Bill Oddie’s How to Watch Wildlife

Bill Oddie’s

Bill Oddie, Stephen Moss and Fiona Pitcher

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Introduction

If you have bought or been given this book, and watched the television series that accompanies it, the chances are you already have an interest in wildlife. You may feed birds in your garden or notice the local fox as you come home late at night. You may enjoy country walks or take the children to the seaside and explore rock pools on the beach. You may even be knowledgeable about one particular group – such as birds, butterflies or wild flowers.

Or you may be a complete beginner, feeling completely out of your depth when faced with field guides, optical equipment and mysterious terms such as ‘fieldcraft’ or ‘jizz’. Like learning to cook or becoming a gardener, finding out about wildlife can seem quite daunting – perhaps even impossible! But just as novices become great cooks, or discover that they have green fingers, after a bit of practice you will soon realise that you know a lot more than you think about the world of wildlife.

If you still need convincing, then here are a few reasons why watching wildlife will improve your life …

So hopefully you’re now convinced that it’s worth making a bit of an effort to find out more and enjoy the rewards this will bring. That’s where this book comes in. How to Watch Wildlife is packed with advice, practical information, hints and tips – everything you need to know.

The book is in three parts

Part 1 – Getting Started deals with the basic things you need to know when you begin to take an interest in wildlife. This includes what equipment you will need; where and when to go; how to track down different creatures; how to identify what you see; and how to get the best possible views without disturbing the wildlife.

Part 2 – The Wildlife Year is a monthly guide to the very best of Britain’s wildlife. There are sections on what is happening at each particular time of year; places to visit around the country; how to see a particular wild creature, from badgers to golden eagles, otters to orchids, and red squirrels to kingfishers; and things to do each month.

Part 3 – Branching Out covers more advanced aspects of wildlife watching, including equipment such as telescopes; how to get involved with other enthusiasts through clubs and wildlife holidays; and more specialised pursuits, such as wildlife photography.

The aim of this book is to take the mystery out of the whole business of watching wildlife. As the old saying goes, it’s not rocket science. So take a look through the following pages; then go out and have a go yourself. You really will enjoy it!

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Part 1:

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Why watch wildlife?

Because it is … (tick whichever of the following words apply): enjoyable, relaxing, therapeutic, calming, exciting, challenging, fascinating, mystifying, satisfying, solitary, sociable, amusing, dramatic, important …

Hang on. I could argue that all the above adjectives apply but … important? Is it really? This is the kind of question I’m frequently asked, especially when I’m attending a wildlife event. Inevitably, I will be interviewed by the ‘media’ – newspapers, radio, TV – and almost as inevitably the reporter will ask me: ‘So, Mr Oddie, why is (whatever the thing is) important?’ This may seem like a harmless and, indeed, supportive enquiry, but all too often it is said with a rather challenging inflexion, implying: ‘Come now, with all the problems in the world today, surely wildlife doesn’t really matter?’

In recent years, I have given up being patient and polite. Instead, I fear my response has a tinge of belligerence bordering on sarcasm. Like a typical politician, I answer the question with another question. ‘Why is music important? Why are sport, entertainment, drama or comedy important? Indeed, why are beauty, kindness, peace, love and understanding important?’ I don’t wait for the journalist to reply. ‘I’ll tell you why. Because they are all elements that make our lives richer and more enjoyable. They represent the best achievements and qualities of human beings. That is important.’

And that’s why wildlife is important too. Quite apart from the fact that wildlife has as much right to exist on this planet as we do, and that our very survival depends on natural resources, I would suggest that watching – and listening, learning about and understanding – wildlife enriches our lives. I reckon that’s pretty important, don’t you? Maybe I have come over a bit philosophical – nay, evangelical – but let’s at least accept that watching wildlife is what you want to do, otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this book.

