BIRD WATCHING

Sparrow

Perhaps one of the nicest things about being far removed from city life is gaining a true appreciation of nature.  When you relax, you start to notice little things like birds feeding, courting, and playing. Millom and the surrounding areas are a perfect place to see this. We have a variety of birds that are all beautiful in their own way, whether common or elusive and rare.

Finding and identifying new birds can sometimes be difficult. Here are a few basic tips for those new to the hobby.

Visit a selection of different habitats. Woodland, farmland, reed beds, fresh water, estuaries, sea cliffs, lowland heath, moorlands, etc. all have their own characteristic birds.

*Make sure you have a reasonable pair of binoculars.
*Get out early in the day - this is when birds are most active. In general, the warmer the weather the more important it is to get out early. (This is however less important for birds such as waders, which follow the rhythm of the tides).
*Get out every month. Thanks to migration there are different birds to see in each season. But also the resident birds are easier to see in some months than others.
*Get a good field guide, then really use it. Don't rely entirely on the illustrations, as information such as mating patterns, and birdsong are very important in distinguishing the different breeds. Some birds are far easier to hear than to see, while many others first draw attention to themselves by their songs and calls.
*Go birdwatching alone (so that you practice identifying the birds yourself) and with others (so that you learn from them).

*Join your local bird society, RSPB local group or similar organisation, and go on their field trips.

*put the birds first - don't disturb them unnecessarily.

Some of the more common, but never less interesting and beautiful, birds that are easily spotted around the Millom area are:

Collared Dove

Blue tit

Thrush

Blackbird

If you desire more of a challenge in birdwatching, try looking for these birds who also make the area their home from time to time.

Common Scoter - often found off Silecroft, Nov. - Feb.
Common Tern - breeding colonies at Hodbarrow Nature Reserve from Apr. – July
Gannet - large counts off Hodbarrow Nature Reserve June - September.
Goshawk - resident and breeding in the foothills of south Lakes.
Great Black-backed Gull - breeding colony on S. Walney Island (Barrow), May - June.
Grey Partridge - sometimes seen at North & South Walney Island and Sandscale.
Grey Plover - winter in the Duddon, Walney, Rampside areas, Sept. - March.
Lesser Whitethroat - summer visitor; prefers hedgerows and scrub of Hodbarrow and Furness Peninsula.
Little Grebe - good wintering numbers at Hodbarrow, Nov.- Feb.; breeds in South Lakes and Furness
Little Tern - breeding colony at Hodbarrow, Apr. - July.
Pintail - small numbers on the Duddon Estuaries, Oct. - Feb.
Red-breasted Merganser - breeds inland but great numbers all year at Hodbarrow.
Ruddy Duck - several overwinter at Hodbarrow, one or two remain in the summer.
Sanderling - wintering birds on Walney and Duddon Estuary shores; Oct. - Apr.
Sandwich Tern - breeding colony at Hodbarrow, Apr. - July.
Tree Sparrow - The Leece/Dendron area in the Furness Peninsula is a stronghold.

Whatever your interest, come visit us an enjoy the wildlife!