Well, I got a real surprise yesterday, when the DNA results were announced on the “Flamborough ficedula Flycatcher” – see Probable Atlas Flycatcher – they pointed to nominate Pied Flycatcher!! What !!! I must confess I found it difficult to believe but who am I to argue against the Science. […]
With good weather forecast for this weekend, I was sure I had a chance of at least 1, possibly 2 of the final three species of butterfly I have left to photograph. At Ketton Quarry in Leicestershire I was able to photograph the Grizzled Skipper this afternoon. It was difficult as I
They say that lightening never strikes twice, well it did this morning. Heavy overnight rain suggested that it might be worth checking out Staunton Harold Reservoir, my local patch, before work. Maybe a Little Gull or Black Tern could have dropped in, you never know. Anyway I decided to call in for
Local birding can sometimes be rewarding, as it was today. Whilst scanning from platform 4 at Willington DWT Reserve, South Derbyshire, I managed to find a superb drake Garganey fast asleep on one of the small islands. A nice year tick. Plenty of common migrants about including a good movement of Swifts and
Photographs were posted on a regular birding forum of what appeared to be an unusual plumaged ficedula “Black & White” Flycatcher. It clearly looked, from the photos posted, that this was not an ordinary Pied Flycatcher f. hypoleuca. More eminent birders than myself were muting that it could be an Atlas Flycatcher
Spring seemed to have disappeared this morning as we arrived at the RSPB Reserve at Frampton Marsh near Boston, Lincolnshire. Non-stop rain, a howling gale and freezing cold. Just the day for great photography – NOT. In heavy rain I managed just a few landscape shots of this great reserve but no
A day of mixed weather, cold wind, April showers and warm sunshine, when the sun was out! Spring migrants are now beginning to arrive. Chiffchaff’s seem to be in good numbers this year, with plenty singing at both Willington & Attenborough. Several were very obliging. A few Reed Warblers , several Common Whitethroat
This years trip to the Scottish Highlands certainly had a wintery feel about it. We had heavy over night snow Thursday, Friday & Saturday nights and a light sprinkling Sunday night with Monday being a superb morning, just as we were leaving. Oh well as they say. Nevertheless, the weather did not deter us
