Kitefest

Red Kite

Sitting outside having a cup of tea our attention was drawn to a kettle of raptors high overhead.  They were of course all Red Kites and eight in total.  This is quite unusual to see so many together just here.  I suspect they were looking for fields being harvested for silage which they hunt with great enthusiasm.

A Couple of Hours at Strumble

Fulmar

We left at 8.30am to get to Strumble Head in the hope of enjoying some seabirds. By the time I was in position Richard Stonier gave me the list for the day so far and I seemed to have missed all the action.  There were plenty of Gannets, Fulmars, Manx Shearwaters and Kittiwakes offshore.  We also noted a few Common Scoters and a first winter Mediterranean Gull.  Three Porpoises put on a bit of a display before a superb pale phase Arctic Skua came by harassing the gulls followed a little later on by a juvenile Pomarine Skua. Then the fog rolled in making visibility nil so we abandoned  sea watching for the day.

Manx Shearwater

We moved on to st.David's Head hoping for a glimpse of a Rose-coloured Starling but that had been seen early in the morning but not again. Still some wonderful sea air and we picked up splendid dressed crab for our tea glad to have enjoyed a good day out.

Democracy! What Democracy?

I find it hard to believe that the self-interested National Farmers' Union have persuaded a court Judge to issue an injunction preventing any protest against the Badger culling about to begin in Gloucestershire and Somerset. This has been done on the basis that farmers who are carrying out the cull feel threatened.  Well so they should for signing up to a totally unscientific operation which has been criticised by some of the highest qualified scientists in the land.

This is entirely a political decision carried out as a sop to this Governments' supporters.  I am all for ridding our cattle of Bovine TB but only by means agreed to make a real difference.  This latest decision is a disgrace and a threat to our liberty.  This country should pride itself in the ability to peacefully protest about anything we wish.

Just a Few Days Left

If you have not had a chance to get my book Birds Coping With An Obsession then you have just six days to get the cheapest deal around. All you have to do is call Grantham Book Services on 01206 255 800 and quote BF2013Obsession and you can get the book for £9.75 which includes postage.

Roost at Pembrey



Pembrey Harbour


Members of Carmathenshire Bird Club assembled at Pembrey Old Harbour at 5.30pm onwards for the high tide roost.  When I arrived there were hordes of Oystercatchers, and already 60 Sandwich Terns and a count had been made of 18 Mediterranean Gulls.  Birds kept arriving and included c20 Turnstone, c30 Dunlin and a lone Whimbrel.




Sandwich Terns


The sharp eyes of Gary Harper picked out a distant Gannet and even better a marauding Arctic Skua chasing terns through the estuary.  Before we left over a hundred Sandwich Terns had gathered with a single Common Tern.

Another BirdFair Flies By

Today I am feeling particularly shattered after a whole weekend at the BirdFair.  The weather was not too unkind apart from Friday morning and once more thousands of birders, conservationists and hopefully other curious people turned up over the three days.  It is always good to see old friends and indeed make new ones.  It is sad to hear of friends no longer with us and particularly sad to discover that Andrew Grieve and Peter Basterfield have suffered with health problems in the last year.

Early morning at the BirdFair

On a personal note it was great to give a talk on my 70 years of birding to a large audience and one which contained many friends.  After that I did the first of three signing sessions for my new book Birds. Coping With An Obsession.  That seemed to go well and many came to buy the book and I was chuffed to sign copies for them. 




Yours truly, friend Alan McBride and fellow blogger Mark Avery - phot by Laura Kammermeir


I have flippantly commented recently that if I do not turn up in future then I may well be dead.  For me it is an unmissable event and I am already looking forward to 2014.

Its BirdFair Time Again

My how time flies!  It is time to head off tomorrow for Rutland Water for the 25th British Birdwatching Fair.  Can it really be over 20 years ago that I first made the pilgrimage?  My how it has grown and now having raised over £2 million towards bird conservation across the World everyone involved can be extremely proud.

The BirdFair in full swing

This years project contues the Flyways theme and deals with the Americas. 




Swainson's Hawk and.......




Upland Sandpiper two of the species that will benefit from this year's project

 Whatever else we shall all enjoy ourselves meeting old friends and new and making a difference for our planet's fabulous birds.  See you there!