Part 06/8 of Glenn Bartley’s month-long trip around Ecuador. Our final stop on the regular portion of the tour was a little bit further down the eastern slope. Here we were in for a real treat (and what was my favourite bird from the trip) the Black-banded Owl (see below). We also got great photo […]
UAE Spring migration begins !
In recent weeks the spring migration has started in the UAE. So far an exceptional spring for Wheatears, with large numbers of Isabelline and Pied Wheatears moving through, certainly many more than in recent years. In with these species we have also recorded Northern Wheatear, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear and the occasional vittata sub-species of the […]
Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis) by Fabiola Forns
Dawn begins to break as the sun rises slowly on the horizon and a female Snail Kite shakes her feathers briskly as she prepares to begin her day. Her two-toned feathers have the luster of youth and her pose is proud. Her keen eyes scan the horizon and she bobs her head as she gets […]
A family of the Philippines’ biggest owl
This year is probably the best year for the Philippine Eagle-Owl. The year started with a sighting of a family of Philippine Eagle-Owls right in busy Manila, with the mother and father eagle-owl guarding a immature roosting in a planters box (check out Birding Adventure Philippines’ Trinket Canlas blogpost about this encounter here). Several of […]
New area for over-wintering White-spotted Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica cyanecula)
Whilst ringing at Alba Marshes, Bahrain, on Friday 2nd March 2012, with Brendan Kavenagh and Nicole Proven, we caught a male White-spotted Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica cyanecula) which is a scarce passage migrant to the region, unlike the Red-spotted Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica svecica) which winters in good numbers. The White-spotted Bluethroat breeds locally in central & […]
Green Queen Ant
Strong winds and rain in North Queensland caused the early nesting of some fertilised winged Green Ants called a queen to be damaged or destroyed. Some have died in result of trying to re-established their nesting grounds, by attempting to lay another clutch of eggs (one third in size of the initial egg quantity), dying thereafter possibly […]
Birds of Ecuador and Culinary Delights
Part 05/8 of Glenn Bartley’s month-long trip around Ecuador. Other highlight birds during our time on the East slope included the stunning EcuadorianHillstar and the cute little Tawny Antpitta. During our stay on the east slope we also enjoyed some of the best food inEcuador. The soups especially were to die for! If you think […]
Birds of the Prairie, Part 1
Living in the US heartland, much of our prairie land has been lost to development. However, our remaining prairies can be a fun place to bird and enjoy wildflowers. In Part 1, I will share some of my recent prairie bird images that I have made this winter in several Missouri prairies. The feature of […]