Musings on the word 'birdy' and other vocabulary

Come on, admit it, all you patch birders know exactly what I'm talking about if I say, "Nothing new today, but it felt really birdy."  It's one of those phrases that shows precisely what the patch felt like, but is very difficult to put fully into words.  

What does the term 'birdy' actually mean?  What makes one day more birdy than another? 

It could be an increase in birdsong. It might be a greater flitting, seen in trees and bushes out of the corner of our eyes, or bigger numbers of birds flying overhead.  Or perhaps it's simply down to a change in the weather.  It can feel birdy at any time of the year, but I've noticed the term used far more during Spring and Autumn than at any other time. It's just a feeling I guess.  But, we all know there are also times when it should be birdy and it's very much not!  Those disappointing days when we wake early and grab our optics with expectation, then go home later, wondering where all the birds have disappeared to - a regular occurrence here in Warwick.

It's always a birdy day on Bardsey Island

As with any hobby, birding has developed its own vocabulary; some words and phrases used universally and understood by all, with some sticking to certain locations (it took me a while to be able to understand and respond to "Sin owt?" at Spurn.)

One of the most used and perhaps most amusing, to the immature among us, is the word jizz (or giss, if we want a slightly less questionable spelling).  Wikipedia describes it as the overall impression or appearance of a bird garnered from such features as shape, posture, flying style or other habitual movements, size and colouration combined with voice, habitat and location. It was actually used first in ornithology way back in 1921, by an Irish man by the name of T.A. Coward (according to a paper written by Jeremy and Julian Greenwood - yep, there's actually a paper on the word jizz!)  Mr Coward explained it perfectly:

‘If we are walking on the road and see, far ahead, someone whom we recognise although we can neither distinguish features nor particular clothes, we may be certain that we are not mistaken; there is something in the carriage, the walk, the general appearance which is familiar; it is, in fact, that individual’s jizz.'

Photo - Bridgeman Images

It's true, the regular birder can often identify a bird - even in silhouette, from some distance and partially obscured by branches - just by the way it is moving and with knowledge of the regular behaviour of certain breeds.  Green finches sit proudly at the tops of trees, siskins hang from the ends of branches, flycatchers dart out and back to their perches - they all have their individualities that can be learned and used, although not guaranteed, to narrow down what we are seeing.

The behaviour of birds brings out a whole plethora of vocabulary - I have no idea if there's a difference between 'flighty' or 'mobile', 'over' or 'passing through'. I've never heard the words 'elusive' or 'confiding' used more than in birdwatching.  Then there's the labels for the birds themselves.  We lazily shorten their names from meadow pipit to mipit, sparrowhawk to sprawk. Blackwit, barwit and some we even reduce to acronyms like GBBG, LSW and GWE.  We call birds plastic if they're not wild enough, migrant if they're moving and vagrant if they're lost.  

And then there's a list of other birding terms...  

We twitch a rare bird (especially if it's mega).  We dip if we can't find it.  We string if we pretend we did. Apparently, if we send a twitcher the wrong way on purpose, we're gripping them off.  We curse our bogey birds, we curse the togs that get too close to a bird and we celebrate when we tick a bird.

Lastly, there's that all important Boooom! This one depends on how special the bird seen is.  The number of Os, exclamation marks and whether the word is in bold or even capitals is the measure on this one.  

I'm sure there's many many more words and phrases I've still to learn, but now I'm going to dive into my copy of Mrs Moreau's Warbler, to read more about from where our lovely birds got their names.

Happy birding!

Lizzy

The origin of the birdwatching term ‘jizz’ | British Birds

Mrs Moreau's Warbler by Stephen Moss | Natural History Books | Faber

Cattle egret and more!

Some days are rubbish, some are a bit meh, some are quite pleasant.  And then, every once in a while, there's a day that smacks you right in the face with its awesomeness.  Today was one of those days.

Strolling to the Saxon Mill, we started our morning along a private stretch of river we are lucky to have access to.  Enjoying all the usuals as we walked, it wasn't long before we reached an open floodplain.  We had been on the lookout for marsh tit and treecreeper, which we still don't have on the Warwick 100 list this year, but hadn't had any joy.  

In the distance, on the other side of the river, we spotted a couple of egrets in the horse fields.  There have been up to four little egrets in these fields over the last few weeks and a great white egret was recorded there in December, so we weren't surprised, but they're always nice to see, and we went for a closer look.  

