Young Birders

More documents

Recommendations

Info

THE NEXT GENERATION company asked. I just about dropped the phone. Two weeks later I was on the boats exploring some of the most inaccessible places in Scotland. Watching as an adult female White-tailed Eagle blackened the sky over my head for the first time was a moment I will never forget, and I knew I’d made the right choice. In the years that followed, I found out just how much Scotland has to offer in terms of birding potential, but I realise I’m probably preaching to the converted. But there’s one place that I’ve been working at for the past two years that is a little different. This place is a bird paradise. It contains north-west Europe’s largest seabird colony, and I’m proud to say we have it right here in the UK. But it comes at a cost; it’s 100 miles out into the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. If you know your islands well then you will know straight away where I’m talking about – the volcanic archipelago of St Kilda, in the Outer Hebrides. It’s the UK’s only dual World Heritage site, putting it in the same category as Machu Picchu. It has the UK’s highest sea cliffs and largest sea stacks, but fewer than 5,000 people land on the island each year, making it a prime spot for birding (the last permanent residents were evacuated back in 1930). It’s also a designated Special Protection Area, National Nature Reserve, Site of Special Scientific Interest, and Special Area of Conservation! But hey, let’s get down to the cold, hard facts; what birds can you hope to see there? Well, if seeing over a million seabirds dotted across a landscape that looks like it’s come from the lost world isn’t enough to excite you, then some of the rarer species certainly will. First, let’s consider the breeding colonies, St Kilda has the UK’s largest colony of Puffins, with round about 155,000 pairs, one of the largest gannetries in the world, at 50,050 pairs, 94% of GB’s Leach’s Storm Petrels at 45,000 pairs, 5,000 pairs of Manx Shearwaters, nearly 63,000 pairs of Fulmars, plus Great Skua, Arctic Skua, Snipe, Wheatear, and of course the St Kilda Wren. This wee bird is one you’ll definitely be wanting to tick off on your life list. The best way to find it is to walk through the old, abandoned village and listen for its unique song. The bird itself is a third larger than the mainland Wren, and its song is, too, to compete with the nearby by sound of crashing waves! Searching for this LBJ around the ruins of an ancient settlement is in itself a rare birding experience not to be missed. Some of the rarer finds on the islands include American Herring Gull, Bonaparte’s Gull, Glaucous Gull, Iceland Gull, White-tailed Eagle, Waxwing, Night Heron, Purple Heron, Surf Scoter, Bluethroat, Subalpine Warbler, Laughing Gull, Green-winged Teal, Yellow-browed Warbler, Hen Harrier, Baird’s Sandpiper, Buff-bellied Pipit, Buff-bellied Sandpiper, Common Rosefinch, Red-backed Shrike, Trumpeter Finch, American Wigeon, and Red-necked Phalarope. Chatting to the local seabird warden, Gina Prior, she reminded me that rare birds on the islands are often facing Watching as an adult female White-tailed Eagle blackened the sky over my head for the first time was a moment I will never forget, and I knew I’d made the right choice Jules Cox / FLPA 14 February 2016
STEVE LINDRIDGE / Alamy their impending doom, as they’ve usually been blown off course and have been left in a weakened state. Although the bird colonies and rarer finds are enough to whet the appetite of any birder, we mustn’t forget the likes of other wildlife that can be seen, too. Sightings of huge pods of Common Dolphin are a frequent encounter for us coming through the Little Minch, and Minke Whale, too. Basking Sharks also love to feed on the plankton bloom around the islands, and if you’re really lucky you may be graced with a rare sighting of Orcas! Whatever takes your fancy, St Kilda is no longer an unobtainable birders’ dream. Go To St Kilda (gotostkilda.co.uk) travels there from the Isle of Skye, and with the bridge from Skye to the mainland, it’s easier than ever to visit this unique, other-worldly location. I’m glad I did. é IMPORTANT St Kilda is a vital site for many of our amazing seabirds, including... é PUFFIN There are more of these charming characters on St Kilda than anywhere else in the UK KEY BIRD White-tailed Eagle was the bird that really kicked everything off for Nicola ê RUGGED It’s no wonder the virtually untouched St Kilda is home to so many birds ONE TO WATCH... ELLIS LUCAS, 12 BW: What first got you interested in birds and wildlife? EL: Going out with my parents to the countryside/coast. I was absolutely amazed at the variety of wildlife we came across. BW: Which bird surveys/conservation projects are you involved in? EL: The Nest Record Scheme, bird ringing, Garden Birdwatch and the Breeding Bird Survey. I also help my Dad with a heronry census. BW: What was your most memorable birding moment? EL: After a year or so of having a very keen interest in birds, a flock of Waxwings took up residence on a Rowan tree right outside my house. The excitement of returning home from school and seeing them flocking on my doorstep was so exciting. BW: What would be the one piece of advice you’d give to other young birders? EL: Just enjoy it, and don’t be afraid to have different interests. Camillo Berenos / Alamy BW: If you could make one change to the UK’s environmental policies, what would it be? EL: To make environmental issues compulsory in schools, to help current and future generations understand the problems we face. @ellisethanfox and elliswildlife.blogspot.com birdwatching.co.uk 15
Page 1 and 2: THE NEXT GENERATION blickwinkel / A
Page 3: ONE TO WATCH... ALEX RHODES, 19 BW:
Page 7 and 8: e counted! he natural world - could
Page 9 and 10: VISIT A BIRD OBSERVATORY Situated i
Page 11 and 12: Nightingale TAKE PART IN ANY BTO SU
Page 13 and 14: k his roots TOM him back to his you
Page 15 and 16: Bewick’s Swans Greater Flamingo O

Young Birders

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?