Reflective Times
I have been office based for the past couple of weeks working on book & agency images but managed to get out for a very enjoyable afternoon excursion to Norfolk on Thursday. For an hour or so before dark (2.30-3.30 pm) the light was wonderful so I concentrated on different reflections and silhouettes with some very approachable Coot and Little Grebes.

Eastern Delight . . .

The last week saw me on a twitching marathon with great views obtained of the Red-flanked Bluetail at Minsmere, Brown Shrike in Staines & best of all, the Eastern Crowned Warbler in South Shields. Although none of the three birds produced good photographic opportunities, I enjoyed excellent scope views of all of them. The Red-flanked Bluetail was my second having enjoyed good views of Deryk's bird on the NW cliffs on Fair Isle at the end of September 2004. The Minsmere bird was characteristically illusive, staying deep in the quite extensive sluice bushes but did show well at fleeting intervals & was occasionally chased by an irritated Robin. The Brown Shrike was a bit distant when I turned up but thanks to Pete Newton who I met there, I enjoyed great scope views, my camera staying firmly on my shoulder. Friday saw a massive 5 hour twitch to South Shields with Alan Bull and Phil Harris. What a pleasure it was to arrive at the site & be able to immediately connect with the bird from the cliff-top. We had expected it to be a good bird but nothing prepared us for what was surely one, if not, THE best bird we have ever seen - it was a real mega - eastern delight, full-frame in the scope, but as you can see here, not in the camera! It was a happy 6.5 hour trip back to Suffolk, topped off with a late indian take-away.

'Scottish Birds' Front Cover Image

I was thrilled to have the front cover image of the September 2009 issue of Scottish Birds with a Barnacle Goose close-up. This is the second issue of the 'new' Scottish Birds journal, incorporating Scottish Bird News & Birding Scotland & published by the Scottish Ornithologist's Club. I had the cover shot in the first issue with a Long-eared Owl taken on Fair Isle. For more information on Scottish Birds, the SOC & for subscription details please click here: SOC

A is for Arctic . .
A few shots from a great day on mainland Shetland yesterday. . . .

Blyth's Reed Warbler

Fair Isle - 5th October 2009
Our last day on Fair Isle turned out to be the most productive birding day we had encountered for our entire visit! A Blyth's Reed Warbler was found by Alan & Chas in the crop strip at Lower Stoneybrek first thing before they departed on the plane at the end of their Autumn trip. I photographed this bird out in the field & it was later trapped & ringed to confirm the ID. There were clearly many more migrants about with a Reed Warbler (trapped & ringed) at the Chalet, many Redwing & a few Blackcaps, Lesser Whitethroat, Brambling etc in the light SW'ly winds & sunshine - a beautiful day. Whilst looking for the Blyth's Reed Warbler at Lower Stoney with several others including the 2 AW's & Deryk who had arrived post Sheephill, a Warbler jumped up onto the wall briefly in front of us. We all raised our bins expecting to see the Blyth's Reed Warbler but were amazed to suddenly be staring at a cracking RIVER WARBLER!!! What an fine, classic, streaky individual, fully out in the open & facing us, it's tail flicked up showing a great profile before it darted into the crops & remained illusive thereafter. A fantastic British tick for Phil & I & a great bird to end our Fair Isle trip with. After grilling the Eastern Savi's Warbler in Da Water the day before (my second on Fair Isle), it was a real treat to see both a classic River & a Eastern Savi's & the various differences between these two often difficult individuals.

October Pechora . . .

The Pechora Pipit showed a little better today around Burkle garden (what a great garden tick for Deryk!), Kenaby crop & Quoy. It was later ringed in Burkle garden (another tick for Deryk!) and remained deep in the cabbage crops at Quoy late into the afternoon. The Common Rosefinches had found each other & spent much of the day in Kenaby crops well as Burkle garden. Whilst out in the afternoon in the SE I had my first Fair Isle Song Thrush & Redwing of the Autumn as well as being amused by Quoy pigs chasing Pink-footed Geese out of their territory.

