WWT........

28 July - Another morning look at Slimbridge, Avocets performing well as usual on the Rushy, Ruff and LRP on South Lake along with Redshanks and Blackwits. The highlight was 3 moulting adult Curlew Sandpipers from Zeiss hide. Green Sandpiper numbers beginning to build up post-breeding.

Era-Eero

22-26 Jul - I've wanted to visit Era-Eero in Finland for a long time, having heard about the hides there and the chances of seeing Brown Bear, and particularly Wolverine, one of the most elusive carnivores. I spent 3 nights in the hides, deep in the Finnish forest, with Antero Topp of Finnature. The forest is very impressive, with superb trees and luxuriant forest floor, berry plants and dead wood adding to the habitat along with innumerable lakes and boggy areas - a wildlife paradise. The hides overlook both a valley and a lake, and a clearing in a separate part of the forest. The night is spent in the hide, equipped with bed and toilet - it is never darker than twilight at this time of year. The lake hide gave us views of our first Wolverine, which appeared suddenly in front of the hide - a powerful animal with a loping gait, with reddish-brown and buff coat, badger-like in some ways but also Marten-like in its predilection for tree climbing. The forest hide, overlooking a clearing, allowed very good photographic opportunities. A very exciting way to see and this elusive predator. Also good views of a Brown Bear by the lake, momentarily surprising in its bulk as it emerged from the vegetation by the lake. A quiet time of year bird-wise, Spotted Crake and Hobby probably being the pick of the bunch. I love Scandinavia at any time of year, the extreme hot and dry conditions this summer have made the forest very vulnerable to fire, let's hope that they survive intact to mark their passage of the seasons, from deep snow and ice in the winter darkness to the prolonged sunlight and frenetic activity of the short summer breeding season.

Blakehill

21 July - An early morning visit to Blakehill before the heat..... good views of a Hobby being mobbed by Corvids as it hunted, also 6+ Buzzards looking for prey around the cut Meadow. Brief views of 2-3 Redstarts but no photos. Good numbers of Butterflies especially Gatekeepers, as well as Meadow Browns.

WWT again.......

20 July - Early morning at Slimbridge for the members only opening at 0815. Good low light on the Rushy for the Avocets, but they were not coming so close as on my last visit, so not so obliging for photos of the chicks. A nice male Ruff on the South Lake together with several Blackwits. I was away by 1030 when the crowds started to arrive......

Midsummer Otmoor

A (fairly) early morning visit to Otmoor and certainly the summer birding doldrums, but well worthwhile - I spent a while enjoying watching the Turtles Doves near the feeders, all the more special as each year I wonder whether this rapidly declining species will return to purr for another summer, so characteristic of warm summer days. A couple of hours at the screen gave a reasonable flight view of a Bittern, and repeated looks at the Marsh Harrier family, at least 3 juveniles seen, also the female carrying sticks to ? Nest again, or at least make repairs. Other sightings included a flyby Kingfisher, flyover Snipe and Great Crested Grebe carrying a youngster on its back. Also lots of Dragonfly activity in the continuing heatwave.

Midsummer Slimbridge

14 Jul - A morning look at Slimbridge before the heat and the crowds. Good views of Avocets with young, already sporting their upturned bills. A couple of migrant Green Sandpipers also seen, together with Little Ringed Plovers and Bkack-tailed Godwits on South Lake, where there was also a juvenile Med Gull.

Ravensroost

13 Jul - Primarily a butterfly trip but a squeaky call from one of the trees led to amazing views of 2 just-fledged Tawny Owls..... a real bonus with their quizzical expressions and fluffy plumage...... wildlife is just amazing! Also Marsh Tit, Jay, Nuthatch and a total of 4 Red Kites.

Raptors in the heathaze

10 Jul - A morning visit to Acres Down, slightly cooler and a northerly breeze..... at least 15 Common Buzzards seen, together with Goshawk and Sparrowhawk. Also a brief view of a Honey Buzzard low over the canopy, flat profile and flexible tail/ silhouette. Also seen - Woodlark, Crossbill, Siskin and Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Nightjars in a heatwave......

9 Jul - The dry hot summer goes on, and a late evening visit to a parched Greenham Common with Richard Williams and Trevor Pinchen. At least 2 Nightjars churring from 9.45pm, as usual an almost mesmerising sound on a still evening, the vibrations almost palpable when the bird is fairly close. A brief silhouette view of the bird at one stage. A wonderful sound to hear once again, quintessential summer.

Atlantic Seabirds

2-6 July - A couple of days off Portugal with Windbirds (off Madeira) and excellent views of some special seabirds - many Cory's and Bulwer's Shearwaters, giving close views, but the real special bird in this area is the Desertas/Zino's Petrel complex (Pterodroma). We had a few close sightings, all fairly brief, but always with the characteristic looping rapid flight and the arrow like profile. Telling these 2 rare species apart requires assessment of the bill size/profile, as well as size, wing shape and flight "jizz". Photography of seabirds is always a challenge but we got reasonable shots of most individuals, and with the expertise of Bob Flood we are assessing sightings as to either Desertas (sev hundred pairs) or Zino's (less than 100) pairs, both sought after and charismatic species. An excellent trip.