Monthly Archives: February 2012

Russian Common Gull ssp heinei

Posted on February 28, 2012 by

An adult on Texel Thought I would flag this up before the forthcoming gull days- One to be looking for. One of the fun birds to find with the guys on Texel was this adult Russian Common Gull ssp. heinei. Info on identification on these is … Continue reading →

Posted in Gulls | 6 Comments

Mystery Warbler on Linosa

Posted on February 28, 2012 by

It IS an acrocephalus warbler! Thank for all the responses to this bit of a quiz bird. It was another acro to learn from. Found early on in the stay late one evening by intrepid Andrea and others, we wondered if it might just … Continue reading →

Posted in Warblers | 5 Comments

We are going on the TIP!

Posted on February 27, 2012 by

Cheshire Gull Day  Saturday 17th March 2012 Thanks to some great organising by folk involved with Moore Nature Reserve and Friends of Wigg Island this day is looking really cool.   Start will be 8:30 am at Moore Nature Reserve. We will be kitted … Continue reading →

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American White-winged Scoter in Japan

Posted on February 27, 2012 by

Amoung the Stejneger’s A great find yesterday by David Cooper. He emailed to say he had found an adult male American White-winged Scoter in a harbour in eastern Hokkaido, Japan. Seems to be the first for this part of the world, … Continue reading →

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Vagrant White-headed Duck!

Posted on February 26, 2012 by

First winter in the Netherlands Sad but true! One of the birds I most wanted to see was a White-headed Duck. So part of Monday 13th Feb saw Nils, me and Sander Bot heading to a wildfowl hotspot. What a … Continue reading →

Posted in Wildfowl | 2 Comments

Mystery Essex Gull

Posted on February 25, 2012 by

A comment There was a great set of responses to Steve Arlow’s Essex gull here When a first saw the images I said to Steve that it reminded me  of  some barabensis- particularly the Caspian Gull end (also called Steppe Gull- referring to  large gulls breeding especially over  central Asia and wintering roughly  in … Continue reading →

Posted in Gulls | 9 Comments

Polar Experience in the Netherlands

Posted on February 24, 2012 by

Gulls, Ducks and Cold Perhaps it will prove to be one of my nature highlights of the year. Arriving to catch the boat on 12 Feb with the boys (Nils, Diederik and Jeroan) from Den Helder to Texel, we encountered an … Continue reading →

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Smew Central

Posted on February 22, 2012 by

To Texel and back Having attended and  spoken morning and afternoon at the Dutch Birding Vogeldag on 11th Feb, I got to spend the next day with top Dutch birders, Nils Van Duivendijk, Diederik Kok and Jeroan de Bruin . The place was under an arctic … Continue reading →

Posted in Wildfowl | 4 Comments

Derby this Friday

Posted on February 21, 2012 by

I will be speaking at a meeting of the Derbyshire Ornithological Society on “Frontiers in Birding” at the Society’s meeting on Friday 24 February 2012 (7.30pm) at The Evergreen Club, Cornhill, Allestree, Derby, DE22 2FT Meeting begins at 7.30pm, doors open from 7:00pm. More information here … Continue reading →

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New Gull Masterclass Days

Posted on February 20, 2012 by

Coming Very Soon… North Wales,  Saturday 3rd March Saltholme, Teesside,  Wednesday 7th March Moore N.R./ Richmond Bank, Cheshire, Saturday 17th March Places very limited (N. Wales already fully booked) £35 per person.  Join me  for a day from 9am to 5 pm. See your confidence … Continue reading →

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