Play Less Misty for Me

(This article first appeared in the April 2013 edition of ‘Birdwatching’)

I well remember my first ever Great Egret in high summer many years ago. I know it was high summer as …

Waxwing Hysterical

(This article first appeared in the March 2013 edition of ‘Birdwatching’)

You may have not noticed but it is already turning into a ‘waxwing winter’ and it promises to be one of ep…

Capitalist Running Dogs

(This article first appeared in the February 2013 edition of ‘Birdwatching’)

What do dog walkers and local authority councillors have in common, apart that is, from an unerrin…

Thinking Inside the Box

(This article first appeared in the January 2013 edition of ‘Birdwatching’)

I grew up in the Garden of England in the 1950s.

Autumn days were spent riding our bikes to out of …

Bird Fair Blues

(This article first appeared in the January 2013 edition of ‘Birdwatching’)

Three days of fame is just about as much as I would ever want to cope with… it may be affirming, but it is …

Time for a Cool Change*

(This article first appeared in the December 2012 edition of ‘Birdwatching’)

Is it about age?

No, it can’t be as I’ve met twitchers in their sixties and seventies.

Perhaps the…

Just when you thought it was safe…

(This article first appeared in the November 2012 edition of ‘Birdwatching’)

Just when you think things cannot get worse life turns around and bites you on the butt…

The Mammoths in the Room

(This article first appeared in the October 2012 edition of ‘Birdwatching’)

We Brits pride ourselves on being at the forefront of conservation with organisations like the RSP…

Give me my raptor today…

(This article first appeared in the September 2012 edition of ‘Birdwatching’)

(Apologies to Van Morrison for the misquote above)

I am well beyond grumpy – my irritation has l…

Birding By Numbers…

(This article first appeared in the August 2012 edition of ‘Birdwatching’)

What is listing all about?

A recent ‘listing’ debate on my county internet mailing group was prompted by…

Mad Hatter

A tribute to Al Batt

I knew it was March because the hares were going mad. They were haring across the fields. Three hares chased each other, stopped and thought about it and then chased e…