July itinerary: Wyre and Lune Estuaries, Lancashire
Lancashire’s Fylde coast is a great place to watch migrating waders in early autumn, and has in the past hosted several rarities among the hordes of regular species. From late July and throughout
View ArticleJuly itinerary: Snettisham RSPB, Norfolk
Snettisham RSPB is home to a wide variety of species in varied habitats, including saline lagoons, grassland, mudflats and saltmarsh. The reserve is set against the backdrop of The Wash, one of
View ArticleJuly itinerary: Montrose Basin LNR, Angus
Montrose Basin is the enclosed estuary of the River South Esk. A Scottish Wildlife Trust reserve, it is a rich mosaic of saltmarsh, reedbed, mixed agriculture, fresh, brackish and salt water and
View ArticleJuly itinerary: Cliffs of Moher, Co Clare
Ireland’s imposing Cliffs of Moher, Co Clare, hold the largest seabird colony in Ireland country, with almost 40,000 birds present. It has been designated a Special Protected Area for birds, and this
View ArticleBirdwatch reader holiday - Azores 2013 trip report
October 2013's reader holiday to the Azores netted a great haul of American vagrants for the lucky participants, writes Dominic Mitchell.
View ArticleJuly ID tips: female Yellowhammer and Cirl Bunting
Found in Devon and Cornwall in Britain, Cirl Bunting isn't a species that all birders will be familiar with. If you're taking a trip to the South-West, make sure you can separate Cirls from the
View ArticleAugust ID tips: Eurasian Curlew and Eurasian Whimbrel
These two similar-looking waders can be easily confused in late summer by the unsuspecting birder. These top tips will help you separate them.
View ArticleSeptember itinerary: Burnham Overy, Norfolk
The sea, saltmarsh, dunes, creeks and marshes inland of Scolt head Island NNR provide an attractive mosaic of habitats for birds, and are accessible and transected by the Norfolk Coast Path.
View ArticleSeptember itinerary: St Abb's Head, Berwickshire
St Abb's Head is a prominent east coast headland with high cliffs. The Mire Loch, lined by scrub and woodland, is attractive to migrants, while the Black Gable is a good seawatching perch.
View ArticleSeptember itinerary: Rame Head, Cornwall
The Rame peninsula is situated on the south-east Cornish coast and includes Penlee Point, at the western entrance to Plymouth Sound. Rame Head is the westerly point of the peninsula and is
View ArticleSeptember itinerary: Formby Point to Birkdale, Lancashire
This relatively underwatched stretch of coast has good seawatching, along with vast stretches of mud and sand for waders, and dunes which attract plenty of eastern drift migrants, despite its
View ArticleSeptember itinerary: Stodmarsh and Grove Ferry, Kent
Grove Ferry/Stodmarsh NNR covers 241 ha of reedbeds, wet meadow, lagoons and willow scrub; it lies in the Stour Valley east of Canterbury. Five public hides, several good viewpoints and more than
View ArticleSeptember itinerary: Sandwich Bay, Kent
Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory’s area includes Pegwell Bay to the north, two championship golf courses and farmland in the middle and Sandwich Bay Estate and Worth Marshes to the south. The estate is
View ArticleSeptember itinerary: Strangford Lough, Co Down
Perhaps most famous for its wintering Pale-bellied Brent Geese, this site has lots more to offer, not least its nationally important numbers of a variety of waders. The western shore is dotted with
View ArticleSeptember itinerary: Tacumshin, Co Wexford
Tacumshin is a site which manages to be of interest all year round, but it is arguably at its most rewarding during September, a time when large numbers of southbound waders use the area to stop and
View ArticleSeptember itinerary: Druridge Bay, Northumberland
From Newbiggin by the Sea in the south, through the Druridge Bay reserves and north to Amble, this itinerary has several excellent sites for a good day’s autumn birdwatching in a post-industrial
View ArticleSeptember itinerary: Hayling Island, Hampshire
This relatively flat island separating Chichester and Langstone Harbours is perhaps not as well visited as its neighbours, but it can provide a good opportunity to scan both wader-rich areas in close
View ArticleSeptember itinerary: Achill Island, Co Mayo
Achill Island sticks out from the mainland of Co Mayo, to the south of the Mullet. Its geographical location means it is the first landfall for waders that have just crossed the Atlantic, and
View ArticleDefending the patch - the fight to save Beddington Farmlands
It was one of the best breeding sites in Britain for the rapidly vanishing Tree Sparrow, a wildlife oasis in the suburban sprawl of south London and temporary home to a fine cast of rarities
View ArticleVideo: Madagascar Pochard in need of a new home
With the news that Madagascar Pochard ducklings suffer a very high mortality rate, watch these videos from the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) to find out more about what is being done to conserve
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