"That one's beak looks a bit yellow..."  "Nah, it can't be..."  "Hang on, let me take a pic..."  "I'm sending this to the 100 team for their thoughts..."

cattle egret (credit Alec Cuthbertson)

One of the many benefits of being part of the Warwick 100 is that we use each other for ID confirmation, asking questions without feeling stupid and we all celebrate our successes as a team.  Today was the perfect example of this.  Confirmed as our first ever cattle egret and our 73rd bird of the year, there were cheers all round and three of the team went straight to the area, viewing the bird from the other side of the horse field.

After watching for a while, Jack and I continued birding around the Saxon Mill, picking up a pair of peregrines perfectly perched on a pylon (!) for number 74, along with all the regular birds.  We took a look at Flash Gordon, not really hoping for anything, but surprisingly three smart shovellers took us to 75.  Sometimes the birding Gods just smile on you.

Symmetrical peregrines

Shovellers on Flash Gordon

On to Avon Wood.  This is a wonderful thirty-two acre site of privately owned young woodland, managed traditionally, and quite brilliantly.   It has been great to watch the area grow over the last few years and it is becoming quite the spot for wildlife.  I love to go at dawn to watch the barn owl hunt and there's been records of woodcock, water rail and otters too.  

Today there was an enormous finch flock moving from tree to tree, making a cacophony of noise.  The group was made up of siskin, goldfinch, linnet and over twenty lesser redpoll.  I've never seen so many at once, it was a feast for the eyes and the ears, and took the Warwick 100 team to number 76 for the year.  

Lesser redpoll

And to top it off, just as we were enjoying them, Jack heard a familiar flight call and looked up to see a yellowhammer flying over - number 77.

What an amazing morning we had.  With a call of red kite coming from another team member as we made our way home, the Warwick 100 ended the day on 78 for the year, 138 for all time and enormous smiles on our faces.

Lizzy

Hopyards...or is it?

Well, every day is a school day!  

Hopyards is one of my favourite spots to visit in the Warwick 100 area.  A little-known, quiet stretch of river with a vast flood plain on the other side, it is a little piece of calm amongst the urban noise of a town centre.  

We've seen some great birds and wildlife here (more on that in a bit) but I only found out the other day that it is also known as 'Alderham Pastures' and is designated as a county Local wildlife Site... I had no idea!  After a bit of digging on local council info, I found that it is actually part of a larger area:  

The site south of the M40 is 'Alderham Osier Beds' - with grass, willow scrub and sedge.

The majority of the site north of the M40 is 'Alderham Pastures' - with a small area of wet woodland and large expanse of wet grassland, managed by grazing sheep and cattle.  This is our 'Hopyards', as we know it, and it's not surprising that it is an official Local Wildlife Site, as there have been some fantastic records over the years.

Goosander, shoveller, pintail, Egyptian goose, gadwall, little egret, great egret, whooper swan, white-fronted goose, tawny owl, barn owl, cetti's warbler, marsh tit, green and common sandpiper, muntjac and otter are just a few of the species we've been lucky enough to record in this area.

So, Hopyards or Alderham Pastures...whatever it is called, it is great to know it has been recognised as the important site we know it is, and hopefully it means its protection can be counted on for years to come.

Lizzy

A good start...

 The first day of a new year is always exciting, when everything has reset to zero and even a blackbird or robin is big news. 

The Warwick 100 team were out and about, hampered a little by the weather, but managed a rather impressive 49 species on day one.

It really has been soggy over the Christmas period and there seems to be no let-up as we wade into 2024.  The Saxon Mill fields are cut off from the bridge as the weir rages under my feet.  Hopyards is living up to its name as a flood plain, although there doesn't seem to be any boundary between river and flood at the moment!  

Day three has seen us reach 57 species, the best being a fabulous great white egret, who was taking advantage of a very flooded St Nicholas Park.  More like Kingfisher Ocean than Kingfisher Pools currently!

Stay safe out there, folks!

Lizzy and the team

End of year roundup for 2023

Well, there's another year in the bag.  2023 came and went in a flash and 2024 is upon us!  

2023 has been a really tough one for me, as I lost my wonderful mum suddenly at the end of May.  It's been a tricky year both emotionally and timewise, I haven't got out into nature nearly as much as I would have liked.  

