Bird Watching March 2013

WIN!

£8000 worth of Kowa scopes and bins in our great new photography competition

MARCH 2013

Britain’s best-selling bird magazine

‘WE’RE MESSING UP CONSERVATION’ Exclusive Chris Packham interview

GOSHAWK Where to see this secretive woodland wonder

Plus Firecrest, Hawfinch, Stone-curlew and Wood Lark in one day!

RARITY SPECIAL EAGLES IN ESTONIA The most important rare Join us to see some of birds of the past six months Europe’s greatest wildlife

BRITAIN’S BEST BIRDING ROUTES 10 superb wildlife walks to explore and enjoy

March 2013 £4.10

Guaranteed

CHANCE OF A LIFETIME

Would you like to spend 6 months working at an Indian eco-lodge?

YOUR BIRDING

MONTH When, where and how to see more birds

FIELDCRAFT

What will you see on your lunchbreak?

How do you normally spend your lunch hour? Eating a sandwich at your desk? Queuing for a soggy jacket potato in the works canteen? Maybe you’re at home, watching Bargain Hunt…

However you spend your lunchtimes, we want to you join us in a brand new event to make the world of birdwatching more accessible for everyone.

From Monday 1 April to Friday 5 April, we want you to spend at least one lunch hour birdwatching. Wherever you work, there will be great birds to be enjoyed. You might not realise the fantastic birds that are already on your doorstep.

Take a walk to a nearby park or river, invite your work colleagues – convert them to the simple pleasures of watching birds.

Keep track of the birds you see and let us know all about it.

We’ll bring you more details in our April issue (on sale 21 March). In the meantime, download yourself a Birding Lunch poster and spread the word!

Download the poster!

Spread the word about Birding Lunch by downloading our free poster. Stick it up at your workplace, school or community centre and get as many people as possible away from their desks for at least one lunchtime from 1-5 April.

Downloads available from: birdwatching.co.uk/birdinglunch facebook.com/birdwatchingmag

Online news services Nothing beats finding birds for yourself, but you can greatly enhance your field birding with a bit of extra information. Some 20 years or so ago, the Birdline phone news services and the accompanying pagers dominated ‘live’ bird sightings. Now, the internet services (and associated mobile phones) have become king. Sites such as Birdguides and Rare Bird Alert give up-tothe-minute information which means that if anyone has seen something on your patch (and reported it) you should never miss out.

With a subscription to one or more of these sites, there is a wealth of information to help plan your birding. The internet has, to an extent, revolutionised bird identification, but it has also meant that access to scarce and rare birds has never been easier.

6 Bird Watching 2013

Endorsed by David Lindo If you work in the middle of a busy city, you can still get involved. Bird Watching’s Urban Birder, David Lindo, has seen some amazing birds in the busiest of cities.

David says: “Over the years, I made many discoveries whilst indulging in lunchtime urban birding strolls. While munching on my sandwiches I have had surprise encounters with singing Black Redstarts, watched garrulous flocks of berrygobbling Waxwings and very recently, witnessed inner London’s first ever Bearded Tits in Hyde Park. My greatest lunchtime discovery was 20 years ago when I stumbled upon Wormwood Scrubs for the first time. The rest is history. Talking a walk at lunchtime is not just about seeing unusual birds. It just great to find that there is a wealth of birdlife to be seen just outside of our workplaces.

Just look up!”

fiVe to find

Have an owling good time this month OWLS (Clockwise from top) Paul Miguel (FLPA - Images of Nature); FLPA (FLPA - Images of Nature); Simon LItten (FLPA - Images of Nature); Paul Hobson (FLPA - Images of Nature); Gary K Smith (Alamy)

March is as good a month as any to go owling. how many species of this charismatic group can you see this month?

Long-eared Owl The Long-eared Owl is our most elusive owl, being largely nocturnal and secretive. If seen in flight it is similar to the Short-eared Owl, but has a more uniformly dark streaked body and paler wing tips, rather than black (and an orange face if seen well).

Roosting birds are unmistakable, and it is our only owl with obvious ‘ear tufts’.

Barn Owl An unmistakable owl of open country, especially farmland, where there are available nest sites in the form of old barns, outbuildings or hollow trees. Almost all white beneath and in the face, with a subtle mix of buffy-orange and grey on the upperparts (quite variable between individuals). Often seen hunting in daylight or when the sun is just setting or rising, patrolling low, with light wing beats.

Tawny Owl The classic hooting owl of woodland, and parks and mature gardens with large trees.

Of all our owls, this is the one which is much more likely to be heard than seen, with its distinctive long quavering hooting song and ‘kevick’ call. Medium-sized and very rounded, with a large head. Colour varies from reddish brown to grey-brown.

Short-eared Owl Perhaps our most elegant and attractive owl in flight, with a very buoyant flight action on long stiff wings. Short-eared Owls are most frequently encountered during the day when they patrol rather like harriers (but with less gliding), though the crepuscular hours see more birds patrolling.

Distinctive face pattern and yellow eyes and black-tipped wings. Generally seen in open country, including coastal marshes and rough agricultural land.

Little Owl Arguably our most truly native-looking introduced bird, the Little Owl is a plucky, delightful little character. Barely as big as a decent-sized thrush, their appearance is unmistakable. Mostly, Little Owls are seen perching quietly in a favoured tree, such as an ancient gnarly willow. Though not as diurnal as Short-eared and Barn Owls, they are often seen during the day.

birdwatching.co.uk 7

Norfolk

Get the best from

BrecklaNd The broads, beaches and marshes may get all the birding headlines, but East Anglia’s Brecks are an underrated wildlife wonderland, writes Steve Wiltshere

David Burton (FLPA - Images of Nature)

arch doesn’t always deliver on its promise of spring, with progress towards a shift in the season appearing glacial at times. Birders crave something new, different, anything! That small burst of joy produced by the first pioneering Sand Martin is often short-lived, as a fortnight of northerly winds promptly set in, halting any further migration. So what about a trip to Breckland? This region of East Anglia is at its very best during early spring, and maybe it’s just what’s required to ‘kick-start’ the spring. Many of the area’s key species – ‘the Breckland specials’ – are resident, but they are much easier to see in spring when they’re singing or displaying.

And perhaps, the fact that most of the summer migrants aren’t yet back in, to ‘distract’ you, makes it easier to find these resident species. Now, it’s true, all of these ‘specialities’ can be seen elsewhere, but I think you would be hard-pressed to see them all in one day anywhere else in the country – but here, it can be done. A trip to this unique region is the perfect cure for the lingering winter doldrums. In fact, a good early spring day in Breckland can sometimes turn out to be one of the best days birding to be had all year.

The region straddles the border of Norfolk and Suffolk, covering 1,000 square kilometres. Unusual birds are found here because there’s a large area of a habitat that’s hard to come by elsewhere – sandy, Rabbit-grazed, lichen-rich, heath-

M

22 Bird Watching 2013

Thetford Heath is typical of Breckland habitat

grassland; and this is all in and around Thetford Forest – the largest lowland forest in the country.

