New book shows you don't have to get into a car to discover sites abundant with birds and other wildlife

Front cover of the new book which is priced at £20 in paperback

FRONTLINE publishing house Bloomsbury have backed four women with publication of a new book - Where to Watch Wildlife in Britain by Low-carbon Transport.

The quarter consists of Megan Shersby, Dan Rouse, Heather Devey and Rebecca Gibson.

For those who do not have access to car or who are concerned about their carbon footprint, the authors have pinpointed more than 100 sites which can be reached by train, bus, bicycle or foot.

Say Bloomsbury: "There are directions for all the sites, plus detailed information on travel options, access, species present and when best to visit, along with photographs of the sites and some of the special species you might see.

"Whether it is otters in Carlisle, butterflies in Norfolk seabird cliffs in coastal Wales or red squirrels in the Highlands, this book tells you where to go and how to get there while minimising your carbon footprint. 

"It is a new and unique way to enjoy Britain's wildlife heritage and one that we should all embrace."

 

Megan Shersby  

                                                                

Dan Rouse 

Rebecca Gibson  

Heather Devey 

Focus on RSPB South Stack in Wales . . .

                                                                  

and the Lossiemouth Estuary in Scotland . . .

Not forgetting England  . . . and  Liverpool

Step into a dream! It may be sleepy but TV's Sam & Ade Go Birding show is really rather delightful

 

It's natural to want to be comfortable - the duo took along portable chairs to watch Red Kites feeding

IF it be possible, the second episode of the second series of Sam and Ade Go Birding was even sleepier than the first.

Despite the producers' efforts, the programme seldom came anywhere near to capturing the exhilaration of birding.

But it was still enchanting . . . and even a little bit hypnotic.

On this occasion, experienced birder Samuel West and novice Adrian Edmondson were in West Wales where  a Kite-feeding centre and  an Osprey-accommodating  RSPB reserve were among their destinations

The visits enabled Sam to supply a commentary on how both species are now widespread, having formerly been on the verge of British extinction such was the extent of persecution by egg-collectors, shooters and others.

But there was no sense of  adventure in their trips - the raptors were certain to be in situ, so the duo might just as well as have been visiting zoos.

And, in these environment-conscious, times what could possibly have justified the use of a gas-guzzling Land Rover as the preferred mode of travel?

Oddly (but refreshingly) it was neither the Ospreys nor the Red Kites that seemed to captivate Ade - it was first an "amazing"  Yellowhammer, then a  Sedge Warbler clinging to a reed as it poured out its jubilant song.                                         

Sam - gentle soul

Of the two, Sam has the softer spirit. Despite being a professional actor, he is unshowy -  obviously a kind and modest chap who seems to have led a relatively privileged and sheltered life. In short, a "very polite young man", notwithstanding his description of young birds as "babies" is somewhat irritating.

By contrast, Ade is edgier, with a sharper humour, probably partly born of a harder journey through life than his colleague. His frivolity, tipping into flippancy, has definitely provided welcome moments of 'bite' to the dialogue. 

Evidently, Ade's  relationship with his late father, who wanted him to become a doctor or a lawyer rather than an entertainer, was not without his bumps, but he indicated that becoming a father to daughters had changed him - almost certainly for the better.

As the two series have progressed, in his gently teasing way, he has become more inclined to tread, ever so slightly,  on his friend's sensitivities

For instance, when Sam reveals that, with his brother,  he is co-organising a memorial service for his late actress-mother Prunella Scales (for whom he continues to grieve), Ade notes somewhat unkindly: "You're not doing it for her - you're doing it for you."                                                 

Ade - wry humour

Will his ornithological expeditions with Sam, spark Ade into becoming a birder in his own right? On the evidence so far, possibly not. There is the feeling that, once the series is complete, he will tuck his binoculars into a drawer from which they may possibly never be removed.

Having said that, credit to him for his  respectful description of  a generally unsung bird - a  female pheasant.