Roland has also now moved to pastures new.  He was the member of the team who managed to bird nearly every day - finding us some amazing records and we really counted on him to get our numbers up each year.    It is now down to us part-timers!  The team that Roland has left behind really are a fantastic bunch; all great fun, enthusiastic and contributing to the Warwick 100 whenever they can - whether it's on a weekly birdwatching stroll, walking to work, cleaning the car or sitting in the garden.  This means we can't expect our totals to reach the heady heights of previous years, but we're ok with that. Occasionally Roland drops in for a visit, it's great to catch up with him and we always hope he'll add just one more for us while he's here!

This year, we hit our target on the 7th May - exactly the same date as last year.  It was a lesser whitethroat that took the prize for being our 100th bird, with 101 following just seconds later as a cuckoo rudely sound-bombed my recording of the lesser whitethroat's song!   

We finished the year on 106 species.  It was incredibly quiet from August onwards, but the final bird went on the list on 23rd December when a great white egret arrived at the Saxon Mill, moving onto Hopyards the next day.

Great egret - credit Mark Smith

Our highlights for the year were more about numbers than special birds (great egret aside.)  It's been brilliant to see red kites regularly, little egrets more often and growing numbers of skylarks in the breeding project on the Racecourse land.  Stonechats have been recorded in several areas, swift numbers were healthy in the Summer and peregrines and ravens are a daily sight around Warwick now.

So, lots to be celebrated in the Warwick 100 and we are looking forward to a new year with new opportunities.  

For me...I just want the waxwings to visit Warwick before Winter is out!

Happy New Year to everyone, happy birding to you all.

Lizzy and the Warwick 100 team.

When the bets are off, the birding's on!

Warwick Racecourse.  Possibly the second most famous landmark in Warwick (I suppose the castle has to take top spot..!)  But also an important landmark on the Warwick 100's map, too.

Warwick Racecourse at dawn

Hurdle racing, in particular the exciting annual Kingmaker Chase, brings excited race-goers and television crews from miles around. However, it is the centre of the track that keeps us visiting, our adrenalin surging, consistently providing us with new birds toward our target each year.  

For there is wildlife on our racecourse.  Lots of it.  We are so lucky to have diverse habitats and sympathetic support, aiming to balance the range of uses provided for the residents of Warwick.  In addition to the centre of the course, St Mary's Lands encompases the local football club, historic gardens, motorcycle track and several other buildings.   A rather grand-sounding 'Master Plan' for St Mary's Lands, ensures that any managment, enhancement and promotion of the landscape maintains the character of St Mary’s Land and its increasing biodiversity.  'The master plan represents a balanced response to the opportunities and threats posed at St. Mary’s Lands. It recognises there may be a need to invest in developments that support the wider economy, such as a hotel and expansion of the caravan park, but where any such need exists, it cannot be at the detriment to the greenspace.'  Music to our ears! 

So, what does the racecourse have that attracts so much wildlife?  

The central area contains a golf course and driving range, meaning lots of green space, trees and shrubs.  Redstarts have been recorded here as well as little owl and even a barn owl on occasion.  Next, there is a large area of meadow land where skylarks and meadow pipits breed each year.  A breeding programme is now in place, with protective fences erected during the breeding season.  The success of this project is being monitored closely and seems to have been a real success.  A further small, fenced wetland area boasts reed bunting, reed and sedge warblers.  Whinchat, stonechat and wheater pass through each year and it is a fantastic area to spot snipe (and even jack snipe) at roosting times.  Recently, a large area has been left for sunflowers, teasels and grasses to go to seed, with a finch flock building each year.  Lastly, a small resevoir always looks as though it has potential, but never seems to produce! We have named it 'the toxic pool' and the best we've seen is a green sandpiper and a couple of little grebe. Oh well, you can't win 'em all! 

 

one of this year's skylarks

this has all got me to wondering how Warwick compares to other racecourses around the country in terms of nature habitats, so had a bit of a Google.  It turns out that there's very few records of horse tracks and wildlife going hand-in-hand.  

I found Ripon City Wetlands, in Yorkshire, but that's cheating as the nature reserve is next to and not part of the racecourse.  

I found Bitts Park, in Carlisle, but that's also cheating as it is no longer a racecourse.  It is now a fantastic nature reserve in its own right.

