Thousands of Knots take to the air on the Wash, in one of Britain’s greatest wildlife spectacles.
Many people are happy enough to wander along the coast and encounter what they see by chance on their travels. But a few techniques and some straightforward equipment can greatly increase the range of species you discover, and the ease with which they can be observed.
BIRDWATCHING
Birds are among the easiest coastal animals to observe and it is little wonder that they attract a disproportionate amount of interest from coastal visitors. Visit the right places at the right times and you will be treated to wildlife spectacles on a grand scale.
Binoculars and telescopes are essential parts of the modern-day birdwatcher’s armoury. Lightweight, waterproof binoculars come in a range of prices and specifications, but 8×40 models (8× magnification, 40mm objective lens diameter) are probably the best all-round specifications for coastal birdwatching.
Visit a seabird colony during the breeding season and you may find that your optical equipment is slightly redundant. In locations where the birds are protected from disturbance – from people and ground predators – many species are indifferent to human observers to the point of being tame.
Estuary birdwatching requires different tactics. Feeding waders are probably easiest to observe on a rising tide, but the best observations generally come when the tide finally pushes the birds off their feeding grounds and they fly to a high-tide roost. Local knowledge is invaluable when it comes to locating the best spots for observation without causing disturbance.
A hardy and dedicated band of birdwatchers devote their time to watching migrating seabirds (mostly in autumn), a pursuit known as ‘seawatching’. Onshore gales offer the best opportunities for observing the birds at close range, and headlands in the west of Britain are most rewarding.
Thousands of Knots take to the air on the Wash, in one of Britain’s greatest wildlife spectacles.
SEASHORE ETIQUETTE
When studying life on the rocky shore, many amazing discoveries are made simply by turning over stones and boulders. It is vital to replace these as you found them; by doing so, you restore the shaded, sheltered niches that the inhabitants beneath the stones rely on and without which they would die.
Searching for and studying marine creatures on the shore is a pursuit beloved of children but one that most naturalists take with them into maturity. Rocky shores are probably the most rewarding habitats, and budding marine biologists soon learn the best places to look: under rock overhangs, beneath boulders, under seaweed and, above all, in rock pools.
A variety of nets is always useful for catching active animals, and remember also to take with you a range of trays or shallow buckets for your prize specimens. Transfer anything you catch as quickly as possible because many marine creatures soon die out of water.
It is always worth leaving seaweeds and seashore debris in a tray to settle for a while. Many marine creatures become inactive, hide or contract into unrecognisable shapes when disturbed, and can take several minutes to return to normal.
Studying marine life will take you to some wonderful places, such as Land’s End, Cornwall.
STORMS AND STRANDLINES
Storms and the crashing waves they produce are always impressive and leave a lasting impression on those who witness them. Understandably, they also have a profound effect upon marine life, sweeping many creatures from the relative safety of their realm and throwing them up onto the shore. Immediately after a gale it is therefore always worth searching along the strandline. All sorts of deep-water creatures can appear, but the trick is to get there before the gulls have discovered this bountiful supply of food.
The strandline offers rich pickings for the seashore enthusiast and is most productive after winter storms.