:: Wild Places Blog ::

What, you may be asking is Sule Skerry?
Well, it’s a rocky outcrop 45 miles west of Stromness (Orkney) that has breeding Puffins, Guillemots, Gannets and Shags. The Sule Skerry Ringing Group have been visiting and monitoring and ringing birds there for the last 35 years - the expedition is every other year and i’d put [...]

A very very cold day but the sun was shining and we didn’t venture out until 1pm. Amwell is always a good place in winter to see Smew so we were pretty hopeful about seeing our first one this winter. There was reported to be a Red-crested Pochard around and Jack Snipe.
On the main lake [...]

Whatever the time of year i love Norfolk. Thought i would take the opportunity to go birding there today, plan to be away next weekend and from then on until into the new year i’ll be working Saturdays.
We made the Norfolk Wildlife Trust Cley Marshes reserve the first stop as there had been reports of [...]

After a successful interview at Marks and Spencer this morning it was home for a quick lunch then off to Amwell to see what was about.
Just the usual stuff, but always nice to get out into the fresh air and bird.
What is the usual stuff for Amwell? Great-crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Mute [...]

Not a bad day by Herts standards - 51 species
Bird of the day: Cetti’s WarblerUK Bird list for the year to date: 108
My first stop was Amwell Nature Reserve which is a former gravel pit and is located near Ware and part of the Lee Valley complex. It is managed by the Herts and Middlesex [...]

8th March 2008
Up at 5.25am, quickly get ready and out. Had a slight detour when i got a little bit lost and ended up in Thetford, par for the course for me really. I know i’m a woman and should be able to multi-task (drive and navigate from the map at the same time).

Arrived [...]

List updated: 31st December 2008 - 141 Didn’t try too hard this year did i? told you i wasn’t much of a lister. Only 1 lifer in the UK during 2008 which was the Pallas’s Warbler seen at Gibraltar Point, Lincolnshire on the 1st November.List updated: 15th March 2008 - 108List updated: 8th [...]

Had a wander around in the nearby Stanborough Park today trying out my new camera - a Nikon D40X which came as a kit with a 18-55mm zoom lens. Have been trying it out over the last few days and very pleased so far with the results.
Just the usual birds around, as you can see [...]