birding-aus

birding in the UK

To: <>, <>
Subject: birding in the UK
From: Tim Jones <>
Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 02:13:54 +0000
Leonie is going to be in the UK. I don't think it looks like she'll be hopping 
on and off planes to other parts of Europe, and you don't need to do that to 
see Puffins.
 
To answer her original question, there are probably a number of guides who 
could help with this sort of thing. It might be best to contact the RSPB in the 
UK to find someone who is nearby where she will be staying or planning to base 
herself.
 
Having said that, there is a wealth of information (for the UK, more than 
anywhere else) on where to watch birds, including books which she could obtain 
via Amazon etc..  and plan some birding a various spots around wherever she 
decides to watch Puffins, or wherever is near to her base, without needing a 
guide. But it sounds like she wants the companionship of a guide and the 
relaxation of not having to do all this groundwork.
 
If you are mainly around the south to middle of the country, the easiest place 
to access would be Bempton Cliffs, which is in East Yorkshire (still northern 
England, though). However, Puffins have been declining and I am not sure if the 
colony is still there (it used to be big).
 
The other things that worries me slightly is that Puffins (if I remember right) 
are early breeders, and this is pretty late in the year. They may or may not 
still be around, and once the young have fledged, they are very much maritime 
creatures and tend to stay quite far out to sea outside the breeding season.
 
Judith is also right about all those places if Leonie is willing to venture 
further afield, but that doesn't seem to fit the bill of 'short or one day 
birding trips'.
 
Cheers
 
Tim
 

> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 11:35:42 +1100
> From: 
> To: 
> CC: ; 
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] birding in the UK
> 
> I have to add here, that if you want to see Puffins - thousands of
> them - in a non-crowded but gobsmackingly beautiful location, you
> can't go past the island of Runde on the coast of Norway. You can fly
> in to Ålesund and hire a car from there.
> 
> 
> 
> On Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 11:26 AM, Philip Jackson
> <> wrote:
> > Leonie
> > Another great spot to see Puffins and many other seabirds, is Skomer Island.
> > The island is off the south-west Wales coast and there is a regular ferry.
> > If you Google 'Skomer Island' you will find lots of relevant information. As
> > Judith suggests, high season might be crowded and if I remember correctly,
> > the number a visitors is restricted. A fantastic scenic spot with lots of
> > Puffins and other goodies.
> > Hope that this helps
> > Philip Jackson
> >



<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>
Admin

The University of NSW School of Computer and Engineering takes no responsibility for the contents of this archive. It is purely a compilation of material sent by many people to the birding-aus mailing list. It has not been checked for accuracy nor its content verified in any way. If you wish to get material removed from the archive or have other queries about the archive e-mail Andrew Taylor at this address: andrewt@cse.unsw.EDU.AU