Plan a birding trip abroad
BIRDING abroad can be incredibly rewarding, with a myriad of new, rare and sometimes endemic species to be enjoyed, as well as taking in the richness of culture, cuisine and landscapes that a new country brings. With a bit of planning and the wealth of resources the internet now offers, a self-guided trip has never been easier. Five basic tips below should help any aspiring explorer make the most of their adventure.
1. eBird. Your new best friend when it comes to planning a birding trip. The ‘Species Maps’ ( ebird.org/map) contain extensive records of all but the most sensitive of species, and you can soon garner a picture of where the best sites are for a sought-after target. The ‘Explore Hotspots’ ( ebird.org/hotspots) page is equally valuable, with bar charts indicating the abundance of every species found at a particular site. Make a checklist of every target species, and where each can be found.
2. Trip reports. CloudBirders (cloudbirders.com/tripreport) has an extensive library of trip reports that can be filtered to a specific location. Read through the latest entries for your chosen destination to get an idea of the sites that seem most successful for target birds.
3. Plan your route. Create a clear itinerary before you go (add sites to a sat-nav or Google Maps) and list what you should be targeting at each location. Having the precise location pinned of site entrances or car parks will also save time in the field.
4. Know your calls. Brush up on vocalisations before you go and have them to hand. The last thing you want is to realise the strange
call you have been hearing all afternoon was one of your targets (White-throated Gerygone in Australia is a personal case in point!).
5. Endemics. Focus primarily on species that only occur in that country or region. Don’t waste time chasing something that can be found more easily elsewhere and miss a local speciality as a result.
Our largest species is
Western Marsh Harrier. These tend to stay in the region of their breeding areas for the winter, although tagging studies have shown that some wander around the UK. Some head to Ireland and a few go further afield to the continent and beyond, even as far as Senegal. The greyand-chestnut adult males are handsome birds; some can look strikingly pale from underneath, but their brown bellies should distinguish them from Hen Harriers. The bigger females are dark brown with a creamy cap and throat, and pale leading edge to the forewing, which can be very variable in extent.
In winter, harriers tend to roost communally, often in large and spectacular groups. One of the best places to experience this is Stubb Mill Raptor Watchpoint at Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s Hickling Broad reserve. Up to 100 Western Marsh Harriers have been counted, with the exhilarating sight of 40 or more birds swirling in the air together. Hen Harrier can also be seen, plus the bonus of roosting Common Cranes. Just be sure to wrap up warm!