Birding for Birders with Limited Liability by Colin Allen

Enter ‘Bird Watching’ into Google and in less than a second, there are 18 million hits. Enter ‘Bird Watching for the disabled’ and it seems there is nothing of consequence, no up- to-date organization, just a handful of specific places or holidays.

Farlington Marshes has a gravel footpath and is totally level, but does involve a 2 ½ mile circular walk, with no shortcut. Thus you are committed, although you could walk to the lagoon and back, which is just a short stroll.

‘The News’, Portsmouth’s daily paper, issues The Guide every Friday, and at the back of this, there is a list of ‘Healthy Walks’, which are daily throughout the year, these being easy 1 or 2 mile walks to and a way of getting to know different areas.

Colin Allen, who lives in Dibden Purlieu, close to Hythe on the New Forest side of Southampton Water, is a keen photographer (these are all Colin’s pictures), birdwatcher and a regular contributor to hoslist, the Hampshire email service. He is not disabled, just has difficulties walking long distances. I know of 9 friends who have, or had, (a different affliction) with knee problems, a common human frailty (caused it is believed, by the fact that we have only been walking upright for a couple of million years). For these people, there is nowhere to get advice, so if you know of anywhere suitable, then let Colin know, and perhaps a database could be set up.

Birding for Birders with Limited Mobility.

First let it be said; I am no expert on mobility for the disabled. I just have bad legs and my balance is a bit dodgy. The result is that I need a stick for most forays of more than a few hundred yards. I am however fascinated with birds and seize every opportunity to go out watching and even trying to photograph them if the opportunity presents itself.

I am determined not to let my lack of mobility stop me from clocking up a good year list. Last year I managed 192 British birds, and almost as many more during my ten day special holiday to the Gambia.

So how do I go about seeing lots of good birds?

The first place to see birds is in the garden or from the balcony. Putting out a regular and reliable supply of food for the birds will soon have them flocking to you. Coming to my hanging feeders, stocked up with sunflower kernels, are a steady stream of Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Coal Tits, Siskins, House Sparrows and many more of the most predictable species. The last two winters, my small suburban garden has been home to over-wintering Blackcaps feeding on old apples, which I cut up and skewer onto the bare twigs of a Quince bush, and I have a couple of fatballs close by. A couple of years ago I had a real treat in September, when two Pied Flycatchers stopped by for a couple of hours, gorging themselves on a steady supply of flying ants streaming out of the lawn.

So when the weather is good and you feel like getting out, where do you go?

Well for me it has to be fairly flat with no steep hills or very rough ground. We are most fortunate in Hampshire as there is an unlimited supply of this sort of environment. The marshes and mudflats have a special appeal for me as they suit my sort of birding very well. One of my favourite places is the sea wall at Pennington, midway between Lymington and Keyhaven. At the right time of the year you can clock up over 60 species in a maximum walk of 2 miles. That is about my limit, but if you are more able than me, you can continue to Normandy (Lymington) or even Keyhaven. There is always something interesting to see on the fresh marsh, or outside the wall on the salt flats. It is accessible at all states of the tide and attracts Little Terns, Eider Ducks, Peregrines, Wheatears, Whimbrels to name but a tiny sample, of the fascinating creatures that inhabit the area.

Almost any location with wetlands, such as Titchfield Haven for example, provides an opportunity for those who can manage short walks. When you visit these sorts of venues, they usually have hides with facilities to sit and watch what is going on the scrapes outside. However they are not the complete answer for those with restricted movement. I have nightmares trying to swing my legs over the benches in these hides and also keeping the tip of my stick from jamming between the planks on the boardwalk takes so much concentration that I miss all the birds around me.

All these places are best visited with a friend or partner, so you can share your skills and get a measure of support from each other, but what if you just want to pop out for an hour or so?

In a recent television programme Bill Oddie was extolling the virtues of ‘local patch’ watching. This is the kind of birding that I love best, and can be done for ten minutes or several hours in company, or even better by yourself. Bill has Hampstead Heath as his patch, and finds convenient observation positions in the park, to just stand and watch the antics of a surprisingly rich source of wildlife.

I have found an area of mud and Spartina Marsh, (SU432074) only ten minutes from my front door, which has free parking just 30 yards from a spot where I can place my folding chair, set up my scope, and observe everything that visits the area at pretty much all states of the tide.

I guess I am lucky to live so close to such a great spot but I believe there is a place to suit us all. I keep accurate records of all birds seen at this site and regularly clock up some real treats. I have seen Bar-tailed Godwits, Knots, a Roseate Tern, Arctic Terns, Kingfishers a juvenile Wood Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint amongst the usual Oystercatchers, Dunlins and Curlews. Over the past 3 or 4 years I have become an expert on my local patch and the locals have got to know me and come to tell me all about the ‘little brown birds’ they have in their gardens. Becoming known as the local expert does wonders for your self-esteem even when you know deep down you only have limited knowledge.

Enough from me, I would like to hear about your patch or favourite birding venues. Perhaps we could collect a list of suitable places for a visit and even review the strengths and weaknesses of each place, from the point of view of those of us that don’t enjoy full mobility.

Good Birding

Colin Allen

colin73dp@yahoo.co.uk

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Colin has also passed on the following information for bird enthusiasts in the Southampton area.

Southampton & District Bird Group
Chairman Maggi Short
Membership Secretary Vic Short (No relation) 01794 511843
Indoor meetings held second Friday evening monthly during winter at Hounsdown Community Hall, Hounsdown, Totton. Program of well known speakers etc.
Outdoor walks the last sunday of each month throughout the year and second friday evening each month from May till August.

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