Many people dream of leaving their humdrum life, and heading into the unknown for a life of adventure. Ruth Miller and Alan Davies made this dream a reality, but with an added twist. They decided to take on the ultimate birder’s challenge – to break the world record for the number of species seen in one calendar year. The story of their great expedition, searching for birds from Ecuador to Ethiopia via Argentina, Australia and Arizona is documented in The Biggest Twitch.
Here, Ruth Miller gives an exclusive insight to RSPB Guildford about birdwatching closer to home.
“My favourite spot for birding in the UK is perhaps not surprisingly my local patch right here in Llandudno – the Great Orme. It is literally on my doorstep and has year round great birds to enjoy with spectacular scenery and lots of other wildlife. This wonderful limestone headland was a real life-saver during lockdown and allowed me to keep enjoying wonderful birds – so good for my mental health.
The Great Orme holds some very special birds indeed with breeding Red-billed Chough (photo above) and Peregrine Falcons resident, huge breeding colonies of seabirds including Common Guillemots and Kittiwakes. Then in spring and autumn large numbers of migrant birds use the headland as a stopping off point so each day brings new birds and excitement. Amongst these regular migrants we enjoy some scarce birds too with Dotterel, Yellow-browed Warbler, Richard’s Pipit and Lapland Bunting all annual on the headland.
In winter we still have our wonderful Chough and Peregrines and the seas around the headland have Red-throated Divers, Common Scoter and a few auks while the rocky beaches hold Ruddy Turnstones and if we are lucky, as this winter, a Snow Bunting or two on the limestone pavement areas. Every visit to this beautiful headland is rewarding and it is always changing I love it!
Thinking about the most unusual bird I have seen in the UK is tricky as I have been very lucky recently being in the right place at the right time to see some fantastic birds. But if really pushed I think it would have to be the awesome Black-browed Albatross at RSPB Bempton Cliffs back in July 2021. We had arranged to guide one of our Birdwatching Trips tours in Yorkshire for a lovely couple, Barry and Wendy, a long time before so when news broke that an Albatross was being seen on and off at Bempton Cliffs just a few minutes away from our base was amazing. Of course the first place we visited on the tour was RSPB Bempton Cliffs and on the way Barry recounted the tale why Black-browed Albatross was the most wanted bird in the world for him, no pressure then! Luckily this fantastic bird was seen straight away sat amongst the nesting Gannets on the cliff in the sunshine wow what a moment! To see a real live albatross here in Yorkshire was mind-blowing but to share the moment with Barry and Wendy and see their sheer joy at seeing their most wanted bird really added to the moment. Birds really are brilliant!
The bird I would most like to see in the UK but hasn’t crossed my path yet here is the Snowy Owl. I had always wanted to see this charismatic Arctic owl and was lucky enough to find one for myself in Norway – what a thrill that was. But it still eludes me in the UK and that hurts not only because I longed to see one for so many years but the fact one turned up here in North Wales. The wonderful huge owl spent several weeks wandering around North Wales but was never pinned down when I was able to go and see it, so frustrating! But hopefully there will be another…..”
Ruth Miller
Birdwatching Trips
www.birdwatchingtrips.co.uk
Email: info@birdwatchingtrips.co.uk