Now, it’s not my intension to turn every birding trip into a ‘military operation’ of precision timings – I generally err towards the ambling, follow-your-nose school of birding – however, sometimes a basic itinerary maximises your chances of seeing as many of your target species as possible.

I must confess, it’s not easy to see all these species in one day – you need to be organised (or very lucky). To give yourself the best chance, you should do something similar to the following...

Stone-curlew is a real Breckland speciality Christophe Perelle (FLPA - images of Nature)

birdwatching.co.uk 23

Interview

Chris Packham

last Panda. I chose the Panda as a focus to question our spending on conservation per se. My comments weren’t entirely pandacentric, they were designed to ask whether a policy we came up 40/50 years ago was still valid today.

BW So, do you play devil’s advocate to inspire debate?

CP Yes, I am quite open about it. I like creatively agitating for creative change. If I can get people discussing something they wouldn’t normally talk about there is a chance they might make progress, change policy, direction, improve or optimise efficiency; that is something I am very passionate about.

BW So, this was a metaphor, a commentary on species management: if a species needs so much help, maybe nature is telling us something?

CP Exactly right. Our strategy is seriously awry. Besides the tabloid headlines, people all over the world have contacted me to say “good point mate, we may not agree with you over this but your motives are sound”.

I protested viciously against the badger cull.

Headlines work both ways. That is why I am so pragmatic with the press. I don’t care when they get it wrong because I profit from it when they get it right. I am passionate about the freedom of the press. I want to know if people are swindling their expenses or covering up a Golden Eagle crime in Scotland and for that to happen we need a free press.

BW Do people deliberately misinterpret what you say to discredit you?

CP That happens, it’s a numbers game. If I’m misrepresented that’s fine. As a society we like to brutalise people, to build them up and tear them down; you have to expect it, if you don’t you’re a fool. So long as I am winning eight out of 10, I am happy.

A classic example was when I said I’d eat the

BW If you could change the public’s perception on one thing, what would it be?

CP Population control. I believe this is the greatest threat to life on this planet at the moment. The problem is, when I am misrepresented and don’t bite back, people call me a fascist or eugenicist. I find that offensive. I despise any form of prejudice.

When I talk about limiting population

“At the moment we have this human-centric perception as the be-all of evolution, the dominant species” 30 Bird Watching 2013

growth, I am referring to human beings as a species, not any one particular group.

BW Would that extend to other species that have become overly dominant?

CP Yes definitely. I was out this morning fantasising that there weren’t so many damn Fallow Deer grazing the wood; there were no predators. I have two poodles, but what I need is a couple of Lynx and some Wolves!

Left to its own devices, wildlife exists in fantastic dynamic harmony. I aspire to that type of beauty; to see us live in greater harmony with other species; when I look at the perfect interconnection between plants and animals, I am in awe.

When we mess this up I get angry. At the moment we have this human-centric perception as the be-all of evolution, the dominant species. Unfortunately, Christianity underpins of a lot of this, with humans being made in the image of God and other animals less worthy. This has created a very dangerous situation where we believe we are above and outside the system. We are not outside the system we are just messing it up!

BW Is this emphasised by the drastic decline in some bird species in the past 40 years?

CP Yes. Which is largely down to intensification of agriculture, with loss of habitat and resources. It is possible to stem this trend if we put a halt to some rather pathetic self-indulgent conservation projects and dealt with the bigger picture. 86% of the land surface of the UK is farmed. Most of this, thanks to increased efficiency and poor use of herbicides, pesticides and fertilisers, is a species-poor desert. Our NGOs and government could deal with it by adopting serious reforms of our Common Agriculture

Chris Packham - www.chrispackhamphotos.com/ David Foster - www.dfmanagement.tv

BW You have something of a reputation for speaking your mind...

CP I don’t go out to offend or upset people. If people question or criticise me I welcome that. If they don’t get me or what I say, I listen.

To me it’s just common sense. Some might think my views controversial, but I don’t. If they do and discuss it, maybe it might become common sense, too, and then I have achieved my objective. I don’t believe I get everything right all of time. I retain the right to admit I’m wrong and change my mind based on new evidence. That is part of learning.

Black-browed Albatross, southern Atlantic

Chris Packham - www.chrispackhamphotos.com

The outspoken TV star and photographer has never been one to shy away from controversy, from loudly opposing the badger cull to saying he’d eat the last panda. And, as we found out, he’s showing no signs of changing his ways

Chris will go to any lengths to get the shot he’s after... birdwatching.co.uk 31

Best Bird Garden 2013

Have you had redpolls in your garden?

You could do soon… just add niger seed esser Redpolls are proving to be an exciting addition to gardens during early spring.

Numbers of this streaky little bird have rocketed over recent years, with niger seed particularly supporting their influx.

Some of our most loved garden birds are members of the finch family.

Take the stunning Goldfinch or Bullfinch, for example, or the sociable Chaffinch or Greenfinch – each bring wonderful colour and sound into our everyday lives. Finches have carved out a successful niche in gardens, profiting from the many types of bird seed now provided by householders.

One of the newer seeds to have become widespread in our gardens is niger. Being very fine, niger is different to other seeds in that it requires a special feeder with tiny feeding ports, which prevent it from pouring out onto the ground.

Niger has usually been thought of as a ‘magic food’ for attracting Goldfinches, but we are quickly discovering that it is also a key

L

ingredient for drawing in another finch – Lesser Redpolls.

Lesser Redpolls are small birds, about the size of Blue Tits. They have tiny beaks that are not very good at handling large seeds, and so niger is an easier option for them. During winter and early spring, Lesser Redpolls often move in large flocks with other finches, including Siskin and Goldfinch, and so their arrival in a garden can herald an exciting swarm of activity. Such events are not only visually captivating but they are also dazzling on the ear, with the rattling, metallic twitters of Lesser Redpolls infusing with the chattering of these other birds.

The use of bird feeders by Lesser Redpolls is of real significance, not least because this is a species of high conservation concern. Their breeding numbers dropped sharply from the mid-1970s to the mid-1990s, and it is hoped that their use of feeders might support their recovery. Lesser Redpolls peak in their use of gardens during early spring, when natural

“Lesser Redpolls peak in their use of gardens during early spring”

Do you have Britain’s Best Bird Garden?

If so, you could win £500 worth of wild bird feed and accessories from Ernest Charles, which works with the BTO to blend delicious and nutritious food for your garden birds.

As with last year’s competition, which attracted dozens of high-quality entries and was featured in several national newspapers, we’re looking for gardens which have been designed and shaped to provide wild birds (and other wildlife) with plenty of natural food, cover, and nesting/roosting sites. If they also look great, then so much the better!