Vegetable Pechora

Another day of strong NW winds and intermittent heavy showers. The recent quiet spell was broken mid morning by news of a Pechora Pipit at Kenaby crop and a frantic run for the red flagged car. Although very elusive and flighty it did eventually show well enough for all to see and enjoy! A great find Chas & Steve! I spent much of the afternoon in the south of the Island searching for rares & the Pechora. I found a Common Rosefinch (images below - different one to yesterday which is now sporting a ring) & Garden Warbler in Kenaby crop mid afternoon & had a Merlin & several small flocks of Barnacle Geese. The Richards Pipit frequently put in an appearance throughout the afternoon in various locations and is very mobile. Other highlights today included a Pied Fly which was trapped and ringed, as well as a Blackbird and a few Chiffs and Willows.

A Rosy Day . . .

A much better day today as the wind had dropped & sunshine prevailed. It was really enjoyable to be out & there were clearly more birds in which gave everyone a much needed boost. I spent the morning on the south-west side. A Slavonian Grebe was in Hesti Geo (pictured below). After clambering up Malcolm's Head I photographed Fulmars in flight & had a few Chaffinch & 10 Snow Buntings followed by a Common Rosefinch (pictured below) Blackcap & Chiffchaff at Quoy. Phil caught a NW type Redpoll in Burkle garden in the afternoon & I birded the East cliffs which produced little, a Merlin, 20+ Snow Bunting & several Linnet being the highlights along with many Golden Plover & Pink Feet/Greylag flocks. Phil & Simon trapped & ringed another Lapland Bunting (pictured below) at the Chalet late afternoon & a Pintail was noted with Wigeon on Da Water. Yesterday's birding highlight was the first Redwings of the Autumn. Lachlan returned to School in Lerwick & we were joined by our friend Martin Culshaw who had successfully twitched the Taiga Flycatcher & Sandhill Crane as well before arriving on the afternoon plane for his Fair Isle week. Needless to say our alcohol consumption has just increased tenfold! - lets just hope the birds do the same! ;-)

A Westerly Weekend

Return to Fair Isle

Arrived on Fair Isle yesterday morning through howling Westerlies, which seem to dominate the weather forecast predictions for the next ten days! Before Fair Isle, we had a days birding on mainland Shetland, with Pied Fly, Redstart, 3 Common Crossbills & Barred Warbler at Vidlin followed by delicious soup and bagels at the Peerie Cafe in Lerwick. Later we enjoyed a meal out at the Sumburgh Hotel with Helen who we stayed with in Toab. We were pleasantly surprised to get onto Fair Isle at all yesterday given the foul & worsening conditions but we were soon catching up with friends, drinking tea & pondering on the weather & what delights we might not be seeing this autumn visit. In between afternoon showers we caught & ringed a lone Dunlin on the scrape with Alan Bull & Peter Stronach & later at night the boys 'dazzled' waders including Curlew, Ringed Plover & 2 more Dunlin. Today, the westerly winds had died down in the morning but the conditions worsened again throughout the afternoon. The few birds noted this morning included up to 6 Lapland Buntings, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Whinchat, Richard's Pipit, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whooper Swan, 5 Linnet. I photographed Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Lapland Bunting & Chiffchaff.

Great to be back here!!

Bat in the moth trap . . .
An incredible surprise awaited us in the moth trap in our Woodbridge garden this morning, a Brown Long-eared Bat was found hiding under one of the egg boxes! It seemed very alert & tried on several occasions to bite Phil's fingers but without success as Phil soon got a good grip on him, gently holding the skin at the back of the bat's neck. This stunning (if that's the right word . .) little mammal flew around the kitchen for a minute of two before heading out into the daylight & making for a dark roof space in one of the neighbour's houses. I had seen a bat sp flying about the garden catching moths a night or two ago, so I imagine this was possibly the same bat who must have made an error of judgement.

'Tuf' Love . . .

News of a 'Tufted Puffin' in Kent this morning was bitter sweet for the birding community as a whole but euphoria no doubt for the lucky 7. Feelings swayed from total excitement and desperation to see such a dream seabird, to total disappointment as the realization that the bird had gone and was unlikely to be found again (today anyway . .). What a bird ! I decided to console myself with some afternoon birding at Bawdsey - East Lane. The winds were strong, coming right in off the churning sea. I spent a few lame minutes striving to find my own Tufted Puffin, well a Sab's Gull or Leach's Petrel or something . . . but soon gave up after the first few Black-headed Gulls shot by.

A walk along the sheltered lane opposite the first pool saw a smart and very vocal Pied Flycatcher & a good number of Migrant Hawkers hunting in the sheltered sunny rides. The sea wall produced 1 Black Redstart & 3 very approachable young Swallows who sat up on fencing near the car park.

