BUILDING SKILLS
3
Get to grips with a diffi cult group
All birders have their blind spots when it comes to
identifi cation. Whether it be gulls, waders or ‘little
brown jobs’, the novice and even the old hand will have a
weak area where they fi nd it harder to put species names to
a particular group of birds.
Autumn is the ideal time to try to fi rm up your shaky
warbler skills or learn the (admittedly often minor)
di erences between various gull species. Many species have
moulted out of their gaudier summer plumage and into
their dressed-down winter garb and are ideal for you to test
your abilities and learn to tell them apart the best way –
from personal experience.
Choose the right site to help you hone those skills: a
local landfi ll or reservoir roost for gulls, a wetland for those
tricky Tringas or female and fi rst-winter ducks, or a shrubby
headland for wandering warblers. As birders, we’re always
learning, and it’s often a self-taught education, but with
that comes the pride and satisfaction when you feel like
you’ve fi nally cracked a group and become confi dent that
you can call a bird’s name with impunity.34 Birdwatch•October 2017 http://www.birdguides.com/birdwatch
JAMES HANLONMARC GUYT (WWW.AGAMI.NL)4
Clean and prime your feeders
As the weather gets harder, many birds come to rely on
the food we provide for them, and now is the time to clean
and stock your garden bird feeders.
Clean your bird table and feeders thoroughly now and
at regular intervals. It is believed that the big slump in the
Greenfi nch population via the parasitical disease trichomonosis
has been spread largely via feeders and bird baths, and several
other species have also been a ected. It’s a good idea to disinfect
your feeders and other bird paraphernalia with a light 5 per cent
domestic bleach solution, then thoroughly rinsing and air-drying
them before using them again.
Many bird food companies provide di erent mixes of fat and
seeds for di erent species, and if you have the space it is worth
experimenting with this and putting out several combinations,
or even making your own recipes from guidelines online. Use
di erently sized and shaped dispensers as this will attract
a variety of species, and also provide entertainment as you
watch from indoors. Many companies provide mail order seed
combinations, while food can be bought in bulk online or from
garden centres and RSPB reserves.
A squirrel guard could be necessary, and remember food left
or put on the ground could well attract rats. Also provide clean
water for drinking and bathing.MARC GUYT (WWW.5
Spend the day at an autumn hot-spot
There are certain locations to which thousands of
regular migrants are drawn and which constantly
produce scarcities and rarities: these are the bird observatories
and watchpoints. Certain places such as Shetland and Scilly
are renowned for their ability to attract national rarities, as
well as large numbers of more regular species. Others such
as Spurn and Flamborough in East Yorkshire and Portland,
Dorset, are almost as bird rich, but there is likely to be a
productive site not too far from you, no matter where you live.
Despite a site’s reputation, though, there will always be
days when not much is seen. As such it is best to keep an
eye on the wind and weather charts to see which direction
the birds are likely to be coming from before picking a
site to watch. Not all areas are predictable, so a little local
knowledge can help; for example, di erent conditions
produce better seawatching at hot-spots like Porthgwarra
and Pendeen in Cornwall, and the wind direction
overnight and on the day could infl uence which of
the two you choose. A good idea is to set aside a day
in advance and check the charts and review sightings
on BirdGuides a day or two before making your fi nal
decision.5
Spend the day at an autumn hot-spot
There are certain locations to which thousands of
regular migrants are drawn and which constantly
produce scarcities and rarities: these are the bird observatories
and watchpoints. Certain places such as Shetland and Scilly
are renowned for their ability to attract national rarities, as
well as large numbers of more regular species. Others such
as Spurn and Flamborough in East Yorkshire and Portland,
Dorset, are almost as bird rich, but there is likely to be a
productive site not too far from you, no matter where you live.
Despite a site’s reputation, though, there will always be
days when not much is seen. As such it is best to keep an
eye on the wind and weather charts to see which direction
the birds are likely to be coming from before picking a
site to watch. Not all areas are predictable, so a little local
knowledge can help; for example, di erent conditions
produce better seawatching at hot-spots like Porthgwarra
and Pendeen in Cornwall, and the wind direction
overnight and on the day could infl uence which of6
Participate in your local
bird club
The real grass roots of birding
in Britain used to be the help and
information exchange at local bird clubs.
Clubs (some of which are a liated or run
in parallel with local RSPB groups) hold
meetings, organise days out and trips to
birding sites further afi eld and publish
annual bird reports, which build into key
historical documentation of the changes
in bird numbers and status in the club’s
area, whether that be a county, town or
specifi ed patch.
There has been a decline in bird club
membership over the years, perhaps
because much information and advice is
now more immediately accessible online,
but they are still the best place to meet
like-minded people, hone your skills with
more experienced birders and save money
on trips and events. It’s also a quick way
of getting into a local network, so that any
news might reach you there fi rst before it
breaks to a wider audience. The advantages
of being a bird club member are more
than tangible, and these helpful and useful
organisations simply won’t survive without
your input.DAVID BROADBENTWith their variety of species and array of age classes and
plumages, gulls make the ideal autumn ID challenge.The lighthouse at
Flamborough Head,
East Yorkshire,
acts as beacon
for tired migrants,
pulling in a huge
variety of species.Clean your feeders
regularly to keep
them free of
disease.1710 p032-035 autumn challenge FIN.indd 34 15/09/2017 09:25