The whole of Saudi Arabia is under-watched bird wise, but the Eastern Province is particularly poorly represented with birders. This is mainly due to a lack of interest from the local population, with a few notable exceptions, and a restriction on foreigners travelling to Saudi Arabia unless they are working. Even if you are working […]
Armoured and Dangerous – In Cairns
The City of Cairns, in N. Queensland is Australia’s most recognisable and liveable tropical playground. But amidst this peaceful mixed playground, an armoured and dangerous predator is spreading. Armoured and Dangerous, the Australian saltwater crocodile, is one of the planets most efficient killers, and while two decades ago, it was an animal rarely seen or […]
Birding in Brazil – fourth of four days photographing in Serra da Canastra National Park
Day 22, the fourth day On the last day in the Serra da Canastra, our goal was Brazilian Merganser, Mergus octosetaceus. As it could not be any different, we left early from the hotel towards the Casca D’Anta waterfall, and on our way we would make some stops to try to see the duck. First […]
Warbling Vireo – singing from the nest (plus a bonus duck)
On a tip from a friend, I headed to a Boomer Lake Park here in Stillwater, OK yesterday morning to confirm the appearance of a rare duck. I found the Black-bellied Whistling Duck quite easily! Although Stillwater is a few hundred miles north of where this species is distributed according to range maps in most […]
My good friends
It took me long enough to put up some photos of my Golden-cheeked Warbler buddies. My favorite from this season so far is the fledgling preening. Come on! That’s cute stuff. Real cute. Don’t you just want to put the little guy in your pocket? Ahh, I love them, obviously. I keep coming back to […]
UK Backs Down on Buzzard Destruction Plan
The UK has quicklybacked downonplans to control buzzardsafter an outcry which included a2,500 signature strong Care2 petition. The plan was to spend £375,000 (US $586,000) on capturing Buzzards and destroying their nests to see whether this reduces their consumption of young Pheasants (or Poults), which are reared in their millions to be shot on game […]
Red-tailed Hawk Juvenile Portrait
The Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is one of the most widespread and commonly observed birds of prey in North America (click on photos for full sized images). The buff yellow iris in this bird, photographed at Colusa National Wildlife Refuge, identifies it as a juvenile. If you like birds, you’ll love World Bird Wednesday! Go […]
Burrowing Owl Time
There are several places in Florida that in February each yearthe burrowing owls return to and nest. Their nests are burrows mostly borrowed from other animals such as praire dogs and the like. The adults are 7-11 inches tall, only slightly larger than an American Robin. Males and females are similiar in size and appearance, […]