Bins at the ready... NEW YEAR’S BIRDING

New Year’s Day is busy for birders, as many head into the countryside to get their annual tally off to a flying start. Some go to the Highlands, hoping to glimpse snowy ptarmigan (right) and majestic white-tailed eagles. Many reserves run birdwatching walks on 1 January, including Spade Oak in Little Marlow (eastberksrspb.org.uk), London’s Walthamstow Wetlands

(walthamstowwetlands.com) and

Slimbridge Wetland Centre (wwt.org. uk/wetland-centres/slimbridge/).