Every month, we’ll be highlighting an aspect of wildlife gardening with the help of Ernest Charles and the BTO, and they’ll be providing vital tips on what to feed, when, and how. So, even if your garden’s not an award-winner just yet, with our help, it very soon could be!

seed stocks are very low. This indicates that niger seed is becoming increasingly important in seeing these birds through this period of scarcity. Strikingly, results collected through the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) Garden Bird Feeding Survey show more than a 20-fold increase in the use of garden feeders

by Lesser Redpolls over the past decade.

Although a delightful addition to any garden, Lesser Redpolls can leave birdwatchers scratching their heads. They are one of three redpoll species that frequent the UK, with the other two – Common Redpoll and Arctic Redpoll – also turning up occasionally in gardens (although being much rarer than Lesser Redpoll). The BTO wants to help birdwatchers to identify these three species and so has produced a free factsheet for readers to request (see details below). The factsheet also contains information about the migratory habits of Lesser Redpolls, and why their breeding population size has changed so dramatically over the years.

■ For the free BTO Lesser Redpoll factsheet, please email gbw@bto.org, telephone 01842-750050, or write to Lesser Redpoll Factsheet, GBW, BTO, The Nunnery,

OUR SPONSOR Established in 1844, at Ernest Charles we offer an extensive range of quality wild bird feeds and seed blends, which your garden birds will love! Our experience, combined with the research carried out by our partners at The British Trust for Ornithology, makes our quality seed blends not only delicious, but nutritious too! Visit us online at www.ernest-charles.com and check out our full range of feeds, feeders, accessories and much more today!

There are three categories 1 Balconies, terraces and yards 2 Gardens up to 50ft in length 3 Gardens more than 50ft in length We’ll choose winners in each category, who will be able to order £500 (RRP) of selected wild bird food and accessories from Ernest Charles.

44 Bird Watching 2013

www.ernest-charles.com

Bird Watching Exclusive Reader Offer

Bird Watching reader Ian Jones sent us this photo of an impressive 10 Lesser Redpolls on his niger seed feeder

NIGER SEED 3KG

Niger, irresistible to Goldfinches, is a very small oil-rich seed. So tiny, in fact, that there are special feeders designed to hold this seed, with very small feeding holes to keep waste to a minimum. If Goldfinches are in your area they will soon seek out a garden offering their favourite food. Siskins, Greenfinches and of course Lesser Redpolls love it too!

SAVE £2 NOW £6.99 (WAS £8.99)

How to order Freephone 0800 731 6770 Online www.ernest-charles.com

HOW TO ENTER In 200 words or fewer, tell us why your garden should win. Tell us what you’ve done to improve it, a list of the birds that you see in it regularly – and any unusual visitors.

Email birdwatching@bauermedia.co.uk up to three photos – from any time of year – of your garden and the birds that visit it, and remember to include your name, address and daytime phone number, as well as which category your entry is for.

Alternatively, complete the entry form below, include a CD of up to three photos and up to 200 words about your garden, and send them to: Best Bird Garden 2013, Bird Watching, Media House, Peterborough PE2 6EA. Closing date: March 31, 2013.

BRITAIN’S BEST BIRD GARDEN 2013 Name..................................................................................................................................................................Address............................................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Daytime phone no .................................................................................................................................Email .....................................................................................................................................................................

Please enter this information so that Bauer Media (publishers of Bird Watching) and Ernest Charles can administer this competition.

Bauer Consumer Media Limited (publisher of Bird Watching) and Ernest Charles would also like to keep you informed of special offers and promotions via post or telephone. Please tick the box if you do not wish to receive these from Bauer Media or Ernest Charles .

REMEMBER to include your photo CD and garden description.

Terms and conditions: The competition is open to residents of the UK aged 18 years or over, excluding employees of Bauer Media, Ernest Charles and their families, agents or anyone professionally connected with the competition. Any one person may enter a maximum of three images. and a maximum of 200 words telling us why your garden should win. Illegible, incomplete, defaced or corrupt entries will not be accepted. No responsibility can be accepted for lost entries and proof of transmission will not be accepted as proof of receipt. Entries must not be sent through agencies or third parties. All images submitted must be the work of the individual submitting them and must not have been published elsewhere or have won a prize in any other competition. It is the responsibility of each entrant to ensure that any images they submit have been taken with the permission of the subject and do

not infringe the copyright of any third party or any laws. Entrants must warrant that the photograph they are submitting is their own work and that they own the copyright for it. All entries must be received by the advertised closing time and date.The editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Copyright in all images submitted for this competition remains with the respective entrants. However, in consideration of their providing the Competition, each entrant grants a worldwide, irrevocable, perpetual licence to Bauer and Ernest Charles to feature any or all of the submitted images in any of their publications, their websites and/or in any promotional material connected to this competition.The winners may be required to take part in publicity. All prizes are non transferable and there are no cash alternatives. In the unlikely event that a prize should

become unavailable, Bauer Media. reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value. Winners will be notified by letter within 14 days of the closing date. A list of winners and results can be obtained by writing to the promoter at the above address. Prizes will be delivered to the winner/s within 28 days of notification. The promoters are Bauer Consumer Media Limited, Media House, Lynch Wood, Peterborough, PE2 6EA. The registered office of Bauer Consumer Media Ltd is: 21 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2DY. Registered No. 1176085.

For postal entries: Original digital files on a CD or DVD are accepted. Entrants should include their own name, address and telephone number. Do not enclose any other material with your entry. All entries must be sent with the correct, completed entry form. Photocopied entry forms are accepted.

birdwatching.co.uk 45

BZAA

SIGN ME UP! Yes! I’d like to subscribe to Bird Watching

Annual Direct Debit 13 issues £39 – saving 25% Annual Credit/Debit card 13 issues £45 –saving 15% Outside the UK 13 issues of Bird Watching magazine with debit/credit card or cheque at £49 Minimum term 12 months YOUR DETAILS

Title Address

Initial

Surname

Postcode Email* Telephone

Mobile*

*Please enter this information so that Bauer Media Group (publishers of this magazine) can keep you up-to-date by email and free mobile messaging with fantastic offers and promotions. We promise that you can unsubscribe at any time if you don’t mnd them interesting and you’ll only get messages about things we’ve chosen especially for you from ourselves and our network of great partners whose products and services we think you’ll enjoy.

DELIVERY DETAILS (if different, i.e. purchased as a gift).

Title Address

Initial

SUBSCRIBE TO

SAV

Surname

Postcode Email Telephone

Originator’s Identimcation Number

7 2 4 0 9 6

Please pay Bauer Consumer Media Direct Debits from the account detailed in the instructions (subject to the safeguards of the Direct Debit Guarantee).

