6 Places To Go For Birding In The UK In Winter
If you are a birding enthusiast, you’ll know that winter is a great time to plan a bird-watching trip as the UK is known for its colder yet fantastic weather. You can spot many local winter birds, and a large number of migrating guests also make their way to different habitats.
Planning a bird watching trip is an excellent way to get away from our stressful and hectic lives. It is a fascinating scientific sport, and it allows you to reconnect with nature.
If you are a fan of birding, you will know that research plays an integral part in planning a bird watching trip. Therefore, today we are going to be studying the UK as a bird-watching destination in the winter. I am going to tell you about the best birding location in the UK, and what species you can spot there.
Therefore, stick around for the rest of the post if you also want to plan a birding trip this winter.
Caerlaverock Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT), Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
In Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, you can visit the Caerlaverock Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, which is about a 10 km drive away from Dumfries. Even though this reserve doesn’t have any captive birds, it is one of the prime spots in the UK for winter migrating birds.
Perhaps the most remarkable sight you can experience at this spot is the massive flocks of barnacle geese flying over the reserve and on its shores. A couple of years ago, more than 5000 barnacle geese gathered at this spot after a massive overnight migration. You can just imagine what a fantastic sight that must have been.
Aside from the geese, you will also spot a significant population of wigeons and teals in this reserve, and perhaps the most beautiful bird to watch at this location is the magnificent swans.
Another favorable property of this reserve is the very cooperative and informative staff, who can guide bird watchers and tell them about the magnificent species that inhabit this sanctuary in the winters.
Pagham Harbour, West Sussex
Pagham Harbour is a massive 629-hectare geological site on the west outskirts of Bognor Regis in West Sussex. It is one of the few undeveloped areas in Sussex, and it boasts an impressive wildlife diversity, especially in the case of winter birds.
The Pagham Harbour and its surroundings have a very peaceful and calming aura, and they are a perfect spot for a hike in the winters. The silence is interrupted only by the birds’ chirping and the peaceful sounds of water hitting the shore.
Some of the most popular local birds that can be spotted in this location are Black-tailed godwits and little egrets. Moreover, as the winters come closer, an impressive population of brent geese arrives at the harbor and surroundings, and you can also spot some nocturnal birds like nightjars during the winters.
Therefore, pack your night vision binoculars and visit OpticsVilla.com to check out some binocular reviews.
Slimbridge WWT Centre, Gloucestershire
Slimbridge WWT (Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust) Centre is located near Slimbridge in Gloucestershire, England. This wildfowl reserve is popular because of its founder, Sir Peter Scot, who was a well-renowned artist and naturalist.
This reserve is a great spot for everyone. It is a habitat for many captive wildfowl, who the kids can feed, whereas more enthusiastic and dedicated bird watchers can make their ways to the famous Holden Tower hide, where you can get a superb view of the marshes.
This is a perfect spot for setting up your optics and cameras and watching the different species of geese and ducks that inhabit the reserve. However, the rarest and most sought-after birds in this reserve are the Bewick’s swans. Many bird watchers come to the Slimbridge WWT Centre specifically to study these magnificent creatures.
Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland
The Strangford Lough is the largest sea inlet in the British Isles, located on the Eastern side of Northern Ireland; the Lough stretches over more than 150 square kilometers. The rainy season in Ireland is twelve months long.
The Strangford Lough is also one of the essential winter migration destinations in Northern Ireland. Though many wading birds arrive here in the winters, the most impressive fact about this spot is that around three-quarters of the world’s population of pale-bellied brent geese migrate here for the winters.
Over the winter, more than 40,000 birds arrive at Strangford Lough, which makes for a remarkably magnificent experience. You can also spot many other wildfowl at this location.
The Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve, Somerset, Shire county, England
This 394-hectare reserve in Somerset is also classified as a biological site of Special Scientific Interest. It is mainly popular because of the massive roosts of Starlings that migrate here in the winters from all over Europe.
It is not uncommon for the number of birds in these roosts to swell up to 100,000; therefore, it is a sight that you can miss if you are a birding enthusiast. You can also see other species like gadwalls, Shovelers, and tufted ducks at this reserve.
Nearby, there is another reserve named Ham Wall, which is a prime bird-watching destination in the UK.
North Wales:
The fantastic valleys and peaks of North Wales are excellent for birding enthusiasts, especially in the cold winters. You can spot some of the majestic birds in the UK like raptors, divers, and gulls.
You can also spot the rare and stunning Red kites and hen harriers in this location if you are lucky. Therefore, if you are looking for a birding location in the UK, you should surely head towards North Wales.
Final thoughts:
The UK has many “one of its kind” destinations that are perfect for winter bird watchers. The UK is especially a prime location of wading birds, waterfowl, and sea birds. Therefore. If you are thinking about going on a bird-watching trip this winter, make your way to the UK, and don’t forget to check out the excellent locations mentioned on this list.