WINTER BIRDING

By Valerie Kelly

As the seasons change, so do the winter birds we see here. Whilst the South of the UK offers a milder climate, the short days and inclement weather can be a deterrent to venturing out but compared to Northern Europe, where days are even shorter in winter (18 hours of darkness) and temperatures are often well below zero making it too cold to stand and stare; we are the lucky ones. Commonly found locally are the winter thrushes, Redwing and Fieldfare along with many wintering geese and ducks that arrive from these colder northern latitudes to find food. Sifting through flocks of geese or diving ducks may take patience but occasionally reveals something unusual which is well worth the effort.

and numbers. Winter birding is a good opportunity for people who want to improve their identification skills. You can see many of the common waders such as Dunlin, Redshank, Bar-tailed, Black-tailed Godwits and Lapwing, among others at Christchurch Harbour and in particular, Stanpit Marsh.

During our winter months we are fortunate to be visited by a variety of wildfowl and waders and also millions of smaller birds, collectively called passerines (small perching birds), who also migrate from Europe to our shores. Gathering records of all these birds is crucial to understanding how climate change is affecting movement

It may seem unpleasant to most of you to stand in the wind and cold whilst trying to steady your binoculars or ‘scope, so be prepared for your trip. Identification makes it all worthwhile as the range of species you can see can be great. Take enough warm layers of clothing, snacks and a hot-drinks to maintain your stamina and use any shelter that is available. Touchscreen gloves allow you to log your sightings if you want to share your results and is easier than using a damp notepad and pen.

The low winter sun can be a hindrance to seeing birds as the light is poor and sometimes creates silhouettes making identification difficult. However, a brisk walk, fresh air and being in an open environment is advantageous to mental and physical health, making your adventure all the more rewarding.

If you are a more experienced birder you may choose to use the winter season to brush up on bird calls. Summer time often makes it difficult to see a bird, even though you can hear it, due to foliage and with leafless trees the opportunity to find the bird is greater. Use this time to try learning the sounds of birds like the Wren, Robin and Song-Thrush, ready for the dawn chorus of spring. Try describing the sound to yourself or a fellow birder. This makes you think about what you are hearing. Does the pitch go up and down, is it a clean sound or slurred, is it constant, does it start slow and increase in speed? This is another skill to link to the one describing to someone where you have had a sighting. The common description is, ‘it’s there! In that tree’. Where? (I hear them say) Top, bottom, middle, left or right and WHICH TREE?. You have to have been there to understand that one!

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