Great and spotted
We’ve been spotted. There’s a Great Spotted Woodpecker living its adventurous life nearby. Great Spotted Woodpeckers are large woodpeckers to us. They’re …
A Pygmy Cormorant stuffing itself stupid
There’s a Pygmy Cormorant, Microcarbo pygmaeus, swimming and diving on the lake. It’s too far away for a decent photograph as the hide we’re …
Cinderella Iron
The last we saw of a Grey Heron was one standing, impressively, on a branch over the lake at Lago di Alviano. …
Major White Airplane
Great White Egrets, Ardea alba, are impressive birds. They’re much bigger than a Grey Heron and stunning in flight. Just look at …
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 …
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 …
L’airone cenerino
The Grey Herons at Lago di Alviano are studious. Nothing disturbs their concentration: They are tense, waiting for that exact moment when …
Coypu
There’s a huge Coypu in the lake at the Lago di Alviano. I’m still shocked every time I see one.
When the Kingfisher paid a visit
There’s a female Kingfisher on a nearby branch. I can tell it’s a female because, as they say, “It’s wearing lipstick.” Female …
Spotted Redshank
We spotted Spotted Redshanks a few days ago: This time I manage to get a shot of one flying. If only it …
Spoonbill flypast
From a distance it’s hard to tell all these white birds apart. There are dozens of busy Great White Egrets and Little …
Egrets
Great White Egrets are impressive birds. They are huge: I love the way the wing tips of this one are just touching …
Before and after fish
This female Kingfisher is wonderful. She’s bobbing her head, calling and peering into the water below. We’ve heard her calling from across …
Short-Toed Treecreepers and reflections on bird photography
It’s always a thrill to see a bird creeping like a mouse up a tree trunk. It’s only when it flies down …
Spotting a Spotted Redshank
There are a couple of Spotted Redshanks close by. I take a hasty photograph and smile at the acrobatic leg stretching: There’s …
Spatula
The Lago di Alviano in Italy is one of my favourite places. Whether it’s cold and foggy or bright and breezy, there’s …
Pettirosso
European Robins are fascinating. This one is the forest in Italy looks like a youngster, as it has a pale band on …
A whale of a murmuration with a raptor on its tail
The Starlings are gathering at the Lago di Alviano and they’re swirling overhead. One moment they’re a tight, dark ball, the next …
Queenfisher
I’ve just spent my birthday sitting in a small wooden shed. Last year we were here looking at Red Squirrels in the …