England and Scotland
Saturday, 16 August 2008 20:08
Written by Neil Gray
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16 August 2008 Just back from 15 days visiting my family in the UK, where I managed to get in some birding in Greater London, Durham, Tees-side and the Scottish Highlands - the first birding I have ever done in the UK - chalking up 110 species (not including exotic/captive birds).
I spent the afternoon of my arrival day in London at the London Wetlands Centre in Barnes. This is an amazing place sitting next to the River Thames, surrounded by suburban office and residential blocks, with Fulham FC’s Craven Cottage stadium just across the river, and literally right beneath the Heathrow Airport flight path. It combines natural wetland with wild waterfowl, artificial ponds with (pinioned) exotic waterfowl from all over the world and some natural woodland areas. It has several bird hides, one of which, the Peacock Tower, is three stories high and boasts a lift! Bird feeders are also placed at strategic points in the woodland to attract the resident species. As well as many exotic waterbird species I managed to see the following among others: After London came a 6-day trip to the North-west Highlands of Scotland. We stayed at a holiday cottage on the Attadale Estate on Loch Carron. I got up early every morning for a walk around the grounds and picked up many species that I had not seen before (My British list up to now was compiled when I was still at school and stood at 56 species). These walks added: On one of our Scottish Highland days we went on a boat trip from Elgol on the south-west coast of the Isle of Skye, passing close to the Isle of Rhum and landing on Canna. The following birds were added on this trip and a separate drive around the Isle of Skye itself: While visiting my father in Durham I took an early morning drive into the Durham moors between Stanhope and Middleton-in-Teesdale to look for game birds. I wasn’t disappointed, adding: Also while in Durham I went off for a pre-arranged morning’s birding to the Tees Marshes with a local birder from the Teesmouth Bird Club. Again, I was not disappointed, with some 57 species ticked for the morning, including a Water Rail that nearly took our heads off as it shot across the path along which were walking between ponds. Also of interest to a South African birder who had never done any marsh or coastal birding in the UK before were: |
Last Updated ( Thursday, 27 September 2012 10:59 ) |