Summer 2018 at Longham Lakes
31st August The Black Tern seems to have gone from Longham, and there weren't any Redstarts there either this morning. Highlight, though, was a juvenile Marsh Harrier over at about 9.50am, gorgeous in the bright light. A few oddities, too: Juvenile Black-tailed...
Spring 2018 at Longham Lakes
27th May On a walk down to the "Scarlet Darter" pond south-west of the Main Lake, had some Emperor Dragonflies, Banded Damoiselle and an immature Scarce Chaser. Also had a Brown Argus and a Grass Snake swimming across the pond. Only birds of note were singles of...
In the Telegraph
An exciting weekend for me. Today (Sunday) I have a feature in the Country Matters section of the Telegraph on learning bird song in January. And then, delighted to be part of the "Saturday" section of the Telegraph yesterday,...
Longham Lakes 2017 – a review
THE YEAR 2017 in review at Longham Lakes, Dorset This year has been fantastic in just about every aspect for this site, for birding and wildlife-watching generally. The total of 134 species of birds is a record, just, but it was the quality that stood out, and a nice...
January and February 2018 at Longham Lakes
26th February A Long-tailed Tit was found dead in a garden adjoining Longham Lakes yesterday. The bird was ringed on-site by Roger Peart, with the following details: Ringed 13/08/2016 1900hrs, one of 8 LTTs ringed that evening. Two of those LTTs were re-trapped the...
Totally delighted to have TWO books in the Guardian's round-up of best nature books of the year: "Songs of Love and War" and "Britain's Mammals". Makes the hard work worthwhile. Britain’s Mammals is also ‘book of the month’ in the British Birds subscriber e-newsletter...
December 2017 at Longham Lakes
THE YEAR 2017 in review at Longham Lakes, Dorset This year has been fantastic in just about every aspect for this site, for birding and wildlife-watching generally. The total of 134 species of birds is a record, just, but it was the quality that stood out, and a nice...
Autumn 2017 at Longham Lakes
26th November I heard last week of another ‘control’ of one of the Longham birds. Not a great movement but good to hear of it again – details below. Strictly it shouldn’t be a control as it was caught less than 5km from the ringing location – so officially it is a...
Twin Peaks
Here's something a little different from your usual bird reports... I have taken my son Samuel up Snowdon a couple of times so, with the spring half term approaching this year, we decided it was time to launch on assault on the other peaks that make up the well-known...
Summer 2017 at Longham Lakes
30th August Four Garganey still present this evening showing well close to the west bank of the South Lake (George Green.) 28th August Perhaps not surprising re recent events in Poole Harbour, but an Osprey circled over the South Lake at Longham Lakes at 11am. The 4...