A first winter male Red-headed Bunting had been present at Flamborough Head, Yorkshire, for a number of days in mid October, tempting me to go and see it, having been found and tentatively identified on 21st October 2023. This species is super rare, and despite previously being recorded in Britain, the species is currently classed […]
A juvenile Red-throated Diver was discovered on Butterley Reservoir, near Ripley on 23rd October 2023. Divers are always worth going for in the county, and Red-throated and Black-throated Divers have been scarce in Derbyshire in recent years. Butterley Reservoir is a relatively small body of water, so I was hoping that the diver would be
A flock of Cattle Egrets had been gathering at Willington Wetlands Reserve for a number of days in early October, and I made a visit to see them on the 16th. I managed to find 9 birds, which increased to 11, before floods in mid to late October dispersed the birds. During this arrival, the
What better way to spend my 70th birthday than in North Norfolk. Stopping at one of our favourite places, Briarfields, right next to the reserve at RSPB Titchwell, and meeting up with a long lost friend, who I’d not seen for some 50 odd years. I was also lucky to drop on a some good
My wife and I decided to take a late break in Majorca, during early September. We spent a week at Port de Pollenca, basically just relaxing in the very warm sunshine for the time of year, eating Paella and enjoying a few beers. I made the decision, before we left, to switch off and just
Another visit to RSPB Frampton Marsh on 30th August, produced a Pectoral Sandpiper, 5 Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, the usual common waders, 38 Spoonbill, c60 Little Egret, 5 Pintail, a Turtle Dove, and for me, a new species of Odonata, 2 Willow Emerald.
A Red-footed Booby, usually found widely in the Tropics, was discovered during a pelagic trip off the Isles of Scilly in early August. Quite a remarkable bird to find, and only the second time one has been recorded in Britain, but little did anyone know at the time, that this bird would be seen again.
During July I spent a week on Shetland, photographing some of the rare and special wildlife these islands are famous for. My week was arranged by my good friend Brydon Thomason, owner of Shetland Nature Along with one of Shetland Nature’s pro wildlife photographers, Josh Jaggard , we based ourselves on the island of Unst
