From the archives No 2...

American Green Heron, Anglesey, November 2005

Snow birds in Cornwall

Last year I was quite fortunate in my annual visit to Cornwall with 7 Red Rumped Swallows, 7 Glossy Ibis and a Paddyfield Warbler. This year our trip was less successful with Rosy Pastor, Dick's Pipit, Cirl Bunts and Glossy Ibis being the highlights (the latter both being on the way home!). However the company was outstanding and the weather was mostly rather nice. 

This Snow Bunting was my particular favourite. It was very tame, staying loyal to busy local dog walker route during our stay.

Great Snipe

I happened to be in the area the day after this bird's discovery. The conditions were far from ideal and the bird all though not at all shy, did prefer to feed under cover whilst I was there. So just a record shot I am afraid. My only new species I have added to my British list thus far in 2013....

Greenish Warbler

I love Burnham Overy Dunes in Norfolk and have seen some nice falls over the years. With the conditions looking promising Mike Weedon and I headed over Sunday morning. I was a little surprised to find this beauty was the first bird I actually saw when we got to the dunes! A nice self found tick for us both.

Pied Flycatcher

Great to see so many over the weekend on the coast.

Clouded Yellow

Clouded Yellow at Maxey Gravel Pits. These migrant butterflies seem to be having a good year, with at least three, probably six on this site.

From the archives No 1

Shorelark taken in Morroco in late winter 2012. I was photographing Crimson Winged Finches when this chap came and landed next to me in the car park I was laying in.

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl taken in March in south Lincolnshire.

Capercaillie

I remember as a child watching David Attenborough being attacked by a 'rogue' male Caper. I remember watching Birding with Bill Oddie and him missing them. Then in 2003 I finally saw some heads of some male Capers at the lek at Loch Garten. Subsequent viewings have been a repeat performance at Loch Garten and nearly being knocked off my feet by a female in Finland, while her young scattered. But never a rogue male... until now...

 I visited the bird briefly twice during our two day stay. Thankfully it was sunny on the second day. What a bird!

Famous Grouse

Plenty of Red Grouse were seen during our few days in Scotland.

Otter swim

Didn't have much luck with the Otters today or yesterday. Good views yesterday of the 'pups' fighting though.

Black-bellied Dipper

This Black-bellied Dipper has been around all winter in Thetford. Yesterday we were lucky enough to get some pretty decent views. I saw the second, shyer bird that Pinky found, today.

Otter encounter

I have always wanted to see Otters in Britain, having only seen one, briefly, running across a road in Spain. The Thetford Otters proved to much of a temptation so I joined up with Kev Du Rose and had some remarkable encounters with one individual.