Love The One You’re With

FeaturesThe World Of Birds

−−− BY LINDA JENKINSON −−−

One of the questions I get asked the most as a birdwatching guide is “what’s your favourite bird?”. Despite spending a whole session answering questions about ornithology and bird identification, I find this the most difficult one to answer when I’m out in the field. Ask me the same question when I’m at home and I’d say immediately that it’s a drake smew, a tiny diving duck related to our resident goosander. 

The smew’s breeding population spreads across Europe and Asia with wintering birds moving south of their breeding range, our closest winter population being in the Netherlands. When temperatures fall on the continent, most will travel further south but about 100 individuals will travel across the North Sea and spend the rest of the winter in the UK. Where they will turn up is uncertain, but individuals tend to be faithful to particular patches, returning to the same place each year. Luckily, we usually get at least one bird on my local patch in the lower Aire valley.

Like goosanders, male and female smew look very different and females, commonly referred to as redheads, are seen more often than the males. It’s sometimes possible to see more than one female at a time but males are usually alone. The sight of their strikingly beautiful plumage, and charismatic behaviour, is an experience worth waiting for and I think it’s their general absence that makes my heart grow fonder as the years go by. Watching one displaying with goldeneye is a sight to behold. 

So why do I struggle to answer the question about my favourite bird when I’m out in the field? Well, I think it’s because, as a birdwatching guide, I’m so privileged to see most species in great detail through my high-powered telescope. I’m watching the seasons come and go bringing a range of different species in a variety of different plumages and observing extraordinary behaviour on a regular basis. I’m constantly in awe by being surrounded by the natural world and at times it can be overwhelming. During classes, when I’m asked to suddenly bring to mind my favourite bird, my mind is awash with thousands of wonderful images and action replays. It’s hard to make a choice. I usually say that I’m generally loving the one that I’m with at the time. Very Crosby, Stills and Nash – “if you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with”. 

Recently, my inability to choose my favourite bird when asked again, made me wonder why it is that the robin outcompetes every other species, in every British survey. 

The robin is undoubtably Britain’s favourite and was also chosen in a recent (but sadly, unsuccessful) campaign to become our national bird. Thinking back to my personal experiences and the reasons for my indecisiveness, I’m convinced that it’s the confiding nature of the robin, and the ability to see it in great detail, that makes it a favourite of so many. Throughout the year they appear before us as we dig our garden. They sit beside us in a tree as we refill our bird feeders, singing gently. They’re more likely than other birds to take mealworms from our hands if we’re quiet and patient. How could we not love robins? 

During December, the robin becomes an even more familiar sight in our homes as we display our Christmas cards filled with fond wishes from friends and family. Perhaps the images and the sentiments inside create and even stronger association between robins and feelings of wellbeing. Enjoy your robins this Christmas time and I wish you health and happiness over the festive season. 

Linda Jenkinson teaches people about birds in and around Leeds. For details of indoor and outdoor classes email linda@startbirding.co.uk or call 07778 768719. Visit www.startbirding.co.uk or Start Birding on Facebook and Twitter. 

You May Also Like

70’s – The Golden Era Of Christmas Hits!
Is The UK’s Largest Real Decorated Indoor Christmas Tree At Castle Howard?

Author

Must Read

No results found.

Menu