Finally! As I was working in my office I glanced out to see two Swifts looping high over the garden: most welcome! One - as can possibly be seen in the photos - was shorter winged and noticeably smaller: just sexual dimorphism, I imagine ..read more

While I was sitting outside for today's village 'Garage Sale', I noticed that the Sun was displaying some nice sunspot groups: I used two different filters to take a few photos - rememember: NEVER look at the Sun directly, especially not with binoculars or a camera! Sadly, I didn't sell any of my fishing tackle ..read more

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As the nights shorten the winter constellations such as Orion are replaced by the summer ones: Leo, Bootes and Cygnus become more prominent, while Ursa Major is virtually overhead at midnight. This month the planets are strung out either side of the Sun and are not easily observable: even the Moon is hard to see, rising just before dawn as it wanes to 'new' phase. (The photos below were taken this morning at 4.45!) Finally: the International Space Station is visible every night throughout May, but at inconvenient times in the early morning. (If there's a demand I'll post a table of 'passes ..read more

On a whim (having left Mum-in-Law at her rest home) Linda and I decided to leave Sussex before the forecast thunder storms: what a great decision! We drove home via Heywards Heath with hardly any traffic and no rain, arriving home at around 10.30  Our final day was spent at the Iron Age Hillfort, Cissbury Ring, where Mary enjoyed a walk in the sunshine, and at various garden centres for tea and cakes - shared with a little friend ..read more

While we were down in Sussex we visited the terrific WWT reserve right by Arundel Castle. In the past we've seen some amazing wild birds here, but on this visit there were no egrets at all. However, we did see Lesser Whitethroat, Glossy Ibis and Peregrine, as well as the amazing waterfowl at feeding time, Other species included Great Spot, Cuckoo, Red Kite and Raven: plenty of fat little Toad tadpoles were good to come across. Not bad for a day out with Mum-in-Law!  ..read more

Linda and I booked our usual farm cottage  at Findon, West Sussex. Our 'regular' cottage was booked, so we stayed in its mirror-imaged other half. On our way down we enjoyed a flock of Ring-necked Parakeets over the M11, while as soon as we arrived in Sussex we added White Wagtail, Red Kite and Buzzard (Despite the pouring rain) Having left the curtains open as night fell, we were delighted to see a Barn Owl glide quietly past. A trip out to Arundel Wetlands Trust included a boat trip in the sunshine and added Peregrine, Reed Warbler and Raven to the year list, while lunch by the river wa ..read more

While we were visiting the Brecks yesterday, we were treated to terrific views of the USAF's fighter armoury: F15s, F16s and F35s were almost continually overhead. Great stuff (if, as I do, you like that sort of thing!) Still haven't caught up with an F22 yet ..read more

 ...and lots more besides! Linda, Sue, Peter and I decided to make a first visit this year to the Stone Curlews at Weeting Heath, arriving befoire the heat haze was too bad! There were three birds visible in front of the hide, sitting close to the camera and its power supply! Other birds included Woodlark, Curlew, Wheatear (very distantly!) Buzzard and Mistle Thrush. We moved on to Lakenheath just as the weather turned colder and wetter: we dodged the showers by moving from one hide to the next, somehow managing to  hear Nightingale, Cuckoo and Garden Warbler and seeing Roe and Muntj ..read more

Norman and I decided to make best use of the predicted fine weather by visiting Cley NNT Reserve. Nothing spectacular had been reported, so we decided on a search from the Centre and Bishop's Hides before walking the entire perimeter. As expected, nothing too special, but a couple of Spoonbills were good to see, as were Sedge Warblers, Golden Plovers and a possible Caspian Gull. Swallows have arrived in numbers and were already prospecting Dauke's Hide for nest sites! Overhead a C130 patrolled the coast, while both F35 and F15 fighters were 'top gunning' all morning! A walk out to Gramborough ..read more