We all know that spending time in nature is enjoyable, but now there’s increasing evidence that wildlife – and birds in particular – have a profound positive impact on our mental wellbeing. We delve into the latest discoveries from the fields of biology, economics and psychology. Over the past 18 months, everyone I know turned […]
Tag: birding

Courting Wild Dogs in Bandipur
During this trip to Bandipur we sighted many birds, including one of the elusive raptors – the Black Eagle, that is said to be rarer than Tigers. Some of the birds that we saw, we shared them in the previous post on Birding in Bandipur. If you are on the lookout, sometimes even the common […]

Ghana – rainforest birding on the brink by Adam Riley
My connection with Ghana began rather unexpectedly (and as it turned out, rather humorously) more than ten years ago. I was in contact with a group of birders for whom I arranged and guided an annual tour to Africa. During each trip we would discuss a destination for the following year. We already had South […]

Endangered: Peruvian Plantcutter (Phytotoma raimondii) VIDEO
By: Michael Tweddle As a nature lover and wildlife photographer it is always a pleasure to be part in research and conservation activities. Here an example of two livelong friends’ researchers, Monica Romo and Mario Rosina and their hours of commitment studying and protecting the endemic Peruvian Plantcutter. The Peruvian Plantcutter (Phytotoma raimondii), is endemic […]

Jahra Pools Reserve, Kuwait
Summer in Kuwait is searing hot and is traditionally a quiet birding month, however in late Spring we do have some species breeding at the Pools and mid-summer we have many Tern species breeding on the off-shore islands. Little Ringed Plovers (Charadrius dubius) have remained through the Spring and Summer and are suspected to be […]

The bug knows where to HIDE! – Indian Roller
Here a bug is seen hiding below the beak of the Indian Roller, which normally feeds on insects and other small creatures, hence making me title the post ‘the bug knows where to HIDE!’ 🙂

Proposed coal plant threatens Critically Endangered Philippine cockatoo
One kilometer off the Philippine island of Palawan lays the Rasa Island Wildlife Sanctuary; here forest grows unimpeded from a coral island surrounded by mangroves and coral reefs. Although tiny, over a hundred bird species have been recorded on the island along with a major population of large flying foxes, while in the waters below […]

The Big Five vs. Birds
Two kinds of people sign up for African safaris. Most, myself included, want to see “The Big Five”–-lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo, and elephant. The other people are the birders. So when my birder father announces he wants to join me on a trip to Botswana I have planned for myself, I clarify, “This is not […]