Is it going to be one of those occasional winters when Waxwings delight us with their presence along the east coast of Britain, across much of Scotland and maybe even into some central and western areas? There have been quite a lot seen, although I haven’t heard of any really massive flocks. But when there…
Category: VERY BIRDY: birdwatching and birding nattering
Spurn – have your say
If you have a view on the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s plans for a new visitor centre at Spurn then you have the rest of the week to respond. I say ‘if’, but it is clear that many of you have – and on both sides of the argument. If you do have a view then…
A day at Spurn
Last week I spent most of a day birdwatching at Spurn, and by chance the first person I met was Georgia Locock whose guest blog appeared here on that very day. So I had a chat with Georgia at about 8am and spent the rest of the time birding. It was a nice relaxing day….
Birdwatch magazine
In the October issue of Birdwatch magazine (available in all good newsagents, by subscription and in digital format) readers will find a cut-out letter to send to their MPs asking them to ask Defra what measures the government intends to put forward in the Westminster Hall debate on banning driven grouse to deal with the…
Birdtrack – my mistake
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I made a mistake typing something into Birdtrack but this might be a prophecy – it is almost correct for England already…
That song contest, and another
Last night I was listening to a song contest – in a Northamptonshire wood. There weren’t millions of us – but a few folk turned up, as they do every evening at this time of every year, to listen to the Nightingales of Glapthorn Wood. The rest of ‘Europe’ was listening to the Eurovision Song…
Cuckoos?
I’ve heard a Cuckoo in Northants this year – but only one. And that was not at my local patch of Stanwick Lakes, despite many visits. I’ve checked my records, and this is exceptionally late for me NOT to have heard a Cuckoo at Stanwick Lakes. The Birdtrack records look as though arrivals have been…
The Messenger – good film
On Saturday afternoon – one of the first warm days of the spring – I headed into London to watch a film in the Barbican. The Messenger is about the threats faced by songbirds – not just in the US and Canada but also in Europe and elsewhere. It’s a good…
Birdtrack – still great
I haven’t mentioned Birdtrack for a while – but if you read these blogs carefully then you’ll realise that I am still using it religiously otherwise I’d never have the stats for my birding at my local patch so much to hand. I have downloaded the new, and greatly improved, iPhone Birdtrack app (it’s free)…
Spring
Since coming back from Israel I’ve been getting in some local birding: at Stanwick Lakes, at Rainham Marshes, at Titchwell, at Weeting Heath and at Lakenheath Fen. Migration is not advanced at these places as it is (was) at Eilat but I have notched up a few UK spring migrants, namely Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler,…