Thursday 14 December 2017

Sri Lanka November 2017

Sri Lanka November 2017

Brown-breasted Flycatcher (Muscicapa muttui)

Indian Monitor (Varanus bengalensis)

Malayan Night Heron (Gorsachius melanolophus)

Indian Star Tortoise (Geochelone elegans)

Pied Thrush (Geokichla wardii)

Indian Pitta (Pitta brachyura)

Sri Lanka Spurfowl (Galloperdix bicalcarata)

Green-billed Coucal (Centropus chlororhynchos)

 Kashmir Flycatcher (Ficedula subrubra)

 Oriental Rat Snake (Ptyas mucosa)

Tuesday 31 October 2017

The Algarve, Portugal October 2017

Photographs from Algarve Portugal October 2017

Western Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio)

Great Shearwater (Puffinus gravis)

Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)

 Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

Stonechat (Saxicola torquata)

Lanner Falcon (Falco biarmicus)



Lanner Falcon (Falco biarmicus) 
Cape St Vincent, Sagres 7th October 2017


Having seen very little at Cape St Vincent, we headed towards the raptor watchpoint known at Monte da Cabranosa taking the track from the N268 at . As I drove towards the north end of the track at 37°02'10.3"N 8°57'43.2"W a large pale brown Falcon flew in low from the west and continued to the east and passed rapidly out of view, obscured by pine trees. The time was about 11.30am. 

The bird was only on view for about ten seconds. In that time through binoculars I saw some finer plumage details, including the brown, heavily streaked pale breast, the dark brown greater underwing coverts and slightly less dark brown greater primary underwing coverts. These feathers contrasted with the paler primaries, secondaries and to a lesser extent the paler brown lesser and median underwing coverts. The head appeared pale with a slight darker brown moustache stripe. The falcon had to be either a Lanner or Saker Falcon. But which one? And it was gone. I had had no time to photograph the bird. 

I felt somewhat reassured, as I thought the observers at the watchpoint would also have seen the bird and identified it. We drove directly to the watchpoint and arrived about 11.40. I saw Rob Mills, who I had met the previous evening, and walked over to him to ask if anyone had just seen a large brown Falcon. I was a bit surprised, and a little deflated, to learn that no one had spotted the bird.

We stayed to enjoy watching the raptors go overhead. In the back of my mind I always hoping the bird may reappear, and very happily it did. It arrived from the north-east and flew quite close to the watchpoint in a south-westerly direction, at 12.50pm. It then turned and headed back towards the north-east, but this time a little closer. I took a sequence of photographs (as did others). Photographs confirmed the bird to be a Lanner Falcon and others assigned it, to the most likely to occur, North African ‘erlangerirace. What a relief.  


Thursday 29 June 2017

Iceland June 2017

Some photographs from a tour to Iceland.

Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus)

Black Guillemot (Cepphus grylle)

BrĂ¼nnich´s Guillemot (Uria lomvia)


Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus)

 Slavonian Grebe (Podiceps auritus)

Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa islandica)

Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus)

Tuesday 16 May 2017

Romania May 2017

Just back from tour leading in Romania. Wildcats can swim!

Wild Cat (Felix sylvestris)
Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida)

Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus)

Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus)

Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides)
White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)
Corncrake (Crex crex)
Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) Now rare in Romania!

Friday 5 May 2017

Sicily April 2017

Some photographs from a recent tour to Sicily.

Collared Flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis)

Mirror Ophrys (Ophrys speculum)
Forestier’s Ophrys (Ophrys forestieri)
Bertoloni's Ophrys (Ophrys bertolonii)
Bianca’s Ophrys (Ophrys biancae)
Beautiful Ophrys (Ophrys calliantha)
Black Spider Ophrys (Ophrys incubacea)
Crescent Ophrys (Ophrys lunulata)


 Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix)







Wednesday 19 April 2017

Short break in Devon

Some shots from a trip to Devon. 

The Sand Crocus supposedly only opens in sunlight. It was raining with total cloud cover when I took the photograph!

Cirl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus)

Sand Crocus (Romulea columnae)

Yellow Dung Fly (Scatophaga stercoraria)

Berry Head at dawn


Thursday 13 April 2017

Trinidad & Tobago February 2017

Some photographs from a recent tour to Trinidad & Tobago

Collared Trogon (Trogon collaris)

Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinicus)

Oilbird (Steatomis caripensis)

Monday 20 March 2017

Special incubation period half price offer.  

‘The Peregrines of Norwich Cathedral’ HALF PRICE


To celebrate the Peregrines laying their first egg this year at Norwich Cathedral my book ‘The Peregrines of Norwich Cathedral’ now half price at just £6.25 including postage & packing (in UK).

Offer only available via direct orders and only until the first egg hatches or until 30th April, which ever is sooner.

Please order your copy by clicking on the heading ‘Bird & wildlife photographs’ at www.birdlineeastanglia.co.uk and following the instructions.