If I had to choose a single word to encapsulate the wonder of wildlife, I think it would be ‘variety’. Birds, mammals, insects, reptiles, marine life, flowers, trees, etc., they are all wildlife. Then there is the variety within each group: from ostriches to wrens, elephants to shrews, ants to butterflies, sharks to minnows, skinks to crocodiles, porpoises to whales, and so on. OK, not all of them exist in Britain, but there’s plenty to be getting on with.

There is also variety in the way you can watch – or should I say get involved with – wildlife. It can be a hobby or a job, a pastime or an obsession. You may simply want to know more about the birds in your garden, or you may feel compelled to pursue the creatures of Antarctica or the rainforest. You can become absorbed in scientific research, or you may not wish to ‘progress’ beyond feeding the blue tits. Anything is possible. Nothing is right or wrong. Never forget that.

Whatever level you wish to be on, it’s OK. Don’t be intimidated by the difficult areas. No one finds getting to know bird songs or identifying dragonflies easy. You can accept the challenge or decide it is not for you. It doesn’t matter. And don’t be put off by the sort of ‘experts’ that talk in a language that is unintelligibly technical or esoteric. Or, to put it bluntly, you can’t understand a word he or she is on about! Believe me, I have the same problems. One of the cardinal rules I always bear in mind when we are making a TV series is that while wildlife can be fascinating, it can also be excruciatingly boring! Well, talking about it can be!

We have tried to make both this book and the TV series – how can I put it? – accessible, entertaining and informative. You may or may not wish to take things further. By all means remain merely a viewer or a reader. There is nothing wrong with a bit of armchair birding or botany, but I would venture to suggest that if you enjoy wildlife on the screen or page, you may find the real thing even better.

One of the major elements of job satisfaction for me (and the team who make our programmes) is to hear from viewers who say that they have been inspired to get out and ‘see for themselves’, and that they are now ‘hooked’. That’s great news. Because not only have we helped them discover a new interest and pleasure, it also means that one more person can be added to the conservation lobby. If you enjoy something, you want to protect and preserve it. That too is important.

I hope this book will tell you how to watch wildlife, but – even more importantly – I hope it will help you to enjoy it. Go wild and have fun.

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Watching wildlife in your garden

If you are new to wildlife watching, your garden may not be the first place you would think of starting off. It’s certainly true that you are unlikely to step out of your back door and spot some of the really big spectacles – a sky filled with wild geese, or a wild flower meadow in full bloom. But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing of interest – the secret to starting out at home is to delight in the detail.

Over time, what you are likely to see is a great deal more than you might at first realise. When was the last time you stopped and waited in your garden for more than a few minutes? Go on, have a try! Sit down in a quiet corner and look around you. At first you may think there’s nothing going on, but after a while the birds will get used to your presence and begin to return. A robin may hop across your lawn, blue tits visit the bird feeder, or a squirrel may appear on the fence.

Once you’ve begun really looking, start to tune your ears in too. What sounds can you hear? Traffic, a dog barking or an aircraft passing overhead? But as you filter these out you’ll hear birdsong, the buzzing of insects, or the rustle of a small mammal as it runs through the long grass.

Take a closer look: in spring or summer there may be butterflies or dragonflies; while even in autumn and winter there’s a lot more than you think, although you may need to do some searching under rocks, or lift a few logs to find it. Beetles, woodlice and larger creatures, such as newts and slow-worms, seek refuge in gardens during the colder months; while if you take a look inside the garden shed, you may even find a hibernating butterfly, wings tight shut against the cold.

Whatever the season, if you take just half an hour in your garden to look and listen, you’ll be amazed at what you discover. Think of it as a sort of Highway Code for wildlife watching – look, listen, then enjoy!

Bill's top tip

_ Keep a pair of binoculars easily to hand near your back window – you never know when you will need them in a hurry.

It’s also worth remembering that our gardens are arguably Britain’s biggest nature reserve. Together they provide over a million acres of land – an area the size of Suffolk – which can be home to some of our best wildlife. Also, you have a great opportunity to get to know your garden wildlife, and understand why it behaves in a certain way. After all, you probably spend more time at home than anywhere else.

