With the clocks going forward last weekend, spring is finally here and with it the lighter evenings. However, frustrated families, stuck inside for much of the day with the current lockdown here in the UK, are looking for new things to do to break up the daily routine and boredom if they are unable to go to work.
So what better way than to add some colour into your day by taking a look at what nature and wildlife is doing all around you, as nature is fortunately not constrained by any kind of lockdown!
The warmer weather also marks the start of the nesting season and therefore the opportunity to watch birds building their nests from the comfort of your living room or kitchen window perhaps.
To help the stay-at-home wildlife explorers identify the birds they spot, SWAROVSKI OPTIK, who are well-known for their long-range optics, has created a list of ten British birds that can be easily found whilst bird watching from the comfort of your home. You only need to take a look at what nature is doing in your own garden or out in woodland areas when taking your daily exercise. Spotting wildlife is also a great way for parents to keep their children occupied during a family walk.
Springtime is the perfect time to spot robins and goldfinches as well as less common birds such as the green woodpecker. Birders can also try to track down rare species such as the often-elusive bullfinch and vocal nightingale. For those of you who would like to learn more about the birds you manage to spot, SWAROVSKI OPTIK has recently announced the launch of their dG (digital guide), which is the first long-range optical device that allows nature enthusiasts to easily observe, identify and share sightings of birds and other animals with fellow enthusiasts. In the case of children, they can share their wildlife findings with friends.
SWAROVSKI OPTIK’s top ten birds to spot this spring
Familiar favourites
- Robin – easily recognisable by its bright red chest and golden-brown back, the robin is a common species of bird in the UK that can often be seen singing alongside pathways during dawn and dusk.
2. Goldfinch – the goldfinch is identifiable by its bright red face and yellow wing patch and tend to stick together and can often be spotted visiting garden bird tables.
3. Pied wagtail – the pied wagtail is a relatively small black and white bird that can often be found bouncing around urban areas and wags its tail up and down.
4. Chaffinch – according to the RSPB, the chaffinch is one of the most widespread of birds in Britain and is identifiable by its red belly and silver capped head.
Trickier to track
- Green woodpecker – Britain has three resident species of woodpecker which includes the relatively common green woodpecker, found in woodland areas and can be tracked down by simply following its drumming noise.
2. Jay – jays tend to be shy woodland birds and rarely move far from the cover of trees. Jays have a screeching birdcall and diet of mainly acorns and are well known for their colourful wings that include a bright blue patch.
3. Wren – the wren is one of the smallest birds you will see in the UK and is identifiable by its dumpy brown body and short tail, which sometimes points up vertically.
Rarer species to spot
- Bullfinch – bullfinch populations have declined significantly in recent years and can be spotted in woodlands. Look for their pink underbelly and black head.
2. Kingfisher – the kingfisher is an easily recognisable small blue and gold bird that can normally be spotted perched on branches over rivers.
3. Nightingale – the nightingale is a small migrating bird that tends to arrive here in the UK in April and is best known for its striking song. You will tend to find these brown-coloured birds in scrubs or open woodland.
For more information on the SWAROVSKI OPTIK dG please visit www.swarovskioptik.com
Author Bio:
Simon Burrell is Editor-in-Chief of Our Man On The Ground, a member of The British Guild of Travel Writers and professional photographer.
Top image courtesy of SWAROVSKI OPTIK and bird images by jLasWilson from Pixabay
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