Account Name Account Number Sort Code

10 new walks every issue in Go Birding, the UK’s best bird walk guide

Name and Address of Bank

Postcode Date

Signature

Direct Debit Guarantee. • This Guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept instructions to pay Direct Debits. • If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit, Bauer Consumer Media Ltd will notify you 10 working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If you request Bauer Consumer Media Ltd to collect a payment, conmrmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request. • If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit, by Bauer Consumer Media Ltd or your bank or building society, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society. • If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when Bauer Consumer Media Ltd asks you to. • You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society. Written conmrmation may be required. Please also notify us.

PAYMENT DETAILS

I enclose a cheque/postal order for £ made payable to Bauer Consumer Media Ltd. Please debit £

from my debit/credit card:

Visa

Maestro

Delta

Mastercard

Card Number Expiry Date

/

Valid From

/

Issue Number Signature

Date

We have really special offers and promotions that we think you’ll enjoy but if you’d rather not hear from us please tick for post or phone and if you would prefer not to hear from our partners tick here for post or phone .

For our Privacy Policy visit www.bauerdatapromise.co.uk. Bauer Media Group consists of Bauer Consumer Media Ltd, Bauer Radio Ltd and H. Bauer Publishing Ltd.

SEND TO: Please include completed coupon and cheque (if appropriate) with the magazine name on the back.

Magazine Subscriptions, FREE POST, EDO3995, Leicester, LE16 9BR

T&C: The minimum term is 12 months. This offer closes on 21/03/2013.

“We try to fill every issue of Bird Watching with as much useful information as possible to help you get the most out of your birding. Whether you’re a dedicated veteran birdwatcher or just enjoy watching the birds in your garden, we’ve got something for you. From ID guides to studies of bird behaviour, we like to think of Bird Watching as your trusty birding pal, all year round.”

Matt Merritt, Editor

Why subscribe? ✔ Free delivery ✔ Straight to your door ✔ Exclusive subscriber rewards ✔ Best offers straight from the publisher

Sign up today

BIRD WATCHING AND

VE 25% In-depth features exploring the lives of the birds we love

Your Birding Month – how to get the most out of your favourite hobby

ID guides, with exclusive artwork and easy-to-use tips and pointers

Travel guides from some of Britain’s leading wildlife writers

Three easy ways to subscribe Call us now 0844 848 8872 and quote BZAA

Order online at www.greatmagazines. co.uk/bw and quote BZAA

Complete the form and send it to: Bird Watching subscriptions, FREEPOST EDO3995, Leicester LE16 9BR

Go birdinG

MArCh

WALk 1 Highland

Difficulty

Loch Morlich

Site Guide Paul Trodd

Woodland walk in the ancient forest of Caledon och Morlich is a part of the massive Glenmore Forest Park and falls within the boundaries of arguably Britain’s most spectacular national park, The Cairngorms.

The loch is surrounded by a mixture of commercial pine plantations and, increasingly, large tracts of restored Caledonian pine forest, the native woodland of the region and so important to the likes of Capercaillie and Crested Tit. Several swift flowing rivers tumble into the loch and the shoreline is bordered in places by an incongruous sandy beach.

The birdlife of these woodlands is essentially highland in flavour with Siskins, Coal Tits and Chaffinches in the ascendency, but with a good chance of finding Crested Tit and the endemic Scottish Crossbill. There is also a good chance of finding a Long-eared Owl on the woodland edge, while any canopy viewpoint should be checked for Goshawk.

At the start/finish of the walk one of the best spots to see our native Red Squirrel is on the café bird feeders, where I’ve also

Crested Tit

regularly seen Crested Tits. Red and Roe Deer can also be encountered crossing fire break tracks and Pine Martens are present in the woods. Scenically, there are few places in the country that can match the Highland region for sheer grandeur. This walk takes in views of the snow-capped Cairngorms to the south and is an ideal appetiser if you’re heading that way.

Paul Trodd

imagebroker (Alamy)

L

Grid ref: NH 965 095 Postcose: PH22 1QU How to get there: From Aviemore take the B970 to Coylumbridge and follow the signposted lane to Cairngorm. Loch Morlich is located a further four miles east near Glenmore Forest Park.

Where to park: Park in one of the large pay and display car parks along the northern shore of the loch.

Distance and time: Allow at least a couple of hours to walk the three-mile route.

Terrain: Mostly on the level with good quality footpaths.

Accessibility: Year-round access on well-marked public footpaths and tracks.

Facilities: There is a visitor centre at Glenmore, a cafe, information boards and public toilets.

Public transport: Stagecoach operates a bus service to nearby Aviemore, for details contact Traveline on 0870 6082 608 or www.traveline.scotland.com Train service to Aviemore, for details contact Scotrail on 08457 484950 or www.firstgroup.com Sites nearby: Cairngorm (grid ref: NH 989 061), Loch an Eilein (grid ref: NH 897 085).

Organisations: Glenmore Forest Park, 01479 861 220.

Club contact: Scottish Ornithological Club, Highland Branch, 01808 511740, www. the-soc.org.uk, kathybonniface@aol.com.

County recorder: Hugh Insley, 1 Drummond Place, Inverness IV2 4JT, 01463 230652, hugh.insley@btinternet.com Maps: OS Landranger 36, OS Explorer 403.

In association with MINOX manufacturer a wide range of high quality optics suitable for a variety of outdoor activites. Contact your local Minox Sport Optic Partner or Dealer for further information and guidance on selecting a suitable pair of binoculars or spotting scope for your requirements.

1

V5 OS 1:50,000 Region 6 Northern Scotland www.memory-map.co.uk 0870 743 0121

Aviemore 7m Û

1

4 3

2

Check the feeders around the café for visiting tits, including Crested Tit, plus Siskin, redpoll and Great Spotted Woodpecker. Flocks of Chaffinches may attract one or two Bramblings.

Dippers are sometimes seen here among the boulders but Grey Wagtail is more likely. Tawny Owls are sometimes active early morning.

The pine woods hold Crested Tit and Scottish Crossbill, plus Treecreeper, Great Spotted Woodpecker, redpoll and Goldcrest, while Coal Tit, Siskin and Chaffinch are the commonest birds.

Scan the lake for Goldeneye and Goosander, although Tufted Duck, Teal and Wigeon are more likely and Redthroated Divers occasionally visit.

2

3 4

54 Bird Watching 2013

Go birdinG

MArCh

WALk 2 Cumbria

Difficulty

Siddick Pond

Site Guide John Miles

Brilliant spot for finding yourself a Bittern his fresh water, close to the sea, attracts a wide range of species. Once this was the harbour for Roman Workington, but silt finally left the site to nature, and it now houses Cumbria’s largest reedbed. This attracts Bitterns from Europe and in recent years you have a better chance to see birds here in winter than at Leighton Moss. The height of the track means you are looking down onto the reedbed, which is also a help in spring to watch warblers such as Reed, Sedge and Grasshopper Warblers, Lesser Whitethroat and Whitethroat.

