Spring hotspots
Some UK destinations to consider for your next birding trip )when regulations allow)
COVID-19 and the associated lockdowns have, of course, meant that most of us have been staying very close to home for the last year. As we go to press, that’s continuing, and we continue to urge readers to adhere strictly to the restrictions. When travel does become possible, though, we know there’s already huge interest in exploring the UK’s birding hotspots. Here are four to start planning for…
Mull, Scotland
A visit to this Scottish island at any time of year will be rewarding, but May is perhaps best of all. You stand a chance of seeing Corn Crakes, rather than just hearing them, as the vegetation will still be low, the Golden and White-tailed Eagles should be very visible, breeding waders are plentiful, and of course there are seabirds such as Black Guillemot to look out for. Mammals include Mountain Hare, and a lot of Otters.
Devon and Cornwall
Both these counties offer a wide variety of birding areas and habitats, including estuaries rich in waders and wildfowl (the Taw, Torridge, Hayle, Plym and Otter), rocky coasts (including Cornwall’s Lizard, where you can see Choughs), and the high ground of Exmoor and Dartmoor (for breeding waders, and heathland birds). Oh, and along the south coasts, there are small numbers of Cirl Buntings, one of our rarest breeding passerines.
New Forest, Hampshire
This large area of woodland and heath will be very familiar to you from the BBC’s Springwatch, and spring is indeed a great time to visit. In particular, it’s a good time to look for heathland birds such as Dartford Warbler, Nightjar, Wood Lark and Stonechat, and Firecrests are in the coniferous areas. Honey Buzzards and Goshawks are possible, and Hobbies just about guaranteed.
Wales
The Pembrokeshire islands are the place to be in spring, when large numbers of Puffins, Guillemots, Razorbills, Manx Shearwaters and other seabirds can be seen, but there’s plenty to see elsewhere, too. Mid-Wales is the home of the Red Kite, Dartford Warblers can be seen around the North Wales coast and the moors around World’s End, and everywhere the woodlands are full of Redstarts, Pied Flycatchers and Wood Warblers.