Blogs

Hi all, I'll be honest, my knowledge of feathers is limited! I can tell a peacock from a magpie, and a buzzard from an owl but I'm no expert, although I am very fortunate to be surrounded by wonderful friends who keep me company in the garden and around the croft. I count amongst my friends...

The Hoo peninsula in North Kent is not unfamiliar with threats to its most excellent natural environment. Leading the litany of potential destruction have been a variety of over-blown airport proposals. Not far behind was the proposal to develop the carbon-spewing Kingsnorth power station. The area...

Hi all As we are now at a time when most of the satellite tagged birds are starting their journeys, or in some cases well on their way to their wintering grounds, here are the links to these projects. Northern Bald Ibis Loch Garten Ospreys BTO cuckoo's Mull white-tailed eagles If...

At least one juvenile marsh harrier was hunting across the south brooks yesterday morning - this is typical August bird for us here and this one was right on cue. If previous years are anything to go by, it will stay around for some weeks. A young cuckoo was also present yesterday, eating cinnabar caterpillars...

The last in a short series of diaries about birds on the reserve from Ken Croft. Hopefully, in the future we'll round of the previous month with one of his summaries..! "In a month with no real highlights here are the highlights. A Little Grebe dropped in on 30th, Grey Herons were regular...

Thanks to our local bird-expert I am happy to share with you a retrospective look at the months gone by on the reserve. Here is April's 'birding' summary in the words of Ken Croft: "The first Swallow arrived on the 2nd along with at least 60 Chiffchaffs and 6 Blackcaps. A late Redwing...

Here's a question for you. It's mid July, so what season are we in? Most people will, predictably, say summer. After all, the schools break up for the long summer holidays this week. It's music festival time - hence the huge crowds just up the road this weekend at Latitude. And there are...

Tom Yes this is fascinating. I've been following the cuckoos' progress on the BTO's tracking site , since the project was mentioned on Springwatch. Two of them are now crossing the Sahara.

It does seem that contrary to recent form nationally, Fowlmere has been a blessed breeding site for Turtle Doves. Earlier in the season they were really elusive, purring, but hidden atop the leafy trees. But in recent days, they've given wonderful views, mainly from the Reedbed Hide, where they perch...

Seeing four cuckoos together is an unusual sighting. May I enquire as to how you seperated the adults from juveniles and were you able to photograph them or wintess any behaviour at all? We would love to see any pictures of this if you have them!

Pectoral Sandpiper with Lapwing by by K. Scovell In the words of one visitor "Inner Marsh Farm has delivered again" as a quiet Sunday afternoon was rudely disturbed by this small wader feeding amongst the gathered lapwings. It was quickly identified as a pectoral sandpiper ( Calidris...

This is a photo of a cuckoo taken from the boardwalk leading to the north hide. A wonderful opportunity to see this enigmatic bird close up. He was happy to bask in the June sunshine and call a few times whilst I got some shots .

If you’ve visited Radipole or Lodmoor over the last few weeks you may have heard the sound of one of the UK’s most threatened bird species the Cuckoo. For the first time in years, Cuckoo’s have been heard at both the Weymouth reserves which has amazed all the staff and volunteers as...

The seasons are changing - ever so subtly, but changing they are. It's only the end of May, but the first post-breeding lapwing flocks are starting to gather. These are birds that for whatever reason have not bred this year, or have tried to breed unsuccessfully. As June progresses, their numbers...

The rain finally arrived at Elmley on Thursday afternoon - only showers, but some of them heavy enough to make a difference. We got just over 10mm, which wasn't enough to wet up areas that have dried out, but will keep the remaining wet bits wet a bit longer. Crucial for the many wader chicks that...

Taken on Ham Wall Reserve early one morning. Ham Wall is a good reserve to see cuckoo's regularly flying. Most people have heard their familiar call, but in flight - looking very much like a falcon - is a privilege not many people have experienced.

14-5-11 1400hrs

Apparently it is the eurovision song contest this weekend, this might have some of you leaping around in excitement but for those who fancy engaging in a different sort of European activity how about taking a look at the Spring Alive website! According to the records from around Europe so far, the...

Hi Simon Well done on getting that close to a Cuckoo and taking such great photos. As TJ and I know only too well, getting photos of a Cuckoo is not an easy task.

One of two I saw beyond Lin Dyke Hide.

There are a few April specials to look out for at the moment, on the wing at this time in early spring will be holly blues and orange tips, top marks if you can get a picture of one of them settled!!! Bird wise look and listen out for cuckoos, willow warblers and blackcaps to name just a few. Probably...

This morning we heard our first cuckoo of the year! Also now arrived are sedge warblers, reed warblers and whitethroats. Most of the winter visitors have left now but the Greenland white fronted geese are still here.

Another great shot from Nick Martin, one of the many male cuckoo that patrol and call from thickets along the reedbed. Langford is certainly a real stronghold for cuckoo in Nottinghamshire, no doubt due to the regionally important numbers of reed warbler in the growing reedbed.

A cuckoo at Wat Tyler CP, 22/4/10

A lovely day with my son on Insh Marshes....a cuckoo flew overhead to my son's rapture, we also heard two males calling and joyfully finished off the day with spotted flycatcher in the birch trees and a male redstart singing in the carpark.

A morning walk at Fort Augustus brought us to an old cemetery, close to the hills. The only sound was birdsong. A woodpecker drumming and a cuckoo calling, joined by song thrushes, robins, blackbirds and warblers. Unforgettable, absolutely priceless!