Birdwatchers have been said to be a little creepy but did you know birdwatching can be good for your health? Out in the great outdoors with lots of fresh air, soaking up some sun and is said to improve cardiovascular health too. Here are some spectacular birdwatching places you might like to visit.
Top Four Places To Enjoy Bird Watching
Peru
There are 110 birds endemic to Peru including the national bird - Andean cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruvianus) and the most known - Andean Condor. The giants of the sky have a wingspan of 10.5 feet (5.2 metres) and weigh 33 pounds (15kg). An endangered species, in 2015 it was announced that only 2,500 were left in Peru. The best place to see these magnificent birds is at Colca Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in the world at 3,501 metres. It's an early start to get to the popular viewing platform but don't worry, as the sun comes up, so do the thermal updrafts. It is said that the Andean Condor can fly 172 km before flapping a wing and can be seen soaring high in the sky for hours.
We stayed at the Colca Lodge Spa and Hot Springs Resort located in the valley between the rice terraces, three hours drive from Arequipa. It is well worth a stay, the surroundings are beautiful and it gives you time to acclimatise to the altitude.
Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands are like no place else on earth, where time has stood still. The group consists of 13 main islands ranging from 3 to 10 million years old. One of the most volcanic places on earth, the Islands have been forming along the Nasca tectonic plate. Each island is worlds apart featuring different, flora and fauna.
The islands were once visited by Charles Darwin in 1835 and inspired his works - Evolution of the Species.
There are said to be 45 endemic birds including the waved albatross, Galapagos hawk, Galapagos penguin, Galapagos mockingbird, lava heron, common cactus finch and more.
One bird that sparks a lot of interest is the blue-footed booby (Sula nebouxii), due to its bright blue feet, although not endemic to the Galapagos. Native to the subtropical and tropical regions of the eastern pacific ocean. These charismatic birds can be seen on a few of the Galapagos Islands including North Seymour, Espanola, Fernandina, Floreana, Isabela, Pinzon, and Santa Cruz. Did you know they get their bright blue feet from the seafood they eat?
Bass Rock
Bass Rock located in the Firth of Forth River in Scotland, has one of the world's largest Gannet populations with over 150,000! You can see the white rock from miles around, covered all year in white bird 'guano'.
Join one of the limited Bass Rock landing boat trips with the Scottish Seabird Centre, for a lifetime memorable experience.
Read more about Bird Spotting With The Scottish Seabird Centre.
Isle of May
One of my favourite trips has to have been, to the Isle of May. If you love puffins, this is the best place to see these colourful little birds. We travelled with Anstruther Pleasure Cruises from Anstruther to the Isle of May. The journey takes 1 hour, then you can enjoy and explore the island for 2 hours 30 minutes before departing back to Anstruther. This might seem like a long time, but it is amazing how time passes so quickly! Don't miss one of Scotland's oldest lighthouses, loch, chapel and more.
Discover more and what you need to know before you go in the Isle of May Boat Trip blog.
What is your favourite place to enjoy bird watching? Let me know in the comments.
Thanks for reading, until next time. Michelle
P.S I have published a children's colouring book - Birds Around The World. It not only contains pictures to colour in but also information about each bird, from the giant of the sky to the smallest bird in the world.
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