But not all gardens are wildlife friendly. What you do in your garden makes a real difference to what you and your family will be able to watch and enjoy. And to be controversial for just a moment, all those makeover shows have not done us, or our wildlife, any favours. Wildlife likes your garden to be a bit rough round the edges, not all perfectly tidy. So if you’ve gone in for lots of slabs or decking, think about whether you have left enough places for wildlife to come and visit.

One good thing to come out of all those TV gardening shows, though, is the rise of the water feature. Now that is a good thing. Garden ponds are a great way to attract the likes of frogs, toads, newts and the occasional passing heron.

Attracting birds to your garden

You don’t have to transform your garden completely over to the wildlife, but with a few minor adjustments and additions you can turn a bleak desert into a real oasis.

There are plenty of manufacturers vying for your wallet with a huge range of bird feeders, bird-feeding ‘stations’ and numerous types of food available. Start simply and see how you go – one feeder might be quite enough for a small garden or balcony.

Think about where you will hang a birdfeeder or put a bird table. Do you need a stand? Can you hang it from a tree or bush? And, most importantly, work out the best site for them and then supply a variety of foods, ideally at different levels to attract a good range of species.

Bill's top tips

Here are five excellent ways to attract wildlife to your garden:

_ Put up a bird feeder.

_ Put up a nestbox.

_ Get a bird bath, and keep it filled with clean, fresh water.

_ Plant plenty of native flowers and bushes, which will attract insects and provide seed.

_ Keep a corner that’s a bit scruffy, with rocks and logs where small creatures can hide.

The same applies to putting up a nestbox, but don’t expect instant results. The best time to put one up is before Christmas, and you’re unlikely to see any interest until early spring at least. But by doing so you are providing an opportunity for a pair of birds to bring young into the world – a chance they may have lost without your help.

Another essential is a bird bath as, just like us, birds need water for washing and drinking. Make sure you keep it regularly topped up with clean, fresh water.

Providing food, water and homes for garden birds is, not surprisingly, a growth industry. The cheapest and easiest way to buy products is in bulk through mail order. Check out the various catalogues as many provide useful advice on different products – with top-quality, high-energy foods such as sunflower hearts providing the best all-round meal for birds throughout the year.

Other garden wildlife

Birds may well be the easiest kind of wildlife to watch, but let’s not ignore the other creatures that can come into our gardens. For children, these can be even more of a delight. The truth is that you will be lucky to see a fox or a badger in your garden, even if you are a bit of an insomniac. There are parts of Britain, though, where foxes are very common, especially in urban and suburban areas. Badgers really do only come out at night, or occasionally at dusk, and you’ll need to be close to proper woodland to stand a chance of seeing one of these visitors.

Bill's top tips

_ Butterflies and other insects love wild flowers – especially native varieties.

_ Butterflies love buddleia, too, also known as the ‘butterfly bush’.

_ Birds love berries, such as holly, ivy and mistletoe.

_ Climbers such as honeysuckle and clematis are ideal places for birds to roost and nest.

Squirrels – well, they are not everyone’s favourite. But surely everyone is entertained by the sight of a squirrel defying all claims that bird feeders are squirrel-proof. Their ingenuity is extraordinary. We have to accept that if we put up bird feeders, with them will come squirrels.

Many of us remember Beatrix Potter’s Mrs Tiggywinkle, and hedgehogs live on as a favourite. But if you do have a visiting hedgehog, put out dog or cat food, as bread soaked in milk will be too filling for it to cope with.

Smaller creatures such as bees, beetles and bugs are often forgotten by us adults – rather unfairly perhaps. Bumblebees are in decline and butterflies, too, need a bit more encouragement, which you can do by planting flowers that attract the bees to collect pollen and feed on nectar.

Water creatures are also fascinating; not only larger ones such as frogs, toads and newts, but also pond insects such as water boatmen and dragonfly larvae. By creating a pond, you will attract all kinds of wild creatures to even the smallest garden, especially if you vary the depth and put in lots of suitable aquatic plants, which will attract other wildlife.

