The perfect 10

The tantalising tail streamers of the swallow, the musical tumble of the skylark, swirling skies darkened by starlings: Stephen Moss shares the 10 birds we must spot in a lifetime

- Stephen Moss

THE brilliant blue flash of a wing, the bright orange of a bill, the black silhouette of a tail streamer that seems to pierce the sky: birdwatching can be a feast for the eye like few other pastimes. Any one of the more than 600 different species on the official British List is well worth seeking, binoculars in hand— even if more than half of these are rare wanderers to our shores and unlikely to be encountered—but I’ve chosen 10 very special birds you really should make the effort to see at some point in your lifetime.

Some of these, such as the starling and swallow, are common and widespread stars; others, such as the puffin and crane, are a scarcer and more localised treat. All will delight, whether because of their striking plumage, their beautiful song, their fascinating behaviour—or even all three.

As you encounter each one, take the time to marvel at the incredible variety of Britain’s birdlife and appreciate why these—and the other species that make their homes in our towns, villages and countryside—need our care at a time of environmental change.

The wanderer returns

BRITAIN’S largest species of falcon is not only our fastest bird, it is also the fastest living creature on the planet, reaching speeds of up to 250 miles per hour when stooping. Peregrines (their name meaning ‘wanderer’) prey almost exclusively on other birds, taking anything from the smallest songbird to a large and bulky duck, but their favourite foods are pigeon and, in London, the feral, rose-ringed parakeet. Look out for a dark, powerfully built bird of prey with pointed wings, often causing other birds to panic when it appears near them.