Thick Billed Pulls in the Crowds

Thick-billed Warbler - Fair Isle - May 2003 - 4th for Britain - I thought i'd share a couple of my images of the 'blast from the past' 2003 Fair Isle bird in light of the 5th having just been discovered in Geosetter on mainland Shetland by a visiting birder. It's been over 10 years but the memories of seeing this bird in the ringing room at the Observatory early one May morning is still very fresh in my memory! Why not join us in 2014 to look for more mega's of this magnitude!!?? Please email me for bespoke Shetland Spring and Autumn birding, wildlife and photography trips or visit
www.shetlandnature.net

Up close and personal - Thick-billed Warbler - 4th for Britain- May 2003 Fair Isle
www.shetlandnature.net

A Score at Skaw . . .

I had an excellent trip to Unst yesterday to catch up with a Two-barred Crossbill which incredibly was a British tick for me, having never gone for one and never been on Shetland when there have been influxes. The day was made extra special by news that the Baltimore Oriole had been relocated at Halligarth - so I just had to call in to see this sculking individual before heading to Skaw for the Crossbill. . . . no photos so I have added a smart Snow Bunting I took whilst looking for the Two-barred at Skaw.

Delighted to receive my Shetland Bird Report 2012 yesterday & see that I have the front cover shot!

Me, Phil and our Autumn 2013 birding group of 11 enjoying dinner at the Sumburgh Hotel - thank you all for  making this 10 day Fair Isle and Shetland trip such a fun and memorable one!
Our 10 day trip was full of highlights including Bonelli's Warbler, Arctic Warbler, Western Subalpine Warbler, Red-backed Shrike x 2, Red-breasted Flycatcher x 2,  Bluethroat, flocks of Snow Bunting, Lapland Bunting & over 20 Yellow-browed Warblers as well as a great Minke Whale!!

Birding Fair Isle with Sheep Rock and Rainbow backdrop

Watching the plane coming in before we birded the airstrip & Homisdale.

More Svalbard Pics . . . .July 2013

me with some of my group - Margaret, Francis, Richard & Colin - Svalbard 2013

view from my bedroom window!!

guns always at the ready . . . .

18th July at 80 degrees North - Colin's 70th & my umm birthday also . . .

spider plant

purple saxifrage

SVALBARD - JULY 2013

I have just returned from leading a superb trip to Svalbard for the Travelling Naturalist circumnavigating Spitsbergen and enjoying wonderful arctic seascapes and wildlife.  . . .here are a few examples of the fabulous wildlife we encountered. Thank you to my wonderful group for making it such a success and of course to the Oceanwide Expeditions staff who really made the trip. A full report will follow shortly as will a lot more pics!!

Bearded Seal - Spitsbergen 2013 

Brunnich's Guillemot

Northern Fulmar 'blue'

Humpback Whale's tale . . . 

One relaxed Polar Bear - one of up to 20 seen on our voyage

The Walrus - what a beast!

I love Kittiwakes, they look so good on ice too . . . 

After finding the male on a nest incubating eggs we found the better looking female on a small pool nearby

Of Owls & Mice - some recent images . . .

Ural Owl - Central Sweden

Great Grey Owl - Central Sweden

Wood Mouse - Suffolk Garden

A Few Belize Birds - March/April 2013

Vermillion Flycatcher

Collared Aracari

Grey-necked Wood Rail

Green Breasted Mango on Nest!

Wood Thrush

A happy group at the end of our Owls & Woodpecker trip to Central Sweden!
A very successful trip - many thanks to all our guests! More pics coming soon . . 

Central Sweden - Scandinavian Spring

11th - 14th April

We will be spending a few days amongst the wild forests and lakes of central Sweden with Capercaillie, Three-toed Woodpecker, and a wonderful selection of owls. Add breeding waders, Cranes and divers, and some superb hotels and food, and you have the ingredients for a hugely enjoyable short break! 

Leaders: Rebecca Nason, Philip Harris & our good friend Daniel Green . . . .looking forward to meeting our 10 guests tomorrow and enjoying a few Owls before dusk!

BREAKING NEWS - AWARD WINNING IMAGE TAKEN IN LERWICK - SHETLAND . . 

I am delighted to have been awarded 2nd place in the 'Natural Abstract' category of the Scottish Nature Photography Awards 2012 with my image entitled "Red October - Herring Gull alongside Red Ship" taken in Lerwick Harbour - Shetland.

To view this and the worthy winning image in this category and other categories please see the competition website linked below:
http://www.scottishnaturephotographyawards.com/2012/2012winners.htm