Saturday 16 December. We cruised north during the night timing our arrival at the Bounty Islands for soon after dawn. I was on deck at 05:20 to find conditions rather murky and the sea quite choppy. Not ideal but the mist cleared during an early breakfast. Zodiacs were lowered and the swell looked rather ominous but again thanks to the skill of the crew we got off and an absolutely amazing two hours ensued as we worked our way with Dan around a few of the islands. They were small (all 22 islands and named granite rocks have a surface area of about 50 hectares), some very close together and all ..read more

Saturday 06 April. Widewater 06:30-08:30, moderate SE: Brent Goose 14E, Shelduck 2E, Shoveler 10E, Common Scoter 14E, Turnstone 4 on beach, Sandwich Tern 18E, Gannet 2E, Sparrowhawk 1E. Mill Hill with Megan and Cookie: Skylark 3, Chiffchaff heard, Blackcap heard. Sunday 07 April. Widewater 06:40-10:50, moderate/strong SW: Brent Goose 70E, Common Scoter 45E, Black-headed Gull 7E, Mediterranean Gull 118E:1W, Common Gull 40E, Sandwich Tern 9E:2W, Great Skua 2E (08:10 & 09:35), Guillemot 1E, Red-throated Diver 1E, Gannet&nbs ..read more

Thursday 14 December. A day at sea, I was on deck from 05:30-21:00 with breaks for breakfast, shower, Antipodes briefing and dinner. Talks I didn’t go in for involved Albatrosses, Penguins and History & Conservation of the Antipodes and Bounty Islands. All potentially interesting and as it turned out I wouldn't have missed anything critical on deck by not attending, but I wasn't to know that. Seeing nine species made it my best albatross day ever. Birds seen were 2 Grey-backed and a Black-bellied Storm-Petrel, 2 Antipodes Wandering, 2 Gibson’s Wandering, 2 Southern Royal, 5 Light-mantled S ..read more

Cookie was a rescue dog we adopted in December 2016. I had reservations but she very quickly won me over. She was very good natured, intelligent, perhaps a bit cheeky and hardly caused any problems while she was with us, or for those we persuaded to look after her when we were abroad. She provided company for Megan when I was away and encouraged me to go out on day's that I might otherwise have stayed in. December 2016: our first visit to the Adur January 2017: not wanting to be left behind at Shoreham Harbour (she wasn't) Church Norton July 2017: not very keen on Twitc ..read more

Unless stated otherwise all photos are mine (mostly taken with an entry level Bridge Camera following my 100-400mm Panasonic lens seizing up and not extending beyond 130mm).  Tuesday 12 December. A day at sea, on deck from 05:45-22:00, with breaks for meals, biosecurity checks and briefings for the following day’s Campbell Island options. When asked which was the best option for Campbell Island Teal we were told that they could be seen on each option, not a very helpful answer but one we had begun to expect. Being a day at sea a programme of talks were offered - Island Life, Terrestr ..read more

Continuing with Birding Down Under where I left off in January (earlier postings show under December 2023 where this and subsequent ones will eventually be placed). I'd signed up for a triple cabin with Nick Preston and Paul Noakes although outside our group of three had happily become five as we spent most of our time with Paul Chapman and Paul Gregory, although three Pauls could be a bit confusing. Most photos included here were taken by me or Paul Noakes. More of Paul's from the start of the cruise will be incorporated into the relevant blogs at a later date although Panama from February 20 ..read more

Thursday 21 March. Mill Hill with Megan and Cookie: Buzzard 2, Chiffchaff 2, Stonechat 1 male, Goldfinch 6. Widewater: Wheatear 10 on beach (mostly males), Meadow Pipit 1. Adur: Curlew 1, Common Gull 120. Wheatears at Widewater Friday 22 March. Shoreham Fort: Eider 1 immature male, Great Crested Grebe 1 in harbour, Oystercatcher 3, Turnstone 1, Purple Sandpiper 1, Cormorant 1 adult sinensis, Raven 1. Park Avenue: Lord Derby's Parakeet 1 female (male Ring-necked not seen). Continental Cormorant at Shoreham Fort, a striking bird immature drake Eider in Shore ..read more

Half-way through our week on Cyprus with, for me, the more interesting areas to come - the Troodos Mountains and the area around Pafos. Sunday 17 March. Sunday is a good day to leave Lefkosa and we had a clear run right up into the mountains (in complete contrast to Friday's stop start arrival). We were heading for Troodos and when a few kms short saw a sign to the Botanical Gardens. As much to stretch our legs and check where exactly we were (in relation to the Artemis Trail we hoped to walk later) we decided to stop. It turned out to be an excellent move. First we saw in fairly quick success ..read more

Megan and I wanted to go away somewhere in early spring and eventually settled on Cyprus. We'd been with the Nessa and Josh for a week in April 2000 but I didn't see Cyprus Scops Owl (it wasn't regarded as a full species then). Although by no means guaranteed the possibility of a new bird as well as some early migration provided the incentive for me to return. Our previous visit had been based in Pafos and Megan was keen to see more of the country with the ancient ruins, museums and churches being her main draw as well as some warmer weather. I booked EasyJet flights to Paf ..read more

Sunday 25 February. Shoreham Fort with Megan and Cookie: Eider 1 immature male. Monday 26 February. Buckingham Park with Megan and Cookie: Goldfinch 7. Tuesday 27 February. Mill Hill with Megan and Cookie: Buzzard 1, Skylark 2, Goldcrest 2, Linnet 3. Wednesday 28 February. River Adur/Rec with Cookie: Teal 4, Little Grebe 1, Oystercatcher 6, Lapwing 8, Grey Plover 3, Redshank 8, Great Black-backed Gull 30, Peregrine 1, Skylark 1, Meadow Pipit 2, Chaffinch 1. Friday 01 March. River Adur with Cookie in heavy rain: Grey Plover 1, Great Black-b ..read more