Both Mute and Whooper Swans can be found, along with Goosander, Goldeneye and Tufted Duck, while waders like Greenshank, Spotted Redshank, Ruff, Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper are seen on migration, stopping off to use the flash to the west of the cycle track.

Gulls are another good bet, with Mediterranean very much a winter bird, along with Common and Black-headed Gulls, with one record of Iceland Gull. Little Gull has arrived off the sea, along with a

V5 OS 1:50,000 Region 4 Northern England www.memory-map.co.uk 0870 743 0121

bittern

mixture of terns, which include both Whiskered and Caspian. Rarer ducks found here over the year include Green-winged Teal, Scaup, Long-tailed Duck and Smew.

Both Barred and Yellow-browed Warblers have been found here in autumn.

Butterflies and dragonflies should be looked for in summer with odd records of Small Blue from here.

John Miles

4 3 1 2

David Chapman

T

Grid ref: NY 001 301.

Postcode: CA14 1NQ. How to get there: From Workington, head north on A596 until you see the Dunmail shopping centre. Turn right into the centre past the Asda petrol station and head to the far end of the car park, where you will see J Edgar & Sons car showroom. Drive to the right of the building and park close to the footpath onto the cycle track. From north, turn left at the shopping centre.

Where to park: Parking is behind the car showroom. Alternatively, you can park by the hide on the Iggesund car park at grid ref: NY 001 309.

Distance and time: This is a short walk of around 1km on cycle tracks laid out for you.

Give yourself an hour or more, but watch out for bikes!

Terrain: Dry tracks, so use stout footwear.

Accessibility: Open access all year.

Facilities: Shops and everything else you need in Dunmail shopping centre or Workington.

Public transport: Buses from Workington to Maryport. Trains stop at Workington.

Ten-minute walk to Siddick on the cycle track. Call Traveline, 0870 608 2608.

Sites nearby: Go Birdings: Workington Harbour (August 2011), Maryport Harbour (October 2010).

Club contacts: Carlisle Natural History Society, 01228 618 736.

County recorder: Colin Raven, email: colin@walneyobs.fsnet.co.uk Maps: OS Explorer OL4.

In association with MINOX manufacturer a wide range of high quality optics suitable for a variety of outdoor activites. Contact your local Minox Sport Optic Partner or Dealer for further information and guidance on selecting a suitable pair of binoculars or spotting scope for your requirements.

1 2

Park by the side of the car showroom.

Check the flash to the west of the cycle track for waders and gulls.

The reedbed is the major attraction these days, with up to seven Bitterns possible at any time, in winter. The Starling roost has been a major feeding area for these birds along with the birds of prey and owls that come to feed on them.

A mixture of wildfowl are possible, with both diving duck and dabblers. Grebes occur, along with swans and herons. Look out for Otters.

A hide is situated on the Iggesund paper mill for safety reasons (the last one was burnt down!). You need to get a key from the security hut by the car park and sign in.

3 4

birdwatching.co.uk 55

Rarity special

RARE BIRD RouND-uP Lee Evans brings us a species-by-species guide to the star birds of the second half of 2012

Pacific Diver: In Cornwall, the regular adult returned to Mount’s Bay, Penzance, on 5th December, being seen almost daily until 16th.

White-billed Diver: Singles flew north past Flamborough Head (North Yorks) on 25th October and 28th November and Whitburn CP (Co. Durham) on 27th September Pied-billed Grebe: One was at Lough Baun, Louisburgh (Co. Mayo), from 29th October until 4th November, while perhaps the same relocated to Loch na Bagh, Smerclate, South Uist, Outer Hebrides from 26th November to 8th December.

Fea’s Soft-plumaged Petrel: One flew west past Mizen Head (Co. Cork) on 16th July, followed by two off Carnsore Point (Co. Wexford) on 18th August and then further singles off Cape Clear island (Co. Cork) on 19th August and Galley Head (Co. Cork) on 29th August. Yet another went west off Mizen Head on 5th October. In Cornwall, one flew west past Porthgwarra early evening on 24th August, while on 26th September, one flew south past Fraserburgh (Aberdeenshire).

Cory’s Shearwater: The first 20 or more were seen on 16th July, passing both Scilly and Porthgwarra (Cornwall), with a stronger passage in SW Ireland, including 35 past Mizen Head (Co Cork) on 31st July. Numbers then dramatically increased in August with no less than 320 reported in SW Britain, including 115 past Gwennap Head, Porthgwarra, on 3rd and 18 past Pendeen Watchpoint (Cornwall) on 25th. These numbers were dwarfed by those passing Ireland during the same period, with at least 1,500 passing Galley Head (Co Cork) on 2nd-3rd and more than 400 at several other West Coast locations. On 10th September, a further 9 flew west past Porthgwarra (the same day 30 were logged from a Scilly pelagic trip), with up to 3 birds reported in the southern North Sea on 23rd September, being seen offshore of Suffolk, Norfolk and East Yorkshire. A few late birds were reported in October, with singles off Beesands Ley (Devon) on 1st, Skinningrove (Cleveland) on 9th, Flamborough Head (East Yorks) on 10th and Thorpeness (Suffolk) on 11th.

Great Shearwater: the first of the year and autumn flew west past Start Point (Devon) on 2nd July. Six others quickly followed, including one past Flamborough Head (East Yorks) on 13th July, with a major movement in SW Ireland on 31st July, when 14 flew west past Mizen Head (Co Cork). A further 65 were logged in August, peaking at 22 past Porthgwarra (Cornwall) on 3rd and 11 past Pendeen Watchpoint on 25th. In the North Sea, singles were seen passing Cley Coastguards and Sheringham (Norfolk) on 26th August, Hartlepool Headland (Cleveland) on 27th August and Flamborough Head (East Yorkshire) on 31st August. Along with the Cory’s Shearwater passage, SW Ireland also recorded large numbers of Great Shearwaters passing in August, with 60 past Old Head of Kinsale (Co Cork) on 3rd. In September, just 10 were seen between 4th & 18th, including two past Pendeen on 11th and further singles past Portland Bill (Dorset and Porthgwarra on 30th.

Yelkouan Shearwater: After some good years for this species in West Cornwall, the only record this year was of a single north past Whitburn Steel (Co Durham) on 31st August.

North Atlantic Little Shearwater: Singles flew past Toe Head (Co Cork) on 19th August and Bridges of Ross (Co Clare) on 27th August.

Wilson’s Storm Petrel: Joe Pender’s Scilly

68 Bird Watching 2013

Pelagic trips have the monopoly with this seabird these days with the SW Approaches yielding at least 3 in July, including 2 on 2nd, 3 on 12th and singles on 16th and 19th, and 2 more in August on 2nd. Further singles were also seen from the MV Scillonian, between Penzance and St Mary’s, on 16th July and from a pelagic 14 miles NW of Newquay (Cornwall) on 25th July. Singles flew past Galley Head (Co. Cork) on 22nd July, Bridges of Ross (Co. Clare) on 17th August, Toe Head (Co. Cork) on 19th August and Galley Head (Co. Cork) on 21st August, with two seen from a pelagic trip off Loop Head (Co. Clare) on 12th August and at least three from a Pelagic west of the Blasket Islands (Co. Kerry) on 17th August. A very late individual was seen off Cloughmore Head (Co. Galway) on 4th October.

