.uk JACK WOLFSKIN VONNAN MEN'S LS T, £40 It's a baselayer or an “everyday piece”. I suggest taking it off and washing it from time to time, though. The Vonnan (no idea why it's called that) is lightweight, very soft and has anti-odour treatment – so you can wear it a bit longer without losing all your friends. Bluesign approved. Colour? Phantom. You'll have to…

SOUTH POLAR SURGE

Many readers will remember the UK's first Cape Gull, at Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire, in the first half of August, 2022. Indeed, many will have been to see this big brute of a black-backed, huge-billed, dark-eyed, long grey-legged gull. You may even recall that it was deemed (by the stage of moult and wear) to be a second-summer bird and that after it left the site (10 August, 2022), it seemingly vanished into thin air and was not seen elsewhere. However, on 18 June 2023, there it was again, back at Grafham Water, now a third-summer bird, of course; but it was soon off again, that same day, not to be seen again that year. You may have guessed by now, that Grafham's Cape Gull was seen again during August this year,…

SOUTH POLAR SURGE

UK BIRD SIGHTINGS AUGUST

SOUTH WEST Highlights In association with Swallow appeared on St Mary's, Scilly, on 7th. Seawatching off Cornwall, and from Scilly pelagics, delivered exceptional rewards with multiple South Polar Skuas, Scopoli's Shearwaters and Wilson's Petrels peaking at more than 100 visits seen on one trip. AVON CLEVEDON-WESTON-SUPER-MARE: A Curlew Sandpiper was at Uphill (21st). Sand Point had a Dartford Warbler (12th). SEVERNSIDE: Common Scoters turned up (6th-7th). Less common waders included Sanderling, Knot, Curlew Sandpiper and two Bar-tailed Godwits. One or two Mediterranean Gulls were seen, with more Arctic Terns than Common Terns. Storm Lillian brought an exhausted Razorbill, and a Woodlark to Severn Beach (23rd). A Wryneck (30th) and Firecrests were at Aust Warth. A Grasshopper Warbler was at Oldbury (12th). A steady stream of Whinchats, Wheatears, Tree Pipits and Yellow Wagtails passed through. THE RESERVOIRS:…

UK BIRD SIGHTINGS AUGUST

Choughed to be back!

As a child, I grew up in Dagenham, in east London; not an area known for birdwatching. Most people have heard of the Ford factory or the largest council estate in the world, but that's it. I lived on the edge of the town, and at the end of my road was a working farm. This was in the early 1960s. Alongside this was a large area that had been used for gravel and sand extraction. Children were not allowed in, but it didn't stop us using it as a playground. It was a great place for birdwatching. The gravel pits were the site of a huge colony of Sand Martins, the walls of the pits honeycombed with nest holes. There were flocks of Lapwings in the fields and, as you crossed,…

Choughed to be back!

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