The bird with the coolest name ever
The bird above us is a Snake Eagle. To be precise, it’s a Short-Toed Snake Eagle, Circaetus gallicus. If only it would come …
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There are blackberries everywhere in the hedges here in Italy. They taste wrong though. They’re drier, harder, less juicy and far less …
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 …
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 …
A Spotted Flycatcher – forty years ago in my nature notebooks
We’re driving round Italy with telephoto lenses and the windows down. There’s a tiny brown bird on a branch beside us. It’s …
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 …
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 …
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, …
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 …
Searching for Little Owls
We are up at 6am, politely yawning. Today is our most recent attempt to see Little Owls. As a child I helped …
Stone hearts and Stone Curlews
We’re driving around Tarquinia in Italy. Our guide is our new friend Paolo, an incredibly enthusiastic and endlessly patient local birder. He’s …