Canary Islands Kestrels
My son asks me if I fancy going on a long-weekend holiday to the Canary Islands. I say yes. I have no …
Pygmy Cormorant
There’s a Pygmy Cormorant, Microcarbo pygmaeus, in the water. It looks as pleased to be here as we are. The light is …
Great Tits
The colours are beautiful behind this Great Tit, Parus major. They have beautiful glossy caps and shining black eyes. They are the …
The Horse Egret
There are two white horses together with their attendants at Lago di Alviano. This is a Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis, riding a …
Marsh Tits
Marsh Tits must make a tasty morsel. The only ones which have survived are constantly wary of their environment. This one is …
Blue Tits #2
I’m delighted to be spending time with Blue Tits in the forest here at Lago di Alviano. These don’t have metal rings …
Blue Tits #1
Finally! Some decent light. Aren’t Blue Tits fantastic? This one has a raised crest to die for: They’ve got to be one …
Nutria
There’s a Coypu in the lake at Lago di Alviano. They look like they are doing doggy-paddle. I’d love to see what …
The Upside-Down bird
Strike a pose! If Nuthatches had a decade and musical style, what would it be? Might they be New Romantics from the …
African Sacred Ibis
There are two African Sacred Ibis in the lake at Lago di Alviano. Here’s one: Their scientific name, Threskiornis aethiopicus, gives another …
Tits and Finches in an Italian forest
Blue Tits, Cyanistes caeruleus, always cheer me up. Who doesn’t have their spirits lifted when they see a bright, tiny little bird …
Little Footy Arse
It’s wet at Lago di Alviano. The light is poor and it’s cold. We have a cold packed lunch and plenty of …
Kangaroo Island – Silver Gulls and Greater Crested Terns
Kangaroo Island is sometimes called Australia’s Galapagos. It was separated from Australia by the same climatic event which separated Ireland from Britain …
Kangaroo Island – Australian Sea Lions
If Kangaroo Island is going to recover from the devastating bush fires which have destroyed much of the environment in the last …
Kangaroo Island – Remarkable Rocks
It’s taken 500 million years of wind and rain and pounding waves to sculpt these exceptional forms: The position of the rocks, …
Kangaroo Island – New Zealand Fur Seals
“Kangaroo Island. Too good to spoil.” That’s what the Australian Government’s Natural Resources website says. “Keep Kangaroo Island free from introduced pests. …
Kangaroo Island – Kangaroos and Koalas
“Kangaroo Island. Too good to spoil.” That’s what the Australian Government’s Natural Resources website says. Kangaroo Island is home to 4,000 people. …
Chasing Common Kestrels
Arriving in the park I see a male Common Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus. I think it may have a couple of ticks on …
Lang’s Short-Tailed Blue butterfly
There’s a blue butterfly on a short flowering plant amongst the grass in Parco della Caffarella in Rome. It has antennae with …
Monk Parakeets at home
These Monk Parakeets are making themselves at home: They’ve spread in many European countries because of escapes from the pet trade. Their …
Black Redstarts, one day and another
I’ve a day in the park at Parco della Caffarella in Rome. Having said that, I’ll probably spend a fair amount of …
Fighting Moorhens in Parco della Caffarella
It’s a rainy day in Rome and I’m out in the park. I take shelter in the bird hide. There’s nothing happening. …
2019 highlights of a wilder Italian life
My Italian life in 2019 started in January with a whale of a murmuration with a raptor on its tail. Just click …
2019 highlights of a wilder Devon life
2019 has seen me explore Devon a little more. I’ve been out onto Emsworthy Mire on Dartmoor a few times to enjoy …
2019 highlights of a wilder Orkney life
The turning of the year is always a great time for reflection. Celebrating the darkest day with the thought that longer days, …
Emsworthy Mire Revisited
I try my luck again to get some decent photographs of the Ring Ouzels at Emsworthy Mire. I have a large flask …
Home Scar
Limpets are incredible organisms. They can withstand the heaviest seas, can live despite being baked by the sun and desiccated on hard …
Seasons
It’s the middle of winter. It’s time to rest and appreciate another year gone. It’s time to see distant family members, or …
10 things I wish I didn’t know about Robins
1. One and a half million Robins are killed by cats in the UK every year That’s a statistic based upon a …
Fly Agarics at Bovey Heathfield
Amanita muscaria; the Fly Agaric. Magical, aren’t they?