Pontefract, in Yorkshire, apears to be the only other racecourse I could fine that promotes nature, with a lake and walk around the centre of their track.  Birdguides shows a number of recent sightings including reed and sedge warbler and tufted duck. 

And that seems to be it, so I think we're pretty lucky here in Warwick.  It may feel like a bit of a balancing act at times - nature against other users of the racecourse like model aircraft flyers, dog walkers, oh yes and of course there's the horse racing!  But we are lucky to have such diverse habitats and an acknowledged breeding site for ground-nesting birds.  

Now, I'm off to the 'Toxic Pool' to see if there's any sign of life...

Lizzy

Finding Comfort in Nature

I lost my mum last week.

She died very suddently and will have felt no pain herself, but it has left everyone reeling with shock and disbelief at losing such a wonderful, active, life-loving woman with no warning.

I was with her when she passed away and, even during such a traumatic and chaotic time, I found moments of peace as I looked out on her garden, while the paramedics worked.  It's astounding how my mind could focus on a tiny bee hovering over an allium, or a delicate seed-head dancing on the breeze; everything else moving in slow motion around me.

In the days following Mum's death, my world has been a whirlwind of telephone calls, appointments and paperwork.  I've been through a myriad of emotions, as anyone who has lost a dear loved one will know.  At times I feel such grief that I cannot bear it.  It is at these times where I walk.  I find somewhere that others aren't.  I immerse myself in the natural world, where things are heartwarming and simple instead of heartbreaking and complicated. 

So why is nature so good for the soul?  What is it that causes my breathing to calm and tension to ease?

Science - apparently, bacteria in soils can activate neurons in our brains which, in turn, cause serotonin to be released.  This hormone then creates feelings of calmness and happiness - nature scientifically proven to help with grief and pain.  There has been research claiming even just a representaion of nature can make a positive difference to person's wellbeing.  Indeed, the vases of flowers and natural scenes on the cards I've received from my wonderful friends have certainly made me smile.

Escape - for me, this is a massive part of it.  To be solitary - away from all the professionals, services, well-meaning friends and family.  I can lose myself in the natural world, where the tranquility and permanency settles me...I don't have to show a brave face, I'm safe in the knowledge that nature will quietly get on with being nature, without a thought for the mad woman with mascara streaks down her cheeks.

Connection - walking in the countryside is a feast for the senses.  Seeing grass swaying in the sunlight, clouds gliding across the sky.  Hearing the babbling of water over rocks and chirruping birds in the willow trees.  Smelling the scent of early summer flowers and freshly cut meadow hay.  Feeling the rough bark of an old oak and a warm breeze on my face.  All of this connects me to the present, providing a sense of belonging and feeling of being at one with nature.  It doesn't erase the pain, but it helps me realise there's something greater and bigger than the loss I'm feeling right now.  

There'll be more tears, a few laughs and lots of memories shared over the next few weeks.  But one of the resounding things I'll remember throughout this painful time is something I heard on a children's film many years ago, that has always stayed with me...

'Everything you see exists together in a delicate balance.  As king, you need to understand that balance and respect all the creatures, from the crawling ant to the leaping antelope.'

'But Dad, don't we eat the antelope?'

'Yes, Simba, but let me explain.  When we die, our bodies become the grass, and the antelope eat the grass.  And so we are all connected in the great Circle of Life'  

Lizzy

The Biking Birder - a true hero!

I have nominated Gary Prescott for the ‘outstanding commitment’ award at the JustGiving awards.  Many of my friends know Gary personally, some know of him through me and a few will never have heard of him at all.

The following write-up is why I nominated him.  Please read and, if you feel he’s worthy, perhaps you could nominate him yourself, so he has a chance of picking up a richly deserved accolade...

 

If I had to think of four words to describe Gary Prescott, I would suggest ‘enthusiastic positive, selfless, hero’.  But here’s a few more about this remarkable man!

The History

I met Gary, by pure chance, on a train. 

My husband and I were having a chat with our seven year old lad, Jack, about green woodpeckers, when a voice from a nearby seat spoke up,

 “I’m sorry to interrupt, but it’s so wonderful to hear a youngster talking about nature.”  There started a fascinating conversation about birdwatching, travelling and feather collecting.  Within a few stops we had learned all about Gary and his passion for wildlife, charity and, in fact, life itself.  By the time we left the train, Gary and Jack had become firm friends and our contact details exchanged.  I’m certain that our chance encounter with Gary contributed hugely to Jack’s tireless enthusiasm for birdwatching throughout his childhood.   Jack is now 18 and still sees Gary as one of his great mentors and idols, even having only met him a handful of times.

