AA Birdpix, Birds, Travel and More

Artificial What? I  started this blog intending not to write anything controversial, but I've really got to make some comment about AI. Forgetting the dangers and huge inconveniences outside of birding, I find it very much a double-edged sword, but at least we are able to choose which bits we use. After all, modern cameras and processing programmes use a lot of AI, but there are still manual settings available in many cases, and lots of options. They are far better at most things, but if you leave it to "auto" all the time you won't get the best photos. An interesting "effect" which only happened on one frame was the scattering of the light from a laser pointer of the Sri Lanka Frogmouth which is shown below. I've no idea what caused it, but thankfully it only affected one frame (the laser was still on for subsequent two frames but they were fine). It's up to the individual, but I think most birders take a similar view to me when it comes to apps lik...

MOTHer's Day  In common with many birders I have taken up moth-trapping. I first started in 2012 with an actinic trap and moved on to a mercury vapour Robinson type, which I constructed myself so as to not divert too many funds from birding and travel. I've never got really in to it, I don't dissect, I bought the ingredients to try some sugaring about two years ago but have never got round to it, and I only bother with micros if I (or obsidentify). can i.d. them quickly. My enjoyment comes from the potential to trap new moths, and I have done some at other locations when travelling. I took the actinic trap to Shetland last October and recorded exactly two moths, although the chalet I stay in isn't ideally located. I fully expected to be getting bored by now, but last year was incredible from the point of view of new moths to my back garden. I know the potential as we have a strip of brambles, nettles etc. running along our fence at the edge of a farmer's field, we...

 Whilst re-vamping the Wildfowl page on my website, I thought about two of the strangest looking ducks in the world, which are both from Australia. There are several species of wildfowl in Australia, but it is easy to visit and not see them all.  Australia is one of our favourite destinations, and over the years we've spent a total of over six months in the country. So many birders are put off, mainly by the distance, but also by the length of time needed to see a majority of its birds. Unlike many countries, the problem of not seeing particular species is due to the fact that a large percentage are nomadic and move in response to rains, which are erratic in nature to say the least (even before climate change). However in a three week trip you can still guarantee a good number of species, many being endemic, and a lot of other wildlife as well. What is not a good idea is trying to do as much as possible in a fixed time, which tour groups are often guilty of.  I have seen ...

I went to Kessingland recently by a "twitchers route" via Cley. This resulted in several year ticks, including  White-fronted Goose and Red Kite, which  although  now common in North Norfolk are still rare in Lincolnshire a nd Suffolk. I also  "year ticked" several friends. The hoped-for photo of the goose wasn't to be, but  I reflected that I'd seen quite a few over the past few years. Pre-Covid,  they had become scarce in the UK, and my previous sightings had been in Norfolk  back in the 1990's. Over the past few years I have seen birds at Budle Bay (no I didn't  twitch it, I was recovering my car from Shetland), Cley twice, South Lincolnshire and...... a flock of seven at Frampton two or three years ago! There have also been records in Essex and Martin Mere in Lancashire, but I am starting  to wonder about origins of these birds. It will never be determined one way or the other,  so don't worry, your ticks are safe, and to be fair the...

Addicted? Last year I gave up twitching. I've been trying to give it up for several years, for various reasons, but it obviously became easier when Covid was upon us, and last year I was quite happy to not see any American warblers, nor seabirds, since I've seen lots in my foreign travels. I had to go for Grey-headed Lapwing, as I wanted a photo, and really enjoyed the White's Thrush on Shetland because although it wasn't a tick I'd not had really good views previously. Anyway that wasn't a twitch 'cos I was on Shetland. Except I didn't need to go twice.  At the end of the year I was quite happy, no more twitching, year listing only out of interest and not making a conscious effort. As Ann is happy for me to continue travelling I have a trip to Ghana in the planning stages. I had devised a plan to give me a focus of where to travel a few years ago, my "Dirty Dozen". This is a list of species on Category A which I haven't seen anywhere in th...

The Best Reserve in England?  You have probably heard a lot about Frampton, but it really is the best reserve, certainly for waders, in the country. Problem is, the more visitors a reserve gets, the more disturbance and noise there is, and the less birds feel it is a safe haven, especially on migration. Thankfully, due to enlightened wardens, the reserves development has been largely for the benefit of birds rather than visitors. A new visitor centre has recently been built, but it is small with a small cafe and a few outside tables/chairs, and inside are knowledgeable volunteers and an up-to-date sightings board. No concrete hides, no full car parks (although an overflow park has had to be created recently), and plenty of space. It is the size of the reserve that makes it so good, along with obviously its location on The Wash. I have been visiting the area since before the RSPB bought it, and overall it has remained largely unchanged in terms of where you can go. Not all the area ...

 Yesterday I ventured out for the first time since returning from Sri Lanka, as I'm contemplating the processing of a huge number of photos, and there's normal life in there somewhere!  I went to photograph the Lesser Yellowlegs at Frampton. Although I saw the bird in October, constant messages indicating the bird was in the car park opposite the visitor centre warranted investigation, and I had seen the species at Frampton before but not managed a decent photo. My plan was to arrive at first light and return home for breakfast. There was one other birder in the car park and we set out to look for the bird. The light wasn't quite good enough yet to see the leg colour well, and as there were a number of Redshanks around it made for an interesting search. However as it was one of the closest birds it didn't take long, and I called the other chap back as he had wandered in the wrong direction. This is one of the reasons I find Frampton the best reserve in the country, ther...