Ruth Miller
An outing to take a group of ladies birdwatching for the first time proved a real joy for Ruth and her partner Alan
Introducing a group of ladies to birdwatching proved a joy for Ruth and her partner, Alan
It’s always fun sharing birds with other people, and even more so when they are new to birdwatching. Everything is exciting, and you see even the commonest birds through their fresh eyes.
Alan and I had been invited by a lovely friend, Sarah, to lead a group of nine ladies on a birdwatching walk. The ladies called themselves the Dyffryn Conwy Optimists and they met once a month, each member taking their turn to organise the outing.
This month was Sarah’s turn and she wanted to take them birdwatching. With a name like the ‘Optimists’ how could we resist? A birdwatcher is the very definition of an optimist, heading out never knowing exactly what may be about but always positive that there will be something exciting.
The date was fixed in the diary. All week leading up to our outing the weather was warm and sunny, but the day for our birdwatching walk dawned grey and blustery with the threat of showers. Typical! However, we were meeting the Optimists, so surely things would improve?
We met the ladies at Conwy RSPB Nature Reserve. This was the first time some of them had ever been birdwatching, so we started with basics. First: binoculars. We’d brought some spares with us and soon everyone was kitted out with a pair. Next: clothing. Given the rainy forecast, Alan and I were in our full waterproofs, but the ladies were more optimistic, of course, and content with light rain jackets. Ready to go, we headed out onto the reserve to see what birds we could find.
In fact, we only got as far as the toilets and coffee shop! However, over a hot drink, we started with our first birds as two Little Egrets stalked through the shallows in front of the coffee shop. The ladies practised their binocular skills and we pointed out how the birds shook their bright yellow feet in the water to flush out any fish lurking in the shallows. Cue ‘oohs’ of delight at this fascinating behaviour played out right before us. How appropriate that Little Egrets should be among the first birds we saw on an RSPB reserve, given that it was the decimation of Little Egrets, caused by the abhorrent trade in feathers for fashionable Victorian ladies’ hats, that was a spur for the creation of the RSPB itself.
Head for the hide
Coffee finished, we headed for the first hide, though it was hard to walk past the Robin that perched on a branch at headheight and fixed us with its beady eye. Note to self: always have sunflower hearts in a pocket when out on a birdwatching walk!
At the Tal-y-Fan hide, overlooking the two freshwater lagoons, we set up our telescopes and started pointing out the different species of birds to the ladies. There were the perfect number of birds here, not too many species to overwhelm, but just enough variety to provide interest and an ID challenge. We started with the ducks and, right in front of us, were Mallard, Gadwall, Teal, Wigeon and Shoveler; it was fun picking through
the birds, pointing out key features for each one. There was an excited buzz through the group, as everyone played ‘Spot the Difference’. Nobody was worried whether they knew the bird names or not, everyone simply enjoyed looking and watching, absorbing the colours, shapes, patterns and behaviour played out before them.
With a Snipe and two juvenile Blacktailed Godwit, also in view, we started discussing wading birds and how each occupies its individual niche according to bill and leg length and feeding style. Our telescopes really came into their own, to give the ladies an intimate view of these birds, and it gave us a thrill to hear their amazement at the intricate cryptic plumage of these birds, a real reminder to look and absorb, not just tick off and run.
From the Carneddau Hide, we were treated to views of Tufted Ducks diving in the deeper water while a family party of Pied Wagtails enthusiastically bobbed and chased insects on the mud. At first glance, there didn’t seem to be much else about. The lush vegetation on the islands in the lagoon provided cover for any lurking birds, and each island wore a skirt of grey mud and stones. But of course, in the company of optimists there was bound to be something new and exciting to see, and sure enough, as soon, as we focused the telescopes on those islands, a different world was revealed to us.
The mud and stones became a seething mass of birds packed tightly together in the lee of the islands. Most of the grey stones were in fact Redshanks, and our ‘Optimists’ encouraged each other to share the amazing telescope views of those signature red legs. Then, one lady spotted something small and brown running between the Redshanks. Was it a mouse? No, not a rodent but a Dunlin, and again excitement levels rose at seeing this pocket-sized bird pottering among red-legged giants. Everyone helped everyone else to get a good view.
Sowing a seed
It was amazing how quickly the morning passed by simply watching birds and sharing the joy. Soon lunch beckoned and together we totted up the species seen. Even at our easy pace we had a surprisingly high tally for the morning. More importantly, however, we’d all enjoyed superb views of the birds, and our own pleasure had been multiplied many times over by the excitement of our group of beginner birdwatchers. Hopefully, we’ve sown a seed that will grow into a new hobby, and we’re optimistic that our ladies will visit the reserve again.