A great trip with Helen where we enjoyed numerous Iberian Lynx sightings.
One of my favourite parts of Spain.
FEBRUARY: Superior Forest and Sax Zim Bog, Minnesota
A great winter trip to Minnesota where our small group enjoyed some outrageous views of Canada Lynx! This was the 3rd successful winter tour for this tricky cat.
Our day at Sax Zim Bog gave incredibly close views of a hunting Great Grey Owl and a Bobcat! TRIP REPORT HERE
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| Canada Lynx, Superior Forest Minnesota by Chris Townend, February 2018 |
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| Great Grey Owl, Sax Zim Bog Minnesota by Chris Townend, February 2018 |
MARCH: Western Sahara
This very scenic and interesting part of the Western Palearctic is always exciting to visit, especially during migration. Success once again with the key speciality birds and a surprise find of a Bittern in the desert! Only the 2nd record for the region.
TRIP REPORT HERE and more Photos HERE & HERE
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| Dunn's Lark, Western Sahara by Chris Townend, March 2018 |
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| Desert Sparrows, Western Sahara by Chris Townend, March 2018 |
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| Eurasian Bittern, Western Sahara by Chris Townend, March 2018 |
APRIL: Otter Estuary, East Budleigh & East Devon Commons
Finding a Glaucous Gull on the Otter and seeing my first Hazel Dormouse were certainly two highlights in April, as was being present with the professional team of ringers when the "East Budleigh Sparrow" was trapped and ringed. Although the DNA results showed it wasn't a true Italian Sparrow, it was still a very interesting bird nonetheless. See more on Steve Waite's Blog HERE and HERE
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| Second Cal Year Glaucous Gull, Otter Estuary by Chris Townend, April 2018 |
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| East Budleigh Sparrow by Chris Townend, April 2018 |
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| Hazel Dormouse, East Devon Commons by Chris Townend, April 2018 |
MAY: North Uist, Western Isles
Great to spend a week on the North Uist and Berneray with good friends Lee and Rachel. Brilliant to see the Corncrakes, a bit of Skua passage and to find a Lesser Yellowlegs!
River Otter Devon
The Beavers on the River Otter were a lot harder to see this Summer, due to them having relocated to private land. Therefore it was great to see the female in May and even better to hear she was successful in raising more kits into the growing population.
Lake Saimaa, Finland
A now annual trip to Finland for Bears & Wolverines added something different this year with a trip to Lake Saimaa to see the rare Saimaa Ringed Seal. TRIP REPORT HERE
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| The beautiful scenery of North Uist, May 2018 |
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| Team Berneray |
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| Corncrake at the RSPB reserve at Balranald, May 2018 |
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| The Island of Eriskay, May 2018 |
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| Female Beaver on the Over Otter by Chris Townend, May 2018 |
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| Saimaa Ringed Seal, Haukivesi (part of the Saimaa lake complex) by Chris Townend, May 2018 |
JUNE: Dartmoor, Devon
During the Summer I was very privileged to survey the world's most southerly breeding population of Dunlin on Dartmoor. The work was for the RSPB, a repeat survey of the Dartmoor Mires Project commissioned by Dartmoor NP. I certainly couldn't have done it without the hard work and humour of good friend Russ, as well as a number of other RSPB staff that gave up their time to help walk all those transect lines! Nice to find male Red-backed Shrike and Quail whilst carrying out the surveys too!
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| Dunlin, Dartmoor by Chris Townend |
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| Me and Russ slightly delirious after having finished the survey work |
JULY: Mongolia
A memorable month spent in Mongolia! Simply too many highlights to mention from a beautiful country with some great wildlife. Seeing Pallas's Cat and Oriental Plover were two of my personal highlights as well as finding Mongolia's 3rd record of Great Knot! Pleased to capture Snow Leopard on the trail camera too! - See video below.
TRIP REPORT HERE
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| One of our Base Camps |
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| Azure Tit, Mongolia by Chris Townend, July 2018 |
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| Pallas's Cat, Mongolia by Chris Townend, July 2018 |
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| Oriental Plovers on the Mongolian Steppe by Chris Townend, July 2018 |
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| Oriental Plover, Mongolia by Chris Townend |
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| Asian Dowitchers with Black-tailed Godwits by Chris Townend, July 2018 |
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| Finding Mongolia's 3rd Great Knot was an exciting part of the tour! Great Knot by Chris Townend |
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| Grey-tailed Tattler, Gun Galuut in Mongolia by Chris Townend, August 2018 |
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| Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Mongolia by Chris Townend, July 2018 |
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| Juvenile Saker Falcon, Hustai NP by Chris Townend, July 2018 |
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| Mongolian Ground Jay by Chris Townend, July 2018 |
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| Pallas's Sandgrouse by Chris Townend, July 2018 |
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| Snow Leopard Base Camp |
AUGUST: River Otter, Devon
Despite being overseas for much of the year, I love getting home and birding the patch! Finding a rarity on the patch is just as exciting to me as seeing some rare bird overseas. Therefore, finding a Spotted Crake this summer was a brilliant summer surprise.
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| Spotted Crake, River Otter by Chris Townend, August 2018 |
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| Spotted Crake, River Otter by Chris Townend, August 2018 |
River Otter
Barn Owls have always been one of my favourite birds since seeing my first one in Norfolk when I was just 14 years old. To see a bird hunting in full daylight on the patch was a real treat. I have no doubt Cattle Egrets will become far more regular in future years, but finding birds on the local patch is still a pleasure!
East Devon Commons
Pallid Harrier on the East Devon Commons was a bird I was not expecting! All very much thanks to Matt Knott - A great find by Matt and a great bird. See Matt's write up and great photo HERE
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| Barn Owl, River Otter by Chris Townend, September 2018 |
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| Cattle Egrets on the River Otter by Chris Townend, September 2018 |
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| Barn Owl, River Otter by Chris Townend, September 2018 |
West Penwith, Cornwall
A Grey Catbird in Cornwall during mid October was too much to resist after having dipped a bird on Anglesey back in 2001.
Isles of Scilly
The Isles of Scilly is simply my favourite place in the world. A beautiful mix of islands with many great memories of friends, family and birding.
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| Grey Catbird, Land's End Cornwall by Chris Townend, October 2018 |
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| Grey Catbird, Land's End Cornwall by Chris Townend, October 2018 |
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| Grey Catbird, Land's End Cornwall by Chris Townend, October 2018 |
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| Sunset over Samson, Isles of Scilly, October 2018 |
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| Great Egret, St Martin's by Chris Townend, October 2018 |
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| Beautiful St Martin's looking towards Tresco, October 2018 |
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| Grey-cheeked Thrush, St Mary's by Chris Townend, October 2018 |
My sixth visit to this lovely country and it was as good as always. My personal highlights were finally seeing Brown Nightjar, Red-fronted Antpecker and a Common Potto.
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| Brown Nightjar, Bobiri Forest by Chris Townend, November 2018 |
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| Rosy Bee-Eaters near Kakum Forest by Chris Townend, November 2018 |
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| Egyptian Plover, White Volta River by Chris Townend, November 2018 |
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| Common Potto, Kakum Forest by Chris Townend, November 2018 |
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| Yellow-headed Picathartes, Bonkro by Chris Townend, November 2018 |
During the winter months Helen and I spend many hours on the East Devon Commons looking for raptors, particularly Hen Harriers. This winter has been good so far with a juvenile ringtail Hen Harrier hunting the Commons often late in the afternoon.
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| Ringtail Hen Harrier, Woodbury Common by Chris Townend, December 2018 |
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