My bird of the month for May, the whimbrel, is appropriately enough sometimes called the ‘May Bird’. This is because May is the month most of us encounter this migratory wader as it stops off at coastal sites on the way to its breeding grounds further north. Similar to curlews, but with a few tell-tale …
February is a good month to see our smallest goose, the brent, or brant. This diminutive species is about the same size as a mallard and much smaller than its greylag and pink-footed cousins. In the winter, the UK and Ireland host two distinct subspecies, or races. These are split between a number of traditional …
This content contains affiliate links to Bookshop.org. When you buy through these links, I may earn an affiliate commission. I have always found bird migration fascinating. The thought of these creatures, sometimes just small scraps of feather, covering such huge distances year after year is just staggering. So, when I found out about this book …
This content contains affiliate links to Bookshop.org. When you buy through these links, I may earn an affiliate commission. In the UK we are lucky enough to still just about have four distinct seasons. Each has its own highlights, whether it’s more hours of daylight, crisp wintry scenes or spring migrants. But autumn is without …
When I first visited Shetland 11 years ago, one of the many highlights was a dusk trip over to the small island of Mousa, an RSPB reserve. Mousa is famous for two things. The first is the most complete Iron Age broch still standing, of which more in a moment. The second claim to fame …
My bird of the month for May is the northern wheatear. It is always exciting to see the first birds arrive back from Africa in March and April, but May is one of the best months to see them on their upland breeding sites. Listen out for their stonechat-like ‘clacking’ call. In May, you can …
This content contains affiliate links to Bookshop.org. When you buy through these links, I may earn an affiliate commission. I’m actually one of those strange people who really like winter. I have to admit, though, by the time we get to March and April, I’m ready for the arrival of spring. From the first snowdrops, …