Champions of the Flyway 2017 – the Media Birders’ race day
This year I was fortunate enough to take part in the annual Champions of the Flyway international Bird Race in Israel. 34 teams from around the world assembled to compete in a 24-hour Bird Race on Tuesday 28th March, seeing who could see and hear the most species in a...
Hot off the Press!
Three years in the making, my new field guide to Britain and Ireland's mammals is finally out! Fully comprehensive, there are stunning photographs of every mammal recently recorded in Britain, including all 26 bats and 30 cetaceans (whales/dolphins etc). There are...
Spring 2017
29th May I didn't wander far this morning but a visiting birder went round and didn't mention anything out of the ordinary. Young Reed Warblers are...
February and March 2017 at Longham Lakes
30th March A ringing session this morning produced 3 new birds (2 Blackcaps, 1 Great Tit) and a re-trap Reed Bunting. The latter was ringed in May 2011 so coming up to 6 years – and it was an adult female when ringed, so actually at least (almost) 7 years. The oldest...
New book – out in April
A narrative book, it combines some of my birding experiences with lots of science about how birds live and survive.
January 2017 at Longham Lakes
29th January Had a grey wet trip round the lakes this afternoon nothing new seen and only one Great White Egret about, and 46 Pochard spread about the two lakes. So that’s me done for January ending on 63 species seen for the month (Martin Wood.) 27th January Usual...
December 2016 at Longham Lakes
So another year comes to an end. It was far from a vintage year for Longham Lakes, with just 116 species recorded, well down on last year (130). However, there were 2 species making their first appearance, Nightjar (May) and Little Stint (November-December). Other...
September to November 2016
30th November Much better views of the stint this morning along with several other observers. The consensus view is that the bird is a Little Stint albeit in unfamiliar plumage (George Green). Other good birds present included 3 Great Egrets and 8 Black-tailed...
Summer 2016
20th August Had walk round the south lake late morning early afternoon, 4 Swifts, lots of Sand Martins and House Martins over the lake. Also of interest were 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Hobby over and a Pochard at the south end of the lake, and a Tufted Duck with 4...
Spring 2016
30th May I went to Longham this morning for a ringing session. It was surprisingly good considering that the wind was rather breezy. There were 21 new birds and 13 re-traps. These numbers were mainly boosted by a family flock of Long-tailed Tits, which included 7...