Bygone birding: Nutcrackers 'do occasionally get driven out of their course and come among us' in Britain

                                               

What prospect of seeing a Nutcracker in Britain this autumn? 

Amid predictions by frontline birder Jon Dunn and others that this week might see arrivals  of one or more Nutcrackers in the UK, here is an extract from John Gould's  account of the corvid-family species in his book, The Birds of Great Britain (1873).  

With the Nutcracker must ever be associated recollections of Alpine scenery for it is in the Alps where the bird is often seen by the British tourist.

There it dwells in the forests of pine which clothe the sides of the mountains as high as those trees can grow. 

Wherever the Pinus cemhra grows, the Nutcracker will certainly be encountered just as we see the Jay in the oak woods of Kent, and the Magpie in the valley of the Trent.

At times, it may be approached sufficiently near to admit a close observation of its sprightly and singular actions - actions which always remind me of those of the Great Tit, with a little of those of the Jay. 

At one moment, it may be seen climbing head downwards, and hammering away at a cone to obtain the seed within; at another, with its breast and tail well up, and its head thrown back.

If disturbed by the traveller, it merely flies a few yards further off or crosses the roaring torrent to the opposite side of the hill. 

Alpine Switzerland, however, is not the only place the bird inhabits.

It is found much further south and a long way toward the north. 

It not only visits the dark, gloomy forests of Germany, Scandinavia, and Russia, but also breeds there. 

It will be understood then, that if the kind of country I have described be essential to its existence and well-being, the British Islands can offer it but little temptation.

Still in its journeyings to and fro, like a mariner who has unshipped his compass and lost his way, individuals do occasionally get driven out of their course and come among us.

And that such accidental visits are not infrequent is certain, for I shall be within the mark when I say that there are at least 50 recorded instances of examples having been shot within the precincts of our islands. 

Sir John Crewe tells me that, some years ago, two were killed in Oakley Park, in Suffolk, the seat of Sir Edward Kerrison, in whose possession they now are. 

Macgillivray states that a specimen in the Museum of the University of Edinburgh was said to have been shot at Peterhead.

Two or three more have been shot in Devonshire, and others have been obtained in Northumberland, Somerset and elsewhere.

From the earliest date at which ornithology became a study, this bird has been an object of interest.

Nutcracker seen from a far on the edge of a Bavarian forest

                                     

Back in Grimsby - photographer who snapped last-known shot of a bird that has since become extinct

                                                             

Chris' famous last photograph of a bird alas now extinct

 

IT is  back to home turf  on Monday for a former Grimsby man who took the last known photograph of a bird that has subsequently become extinct.

Chris Gomersall grew up in Grimsby and neighbouring Cleethorpes, then went on to enjoy an adventurous career in wildlife photography - first as a staff man at RSPB, then as an award-winning freelance. 

In spring,  this year he was on board the ill-fated Dutch cruise ship, MV Hondius,  which made global headlines for the unhappiest of  reasons.

A total of 11 of the 27 on board contracted Andean Hantavirus while voyaging in the Antarctic. Three subsequently died and one became seriously ill.  

Chris escaped being infected, but the expedition had been interrupted in the most tragic of circumstances.

What is more, in common with fellow-passengers and crew, once back on dry land, he had to undergo hospital quarantine for three weeks before being allowed back to his home in Bedfordshire.                                     

Chris - award-winning photographer grew up in North East Lincolnshire

Because of  the continuing sensitivities, particularly for those who lost loved ones, Chris is unlikely to say much about  what happened on the MV Hondius in the illustrated talk he will be giving  at Holy Trinity parsih  hall on Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes (DN35 7LH),  on Monday October 19.

Instead, he will describe other aspects of his career - most notably his mesmerising encounter in Morocco with the now-extinct Slender-billed Curlew.

That was back in February, 1995, since when the decline of this wading species has culminated, in November two years ago, in its being officially  declared extinct.

Much-travelled Chris will also describe many other highlights of his career in what what promises to be a captivating presentation.

The event will be an historic  first joint-meeting of Grimsby RSPB group and the Lincolnshire Bird Club.

However, it is also open to non-members of either group  with an admission charge of just £5 including a tea/coffee and biscuits during the interval.

The meeting starts at 7.30pm.

             

It may not be the tops for vagrant passerines, but north-west England still has plenty of great birding sites

A common lament among birders in the northwest of England is that the region seldom attracts as many vagrant passerines as the East Coast. But it is still a great place for birding on the evidence of this recently-published book by authors Stephen Dunstan, Ian McKerchar and Jane Turner. The contents provide a comprehensive review of top birding sites with detailed maps and advice on when to visit and potential target species. The book is published by Bloomsbury at £27.99 in paperback. 

Recently-launched duffle coat looks just the ticket for birding in cold and windswept places

                                                          

With colder days ahead, Cornwall-based fashion brand Seasalt hopes fashion-conscious female birders might take a shine to its recently launched £210 duffle coat which has mostly received favourable reviews, though with the occasional cavil about stiffness in fastening the buttons. The same company also offers within its range a £160 raincoat (below).   https://www.seasaltcornwall.com/

                                                

Boscaswell Waterproof 3-in-1 Duffle Coat - Seasalt Cornwall

Boscaswell Waterproof 3-in-1 Duffle Coat - Seasalt Cornwall

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)