Black-crowned Night Heron: In Hampshire, the second-summer was again at Lower Pennington Fishponds from 3rd-19th August. One was reported near Bandon (Co. Cork) on 26th July Cattle Egret: One visited Elmley Marshes RSPB (Kent) on 16th August, with single juveniles at Abbotsbury (Dorset) on 24th-27th August and Dungeness RSPB (Kent) on 30th August. In September, singles were at Northwick Wharf (Gloucs) on 9th, near Fort William (Highland) on 23rd, this latter individual relocating to the Outer Hebrides shortly later, where it visited Kilmuir, South Uist, on 26th-27th and Balranald RSPB, North Uist, on 28th-30th and later Loch nam Magarlan, North Uist, until 4th October.

Elsewhere, one was seen at various sites in South Devon in October and at Catcott Lows NR (Somerset Levels) on 11th, with that in Devon at Colyford Common, Seaton, from 1st-27th November. One was then present at Westhay Moor (Somerset) on 27th-28th December, moving to nearby Mudgeley until 31st. One was at Strabane (Co. Tyrone) from 2nd-11th November, with another at St Johnston (Co. Donegal) organic piggery from 14th December into 2013.

Squacco Heron: The breeding plumaged adult continued to grace the Welney Washes WWT (Norfolk) until 1st July.

Great White Egret: This species continues to go from strength to strength following this year’s first breeding attempt in Somerset where two different nests fledged a total of four young. Around 50 different individuals were logged in the UK between July and December, including at least 8 on the Somerset Levels, up to 7 in the Dungeness Area (Kent), 8 in Mid & South Wales and 7 in NW England. One visited the River Slaney near Bunclody (Co Wexford) on 28th August Purple Heron: In Kent, the adult remained at Stodmarsh NNR until 1st July and was then replaced by a juvenile in the Stour Valley from 25th July until 30th August. A further adult was then seen in flight over Oare Marshes NR (Kent) on 30th July, with further juveniles at Coombe Hill Meadows NR (Gloucs) from 28th-30th July, on the Mepal Washes (Cambs) from 30th July until 5th September and reported from Fritton Marshes (Norfolk) on 15th August. In October, juveniles were present at Radipole Lake RSPB, Weymouth (Dorset), from 6th-27th and at College Reservoir, Falmouth (Cornwall), from 17th-22nd, that at Radipole reappearing in November from 1st-5th.

Black Stork: There were brief appearances at Loch Fleet at Littleferry, Golspie (Sutherland) on 6th July and in flight over Bignor Hill (West Sussex) on 17th July. One flew over Ballyvaughan (Co. Clare) on 12th July.

T

his is the second part of my Annual Report on Rare Birds in 2012, the first part, covering the months January-June, was published in the Summer 2012 issue. At that stage, no less than 384 species had been recorded. In the six months that followed, a further 62 species occurred, culminating in a sixth-best 446 species.

The latter half of the year proved equally as exciting as the first, with July and August yielding some great seabird movements and rare waders such as Stilt Sandpiper. Again, late September and October were dominated by shortstaying mega-rares, with both Magnolia Warbler and eastern Kingbird slipping away for the high listers. Anyway, here’s our list covering the second half of 2012 – how many species would have been new for you?

White Stork: Discounting obvious escapees, a party of 3 continued to linger along the south coast from the spring frequenting flooded food-rich fields at Templecombe (Somerset) from 14th-19th July. They were then seen flying over Rampisham (Dorset) on 20th July before being rejoined by a fourth individual at Thorney Moor, near Muchelney (Somerset Levels) on 27th-29th July. The flock then relocated to Wet Moor, near Langport (Somerset), from 9th-22nd August, feasting on prey marooned by receding floodwaters, before being seen near Dorchester (Dorset) on 23rd August.

with Greenland White-fronted Geese at Sheskinmore Lough (Co. Donegal) from 7th November into the New Year.

Glossy Ibis: Up to a dozen oversummered, including singles at Minsmere RSPB (Suffolk) until 15th July, Pagham Harbour North Wall (West Sussex) until 20th July, Ham Walls RSPB (Somerset) until 24th July, the Ouse Washes RSPB (Cambs) until 25th October and that at Marloes Mere (Pembrokeshire) all year.

Elsewhere, Glossy Ibises were recorded on Skokholm Island (Pembs) on 8th July, Farlington Marsh Lagoon (Hants) on 15th July, Grove Ferry, Stodmarsh NNR (Kent) on 17th July, Holland Haven CP (Essex) on 17th July, The Naze (Essex) on 25th-30th July, Welney WWT (Norfolk) on 22nd & 28th September and at Hesketh Out Marsh (Lancs) on 2nd September.

October saw yet another influx of birds from Coto Donana (Spain), with independent parties of 7 and 8 birds arriving in West Cornwall at Windmill Farm (Lizard) and Marazion Marsh RSPB Reserve respectively on 6th, with all 15 birds then flying over Land’s End at midday, at least 7 of which remaining in Sennen Brew Pool water meadows until at least 23rd. Elsewhere, one flew south over Bosley Reservoir (Cheshire) on 4th, one visited Rainham Marshes RSPB (London) on 14th-15th, one was in Poole Harbour (Dorset) on 21st, a first-winter was at Aveton Gifford (South Devon) on 21st, the Poole bird was at Keyhaven Marshes (Hants) on 24th and back at Hengistbury Head (Dorset) on 25th. What may have been the same bird was at Bickerley Common Floods, south of Ringwood (Hants), from 2nd December into January 2013.

Ireland saw an additional three birds oversummer (in Counties Wexford & Cork) with those at Timoleague (Co. Cork) and Tacumshin (Co. Wexford) being seen until the end of the year.

Vagrant Canada Goose: At least 10 Richardson’s Canada Geese were discovered in Scotland and Ireland in October, the majority being regularly returning adults with Barnacle Geese, including up to 4 on Islay (Argyll) and 3 in the Lissadell area (Co. Mayo). Several Todd’s Canada Geese were also identified, including singles in Dumfries & Galloway, Cumbria and on Islay. A further hutchinsii in North Norfolk ranged between Kelling, Cley and Blakeney all month before relocating to Lincolnshire in the New Year.

Eurasian Spoonbill: The breeding population continued to do well and swell the numbers present in the country during the summer, with no less than 70 birds being present in East Anglia in July. Noteworthy were 2 on the Ythan Estuary (Aberdeenshire) on 26th July and a juvenile at Broom GP (Beds) on 31st August. As autumn progressed, the Poole Harbour (Dorset) flock increased to 19 birds by 7th October, whilst Titchwell RSPB (Norfolk) still held 11 early in the month and Elmley Marshes RSPB at least 10.

