Very pleased to see my first true Spring migrant of 2024 on the patch this morning with two Little Ringed Plovers on LORP just south of South Farm Road on the main river channel. Other than that, it has been very quiet on LORP for some time now, but good to see so many Shelducks using the site. I recorded a personal site high count of 45 birds on the 17th March. A colour-ringed bird "VC" has also been on site and is one of the many birds initially ringed on the Axe Estuary - Hope to get more information on its history.
Cream Tea Birding
Birds and other wildlife at home in the UK and Overseas. Plus the odd pudding or cake!
Thursday 21 March 2024
Monday 11 March 2024
Catching Up on 2024
A few photos from the last few months.....
A visit to the fantastic RSPB Greylake Reserve in Somerset on 3rd February. Helen and I visited specifically to see the very smart drake Baikal Teal and to witness the equally impressive numbers of other wildfowl and huge flocks of Lapwing!
Plus a few photos from the patch and LORP where up 2-3 Avocets were present throughout much of Jan - March and nice to see Mediterranean Gulls appearing in recent weeks too.
Also a belated Merlin on LORP back on November 1st 2023 was a rare treat for the site!
Drake Baikal Teal, RSPB Greylake |
Drake Baikal Teal, RSPB Greylake |
Drake Baikal Teal, RSPB Greylake |
RSPB Greylake |
Huge flock of Lapwing, RSPB Greylake |
Merlin - A rare treat on LORP |
Avocets on LORP |
Mediteranean Gull with Black-headed Gulls, LORP |
Saturday 30 December 2023
Remembering Dad
I have been thinking a lot about my Dad lately, after he very sadly passed away not long before Christmas 2023.
Dad's big passions were the English language, writing, and helping others learn English through his teaching with a characteristic twist of humour! When I was little, my Dad regularly featured on radio programmes such as "Start the Week" with Richard Baker and "Woman's Hour". Dad also wrote a book, "A Day in the Life of..." focused on a number of humorous short stories aimed at helping students learn English and grammar. He studied at both Oxford and Cambridge Universities and carried on working throughout his retirement, helping teach students through a very successful English online website. I could go on as my Dad achieved so much, but modesty was another of his many qualities, despite having so much to brag about, but that simply wasn't Dad's style.
To me personally, Dad was simply the best father, both thoughtful and kind and always seeing the good in everyone. Despite him not having a huge interest in birds, he (and Mum) always encouraged me with my passion for birds as I grew up. Dad so often drove me to numerous RSPB and nature reserves, he would always be the dedicated driver on my annual 24 hour Herts county bird races with friends; and he also drove me specifically to try and see a number of rare birds. The Brill, Buckinghamshire Sea Eagle in Nov/Dec 1983 and the Holme, Norfolk Ruppell's Warbler Aug 1992 both spring to mind! On more than one occasion, he even picked me up after I became stranded as a result of me missing last trains or having failed hitch-hiking quests for my ever growing obsession to see new birds! I will always be hugely grateful for both Dad (and Mum's) encouragement and support for my passion for wildlife and so much more, which undoubtedly paved the way to begin my career with RSPB and start my own wildlife watching business.
I miss him greatly along with his characteristic infectious humour and I will ensure that my many happy memories with him and his humour, live long into the future.
Me birding with my Dad on a ferry near Isle of Skye around 1983 |
Thursday 26 October 2023
St Martin's, Isles of Scilly 2023
Arctic Warbler behind Pool Green, 11th October. Amazingly just 50M from where I found a bird in 2003! |
Arctic Warbler behind Pool Green, 11th October |
Arctic Warbler behind Pool Green, 11th October |
Pied Flycatcher - Just one bird seen |
Spotted Flycatcher - a number of individuals seen |
Rustic Bunting at Perpitch, 12th October |
Rustic Bunting at Perpitch, 12th October |
St Lawrance's Beach looking towards Middle Town Beach |
Birding with the Mrs |
An unusually tame Heron at Little Arthur Farm |
Common Snipe - Flocks of up to 50 birds seen |
My good friend Viv Jackson |
A drink in the Seven Stones Pub |
Higher Town looking to Par Beach |
Common Rosefinch at Perpitch, 14th and 15th October |
Convulvulous Hawk Moth, Higher Town |
Juvenile Pallid Harrier at Middle Town, 13th October |
Juvenile female (dark iris) Pallid Harrier, 13th October |
Juvenile Pallid Harrier, 13th October |
Juvenile Pallid Harrier, 13th October - My first view! |
Richard's Pipit at Higher Town cattle fields, 11th October |
Richard's Pipit at Higher Town cattle fields, 11th October |
Higher Town looking South West |
Looking towards Round Island, St Helen's and Dean from Top Rock |
Ruddy Turnstones - small groups on the beaches |
Whimbrel - odd birds seen |
Siskin - small flocks seen |
Looking to the Bishop Rock and the SW Approaches from Higher Town |
The Mrs at Scilly Organic Veg Stall |
The obligatory St Martin's Selfie |
Looking towards White Island |
Ring Ouzel - 1 of 2 birds seen |
Ring Ouzel - 1 of 2 birds seen |
Common Whitethroat at the Cricket Pitch |
Sunset from the Karma Hotel Garden |
Juvenile Pallid Harrier |
Juvenile Pallid Harrier |
Juvenile Pallid Harrier |
Sunset looking across to Tean and Tresco |