For as long as I’ve known him and longer, Gary has been raising money and awareness to various charities close to his heart.  However, being the unique, creative and somewhat bonkers man that he is, he’s never content to raise money in a traditional way…

 The Biking Birder

A keen birdwatcher and even keener environmentalist, Gary uses his passions as the medium for his JustGiving fundraising.  His adventures as ‘The Biking Birder’ have seen him cycle around the UK, while ‘green’ birdwatching, over full 12 month periods.

Let’s think about this for a moment…Gary (a man who is undeniably in his bus pass years) takes his trusty bike and a backpack, his infamous tie and wellies, a camera, several cuddly mascots and a couple of charity collection boxes.  He sets off on a journey of up to 13,000 miles of pedalling, using no carbon fuels.  He has a target of recording as many species of bird as possible in a year and, more importantly to him, getting as many donations as possible into his JustGiving page for his charities.  He sleeps in hostels, friends’ houses, bird hides, church porches and under the stars, as he’d rather put money to charity than spend it on his own comfort.  And he hasn’t done this just once but four times, in 2010, 2015, 2016 and 2023.  As if that wasn't enough,  Gary holds a record as the only person to have cycled to every RSPB and W&WT nature reserve in a calender year (that's over 230 sites)...and he's done it twice! 

In 2018 Gary opted for an even more challenging Biking Birder adventure; travelling with his trusty metal steed to Peru.  He cycled and packrafted to the most remote areas, spending time with indigenous communities and raising funds and publicising  the Chaskawasi-Manu project, which provides vital protection, support and education for the village and surrounding forests.

Gary’s Other Chosen Charities

Gary has supported many charities over the years.  National charities like the RSPB, WWT, Asthma UK and Birdlife International have all benefited from his travels around the country.  Boasting a significant presence on social media, Gary writes a blog and posts regularly on Facebook and Twitter, updating his followers and the general public on his progress throughout his many adventures, always with a link to his JustGiving page.  His heartfelt, humble and often very touching posts inspire people to donate and his endless positive enthusiasm for all things natural and all things green motivates people to keep giving.

But, the charity he feels most emotionally attached to is ACORNS children’s Hospice Trust.  Having been ‘privileged’ to have taught children of all ages and abilities for 35 years, Gary feels strongly that he wants to give back to young people, so he supports a wonderful charity that provides help for families coping with a life limiting or life threatening illness of a child.  The charity is local to Gary’s home town and is also supported by his other life-long love – the Aston Villa football team.  In fact, Gary has been spotted more than once in the official Acorn costume on the pitch at home matches!

What Now For Gary?

With his parents needing a bit more help these days, Gary is staying local this year.  Yet, even this hasn’t stopped him from using his boundless energy for good.  In March, Gary made his first ever skydive in aid of Acorns hospice.  He runs a worldwide green birding group on Facebook; where like-minded ornithologists share sightings, photographs and experiences.  He continues to support Acorns and is always looking for more ways to give back – who knows what else he’ll get up to this year?

Gary’s commitment is unending and, quite frankly, outstanding.  After so many years of supporting charities, he has absolutely no idea how much he’s raised - he’s stopped counting – but I know it runs into thousands.  Having made such a difference to so many, it would be wonderful for Gary himself to be acknowledged and celebrated. 

2023 GoCardless JustGiving Awards | JustGiving and choose GaryPrescott2022

West Midlands All Dayer May '23

We are very lucky here in Warwick, to bird as a community.  Each new sighting in the Warwick 100 area gets reported on our WhatsApp group, followed by a flurry of responses from other team members; celebrating both the individual finder and the team's success.  This is usually then followed by a barage of jokes and mild insults - all part of knowing each other pretty well by now!  When the opportunity arises to join the entire West Midlands area as a community for a day, we jump at the chance.  

