The UK is home to over six hundred species of birds, each with their own unique beauty that inspires avid birdwatchers to travel great distances to experience them firsthand. Bird watching is becoming an increasingly popular hobby, with people’s growing desire to get out into nature and new apps making it easier to identify bird species.
Whether you’re an experienced twitcher or you’re just starting your bird watching journey, explore the best places for bird watching in the UK with CrossCountry.
Sandwell Valley, Birmingham
Sandwell Valley is a sprawling nature reserve not far from the centre of Birmingham. Step away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre into Sandwell Valley. The Valley is home to a wide variety of wildlife, and you’re sure to see an abundance of bees, birds, and butterflies making the most of the gardens.
No matter what time of year you visit Sandwell Valley, a wide array of birdlife awaits you. In the spring and summer, you will see reed buntings nesting around the lake. If you visit closer to wintertime, thrush will swoop in on the myriad of berries throughout Sandwell Valley.
Located between Wolverhampton and Birmingham New Street, Sandwell Valley is around a forty-minute bus journey from the latter.
Fowlsheugh Cliffs, Stonehaven
Fowlsheugh Cliffs is a picturesque part of northeast Scotland and an idyllic place for bird spotting in the UK. The spring and summer months are the best time to visit this rocky landscape for a bird watching holiday. There are over 100,000 breeding seabirds that create a visual spectacle as they fly across the cliffs.
Being so high up also provides a unique perspective for birdwatchers, allowing them to see these amazing avians up close. There are also puffins, razorbills, and fulmars that are in richer abundance compared to other parts of the UK, making a visit to Stonehaven a truly unique experience for birdwatchers. Beyond the birds, you might be lucky to spot some other wildlife, such as seals and dolphins, in the water below.
Making your way to the cliffs also makes for a spectacular coastal walk, whatever the time of year you choose to visit. The Fowlsheugh Cliffs are located just south of Stonehaven and can be reached with a thirty-minute walk then a five-minute bus.
Marazion Marsh, Penzance
Not far from the iconic St Michael’s Mount is Marazion Marsh in Penzance. Here you will find a huge variety of birdlife, with over 250 different species recorded around what is Cornwall’s largest reedbed. Marazion Marsh is a particularly special place to birdwatch closer to wintertime, as buzzards and sparrowhawks arrive at dusk to catch their various prey.
There are two main viewing areas in the Marsh, giving twitchers the spectacular backdrop of St Michael's Mount as they spot the various species of birds in the air. Marazion Marsh is less than a fifteen-minute bus ride from Penzance station.
Highnam Woods, Gloucestershire
Located on the eastern edge of the Forest of Dean, Highnam Woods in Gloucestershire gives birdwatchers a leafy, ancient woodland to explore whilst spotting some of their favourite birds. Adorned with bluebells in the springtime that attract common nightingales, this characterful copse gives visitors plenty to admire.
Beyond the birds that call these woods their home at different times of year, there is a healthy variety of wildlife spread across the entire woodland, including the rare plant tintern spurge. It is particularly popular for being a home to the lesser spotted woodpecker and hawfinches.
Highnam Woods is just a fifteen-minute bus ride with a ten-minute walk from Gloucester station.
Dearne Valley, Doncaster
The Dearne Valley is home to abundant birdlife across a wide-reaching area that includes a country park and the River Dearne. There are several reserves that you can visit within the Dearne Valley, with the Old Moor, Gypsey Marsh, and Wombwell Ings all within one mile of each other. It is hard to believe when walking through these reserves that all of this was once home to a number of high-grade coal seams and now hosts a huge variety of bird species.
The Old Moor is particularly popular for a family day out, as there are a number of activities designed to keep the kids entertained throughout the day, with specifically designed wild play areas for kids of all ages. The Old Moor is also well known for having a number of colourful kingfishers fly through the reserve, definitely one to tick off for even the most avid twitchers.
If you’re planning your next bird watching adventure, don’t forget to book Advance rail tickets via our website or the CrossCountry app. Before you travel, make sure to check scheduled train times to find the best journey for you. If you need more information, you can contact us here.
Info
At the time of publishing, all information given is correct. Details of events, businesses, and locations included may be subject to change by third parties. Please make sure to check any details with organisers before you travel.
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