NT
1976
Overnight on Portland, we spent all morning seawatching seeing 40 Gannets, 14 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Puffins, 4 Arctic Skuas, a dark phase Pomarine Skua and 9 Common Scoter, as well as the usual seabirds. At Ferrybridge there were fewer Bar-tailed Godwits, only 7, other birds were much the same as yesterday, new was a Greenshank. We visited Radipole Lake and Lodmoor but they were quiet, so, on the way back we stopped at Shapwick Heath, where we saw a Nightingale and heard 5 more, heard 2 Cuckoos and a Garden Warbler, saw 8 Willow Warblers and a Grasshopper Warbler. In Wedmore we saw a Little Owl.
1983
Overnight on Portland, the morning was cloudy, cold and windy, but at least dry. An early morning seawatch produced very little, with the best 6 Manx Shearwaters, a Puffin and c20 Purple Sandpipers on the rocks. We went to Ferrybridge where there were 9 Sanderlings, a Grey Plover, 50+ Dunlin, 10+ Ringed Plovers, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 10 Turnstone, a few terns and 8 Wheatears.
Returning to the bill we did another seawatch seeing lots of Kittiwakes, 6 Pomarine Skuas, 4 Puffins, 3 more Manx Shearwaters and the usual seabirds, plus a fly-over Tree Pipit. On the way home we called in at Lodmoor where there was much the same as yesterday, but only 1 Mediterranean Gull and new in, 4 Greenshank.
1984
Leading a Wingspan/Ibis Bird Tour to Spain.
1985
In Tunisia, a new reptile seen today.
1988
In Maryland, at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge on a sound recording trip, a new reptile seen today.
1995
A visit to Black Rock and Long Wood on the Mendips with the recording equipment, seeing lots of woodland birds including 2 Bullfinches, Nuthatches and 3 Redstarts.
Redstart song and calls.
1997
On a filming and sound recording trip to the Ukraine for a series called 'Living Europe'.
2004
Another visit to Severn Beach where there were c30 Dunlin, c20 Ringed Plovers and a Yellow Wagtail.
Then to Chittening Warth where there were lots of Sedge Warblers and Whitethroats, a Grasshopper Warbler, several Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Reed Warblers and Reed Buntings, 7 Wheatears and 5 Whinchats.
From there back to Severn Beach for the high tide, this time by the 2nd bridge, where in addition to the Dunlin and Ringed Plovers, I saw 12+ Whimbrel, 2 Peregrines, 3 Brent Geese, c100 Kittiwakes, an Arctic Skua, an Eider and c20 Shelducks.
Video of Whinchat, singing at times but being drowned out by a Sedge Warbler. Also see here.
2005
A visit to Northwick Warth where there was a Hobby, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, Whitethroats, Blackcaps, c40 Whimbrel, Shelducks, 5 Wheatears, a Yellow Wagtail and a male and female Little Ringed Plover.
Video of Little Ringed Plovers, also see here.
2007
A visit to Severn Beach seeing Dunlin and Ringed Plovers, an Arctic Skua, a Wheatear and a Peregrine.
2017
A visit to Slimbridge where along the Holden walkway and out on the Dumbles there were lots of warblers, 3 Wheatears, 2 Common Cranes, 4 Bar-tailed Godwits, lots of Avocets and a Peregrine. Later, at Frampton Sailing Lake there were 2 Common Terns.
Common Terns.