Timetable of the birding year 2018
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January
1st: Start the year with a brisk stroll, and tick some of your ‘core’ species. 9th-20th: Visit Snettisham RSPB for spectacular views of lots of geese and waders.
April
1st: Spring migration should be underway in earnest – time to listen for your first Cuckoo. 20th: Peak migration time for warblers, chats and other passerines is now.
July
Take stock, and patiently search out those local species you know are there, somewhere. But don’t forget to keep an eye out while you’re on holiday – seabirds, in particular, are a great bonus.
October
1st: Start listening for Redwings migrating by night. 21st-26th: Join the BW team at The Grant Arms for a readers’ break, and tick some Scottish specialities.
February
14th: Traditionally, the start of the breeding season, so brush up on your birdsong, and take advantage of the fact that courtship makes birds more audible, and more visible.
May
7th: Try a Bank Holiday bird race – long days and migration mean rich rewards. 28th: Join our Bw/heatherlea readers’ break to Finland, and tick some Arctic species.
August
17th-19th: Birdfair – while you’re at Rutland Water, take the chance to tick passage waders such as Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint, plus a wide variety of wildfowl.
November
23rd: The ‘Woodcock’ moon – look out for these woodland waders, as large numbers traditionally arrive from the continent and Scandinavia at this time.
March
1st: First spring migrants, such as Sand Martin & Wheatear, start arriving. 24th-april 7th: Boost your list with a Birders’ Blast break, with Bird Watching and Heatherlea.
June
10th: Now’s the time to try some night birding – listen and look for Woodcock and Nightjar. 25th: Check wetland sites for returning migrant waders autumn has already begun!
September
16th-30th: Make the most of autumn migration, which peaks about now – remember that there’ll be lots of juveniles around, so you’ll need to be patient making your ID calls.
December
1st-8th: Peak wildfowl - get to a wetland site now! 31st: One last dash round your patch – don’t forget supermarket car parks for Waxwings!