I went over to Tamar Lakes to look for Green Sandpiper which are found feeding on the weir, no joy with them but five Common Sandpipers entertained me with close views. A shame the weather was pretty dire but thats how it is sometimes ..read more

Cromford canal in Derbyshire must be one of the best locations to see Little Grebes at close hand, being used to people walking the canal path they go about their business without fear. ( Its meant to be a top site for Water Voles as well , but I've yet to see one ). This pair were I think starting to look for nest sites as they were taking material to a couple of differant locations beside the waters edge ..read more

In some years Bramblings arrive in their hundreds and in other years they seem to be very few and far between. This year has been the latter with only a few records locally, so four feeding from a bird table in a Dartmoor garden was good to see, and that included this sparkling male ..read more

I placed a perch near my bird feeders a couple of years ago knowing that the local Sparrowhawks were regular visitors, thinking it would be perfect for them to land on. In all the times I've sat in my hideout (shed)I'd not had one land there, untill the other day when this immaculate male bird suddenly appeared in front of me, staying and eying up the small birds for about five minutes. It did'nt catch any so not had to have the mixed emotions of predator and prey ..read more

I cant keep looking on birdguides and social media every night and see other peoples sightings and photos without getting that pang of envy, especially when its a rare bird I've not seen before and its not a million miles from home, so it was with the drake Baikal Teal which had been at Greylake on the levels for a while ( I missed it last year as well ). So on a bit of a whim I decided to drive up earlyish one morning . An unusually sunny day, I arrived at Greylake to join a few other birders/photographers, ( not been here before, a nice easy site with hundreds of ducks). The Baikal Teal did ..read more

A couple of weeks ago I made a visit to Stover Lake in Devon, hoping to see the Great Crested Grebes performing their weed dance,no luck with that but happy to see the usual species showing well including a few more for my Cormorants in Willow collection.Also photograped Tufted Duck,Great Crested Grebe, Mandarin,Mute Swan, Coot, Wigeon,Mallard and Black Headed Gull. A bit dull and damp but still a good day out ..read more

A sunny day around the Exe estuary in Devon, the usual selection of bird species seen with Brent Geese being my main target.There were plenty around Starcross and Exminster marsh and a immature Spoonbill graced Bowling Green Marsh, as well as a nice pair of Shoveler at Dawlish Warren ..read more

I think my 'happy place'is just sitting in my shed/hide and watching the birds coming and going to my feeding station and small pool. I dont ever expect to see anything unuasual( the best so far being a Redpoll ) but you never know what might turn up. Here is a few of our recent visitors. Starling,Blue Tit,Robin,Nuthatch,Chaffinch,Siskin,Marsh Tit,Coal Tit, Great Tit and Blackbird ..read more

Two Bonaparte's Gulls graced the river mouth at Marazion in Cornwall recently,and when this pretty species of Gull show they tend to show really well, these were feeding very close both in the water and on the seaweed on the beach.This unafraid behavior was apparently the ondoing of one of them as reportedly it was killed by a dog ( dont know for sure weather this is actually a fact though . Hope not ..read more

On the same day as seeing the Long Tailed Duck. I had to practically pass the Short Eared Owl site so Could'nt pass up the chance of seeing these stunning birds one more time. Although very cold the sun shone and after a bit of a wait two Owls were watched hunting over the coastal fields. On one occasion one flew directly overhead looking toward me as it passed.Beautiful birds ..read more