Islay Magic
Two weeks on Islay is never long enough but with good winter weather and plenty of wildlife to see this February was one of the most rewarding winter visits we have ever had. The Geese always provide a spectacle for the birdwatchers and this weeks gallery includes many of my favourites from our visit plus […]
Icelandic Merlin
One of the reasons for visiting Islay in February is to catch up with the many raptors that winter on the island. As only one pair of Merlin breed on Islay in summer the winter sightings are of Icelandic birds that have come south in October with Redwings and like the Redwings they always seem […]
Winter On Islay
A week on Islay and a mixture of snow, rain, gales and sparkling sunshine. A walk around Islay’s beaches resulted in a flock of 80 Sanderlings being encountered in one sandy bay. It was great to watch their rapid feeding whilst uttering low contact calls. One bird had a multitude of colour rings on its […]
Day Hunting Long Eared Owl
During the last week I was able to witness a Long Eared Owl leave its diurnal roost then look for prey from a hawthorne hedge. It circled low over a rough pasture then returned to the very same roosting branch that it left ten minutes earlier. It had caught no prey and was harassed by […]
Manchester Shorties
A hunting Short Eared Owl bathed in late afternoon sunshine with the rolling Pennine hills in the background. It would not go amiss in any of the Pennines National Parks but this photo was taken within five miles of Manchester City Town hall!! So far this winter I have known of four others all hunting […]
The Day Hunter
The opportunity to film Barn Owls hunting during the day has never arisen locally before this winter. If the weather pattern of wet nights becomes a norm then perhaps this winters events will not be unusual and filming may be possible every winter. The next problem of course is predicting where the Owl will hunt […]
Disappearing Waders
Not only is there a shortage of thrushes this winter but wading birds have also been in short supply. Only this week have i seen my first Jack Snipe and so far I have only flushed two Woodcock. Had it not been for the migrant Long Eared Owls and day hunting Barn Owls there would […]
Snowy Long Eared Owl
In the last week I have spent many hours out in the hills looking for roosting Long Eared Owls and day hunting Barn Owls. After yesterdays snowfall a single Long Eared Owl was a nice bonus in the snow-covered trees. With their eyes screwed-up they always look asleep but this bird is fully aware of […]
Bucket List
Most people have a list of the things they would like to do once in their lifetime. From a wildlife point of view top of the list perhaps would be to sail through the Arctic pack-ice at midnight looking for Polar Bears. It is an experience that is hard to describe and with global warming […]
Annual Newsletter
Best Wishes and a Happy New Year to you all for 2016 There is little doubt that 2015 will be remembered for its extremes of weather. We had one of the coldest summers ever recorded followed by a dry, sunny and warm autumn then an extremely wet and dull November and December. All this has […]