Birdwatching
It’s easy when you know what to look for! Keen birdwatcher Mick Statham points us in the right direction for brilliant birding on tour
A beginner’s guide to spotting and identifying some of our finest feathered friends
did you know that...
Weighing in at just 35- 45g, the kingfisher dives at speeds of up to 25mph
THE UK IS brilliant for birdwatching, offering a huge range of different habitats. There are numerous bird reserves and plenty to see when you’re out walking, in town or country. Your caravan is the ideal way to start birding, where and when you want. And once we can all travel abroad again, you will find loads of opportunities to see even more birds.
Before you travel, search the internet for birding options, en route and at your destination. Wherever you tour, it is well worth taking your binoculars and bird identification book with you. The latter needs to be pocket-sized and durable.
Mine is a battered copy of The Birdwatcher’s Pocket Guide, by Peter Hayman and Rob Hume. Binoculars don’t need to be mega-expensive; I find 8x40s are best.
Garden, parkland and campsites
If you feed the birds at home, you will see plenty in your garden. Near woodland, one of the most iconic birds is the great spotted woodpecker ( 1), with striking black-and-white markings and red on the back of the head (mature male) and lower abdomen. You’ll hear them before you see them, knocking on trees to attract a mate or mark out their territory.
Mountains, moors and farmland
Flocks of busy, noisy lapwings ( 2) are quite commonly seen on agricultural land. They are also known as the peewit, which is a pretty fair representation of their call. These birds’ black feathers are actually iridescent green, and they have a long black crest.
The buzzard, a very successful species, can be easily recognised by its lazy, soaring, circling flight and its rectangular wings, often adorned with ‘eyes’ and ‘fingers’ at the tips (about 130cm span).
They will also be spotted perched on fenceposts, when you’ll see a large, distinctive ‘U’ on their chest. Listen for the high-pitched, whistling call – not quite what you’d expect from such a beefy-looking bird.
The red kite, bigger than a buzzard, is now common in Wales, especially at the Red Kite Feeding Station, inland from Aberystwyth. The golden eagle is also high on most birders’ lists. The Scottish Highlands and Islands are the place to go – we saw them on Arran.
On the river
Dippers are plump, sparrow-sized birds, black with a white chest. Look for droppings on rocks in the river. They ‘ swim’ in the water, against the current, always on the lookout for food.
Kingfishers ( 3) can be spotted on rivers and canals – look for a flash of electric-blue with a coppery-orange chest, flying rapidly across the water or perching on a branch about 10ft overhead.
Herons – tall, still, grey-and-white birds with a long beak – have a lazy flight with curved wings.
Nature reserves
The RSPB manages more than 200 nature reserves across the UK, some of which are accessible for wheelchair-users and those of limited mobility.
Many of the reserves are on marshland, good for spotting waders and divers. The RSPB website will direct you to one en route or near your destination. North Norfolk Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is especially great for birdwatching.
‘your van is the ideal way to start birding. Wherever you tour, it’s worth taking your binoculars and bird book with you’
On the UK coastline
Anywhere on our magnificent, unspoilt coastal paths will offer you the chance to observe a wide variety of birdlife. For example, there are in excess of 20 different gull species to be found across the UK. The challenge is to tell the difference! This is achieved by looking at the bird’s beak and leg colour, as well as the head and body, clearly shown here by this black-headed gull ( 4).
Beaches and dunes
There are a number of waders to be spotted on and around the waterline of our beaches. One very striking example is the oystercatcher, with a bold black upper and white lower body, and orangey-red beak and legs. Often seen in large flocks, these lively birds have a distinctive, loud whistling cry ( 5).
A more rocky environment favours the turnstone, a stocky little wader whose name describes its feeding behaviour – it turns over stones in search of food.
A long way out over the water, you might be able to spot splashes and flashes of white. These are gannets feeding, diving from 20-30ft above the waves. The head and neck are pale yellow and their wing-tips look as though they have been dipped in black paint.
Cliffs and coastal paths
There are specific places where you can see large colonies of seabirds. For example, Skomer, off the coast of Pembrokeshire, hosts a huge influx of puffins (mid-april to mid-august). Boat trips to the island are available, with parking close to the harbour.
Bempton and Bridlington, in Yorkshire, are widely renowned for gannets, guillemots, puffins ( 6) and barn owls, while South Stack, just off Holy Island, Anglesey, is great for spotting guillemots, peregrine falcons, puffins and razorbills.
The South West Coast Path and Pembrokeshire Coast Path are excellent for observing a variety of seabirds, wherever there are cliffs.
Lakes and reservoirs
Most lakes and reservoirs are managed by the local water provider. There are a number with specific projects to protect breeding ospreys. In March, these 1.5m-wingspan fishing birds of prey come to the UK from West Africa, to breed and rear their young, returning to Africa in August. The fully grown chicks depart after their parents, navigating the 3000-mile journey alone. How do they do that?
Among other diving birds are the tufted duck, which is small, mainly black with a white central band, and yes, a distinctive tuft on its head.
Male and female goosanders are easily distinguished – the male has a black upper and white lower body, and dark neck and head, while the female has a grey body and tan neck and head. Both have a hooked beak.
Among the many excellent locations for seeing lake and river birdlife are Dyfi, in Powys, Wales; Rutland Water; Poole Harbour, in Dorset; Loch Garten, in Strathspey, Scotland; Bassenthwaite, in the Lake District; and Glaslyn, in Snowdonia National Park.
did you know that...
During the summer, Britain is home to 10% of the world’s puffin population