Rick Simpson Birding Services

Well it’s been a while since I’ve been able to get to a computer to write. I am still in the UK having attended the British Birdwatching Fair in my capacity as co-founder of the Ubatuba Birdwatching Centre which will be opening in October.

I am struck by how few birds I am seeing in my day-to-day comings and goings. The birding landscape has changed considerably since I was a young birdwatcher in Hertfordshire. Driving along the roads one used to see birds all the time, Common Blackbirds, thrushes, Yellowhammers, Corn Buntings and finches along the hedgerows and Barn Swallows and Skylarks over the fields, now there is nearly nothing there save the odd Magpie, other crows and many Woodpigeons.

One thing that is startlingly different too, but on the positive side, is the number of birds of prey that one regularly sees, Red Kites that have so successfully been introduced to the chilterns, Buzzards that have expanded into the area, Ospreys at Rutland and Sparrowhawks, regularly seen from the car. We also saw a hobby fly over the M25 the other day a real unexpected bonus. The only negative side to this is the nearly total lack of Kestrels which we used to see all the time on any journey.

Another bird that is common now in my area around Newport Pagnell, is the Little Egret, who’d have thought…?

The timing of my visit meant that I was probably unlikely to see Common Swifts, but I was delighted that I saw one around the church tower at Stamford where I was staying whilst at the bird fair. I have seen all three common hirundines but in very small numbers.

One bird that seems to be doing well and is very common everywhere I have been is the Robin, but, whilst I can’t say that I have been looking for them, I have yet to see a House Sparrow!

I’ll be back in Brazil after the 11^th of September, and the bird of the week (which should be renamed bird of the month or more) will eventually get changed - I promise!

All photos on this post are copyright Arthur Grosset.