A number of my images appeared in today's Telegraph Magazine (pg 64-71). The images, of various birds and landscapes from Fair Isle were to accompany an article by Tim Dee called Rites of Passage. Every Autumn millions of birds, some only a few weeks out of the egg, travel impossible distances to their wintering grounds. One of their favoured stopping-off points is Fair Isle, where Tim Dee, too, was irresistibly drawn. Photographs by Rebecca Nason. This article has been extracted from a new book entitled 'The Running Sky: A Birdwatching Life' by Tim Dee. (This book is available from Telegraph Books for £14.99 plus £1.25 p&p 0844-871 1515). . . .

August Moths Revisited

Just downloading a few moth images from the garden August moth sessions - here are some of my favourites. The best & possibly the rarest micro moth was this beautifully patterned Ethmia bipunctella, a Red Data Book Species restricted to coastal shingle habitats in the south-eastern counties. The Bullrush Wainscot was a 'large' & impressive Wainscot. We have had 2 tiny migrant 'Rush Veneers' and a good few Small Dusty Waves. The Striped Hawkmoth was taken a Portland Bird Observatory (they have since had Silver-striped & Convolvulus Hawkmoth). The Star-wort was another striking moth, similar to a 'Shark' moth in shape & found locally in the south-east of England on coastal saltmarsh habitats.

Evening on the Coast

Following a good few days at the computer sorting images I was relieved to get out to the coast this evening for a walk around East Lane at Bawdsey. Although the winds were fresh, I really enjoyed being there as the sun began to set & an autumnal gold filtered over the adjacent fields & pools. There were numerous Migrant Hawkers sat up in vegetation getting the last of the days warmth & a few waders on the pools, including Dunlin & Common Sandpiper. Swallows, Sand Martins & House Martins fed over the pools and drifted through in small numbers. A walk along a lane near the pools saw many tame Rats(!) as well as my first 'Pied flycatcher' of the Autumn . . .

Invasion of the True Bug
Last week we had a very unexpected species in the moth trap in our Woodbridge garden -with 2 Western Conifer Seed Bugs - quite a sizeable and attractively marked insect. Western Conifer Seed Bugs are species of 'True Bug' from the family Coreidae and were originally native to western USA. More recently they have expanded their range (on timber imports) and become an invasive species in part of Europe. They were first noted in Northern Italy in 1999. In the UK they was first recorded in 2007 but autumn 2008 saw a large influx along the British south coast, a result of natural immigration from continental Europe. We are unsure of the current status in the UK and if this species has been recorded previously in Suffolk . . .

New 'Scottish Birds' Journal

I am delighted to have the front cover image (a Long-eared Owl taken on Fair Isle) for the 1st issue of the superb new-look 'Scottish Birds' journal recently published by the Scottish Ornithologist's Club. Please click here for more information on the SOC & how to become a member. Packed with invaluable information & the latest Scottish bird news and images, the SOC website & new journal offers essential reading for anybody interested in Scottish birds from amateur birder to serious listers and researchers . . . .

Bank Holiday Birding - August 2009

Just back from a really enjoyable long weekend at Portland Bird Observatory with Phil Harris and Alan Bull. The weather conditions were not perfect and it was very quiet bird and moth wise over the weekend but what a great place to spend the bank holiday! The arrival of a Melodious Warbler early on Monday morning however, really made the weekend! Melodious Warbler was exactly what we had been hoping for at Portland & was a welcome ringing tick for Alan after a 15 year wait! Other highlights over the weekend were a smart Striped Hawkmoth at the Obs, an Elephant Hawkmoth Caterpillar at Radipole (& a dodgy looking Hooded Merganser still present), Hobby, Peregrine, numerous Belearic Sheatwaters & the odd Sooty & Manx. Yesterday lunchtime we left Portland & twitched our way through the traffic back to Suffolk, stopping off at the Blue-winged Teal in Hampshire & the Black Tern, American Black Tern & White-winged Black Tern in Oxfordshire. Quite a weekend!

British Birdwatching Fair - Rutland

21-23rd August 2009

I will once again be at the Birdfair this year selling

mounted and framed bird & wildlife images, a new range

of greeting cards & answering any photographic questions.

If you are attending do pop over to say hello! Art Marquee

No 8 . . . . .