"She looks as if she's clothed in chiffon," he commented  of the creature's finely marked plumage. "As if she's off to a 1920s ball."  

The third and final episode of the series is at 7pm tomorrow (Thursday October 15) on Channel 5.

It sees the pair at another RSPB reserve - this time, the one at Bempton on the cliffy Yorkshire coast, to watch Gannets and other nesting seabirds.   

The magnificent scenery of West Wales enhanced the show

                               

So long as the habitat is managed, it seems that heathland species such as Nightjar will thrive and prosper

Bird of mystery - Nightjar in flight

                                   

THE past couple of decades seem to have been kind to bird species that inhabit Britain's heathland and young forest, both those in the uplands and in the lowlands.

A paper by in the Autumn 2026 edition of BTO  News reports that of the  territories monitored, there were substantial increases between 2004 and 2025 for Nightjar, Dartford Warbler and Woodlark.

The 2025 breakdown for the areas covered is: 

* Nightjar territories: 5,184 (up 20 per cent on 2004)

* Dartford Warbler: 3,260 territories (up 27 per cent)

* Woodlark: 2,364 territories (up 35 per cent)

These are species that benefit from invertebrate-rich habitat consisting of thinly vegetated ground with an abundance of bare soil or short turf, scattered hawthorn and other scrub. 

But, as the report  points out these are often "early-successional"  and "inherently short-lived" habitats that require grazing, cutting or forestry operations to prevent scrub and/or heather taking over.

So long as this human activity  prevails, there are reasons to be cheerful, all the more so given that climate change - specifically drier  summers - would seem to work to these species' advantage, possibly helping them to extend their breeding range.

On the downside, fires such as those this summer at Dunwich in Suffolk, plus long periods of heavy rain during the breeding season, are the opposite ofbeneficial.

The survey also looked at nine other species, including Stonechat and Hobby, that are regularly to be found  on heathland, but no breeding data has yet been published for these.                                       

Dartford Warblers as depicted in Gould's The Birds of Great Britain (1873) 

Captivating new film explores the wildlife - including Capercaillies and Black Woodpeckers - of forest in France

 

There should be plenty of interest from birders in a new film that is due to open  British cinemas on November 13. Set in France's Vosges forests, it is a captivating study of members of three generations as they explore the sights and sounds of wildlife. Among scarce or little-seen birds featured are Black Woodpecker, Capercaillie and Crested Tit. The running time is 95 minutes, and trailers of the film can be found on YouTube and elsewhere online.

                                                  

                                            

                                                   

Gone but not forgotten! Higher-than-expected auction price for Passenger Pigeon sculpture

 

                                       

This sculpture of a Passenger Pigeon, an American species which is said to have gone from 2,000 million birds to extinction in little more than a couple of decades, sold for more than expected at an auction conducted earlier this month. Bids of up to £500 were expected, but the price had reached £550 by the time the hammer fell. Standing 39cm high, it was one of 12 such works created by sculptor Chris Manley (who died two years ago).

On the market: private Peak District woodland which may be home to Pied Flycatchers, Redstarts and more

                                                    

A private broadleaved woodland that looks promising for breeding Pied Flycatchers, Redstarts and Wood Warblers has come on the market with an asking price of £70,000. Bosworth Wood, which stretches across 5.6 acres, lies off the A523 road and is next to a lake at Rudyard, near Leek, on the edge of the Peak District. More details from woods4sale at 01248 364362

Bosworth Wood, Rudyard, Leek Staffordshire - Woodland For Sale.

Might overhead Golden Eagle - or some other raptor - have given life to Charles' study of Balmoral Castle ?

                                                     

This limited print of a painting of Balmoral Castle sold for £1,408 including the buyer's premium when it went under the hammer at an online autumn auction conducted by Bonhams. Measuring 280mm x 400mm, it  was painted by King Charles in 2001 long before he came to the throne. Might the study have been livelier if a Golden Eagle or some other raptor has been included in the sky?