Snow Goose: A flock of 13 Lesser Snow Geese was seen in Lancashire on 29th August and next day in Gloucestershire and had probably wandered from the naturalised population in Germany. An adult white morph of unknown origin was then with Greylag Geese on Lewis (Outer Hebrides) from 6th-8th September. Two white morphs were with Greylag Geese on Islay (Argyll) from 3rd October, perhaps the two later present on North Uist (Outer Hebrides) from 15th October into the New Year.

The regular Stromness adult was with Greylag Geese in Orkney from 25th November, with blue morph birds on Islay at Loch Gruinart RSPB (Argyll) on 1st November and at Skinnet, near Halkirk (Highland) on 30th November.

In Ireland, the regular blue morph was at Lough MacNean from Late October, with a white morph

Ross’s Snow Goose: For the first winter in a long time, not one genuine Ross’s Goose arrived with the Pink-footed Geese this autumn. The white morph adult consorting with Barnacle Geese did show up, moving from Breydon Water (Norfolk) on 31st October to Waxham (Norfolk) on 4th-7th November, before spending the rest of the year in the Yare Valley.

Red-breasted Goose: An adult, presumed to be a regular bird, was with dark-bellied Brent Geese at South Swale NR (North Kent) from 14th-23rd October before moving south and west to Hampshire, where it was seen at Milford-on-Sea on 24th and Farlington Marshes from 25th, remaining at the latter site until the turn of the year. A further adult also accompanied Barnacle Geese on Islay (Argyll) from 21st October into January 2013 with another at Whitrigg (Cumbria) on 16th-18th November and at Cardurnock (Cumbria) from 28th-30th November. This latter bird then relocated to fields near Loaningfoot (Dumfries & Galloway) on 29th-31st December.

North American Wood Duck: A drake of unknown origin was at Tacumshin Pools (Co. Wexford) on 2nd December.

American Wigeon: Regularly returning drakes were seen at Wintersett Reservoir, Ryhill (West Yorks), from 8th October, Kirk Loch and Lochmaben (Dumfries & Galloway) from 13th October and at Loch Bee, South Uist (Outer Hebrides) from 24th-28th October. A drake was also at Loch of Strathbeg RSPB (Aberdeenshire) from 31st October until 5th November, with others at St John’s Loch (Caithness) on 2nd November, in the Yare Valley near Bawburgh (Norfolk) on 9th-30th December and in Udale Bay (Highland) from 24th-31st December. A drake was at Tacumshin (Co. Wexford) from 7th October until at least 5th November, with others at Cahore (Co. Wexford) on 8th December and Ashton’s Callow (Co. Tipperary) on 29th December.

Falcated Duck: In Oxfordshire, a drake arrived at Farmoor Reservoirs with an influx of Mallards on 9th December and remained there until 13th.

North American Black Duck: In Ireland, the long-surviving drake was present at Achill Island (Co. Mayo) throughout the latter half of the year, two Mallard hybrids also being recorded in September, whilst in Scotland, the drake returned to Strontian (Highland) from 23rd December.

Blue-winged Teal: An eclipse drake of unknown origin was at Carbarns Pool near Motherwell (Clyde) from 25th August until 8th September before returning to Bridgend Farm Pools, near Kirkintilloch on 16th September. It then returned to the River Threave, near Castle Douglas, on 29th November, showing intermittently until the end of the year.

Other sightings included a drake at Marshside

Desert Wheatear, Worthing, West Sussex, 26 october Richard Horne

Short-billed Dowitcher, Lodmoor, Dorset, 9 September Richard Stonier

(American) Buff-bellied Pipit, Rerwick, Shetland, September 2012 Hugh Harrop

Roller, Aldborough, East Yorkshire, 9 July Richard Stonier

Spanish Sparrow, Landguard, Suffolk, 24 August John Richardson

birdwatching.co.uk 69

leTTers Have your say and share your stories Urban Waxwing by les McCallum

Sending your letters, questions and pictures to Bird Watching has never been easier. Pick from these options: Bird Watching, Media House, Lynchwood, Peterborough PE2 6EA birdwatching@bauermedia. co.uk

I am not a photographer, but I did take my son’s camera along to South Ealing station to see a small flock of Waxwings.

During their stay, there were normally 8-10 birds waiting at the top of a fir tree, ready to swoop down onto a small tree laden with small pink and white berries.

This tree was guarded by a Mistle Thrush, which did its best to chase off the Waxwings but was always outnumbered, although the thrush did seem to tolerate a male Blackcap that fed in the branches below it.

Sadly, several Waxwings met an untimely death by flying into the plate glass of a bus shelter that is just yards away.

I should point out that the tree is inches away from pedestrians and a few feet away from buses, cars and trucks. Most people passed by without seeing them, but a few inquisitive members of the public asked what they were.

After telling them about the birds and where they come from, several people shook my hand and went off smiling at having seen such a beautiful and exotic 106 Bird Watching 2013

twitter.com/ BirdWatchingMag

dan’s tail-less blackbird

A tale of no tail

london Waxwings

facebook.com/ BirdWatchingMag

bird at such close quarters.

Les McCallum, London

Pheasants revolt I read with interest your article on Ring-necked Parakeets in the February issue, and how there may be a concern that the increase of this bird is taking food away from our native species. I think it curious that, in this country every year, millions of non-native Pheasants are reared just so a tiny minority of our population can go out and blast them from the skies in a thoroughly unsportsmanlike way.

Up until they meet their untimely end they must surely be munching their way through our countryside eating vastly more than a handful of parakeets will ever do.

I find it strange then that there is never any outcry about this.

I do speak from some experience of this, as I recently had a cock Pheasant visit my garden and pork his way through all the food I was putting on the lawn for my garden birds. A can of worms perhaps!!

Steve Mosley, email

While out cleaning and re-filling my feeders this morning, I managed to grab a couple of photos of a male Blackbird which has been frequenting my garden this winter.

Nothing strange about this I hear you say, except this bird has no tail! I’m not sure if this is a common occurrence or not, but it doesn’t seem to stop him hopping around and flying up into the low branches of the Buddleia.

He was also very tame, allowing me to get within 3-4ft.

I was wondering, have any other readers encountered tail-less birds?

Dan Nickson, email

song Thrush A solitary bird, the Song Thrush quietly searches for food in large gardens, fields and parks. It suffered greatly with gardeners sprinkling slug pellets, which for years destroyed their main food.

They also eat worms and will turn to fruit. Times have slightly changed and Song Thrushes are back in our gardens – broken snail shells are a sure sign of a visit from this thrush.

While watching a Song Thrush shirley’s song Thrush

in my garden, it didn’t show any aggression, just waited for a chance of getting anything to feed on. Often, it was sent packing by Blackbirds.