Veolia Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition 2009 FINALIST.

I was delighted to make the finals of the most prestigious wildlife photography competition in the world this year! The competition saw more than 42,000 entries this year so to reach the finals was quite an achievement. . . more coming on this soon . . . I reached the finals of the 'BBC Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year' competition twice in my youth, so it is a great feeling to be reaching such a high standard in the adult photography section!

More August Wee Beasties

There are now two Wood Mice creeping silently into the garden at night to feast on the peanuts in the bird feeder. One is extremely shy and darts off as soon as I try and approach. The other is the Wood Mouse in the images here which does not seem to mind me at all or my Nikon D300 and AF-S Micro Nikkor 105mm VR lens. These images were taken hand-held as was the Moorhen below, using a 200-400mm VR lens.

Last of the July Highflyers

Manic Monday . . .

A very good moth night last night, the trap was heaving. A new moth was a handsome Black Arches, a cracking moth! Other good moths included Maple Prominent and several Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing's pictured below. The last two moths below are as yet unidentified micros! We also caught a couple more 'local' Rosy Footman.

Sunday Shots . . . 

An interesting rove beetle made a brief appearance in the garden this morning, although there are hundreds of rove beetle species in the UK (1000 in Europe) this one seems most like Staphylinus caesareus. Moth trapping last night saw us catch one of my favourite moths, the Herald. Also a Dunbar. A relaxing walk on a local heath produced several large Emperor Moth caterpillars . . .

Saturday in Norfolk

A few images from a wonderful day out in Norfolk. The day started ominously with rain clouds & a flat battery, but after jump starting the car I was on my way to what turned out to be a rain free, great day out with lots of macro photography. Here we have a mating pair of Blue-tailed Damselflies & an attractive Ringlet butterfly.

July has seen more Moth trapping in the garden though the break in the mediterranean weather last week with impressive storms & heavy rain has meant a few moth-less nights. Pictured from top to bottom: Cinnabar Moth Caterpillar, Marbled Beauty, Knot Grass, Chinese Character, Spectacle & Buff Arches.

Seeing the Light 'Finch by Finch'

Solo Cast Glass Sculpture Exhibition by Tolly Nason

Zoology Museum - Cambridge

After many months of intense work by Tolly & a week of help from family & friends before the deadline, this superbly unique exhibition opened with private views on Wednesday & Thursday evening at the Zoology Museum in Cambridge & has been hailed a huge success! The exhibition centre-piece consists of 14 solid, large-scale, red cast glass polished Finch beaks on wooden plinths, all individually lit from behind. These fine specimens show the evolution of species with the development of 14 different beak shapes from one species, adapted & evolved over time to utilize the food sources available to the Finches on different isolated Islands within the Galapagos. The sculptures are exact enlarged replicas (20x) of the beaks, taken from Darwin's Finch collection brought back to the UK on the 'Beagle' voyage. This exhibition is in conjunction with the Darwin Festival & is open now until September - so if you are in Cambridge, be sure to pop into the Museum & take a look. More on these & other works by Tolly can be viewed at:

The Bower House Gallery & www.tollysark.com

In between helping with the exhibition, moth trapping has still been underway in the Woodbridge garden. The first images on this posting are of a scarce immigrant to the east coast - a Red-necked Footman. I had only seen them previously on the Isles of Scillly. The other images are of a White Satin Moth, Orange Moth, Scalloped Shell, Rosy Footman & last but not least, the Wood Mouse (again!).

Suffolk Stags

A cracking large male Stag Beetle in the garden yesterday.

Night Magic  - Suffolk

A common, resident species throughout England, the Leopard Moth trapped last night was a first for me - a striking and large moth! I have also started to befriend the little Wood Mouse, mainly with chocolate cake & can now approach him to within a few inches . . . . 

Woodbridge Wood Mouse.

Another regular night visitor to our Suffolk garden is this perky little Wood Mouse which visits the peanut feeder most nights. . . .these images were taken with 105mm Nikon VR macro lens, handheld.

A few more Shetland & Fair Isle  images . . .still working through a number of memory cards from this successful Spring trip, including a 16GB card so a lot of time on the computer these last few days. 

Puffin Passion . . . 

A few more Fair Isle images from last week, this time my favourite seabird - the Puffin!

What a Stag Night!

