First of all let me start by saying Happy New Year, particularly to those birders amongst us for whom January 1st is probably one of the most exciting dates in the calendar. It’s the day on which new notebooks are cracked open, year lists begun and when even the humble Read more…
As we enter those magic few days before 2016 throws in the towel, where no one really knows the day let alone the date, Christmas already feels like a lifetime ago. I hope dear reader that yours was an enjoyable one, surrounded by those you love in a celebration that Read more…
Goldeneye and Ogmore. Two words which go hand in hand at this time of year and with my parents down weekend before last we had the perfect excuse to go and see how numbers were building. The plan was to do a circular walk along the coast from Ogmore to Read more…
When I look back on 2016 in a few months from now one thing will become abundantly clear – I was way too ambitious in what I planned to take on. There simply hasn’t been the time or quantity of free weekends available, particularly over the summer, to do everything Read more…
I had a real yearning for some ‘proper’ birding weekend before last. Not a walk with some birds thrown in for good measure but a full on, telescope out, find as much as we possibly can expedition. Ideally that would have involved a trip to my favourite reserve on the Read more…
Well I had planned to finish blogging August’s fun and games today but it seems that autumn has arrived instead and boy did mother nature want us to sit up and take note. In terms of weather you’d be forgiven from thinking that it was still mid summer but down Read more…
Bank holiday Sunday dawned wet and wild, justification if any were needed for ending our camping trip when we had. If there’s one thing I could do without ever having to experience again it’s taking down a tent in the rain. We took the opportunity for a leisurely start and Read more…
Despite our small tent being a little worse for wear thanks to many years of use we enjoyed two well rested nights under a spectacular Pembrokeshire sky. Being so far from light pollution meant that the Milky Way shone brilliantly and we were also treated to a couple of shooting Read more…
Back at work Tuesday before last then on the road again just two days later. Bags still unpacked but simply restocked with clean underwear and loaded into the car. Tent? Check. More importantly perhaps, tent poles? Check (never going to make that mistake again!). And then something new compared to Read more…
It was back to the birds for our final day in Kent. With Dungeness just down the road it would have been rude not to really and after hearing of the various successes my sister has had there over the years I was expecting great things. Her parting advice before Read more…