Goldeneye and Ogmore. Two words which go hand in hand at this time of year and with my parents down weekend before last we had the perfect excuse to go and see how numbers were building. The plan was to do a circular walk along the coast from Ogmore to Read more…
It’s fair to say that motivation is proving a little hard to come by of late. I could have accepted the first month or two of relentless rain, grey skies and wind (it is winter after all) but month three really started to push my patience. What had once been Read more…
Sunday 7th saw us making a long overdue return visit to Hatton Locks, a flight of twenty one locks (not lochs as I originally spelt the title of this entry and which would have made for something entirely different) on the Grand Union Canal. Opened in 1799 they have a Read more…
Last weekend we popped backed to the Midlands to visit my parents and collect those all important Christmas presents, payment for which was taken in full by having to endure hours upon hours of reality television. Thankfully the full impact of such an assault was lessened somewhat having spent Saturday Read more…
I arrived at the Ogmore River on Sunday, headed straight for the nearest telescope wielding human and heard those words that strike despair into every birders heart. “If you’d been here an hour ago we were having great views, but it’s flown off since and hasn’t been relocated”. As I Read more…
I’ve got a bit of a record going when it comes to producing decent birds whenever my parents come to visit. Glossy Ibis, Woodchat Shrike and parading Bitterns have all helped add to the mystique that in reality comes down to nothing more than damn good timing on their part. Read more…
Before Waxwing fever gripped us a couple of weekends ago we’d already had quite a successful days birding and walking at Bosherston lily ponds in Pembrokeshire. It seems like an absolute age since we were last there, a visit which sticks in the mind due to the then drought conditions Read more…
Back in the winter of 2010 the UK found itself under attack from the Scandinavians. They arrived in their thousands and took up residence in every industrial estate and supermarket car park from the Shetlands right down to our southern coasts. With much of the population focussed on forthcoming festivities Read more…
In the words of everyone’s favourite Austrian, I’m back. From where I hear you ask? Norfolk I answer, hoping to bring this slightly awkward opening exchange to a swift conclusion. Ah you say in clear disregard to my previous statement, see any Waxwings? I think we may be about to Read more…
2012 got off to a bug filled start this morning. First my iPhone alarm clock failed to wake us due to yet another software issue, then we discovered an unexpected visitor in the kitchen. I shall leave the failings of Apple’s development team aside and instead concentrate on our new Read more…