Back in Suffolk after another enjoyable trip to Fair Isle & Shetland. A treat last night was seeing a large annual visitor to the garden - the Stag Beetle. Up to a dozen were observed over the garden, several of both sexes landing on the roof, allowing for excellent close up views & photo opportunities. A rare & thinly distributed species in the UK, Suffolk  is one of the Stag Beetles remaining strongholds in Britain. Also trapped in the moth trap last night, 2 Lime Hawkmoths (images below) as well as Privet, Elephant & Pine Hawkmoths. A new species for the garden was a nationally scarce 'Festoon' moth.

Out on the Raz . . . .

Fair Isle - June 2009

Fair Isle continued  . . . .

A few more images from the last couple of days on Fair Isle. Numbers of migrants have been low so I have been concentrating on seabirds & flight shots. Migrants have however included Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, 1 male Red-backed Shrike, 1 male Red-breasted Flycatcher. Also a single Corn Bunting, Common Crossbill, Common Rosefinch & 2 Marsh Warblers . . .  

R-B-Fly

Yesterday we  awoke to news of an adult male Red-breasted Flycatcher which had been trapped in the Vaadal. What a stunning bird, having only seen autumn birds before this was a real treat .  The weather on Fair Isle has been really pleasant with  light northerlies for the last few days & an amazing amount of sunshine  - I have been immersed in seabird photography & increasing my image library stock . . ..

In the middle of a superb trip to Shetland & Fair Isle. . . Here are a few recent shots, lots more to come! . . . .

Another Suffolk Hawkmoth species . . 

An impressive Eyed Hawkmoth today took the Hawkmoth garden species total to 6 this Spring (I have yet to photograph Lime). Other hopeful contenders are the Small Elephant Hawkmoth & the rarer continental migrant Striped Hawkmoth (2 have been trapped on the coast at Bawdsey this weekend!). . . 

Privet Hawkmoth

Suffolk - May 30th 2009

May Moths continued . . .

From the top: Rustic Shoulder-knot, Small Angle Shades, Iron Prominent, Elephant Hawkmoth, Alder Moth.

Enjoying Moth Photography:

I love the beautiful & very photogenic larger hawkmoths. So far this year we have had Pine, Poplar, Eyed & Elephant Hawkmoths in our Woodbridge garden trap. Here are images of Elephant & Poplar (below) & Pine  (left) taken this morning.

More Moths:

Two more moths I photographed this morning from last nights catch: Burnished Brass (bottom) & Bufftip (top & middle).

21st May 2009 - Suffolk

From the bottom:  1 Red Kite over Sutton, Woodbridge on the 19th May (taken with 105mm macro lens), 1 Pine Hawkmoth trapped in the garden, 1 Swift & a very attractive young Robin chick! Enjoying the last few sunny days in Suffolk before heading up to Shetland!

Melodious Warbler - Landguard - Suffolk.

May 17th 2009. . . .  .

Bawdsey, Woodbridge & Landguard - Suffolk

May 15th 2009

Sunday 1oth May 2009 - Kent 

Black-winged Pratincole . . . . 

Sunday afternoon saw us race down to Reculver, Kent to twitch a stunning Black-winged Praticole. We were lucky to arrive 45 mins before it flew off and enjoyed good scope views as it sat on a bank preening. It jumped into the air at one point and caught a bee before bobbing up & down and heading off further down the coast. An enjoyable & successful afternoon!

Lesvos  - April 2009 - The Travelling Naturalist

We have just returned from a superb week in Lesvos where we led our 6th highly successful 'Travelling Naturalist' birding trip from the 23rd April - 30th April. We arrived to good numbers of common Spring migrants & enjoyed an excellent week with over 150 species seen. Highlights included Scop's Owl, hawking Eleanora's Falcons, Levant's Sparrowhawk, Cinereous Bunting, Collared Flycatchers, Ruppell's & Orphean Warblers, Krupers Nuthatch, Isabelline Wheatear, Citrine Wagtails & Little Crakes . . . Thank you to all our guests who joined us on such a memorable Lesvos birding experience! We hope to see you all again soon!   www.naturalist.co.uk

More Scottish Images from April 2009 . . . .

Two male Ring Ouzels were noted at Cairngorm on the 9th, one was also present on the afternoon of the 3rd. Numerous Red Grouse were seen at close range throughout the trip & provided pleasing photographic results in good light.