6 great UK birding sites…

Regular readers will know that certain parts of the UK – north Norfolk, the Suffolk coast, Scilly, East Yorkshire, the Lancashire and Cheshire coasts, and the Scottish Highlands and islands, to name a few – have a reputation as birdwatching hotspots. But as we’re all likely to be spending more time birding in the UK in the near future, why not try six of the best of the rest? In fact, they can be every bit as good, and you’ll be able to make your own discoveries, says Matt Merritt.

Dumfries and Galloway

Our regular contributor John Miles has long sung the praises of south-west Scotland – not just the well-known Barnacle Goose-fest that is Caerlaverock, but the many little estuaries and inlets right along the Solway Firth, that attract huge numbers and variety of waders and wildfowl. The Firth’s also good for migrating birds such as skuas, and inland the mountains and glens hold Golden Eagles.

Northern Ireland

The ease of getting around in Northern Ireland, thanks to a relative lack of traffic, traffiffic, means that even a short trip can take in many of the highlights, such as Belfast’s WoW RSPB reserve, Strangford Lough (great for the likes of Brent Geese), the seabird city of Rathlin Island, and Lough Erne with its breeding waders, such as Redshank and Lapwing.

The Solent/ Isle of Wight

Even before the arrival of White-tailed Eagles on the Isle of Wight, the coastline stretching from Chichester Harbour in the east to Christchurch Harbour in the west had a plethora of great sites, such as Farlington Marshes and Langstone Harbour, offering excellent wader and wildfowl habitat, and seawatching opportunities. The New Forest is nearby, too, for species such as Nightjar and Dartford Warbler in spring and summer.

Northumberland

A mixture of unspoiled natural beauty and intriguingly rewilded former industrial sites (plus some spectacular castles), makes the Northumberland coast a must-see – don’t just whizz through on the way to your Farne Islands boat trip. Winter and early spring can be the most productive times, when waders and wildfowl will be numerous, but any time can be productive, and expect the unexpected after easterly winds.

Mid-Wales

In the 1970s, birders visited for the chance of a glimpse of a Red Kite. Now, the valleys are full of them, with the feeding station at Gigrin Farm, Powys, particularly popular with photographers. In spring and summer, though, the real highlights are the likes of Redstart, Wood Warbler and Pied Flycatcher in the woodlands, while the Mid-Wales coast has lots of interesting estuaries for geese, ducks and waders, and reserves such as Cors Dyfi, with its breeding Ospreys.

The ‘other’ Norfolk

It’s perfectly understandable to want to head to that legendary stretch of northern coastline, but don’t forget the Brecklands, with its specialities such as Stone-curlew, the Broads and its waterbirds; sites such as Buckenham Carrs (with its famous corvid roost), and Breydon Water and its tributaries, right down to Carlton Marshes ( just in Suffolk) – birds galore everywhere!