My trip to Shetland this year (2018) took place on 21st September 2018 till 29th September 2018. It turned out to be one, if not the, worst week we have had in the last 10 years of visiting Unst. The weather conditions were very grim, with a continuous strong wind blowing from the west or […]
A juvenile Red-necked Phalarope was discovered at nearby Attenborough Nature Reserve this lunchtime, so a trip to see it was worthwhile. Red-necked Phalaropes are now on the move, migrating from their arctic breeding grounds, to winter in the Pacific Ocean, (see below) a truly remarkable journey. The bird was only at the Attenborough reserve for
The Derbyshire Wildlife Trust reserve at Willington is getting to become a favoured place to see a Great White Egret. Another of these graceful birds arrived a few days ago and so I decide to take a look at it this morning. Although distant, it was showing well feeding out on one of the lagoons,
A couple of special Derbyshire birds turned- up at the local reserve at Willington Gravel Pits this morning. A Spotted Redshank and a couple of Black Terns were discovered early morning. With a couple of Green Sandpiper, several Dunlin, a Kingfisher and plenty of Migrant Hawker dragonflies on the wing, it was a great place
On Saturday 1st September 2018, along with Barrie, I paid another visit to RSPB Frampton, in Lincolnshire. We had a reasonable day seeing the Stilt Sandpiper again and also the Long-billed Dowitcher that has been present for around a week now, but proven difficult to see. This morning both birds were showing on the main
A Stilt Sandpiper was discovered at RSPB Frampton Marsh, Lincolnshire during this past week (22nd Aug). I was away on holiday in Dorset and so was keeping my fingers crossed it would stay until my return. So today, Sunday 26th August, I managed to get across to Frampton and was able to see this rare
Our local reserve at Willington is by far the best place in South Derbyshire, at the moment, for passing waders. This morning there were some stunning Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits, with at least 15 individuals, most of them juveniles. Along with 6 Dunlin, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper and 12 Common Snipe and the usual
An eclipse drake Ring-necked Duck was discovered at the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Reserve at Willington Gravel Pits on Saturday morning (11th August). I made a visit there this morning (12th) and despite no sign of the bird on my arrival, I very quickly re-located the bird preening just in front of the main hide, much
