Since returning from Mull, birding the local patch at Staunton Harold Reservoir has been hard work. The 22nd April produced the first returning Common Tern, House Martin, and Common Whitethroat. On the 24th April there was a good fall of hirundines, the most I’ve seen this spring, with c20 Sand Martin, c 30 Swallow and c15 House Martin. On 26th April a real good bird for the site was 6 flyover Whimbrel, calling their diagnostic whistle as they flew south, also 2 Common Tern, 4 singing Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler and 6 Chiffchaff. Very little else and very few numbers […]
16th – 21st April – During the week we covered most of the island in search of Eagles, Harriers, Owls and Otters. Both Eagles were seen well, as was Otter and Hen Harrier. Plenty of good views of several “Grey Male’ Hen Harriers but alas heat haze beat us, and birds remained distant, having been close to roadsides the previous week. Several Short-eared Owls were seen and again too far away. Small numbers of Great Northern Divers were in full summer plumage, and I was surprised to see how many there were around the islands, on many sea lochs. The […]
During mid March 2022, we spend a week visiting the island of Fuertaventura. It was our first visit to the Canary Islands and sampling some early spring sunshine. With limited time available, it also provided me with an opportunity to see some of the islands very special birds, including Houbara Bustard, Fuertaventura Chat, Black-bellied Sandgrouse and a few others. We based ourselves at the resort of Caleta de Fuste, with its rocky coastline and many rock pools. Staying at the superb hotel, Barcelo Fuertaventura Mar. I visited the Tindaya Plains and Villaverde, spending a day exploring this vast area, finding […]
We made a trip to the UK’s headquarters of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust at Slimbridge, the home of Sir Peter Scott. A man who, as a small boy, had a major influence on my interests in birds and wildlife in general. Slimbridge is also the home of the Bewick’s Swan, and for generations now, these wild swans winter in good numbers at Slimbridge. Peter Scott, during his studies of the Bewick Swan, soon realised that each swan could be individually identified by their bill markings, in a very similar fashion to the human finger print. An information bank has […]