Independent Hostels, Bunk Houses and Camping Barns are a really useful resource for birdwatchers in the UK - not only do they offer great value, but are also in many of the quiet remote areas and they particularly welcome lovers of the outdoors. I will list below some of the bird species spotted by the hostels this year. Where I have given the hostel name you can find its location and facilities by typing the name into the search box on the left. Where there is a choice of places to base your holiday I have just given the name of the map which shows all their locations. The maps are also available to the left. Do bookmark this link and check regularly to see what the hostels spot next.
The open heath and grassland of the UK moors provide ideal habitat. BASE LODGE in Minehead, North Somerset, wrote recently that over 170 species of birds were recorded on Exmoor last year. Notables include Night Heron at Dunster Beach along with Balearic Shearwater & Grey phlarope. Ringneck Duck & Long Tailed Duck both at Wimbleball. Moorland sitings included a Dottrel, Snow Buntings, Wryneck along with Woodchat Shrike and two Great Grey Shrikes. Red kites were also spotted proving they are moving into the South West of England. There are also many remote independent hostels on Dartmoor and the Yorkshire moors (see England Maps) where you are welcome to spend anything from a night to a fortnight watching the moorland birds.
 The hills valleys of Wales and Northern England provide the chance to see Dippers, Goosander, Pied Flycatcher, Ring Ouzels, Ravens, Twite, Rock Pipit and Siskin. There are many hostels in these areas and these would make a great base for your holiday (see England and Wales maps). The Welsh Borders and Powys are well known hotspots for Red Kite, one of the more distinctive predatory birds of the UK, whose population has grown in recent years partly helped by feeding stations giving them meat on a regular basis. Red Kites country is the nickname for this area and STONECROFT LODGE, BEILI NEUAD BUNKHOUSE and the NEW INN BUNKHOUSE all claim regular sitings.
Estuaries throughout the UK provide lots to interest birdwatchers, being rich feeding grounds for migrating or wintering waders, geese and ducks. England's south west estuaries such as the Camel, Exe, Hayle and Severn are within a short drive of some lovely independent hostels (see England map). On these estuaries you can see Wigeon, Teal and Shelduck,and a variety of waders, with areas of marsh home to Reed and Sedge Warblers. After a days spotting you can retire to the social, comfortable environment of an independent hostel.
North Norfolk is a bird watchers paradise with lots of nature reserves on the coast set up primarily to protect bird populations. Here also are great places for observing grey seal breeding colonies. DEEPDALE BACKPACKERS at Burnham Deepdale is a perfect base for your stay where you can book a private room and join in the evening BBQ. If you fancy a get together they have a group facility in the DEEPDALE GRANARY which can sleep up to 18 people.
 The sea cliffs of the British Isles are the breeding grounds of many species of sea bird, such as Gannets and Kittiwake,in such huge numbers that they are often called 'seabird cities'. The cliffs of the North West and Wales are also home to Ravens and Choughs. Over 100 independent Hostels are situated within 5 miles of the coast and many of these are on the remote islands of Scotland.
Scotland's Highlands and Islands have many long-established hostels ideal for anyone hoping to see local specialities such as Ptarmigan, Snow Bunting, Osprey, Snowy Owl, Golden Eagles, Crossbills, Siskins, Capercaillies and Black Grouse. If you're lucky you may also spot a variety of marine mammals such as Otters, Basking Sharks, Dolphins, Common and Grey Seals. The hostel owners often have in-depth knowledge of the local area and can give useful advice.
The North Ronaldsay OBSERVATORY HOSTEL in Orkney is a favourite of any interested in wildlife - the island witness's spectacular bird migrations in spring and autumn, as well as being home to the famous seaweed-eating sheep.
MILLHOUSE HOSTEL on Tiree (type the hostel name into the search box to find out where they are) sent us this in Jan 09: - "Rare bird sightings as reported by our Tiree RSPB warden include the wintering drake Ring-necked Duck, wintering female Surf Scoter, a Little Stint, an Iceland Gull, a Woodcock, a Dunnock, a Blackcap, a Shorteared Owl, a wintering Pied Wagtail, and several Golfinches. A lone Pale-bellied Brent Goose remained with the Barnacles, and 5 Pink footed Geese. More commonly, there were 3,500 golden plovers, 4,500 lapwings. Shorebirds included 180 ringed plovers, 240 Sanderling, 85 Purple Sandpipers. A goose count revealed 3,045 Greylags, 2,907 Barnacles, 674 Greenland white fronted geese, and 138 Whooper swans. There were also 4 Hen Harriers, 2 Peregrines, 6 Merlin, 2 Sparrowhawks, 3 Kestrels and 15 Buzzards." It sound like all in all Tiree is a birdwatchers paradise at any time of year!
SHETLAND CAMPING BOD NETWORK (9 traditional houses) are surrounded by wildlife; over a million seabirds inhabit the cliffs. The inland hills and moorland host a variety of breeding birds, such as Red Throated Divers, waders and Skuas. Many rare migratory birds are also recorded annually. To find out what is there now see the latest bird sitings report on :- www.nature-shetland.co.uk
CRAFLWYN BASECAMP (North Wales) say "We are located very close to the osprey project in North Wales, hopefully they will be coming back again this year"
BERROW HOUSE near the Malvern Hills says "We have birds of prey in our area and I recently rescued a Peregrin Falcon which had been shot. It has now gone back to the Wild"
BLUEBELL FARM BUNKHOUSE IN NORTHUMBERLAND writes "just within the Farm we have all the usual suspects, plus woodpeckers on occasion, the odd heron, sparrowhawk, etc. etc., but the real interest lies at Budle Bay which is a very popular place for twitchers. Just five minutes drive from here".
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