The West Midlands All Dayer, run by West Midlands Bird Club, is a fantastic, twice-yearly event that started as a bit of fun between friends in the 1980s.  Now, a significant number of birding teams - from Shropshire to Warwickshire, Staffordshire to Herefordshire - race to find as many species of bird as possible in 24 hours.  With such a geographical range, there is a huge diversity of sites inlvolved - from megasites like Middleton Lakes, Ladywalk and Belvide to small 'unbirdy' patches like ours.  For us, it is not a 'race'...we know we can never compete with the wetlands, pools and migration paths of some of those birding hotspots.  For us, it's a chance to get involved and feel part of something bigger, along with making the excitement of a day list come to life.  When spotting a sparrow is a 'boom!' moment, it has to be a good day!

Our All Dayer started with my being woken at 4.20am by a blackbird.  Number one ticked!  I thought I might as well get out and about, so made my way on my bike to our local barn owl's haunt just before dawn.  No luck with Barny this time, but I managed to notch up several regulars and had a list of 30 by 6.30am.  A lesser whitethroat made me smile, as it was our 100th bird for the year (hitting our target one day earlier than last year).  While I was taking a sound recording, a cuckoo called in the distance - a great record for Warwick, for the day and the year!  Off to the golf course, adding a few more locals like great crested grebe and buzzard, then to the Saxon Mill fields to see if any migrants had dropped.  Nothing doing, but I did get to see a wonderful young stag by the river.

Stag at the Saxon Mill fields

At this point, the rest of the team started to stir, with Steve, David, Rick and Alec all contributing with bullfinch, goldcrest and sadly, a dead red kite reported (which we obviously didn't count). 

I had some chores to do and a lunch date with my Mum (watching Charlie get his new hat) as the team hit the 50 mark.  Top respect to a couple of the group, who braved the worst of the weather in the middle of the day, to pick up canada goose, treecreeper and raven.  

Treecreeper - Alec Cuthbert

Full of coronation chicken sandwiches, I went out again, choosing Hopyards and the sewage works.  A huge flock of hirundines, including sand martin, and reed warbler on a local pool made it worth the trip, while records of willow warbler, nuthatch and sparrow hawk came in from elsewhere.  Meeting up with Steve, we took a stroll around the racecourse to see if the ellusive whinchat was about.  There was no sign of anything out of the ordinary, although the skylarks were showing well.

hoards of hirundines

skylark at the racecourse

Even some of the ordinary everyday birds were notably absent today - grey wagtail, greylag goose, black-headed gull, kestrel or peregrine never made it to the list. 

Eventually we all decided to call it a day with a total of 64 bird species.   A brilliant result, with lots of conversation (including jokes and mild insults) on the WhatsApp, as well as keeping up with the #westmidsalldayer posts on Twitter.  A HUGE thanks to Phil Andrews for coordinating the event, we are already looking forward to the September one!

Lizzy

Here is the list...

blackbird
blackcap
blue tit
bullfinch SV
buzzard
Canada goose SV
carrion crow
chaffinch
chiffchaff
coal tit
collared dove SV
coot AC
cuckoo
dunnock
ferel pigeon
gadwall AC
goldcrest RT
goldfinch
great crested grebe
great spotted woodpecker SV
great tit
green woodpecker
greenfinch
grey heron
herring gull
house martin
house sparrow
jackdaw
jay
kingfisher
lesser black-backed gull
lesser whitethroat
linnet
little egret AC
little grebe AC
long-tailed tit SV
magpie
mallard
meadow pipit DM
mistle thrush SV
moorhen
mute swan
nuthatch DM
pheasant
pied wagtail
raven AC
Reed bunting
Reed warbler
robin
rook
sand martin
sedge warbler
skylark
song thrush
sparrowhawk SV
starling
stock dove
swallow
swift SV
treecreeper AC
whitethroat
willow warbler DM
wood pigeon
wren

Smelly birding

Countless, cloud-like swarms of martins and swallows swoop, turn and dive and over dark waters.  The local sparrow hawk glides silently overhead, checking out her chances amongst the dancing flock.  corvids squabble and scuffle over the best perches, while pied and grey wagtails march at ground level, in a seemingly never-ending hunt for insects.  What an idyllic spot for a spot of bird watching...

...at our local sewage works!

prime spot!

Here in Warwick, there are very few sites for quality birding and even fewer with contained, still water to attract wildlife.  So, the water treatment plant on the Stratford Road has become one of the team's regular locations to visit, to attempt to spot potential additions to our list.  It appears we are not the only ones to hold our noses in hope. 