Remember that wildlife ponds are better without ornamental fish as they tend to crowd out any native water creatures. And if you have children under ten, then it can be guaranteed that looking at frogspawn and watching tadpoles will provide hours of fun and an opportunity to learn from nature.

One final thought – make the most of your garden. By taking a bit of effort and providing food, water, shelter and perhaps a garden pond, you’ll make a big difference. It’s the easiest place to enjoy wildlife and, if you’re good to your local wildlife, it will repay you with hours of entertainment.

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Wildlife beyond the garden gate

If you’re a city dweller, you may not think there’s much to see where you live. It’s easy to assume you have to travel to the coast or Britain’s deepest countryside for the true wildlife experience. But that is not always the case.

The fact is that modern farming methods, and loss of habitat through development and road building, have hit our countryside wildlife pretty hard. But being adaptable creatures, much of our wildlife has been moving into towns and cities, helped by the ‘wildlife corridors’ such as rivers, railway lines and strips of woodland, which enable them to travel from one place to another.

There are all sorts of advantages to living in towns and cities. For a start they are much warmer than the surrounding countryside, thanks to the waste heat from buildings. There is also far more food: either provided deliberately or by our wasteful habits. That’s why in recent years birds like ‘seagulls’ (or plain ‘gulls’, as they should really be called) have moved into our urban areas, where they feed by scavenging on rubbish tips and roost during the night on reservoirs. They have also started to nest on the roofs of city buildings, where they can be heard even above the noise of the traffic.

So if you’re a townie, rejoice in the fact that British wildlife is making itself seen and heard in cities everywhere. A good place to start is your local park: a green space where the wildlife can find food and shelter. Canals and rivers are also excellent places to look, as are odd sites such as churchyards and cemeteries – anywhere with a small patch of green and some areas of rough vegetation where the creatures can hide. Wildlife watching in cities isn’t always the most scenic of experiences, but it’s certainly full of surprises.

Bill's top tip

_ Get a friend to take you round their local patch and show you what’s there and what to look out for. Next time, try visiting the place on your own – you’ll be amazed at what you can find. This can be a real boost to your confidence.

Getting a local patch

Whether you live in the town or the countryside, a suburb or a village, you should be able to find yourself what naturalists call a ‘local patch’ – a place you can visit on a regular basis throughout the seasons to get to know the resident wildlife.

Urban parks are ideal as they offer a self-contained area that you can walk round in an hour or so. Other good local patches are gravel pits, reservoirs, woods and perhaps your nearest nature reserve – anywhere you can see a good variety of wildlife at different times. Another advantage is that most places like this are already being watched by a regular visitor, who may be able to give you some tips on what you are likely to see.

By visiting a local patch once or twice a week – or even a couple of times a month – throughout the year, you’ll soon become aware of the seasonal changes, such as when birds begin to sing, or the comings and goings of migrants. Over time you’ll be amazed at how much you have actually picked up over a few months of visiting.

One way to find a local patch is to check your local Ordnance Survey map using either the 1:50,000 scale Landranger series or, better still, the larger-scale 1:25,000 Pathfinder. Look for patches of water and woodland, which are good base camps for wildlife. Or contact your regional wildlife trust or ask at your library for information on local societies or bird clubs. The library may even have an annual report on your area’s wildlife.

But before you visit, check out details of access: although many places are open to the public or have footpaths running through them, at some, a permit or permission from the owner is required to gain entry.

Visiting nature reserves

If you’re lucky enough to have a nature reserve in your area, here’s a bit of advice. Your first visit to a reserve can fall short of expectations. Perhaps with the memory of zoos and nature programmes from childhood, the very notion of a reserve suggests a place teeming with wildlife from dawn to dusk. Few actually deliver this. In fact, you can sometimes walk for a good 20 minutes from a reserve entrance or car park before you see anything at all. And if you go into a hide expecting to see the birds performing in front of you, well, prepare to be disappointed. However, good things do come to those who wait – and look, and listen – and come back again, and again.