It’s worth throwing some feed, seed and crushed fat balls to the back of the flower borders – hidden among the shrubs, there just might be a Song Thrush, waiting.

Shirley Roulston, email

Owl success I have longed to see an owl for all the years I have been birdwatching.

Despite spending many an hour watching and waiting, staying on farms etc, just in the hope of seeing any owl, I had no luck.

But all that changed the other night! I live in a flat just next to a wooded area – imagine my delight when a few nights ago, I went outside to take the rubbish out and there, in a nearby tree, was a Tawny Owl. I was thrilled – and so is my husband, because he no longer has to take the bins out, its now my job in case I see MY owl.

Christine James, email

A very short list You asked for us to advise you of ‘odd’ lists we keep?

I have a list (albeit a short one), of birds detected while in the bath! This commenced when I could, on one occasion, hear our local Barn Owl calling, which I took as motivation to start one up. As I take most baths at night, I

suspect it will never get very lengthy!

Brian Clews, Berkshire

it’s a dog’s life Regarding unusual bird lists, a friend of mine has a list for his dog. As well as counting his own year list around the UK, he keeps a life list of birds his dog, Trigger, has ‘seen’!

I’ve even seen him dash off home to fetch his pet when a Great Northern Diver turned up on our patch because he realised the dog still ‘needed’ it!

Jim Andrews, Fife

Complicated lists Among other things, I keep a list of birds only seen from one site, which will then move onto my two sites list. I also have a list of birds seen only once.

I’m currently working on making a list of my lists...

John McAree, Facebook

breakdown birds I keep a list of birds I’ve seen while waiting for my car to get towed.

KM Andersen, Twitter

grim reading I have two cats, so I have a cat list.

It’s pretty grim...

Trev Bird, Facebook

garden lists galore I keep lists for my front garden, back garden, apple tree and bird feeders!

Sarah Long, email

Just missed list I have often been tempted to keep a “you should have been here five minutes ago” list...

Anthony Walton, Twitter

soapy songsters I thought about keeping a TV channel list or a soap list. It’s amazing what you can hear on Emmerdale, the trick is to use headphones – they help with the species in the background... I must get out birding more often!

Graham Powell, Facebook

running total I have a ‘birds seen while running’ list, which includes Peregrine, Red Kite and Crossbill.

Matt Phelps, Facebook

John’s on the ball I keep a football grounds list. Best birds in the UK – Red Kite, Adams Park; Dipper, Hillsborough (on

River Don, not in the ground); Turtle Dove, York Street (Boston United).

John Hague, Facebook

This birding life

ditching the list

Gatecrashing a twitch by accident is the kind of serendipitous occasion that rivals stumbling on your own self-found rarity for sheer excitement. One moment you’re driving along a road on a journey that has nothing to do with birding, say the commute to work or carrying out a family errand, and then you suddenly spot a throng of excited, khaki-clad characters with ‘scopes and bins focused excitedly on some distant speck, sending your blood pressure off the scale.

I felt that wonderful adrenaline rush of coming across the unexpected last week. Driving along a meandering rural road, I rounded the bend to find what seemed like the entire population of British birders massed together like a football crowd on a steep, chalk escarpment.

I jumped on the brakes, bringing the car to a screeching halt and wound down the window, shouting the most frequently used “contact call” of the birder...

“What’s about, mate?” I yelled to a middle-aged guy in a green jacket and woollen hat.

The guy broke into a hearty smile that radiated fantastic news. He walked towards me with a “you-are-not-going-tobelieve-this glint in his eye, pulled out a note book and...

“Jack, Jack, you’ve overslept..”

Jane was in full dawn chorus mode.

“The alarm went off ages ago.

You’ve slept in...”

My stomach turned over, not in a way that happens when you discover a great bird, but with that awful feeling you get realising that your day is starting with a disaster.

What dream bird had I missed by being rudely awakened by Jane? It felt as if I missed out for real, leaving me with that grumpiness twitchers get when they’ve travelled miles to see some wayward vagrant on a Scottish island only to dip by a few minutes.

The hangdog mood lasted most of the day, only evaporating after a conversation

I used to keep a travelling to and from work list, but stopped when I ended up in a ditch one night after a Barn Owl. Tom Moore, Twitter

don’t list, just watch I am afraid I tend to keep lists and ticks to a minimum and enjoy the beauty of the birds and their behaviour Yes, a comparison of numbers at a set time of year is valuable in assessing population dynamics, but I feel that a focus on lists and ticks can detract from the sheer joy of watching a grebe courtship dance or a Blue Tit chasing larger birds from a feeder.

I guess, to me, this is birdwatching as apposed to bird spotting or twitching, where a desire to rush after some poor lost migrant is seen above the love of the environment.

In my honest opinion, there is a place for all, as long as those who seek the unusual don’t trample over the commonplace.

Alfred Turner, Facebook

Woodpecker woe Back in July of last year I was photographing woodpeckers, watching them fly back and forth to their nest, feeding their young,.

I watched as they looked to be cleaning out their nest of droppings etc. It was only when I got home and viewed my photos that I realised what they were actually removing were dead babies which obviously had not made it.

This was something I had never witnessed before.

Geoff Harrison, email great spotted Woodpecker, with dead chick

Jack robinson even dreams about birds with one of my pals whose own tales of “dream birding” entered the twilight zone.

“Don’t know what you’re worried about, whenever I dream about birds they’re huge, monstrous things trying to peck my eyes out or trying to carry me off to their nests,” confessed Tony over the telephone.

“Have you ever seen a 10ft high zombie Bullfinch or a flock of killer Waxwings? Seriously scary! I must stop eating before I go to bed.”

That night, I decided to experiment. After couple of glasses of Scotch, a mature Cheddar sandwich and a DVD of Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds, I retired to bed and waited for the nocturnal picture show to begin.

It took several nights, lots of Scotch, a mountain of cheese and so many re-runs of the Hitchcock classic that I almost knew the script by heart before I dreamed about birds again.

Rather than rarities, however, the dream was full of common species such as Goldfinches, House Sparrows and Blue Tits.

The plot was nonsensical but I awoke patently aware that the birds in my dreams bore little resemblance to the ones in my garden.

That night, I chatted to my birding guru Terry about the Blue Tits and Goldfinches I had dreamed about and how their plumages appeared really odd.

Terry had a cunning plan. He told me that without referring to a fieldguide I had to sketch both species, annotating the colours and key fieldmarks. It was a disaster. Any notion that I knew the basic details of either birds was blown out of the water by my drawings: I may have known the basic colour schemes of these distinctive, common birds, and I could easily identify them in the field, but I had little idea of their overall plumage pattern.

“There you go,” said Terry with a hint of sarcasm. “You think you’re a birdwather but have you really ever watched any of the common birds? When I dream about a bird, I could write a such an accurate field description that it would get past any committee...” birdwatching.co.uk 107