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September 2018

Woodpigeon - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Woodpigeon

Have you ever had a close look at a Woodpigeon? They are such extreme birds. Just look at those strange features: Now …

Westray Industrial Show - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

The Battle of Bere Bannock

The Battle of Bannockburn is a famous Scottish victory in the first Scottish War of Independence. Equally as momentous is the Battle …

Birds at the Peedie Sea - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Knots landing at the Peedie Sea

I’m wandering the shore at Kirkwall Harbour for an hour before the ferry takes me to Westray. I’m loving the complex singing …

Kirkwall at dawn - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Kirkwall at dawn

I’ve just woken up in a Viking city. A city which is only part of the UK, and not Norway, because King …

Kestrel - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Kestrel in Hyde Park

I’m back in the UK after a trip to Italy looking for Little Owls. We didn’t see them apart from a brief …

Blackberries - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

More more

There are blackberries everywhere in the hedges here in Italy. They taste wrong though. They’re drier, harder, less juicy and far less …

Little Owls - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Searching for Little Owls

It’s been a dream of mine to see a Little Owl again. When I was a young teenager my friend Michael had …

Montagu's Harrier - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

A Harrier on the hill

I see a tiny speck of a bird circling  over a ruined building in Tarquinia: We drive the car in its direction …

Painted Lady - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Painting with light

There’s a Painted Lady butterfly in the garden on the Abbey here in Tarquinia in Italy. It’s high up and nicely isolated …

Red-Veined Darter Dragonfly - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Red-Veined Darter Dragonfly

It’s a glorious day here in Italy. I’ve climbed to the top of a hill and can see across the valley: There’s …

Green Woodpecker - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

A juvenile Green Woodpecker

Our friend Paolo is driving us round some of his favourite birding spots in Tarquinia in Italy. It’s hot, I’ve got the …

European Roller - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

High Roller

I love the hills and fields in Tarquinia. We’re here on a Little Owl hunt. That’s hunting with cameras and good intentions, …

Acrida ungarica - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Slant-headed cone face

We’re driving around Monte Romano near Tarquinia in Italy looking for Little Owls. They’re the number one species I’m looking for. The …