This morning, 26th December 2015, I decide to go and check out the brand new hide at Willington GP, a Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Reserve. The hide was only completed last Tuesday and, as hides go, I must say it is an excellent addition to the reserve and for the local birders. I can imagine many […]

At last, the arrival of some local Derbyshire Short-eared Owls. It’s really great to have a few of these superb owls local to me. This autumn and winter period has seen an exceptional arrival of birds, spread right across the country, but many have been found dead due to starvation. I guess due to the

A wintering Hoopoe has spent the last week or so in a small quarry area, on landscaped reclaimed land, at Wall Heath, Kingswinford near Dudley in Staffordshire. During mild winter weather there is often a wintering Hoopoe somewhere in Britain, so it was rather good to have one 50 odd miles from home. The bird

On the 12th December, Glyn & I decided to try for Bearded Tits at Alkborough in Lincolnshire. It turned out to be a very Cold, Grey and Frosty morning, with some fog lingering over the meres and reed beds. Although we heard numerous Bearded Tits, during the morning, none were performing at close quarters. A

Saturday 5th December, Glyn and I visited North Norfolk. Storm Desmond had hit the west side of Britain with devastating impact and Cumbria taking the brunt of it with over 300mm of rain falling and large areas of the county were very badly flooded. North Norfolk was only feeling the wind and it was blowing a

My wife and I spent the day in London on Saturday 28th November, visiting St.Paul’s Cathedral amongst other things. I woke up on Sunday morning to a real grey November day, what was I going to do? Local Patch, not done it for a while and at least I might get a chance of photographing

Rain, Gales, Rain, Gales – The theme for the past week. Question – Would Barnie & Co., bring in any good sea birds? The Met Office are now naming severe UK weather systems, whatever next! With the possibility of Leach’s Petrel, we decided to head off towards the North West in hope of striking lucky.

A day on the Yorkshire Coast, can’t beat it. Several Black-necked Grebe had been spending time in the harbour at Scarborough and there’s the Mediterranean Gull’s at Holbeck, as well as waders at Bridlington. So that was Saturday 14th November sorted then. We had one very obliging Black-necked Grebe at Scarborough Harbour and 12 Whooper