Bird species seen across UK sewage works make for impressive reading over the years - dipper, glossy ibis, breeding green sandpipers and Siberian chiffchaff to name a few.  Beckton Sewage treatment works, East London, has clocked up 148 species including curlew, dunlin and Caspian gull, along with records of grass snakes and bank voles.  Northumbrian Water have planted reed beds at Birtley water treatment plant, attracting bittern, gadwall and jack snipe.  A 'Waste to Warblers' tour of the site was even offered back in 2016.  Swindon, Salford and Bicester have all also turned their sites into mini nature reserves to balance human need with protecting biodiversity.  Brilliant!

So, why do these manmade and rather smelly locations draw so many birds?  Well, the percolating filter beds in sewage treatment works have high macroinvertebrate densities, don't you know... (in other words, the water is full of oxygen and nutrients, so has lots of bugs in it that are big enough to see with the naked eye).  Fly larvae hatches, providing aerial food for birds (and bats, according to other studies) and providing plenty of opportunity for a healthy food chain.  As Tom Stephenson, US birder and author, puts it so concisely,  'Water, heat and fertilizer...what more could you ask for?'

Breakfast for hirundines...? 

So, we will continue to visit our little sewage treatment works; holding our noses, enjoying the regulars, hoping for rarities.  You never know what might turn up...

Lizzy

A shameless plug for one of our team members...

Rick is a solid, long-term member of the Warwick 100 team; regularly found walking in the area, especially in his beloved St Nicholas' Park.    His contributions to our list so far this year have included Cetti's warbler, little egret and our first sand martins and willow warblers of Spring.  But, when not finding us new birds, Rick is busy writing - and publishing - his wonderful words.

Park Life: A Year in the Wildlife of an Urban Park

Rick's first book, published in 2020, diarises a year in his local park, where he spends time watching and listening for everything that nature has to give - from birds and insects to trees and flowers.  This is not just a collection of wildlife records, however.  Instead, each chapter is an endearing medley of musings,  nuggets of knowledge and some beautiful poetry and quotes from the past.  The icing on the cake is Rick's own hand-drawn illustrations, nicely dotted amongst the pages.  

Rick's book proves just how much nature there is around, even in an urban park in the Midlands, if we can just choose to slow down and really look at the world.

A River Avon Year

Recently, Rick published his second book.  Set a little further afield, he follows the Shakespeare's Avon Way from its source, in Naseby, to where is converges with the River Severn, in Tewkesbury.  An 88 mile journey, Rick walked it in sections over a twelve month period, enjoying the changing seasons and scenery as he makes his way through the towns and villages that line the river.

Reading the book, it feels as though I'm actually there, strolling with Rick.  His writing is much like the river itself - thoughts and wonderings meandering across the pages just as the Avon winds through the countryside with gentle, unrushed purpose.  Along with Rick's trademark cocktail of wildlife sightings, historical stories and anecdotes, reading the book makes for an enjoyable few hours' escape from a busy world.

So there we go - a published author in our team.  

If you'd like to get hold of one (or both) of his books, here are the links to Amazon.  

https://amzn.eu/d/h0FD3vm

https://amzn.eu/d/6F9rESq

Although, even better would be to shop local, as the books are stocked at Warwick Books, Warwick Visitor Centre, Kenilworth Books, Brandon Marsh and other local outlets along the Avon Valley.

Rick can also be found giving talks at Warwick Words, signing his books around the town and is an active member of the Warwick Natural History Society and the Town Council volunteers.  We do hope the fame and success of Rick's books doesn't go too much to his head...we still need him spotting new birds for the Warwick 100 list!

Sometimes even I find it hard to smile...

I like to think that I'm a pretty positive and upbeat person but, on a recent weekend walk, I couldn't help but feel increasingly upset...

I began my walk at Draycote water; a large reservoir with an impressive historical list of visiting regulars and rarities. It is an important site for numerous breeds of wildfowl and many varieties of gull use the evening roosts. However, as I walked the circumference, I couldn't help noticing the number of boats ready for use and fisherman on the water, with only a seemingly tiny section of the huge expanse of water set aside purely for wildlife. There was such an imbalance between the size of area for human use and that for wildlife to be undisturbed; it didn't make sense to me.

The first few kilometres of walking through fields on the way back to Warwick, I saw nobody. It was wonderfully peaceful, with beautiful countryside all around. Yet, while it was a joy to encounter no people, it was worrying that I encountered next to no wildlife either. A circling red kite and the odd rabbit were a joy to see, but where were the foxes? Where were the deer, the hares and mice? Where were the finch flocks?  

