​Spotting Winter Wonders: From Woodpeckers to Redwings

January has plenty to offer and it’s a great time to look out for woodland birds as the lack of leaves makes it easier to spot them.

This year, I’m really hoping to catch sight of my first Great Spotted Woodpecker. Of course, the easiest way to ‘spot’ them is actually to listen out for that distinctive drumming sound on the bark of nearby trees. I always feel like I’m eavesdropping on a conversation, as the males and females drum to communicate with each other and mark out their territories.

I’ll also be watching out for Redwings that flock back over winter to our shores, all the way from Iceland and Scandinavia. They can often be confused with Song or Mistle Thrushes and will even flock with other thrushes. My advice is, keep an eye out for the orangey-red tinge under their wings – it’s what gives Redwings their name.

The Christmas break was the perfect time to brush up on my bird ID knowledge, keeping an eye on my garden visitors to give me an idea of who might be around when it comes to the Big Garden Birdwatch at the end of the month.

The frosty weather has kept it quite quiet in the garden, but I’ve still caught sight of a few Blackbirds, Thrushes and Starlings digging for worms in the garden through the hard frost.

If you haven’t yet signed up for Big Garden Birdwatch (https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/big-garden-birdwatch), there’s still time! Between January 24 and 26, choose one hour to record birds landing on your patch and record the highest number of each species you see at any one time.

Still unsure how? Join Neal from RSPB NI for ‘A Fun Guide to Bird ID’. Learn about our most common garden visitors and get top tips for making the most of the Big Garden Birdwatch. Join me at this online event, to discover the winged wonders living around us. Tickets at: https://bit.ly/RSPBNIBirdID