As 2024 comes to a close, so ends another year and another rollercoaster birding ride. This year has been one where I have really expanded my birding range, from the wilds of the Scottish Highlands to the raucous Spring setting of Keyhaven and Pennington Marshes. Its clearly been one to remember, with a wealth ofContinue reading “2024 Review”
Tag Archives: birds
Return to Arne
It had been four years since I had visited Arne. Back then, I was a bird-crazy 8-year old, who got a buzz whenever he looked through a pair of binoculars. I’d certainly changed a lot since then, in many respects. Many special times in my life had been and gone, and I’d grown alongside them,Continue reading “Return to Arne”
Feathered Forecasters: Is There an Avian Answer to Natural Disasters?
Natural disasters are a fairly regular thing nowadays, happening all over the globe, from landslides to flooding to hurricanes. These events often claim many lives, and they’re only going to become commonplace now the world is in the grip of climate change. Weather forecasting can sometimes be unreliable as to when these disasters will happen,Continue reading “Feathered Forecasters: Is There an Avian Answer to Natural Disasters?”
Plumage Parade: Britain’s Most Colourful Birds
When you see the brilliant splendour of hummingbirds and birds-of-paradise in the Americas, and Sunbirds and Rollers in Africa, you might begin to feel a little jealous. After all, here in Britain, we don’t have birds like that. It’s all plain old browns and blacks, with an occasional flash of blue or orange. Well, whatContinue reading “Plumage Parade: Britain’s Most Colourful Birds”
Eyeworth Ponds
On a Sunday lunchtime, many people will be at home, gathered around a roast dinner, or at a restaurant for a carvery. However, at just gone midday, a group of young people was gathered on the banks of Eyeworth Ponds, near the village of Fritham, in the north of the New Forest National Park. TheyContinue reading “Eyeworth Ponds”
Murmatory Mutterings: The Science Behind Murmurations
Many people regard the Common Starling as a rather common bird, swarming garden bird baths before anybody else can get a look-in, and crowding out electricity pylons on many an evening. But one thing they do sets them apart from all other birds and animals. They produce one of nature’s most awe-inspiring, beautiful, confusing phenomena.Continue reading “Murmatory Mutterings: The Science Behind Murmurations”
Birds: Brilliant and Bizarre Exhibit
This weekend’s journey to London had began with a birdy purpose. That purpose was to visit the Natural History Museum’s new exhibit – ‘Birds: Brilliant and Bizarre’. The Museum has partnered with the RSPB to create an unforgettable experience, its main aim to showcase how amazing our natural world is. Both adjectives mentioned in theContinue reading “Birds: Brilliant and Bizarre Exhibit”
Welcome Back to Birdfair
Hello and welcome back to Global Birdfair 2024: the final day. Can’t stop, we’ve got an appointment with Leica for a nature walk. Bye! Just kidding, but we did have to move quite rapidly for that Leica nature walk. Anyway, Harry Read, handy with a camera, was leading another nature walk alongside Elle Kaye, birderContinue reading “Welcome Back to Birdfair”
Saturday at Global Birdfair
The wind howled in Rutland, England’s smallest county, but the weather was pleasant enough. Compared to last year, anything could be an improvement from the vast thunderstorms and the heavy rain outbursts, which punctuated 2023’s edition at some of the most inopportune times. It took nothing away from the event, which was incredible, but itContinue reading “Saturday at Global Birdfair”
Birdcamp Brilliance: A Symphony of Feathers and Fun
In order to reach Hawes End, it took a fair amount of staying power to negotiate the meandering lanes that snaked across the fells of the Lake District. Sheep, pheasants and wood pigeons constantly appeared on the road, and the sun beat down on the meadows and fields that lay at the feet of theseContinue reading “Birdcamp Brilliance: A Symphony of Feathers and Fun”
The Bovey Birder 