This blog comes to you from the newest member of the Nature's Home team, Aisling Brady, who got up at 5am on New Year’s Day to participate in a birding race…
Over to Aisling!
I’ve never been the biggest fan of New Year’s Eve to be honest. So this year I swapped the usual sore head and depleted savings for something rather more refreshing. When my housemate, birding guru Ben MacDonald, invited me to a New Year’s Day bird race I jumped at the chance. What better way to kick off 2018 than the promise of more species than I’d ever seen before?
Our aim for the day was to see 100 species of bird.
The race day team, ready for action. Image credit: Alex Hart
6am
A group of seven of us (including Nick Gates and Matt Collis, hosts of the Nature Natter's podcast) drove out to our first site, Cannop Valley in the Forest of Dean, to see in the dawn. As soon as we got out of the car, we heard a tawny owl call, as a woodcock flew overhead. This was my first ever woodcock – we took it as a sign of things to come.
The nearby lake ticked off a few more on our wish-list, including some graceful mandarins. After a bit of fresh air and a few comfort snacks we were all raring to go.
At Woorgreens Lake, a flock of pink-and-green brushed goosanders flew overhead and a startling concentration of redpolls converged on a lakeside sapling. Wading muddy paths through ancient woodland and wild heaths, it felt as though we were privileged guests in a private natural world.
The Forest of Dean's famous wild boar. Image credit: Alex Hart
9am
We crossed paths a few times with the forest’s wild deer and, after a stunning view of a pair of crossbills and a great spotted woodpecker, we were well on our way to a strong tally.
Nick knew a great spot nearby for the Forest of Dean’s elusive wild boar, so we took a short detour…. And did we strike gold or what! Four magnificent boar and a piglet trotted right up to our car window, giving us a spectacular view of these sought-after beasts.
12pm
A thicket of yews yielded three striking hawfinches, and by lunchtime we were sitting pretty on 53 species.
After a much-needed feed, we headed down to Slimbridge for a front-row view of one of the densest populations of waterfowl in the South West. This was my first trip to Slimbridge, and I was so chuffed to see such a concentration of birds in one place. When a peregrine swooped in, a blanket of lapwings and curlews danced dramatically around the sky.
2pm
We finished off at Slimbridge with a controversial sighting of a non-native red-breasted goose, probably an escapee from a private collection. This was the first I’d heard of such collections, though it was a real treat to see this “art-deco bird” in the flesh.
Dusk falls over Ham Wall. Image credit: Alex Hart
4pm
Our final stop for the day saw us zooming towards RSPB Ham Wall in the Somerset Levels in time to catch the starling murmurations. We were cutting it fine, and found ourselves running to the other side of the reserve to get to the best vantage point on time.
Huge flocks of starlings swirled overhead, and we arrived (panting and sweaty) just in time for my first experience of this wonderful winter phenomena. With the huge moon as a backdrop, and joined by a crowd of fellow nature enthusiasts of all ages, this was the perfect end to a spectacular New Year’s Day. (Find other great spots to see this seasonal sight on page 16 of Nature's Home Spring 2018.)
All that remained was to collapse in the pub and tally up our sightings….
So how many did we see? Well, we didn’t quite make our intended 100, but I was extremely proud of our formidable 91 species in one day. Plus, it gives us something to beat next year!
Have you done better? Let us know your bird race results below.
There are the great blog here it is the most amazing thing for the players can play the online spades hope you can like this great fun here must be thanks for the information.