BTO Bird Camp 2024 Blog
BTO BIRD CAMP 2024
Hi, my name is Harshith Parthiban and this year, i went to BTO Bird Camp England which was in the Lake District this year. It was a great weekend away. The journey started after my parents picked me up from school and we headed to Derwent Water in Keswick.
Derwent Water, Keswick (google image) On arrival on the 28th June, we had a talk about sonograms and sound ID where we were identifying Blyth's, Great and Marsh warbler by sound. We also learnt common species songs and calls and features which would help us distinguish what's what. I also met 6 other bird loving boys who I immediately became friends with.
Haweswater RSPB
On day 1 of Bird Camp, 29th June, we woke up at around 05:30 and headed to RSPB Haweswater where on the way we saw both tawny and barn owls. We started with an intro to Haweswater and what they are doing there. We then watched one of the site wardens ring a few birds. The birds rung were blue tits, nuthatch, great tit and blackbird. In the area were a bunch of other birds such as siskins which songflighted overhead. A calling cuckoo was the first of year for me and a couple late singing pied flycatcher was a lifer for me!! We also looked for dipper and wood warbler but without luck. On our walk we encountered a lot of singing willow warbler and a juvenile redstart, the first time i had seen one. Later, we saw a bunch of stonechat, buzzards and best of all, A RED SQUIRREL!! This was my first in the UK and a sensational sighting for all the campers. We then heard a bunch of singing tree pipit which were another lifer! Lifers at Haweswater ended with a garden warbler.
Derwent Water
After an hour of relaxing at the dorm, some of us headed for a walk by Derwent water. Some birds there included common sandpiper, a first of year for me and a red breasted merganser! Brilliant views of an adult male redstart ended the day. One of the campers stayed up, and got common scoter and curlew as nocturnal calling migrants. These added to the growing list of species seen there.
Leighton Moss RSPB
On the 30th June, what was sadly the last day of Bird Camp, we went to Leighton Moss RSPB. There we saw plenty of birds including marsh harrier, bittern (lifer!), cettis warbler, bullfinch, marsh tit and osprey. I really enjoyed watching the marsh harrier food pass from the Skytower where a male marsh harrier threw food to the female midair who caught it with her leg. A brief view of bittern landing in the reeds and a flyby from some mistle thrush and a great white egret were nice to see. An osprey (my first in 5+ years) circled high overhead and a flock of black tailed godwit flew from the saltmarsh to where we were. A male sparrowhawk was seen on the feeders but I had just missed it. Overall we ended on 98 species which is the record number of species seen in any bird camp anywhere in the UK.
A great experience and weekend, 5 stars from me and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in birds or anything nature related and of any experience level. A sincere thanks to Sam and Rachael for running this awesome camp!!
PHOTOS:
house sparrow being rung - haweswater
nuthatch being rung - rspb haweswater
marsh tit - leighton moss
common sandpiper - derwent water
REDSTART - derwent waterCREDITS: MARSH TIT- OSCAR L, STONECHAT- HENRY J. COMMON SAND + REDSTART- OSCAR L
Sounds like a great time!!
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