HEARD BIRDS
To be honest, most birders do this to an extent. Your chances of seeing a Tawny Owl can be pretty slim, for example, but most of us will hear them and tick them, confidently. The same might be true of species such as Water Rail, Cetti’s Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, and even Nightingale. But you could make this the year you get to grips with noc-migging – listening to the calls of birds flying over at night (you’ll probably have to record them). It’s hard work, but it can turn up the likes of Common Scoter over the most landlocked, water-free patch.