When Glyn and Richard asked me if I would like to join them on a short break to Iceland, during the 11th – 16th June 2017, I couldn’t resist the chance to visit this fascinating island and to see the special birds that can be found there in late spring. We flew from Manchester to […]
The Burnt Orchid (Neotinea ustulata) is a Nationally Scarce species and very rare in Derbyshire. The Flora of Derbyshire states that it is now only found in just 5 1km squares in the White Peak. I was lucky enough to see this plant for the very first time on Saturday 3rd June. A very distinctive and
Saturday 3rd June and Glyn, Richard and myself weaved our way to one of the Yorkshire Carr Reserves. Potteric Carr is an excellent Yorkshire Reserve and a good place for Dragonflies, Bittern, Marsh Harrier and a variety of water birds. Black-necked Grebe can sometimes be seen from the designated footpaths that meander around the many lagoons,
My wife Helen and I decided to head back to the beautiful Aegean Island of Samos for our usual weeks holiday. This was to be our 4th visit, to the same hotel and location and we really like our little Shangri-la. This year the bird activity around and over the hotel was rather quiet and
I decide to spend a few hours in the hide at Willington Gravel Pits this morning. Plenty of activity across the reserve but passage migration was very quiet. My highlight of the day was listening to a Cuckoo from my bedroom window, belting away at 5:30am. The dawn chorus was amazing this morning. Common Tern
I spent this morning, Saturday 20th May, up in the White Peak area of Derbyshire, in search of a few special flowers. I appeared to be too early for the Orchids that I was looking for, but did manage to find plenty of Dingy Skipper on the wing. I’m no expert on wild flowers, I’m
I found myself making another visit to RSPB Frampton, with Barrie, on Saturday 13th May 2017. A pair of Black-winged Stilts had arrived on the reserve on Friday 12th and so we took a chance in hoping they would stay overnight. Unfortunately they had moved on and were not present on the Saturday morning, however
Spring is the time of year when waders are on the move to their northern breeding grounds, with many species passing through the UK, providing ideal opportunities to see them in full breeding plumage. The RSPB Reserve at Frampton Marsh, in Lincolnshire, is a great place to see them. Being located on the edge of