Beautiful but barren

Sadly, the majority of farmers seem to squeeze every penny from every inch of their land; leaving no room for biodiversity.  I walked through field upon field of crops - sown and grown right up to every square's edge - where pesticides, herbicides and fungicides ensure that any non-crop life doesn't stand a chance.  Even moles have no hope of pushing their way through the densely packed and nutrient deserted soil.  The perfectly trimmed hedges around me were silent, empty.  

A single skylark, singing his heart out, swelled my heart...until I remembered that the field he was hovering over would probably be harvested before he got a chance to rear his brood.  Then, the next crop will be sown, no time for the soil to restore, for worms to do their natural ploughing and not a leftover seed to provide for the wildlife.  It brings me to tears.

Perfectly clipped, silent hedges

What a wonderful surprise, then, when I came across a small section of a field left as stubble, and a corner with browning sunflowers, gone to seed.  In these areas there was a sudden wealth of life - finches flitting and feeding, a ground level scurrying of tiny feet and flying predators on the hunt.  But this was maybe half an acre across countless square kilometres of land.  It is that imbalance again.  A token piece of land given back to nature, while the rest is kept to ourselves.  How is it still ok to abuse our power in this way, when our eyes have been opened to the seriousness of the crisis our world is in?

A welcome patch of thoughtful farming

Thankfully, all is not lost.  Schemes like the Government's Countryside Stewardship provides funding to encourage farmers and land managers to work their land more sustainably, keeping the environment and biodiversity in mind.  The managers of Goodrest Farm in Kenilworth is a great example; growing winter bird feed and lining their fields with a gratifyingly wide wildflower border - wonderful to see.  

We need to remember that this land used to belong to the skylarks, the pipits, the foxes and the hares years ago, before we claimed it all for our own.  We need to give some of it back.

I have just finished reading the superb book 'The Running Hare: The Secret Life of Farmland', by John Lewis-Stempel.  An account of his experiment in traditional farming hand in hand with wildlife on a small piece of land, it proves that previously over-farmed land can recover very quickly.  One year is all it took to see the return of nature and to see it flourish.  It can be done.

So, while I can't help but feel sad as I walk around the fields, perhaps soon there will be more widespread ecologically responsible farming, allowing the foxes, hares, hedgehogs and finches to return.

Here's hoping...

beautiful but barren

Perfectly clipped, silent hedges

A welcome patch of thoughtful farming

Dancing in the Sky

During the dark months of the year in the UK, when the excitement of Christmas is done and everything is cold and grey, there is something that can lighten up any dull mood and brighten the end of the day...

A starling murmuration.

Thousands of sternus vulgaris collecting in groups, sometimes over the most unlikely of locations, then joining together as one for a spectacular aerial display of turning, twisting and dancing.  Works of art in the sky, the birds make amazing shapes as they ball and fold, sometimes for a few moments, sometimes for up to an hour.

Suddenly, the starlings descend in black funnels, into a seemingly TARDIS-like space, to roost in reeds or trees.  The sky may have emptied, but the air is still full of chattering as families squabble, swap places and find their spot for the night.

To witness this performance, often silhouetted against a backdrop of a sunset or the moon, is an ethereal and humbling experience.

We've come a long way from the likes of Aristotle and Morton, with their beliefs that birds hibernate in the bottom of lakes or migrate to the moon, but we still don't really know for sure why starlings murmur.

The ancient Romans thought they were messages from the Gods.  An oracle would be sent to stand on the top of Avantine Hill, to watch and interpret how the Gods were feeling that day.  It's incredible to think that vital political decisions in Rome might have been made this way!  The city still sees spectacular murmurations of up to 10 million birds each winter, although I think the residents are more worried about seven tonnes of bird splat than the moods of the Gods these days...

Recent scientific research proposes more down-to-earth theories, such as the birds protecting themselves from predators, keeping warm, socialising and organising hierarchies for the roost.  Whatever the reason is, these magical, mesmerising murmurations will certainly keep me smiling until Spring.  

And maybe booking a trip to Rome next year...

Sillhouette in Tewkesbury - Lizzy

Murmuration in Rome - Soren Solkaer

Poo in Rome - Chris Helgren