Category: About Birds

I guess the first impression you get from seeing a Hoopoe for the very first time is a mixture of the comical as well as the beautiful. Is it a bird or an as yet undiscovered modern ancestor of the pterodactyl? With its striking colours … Continue readingThe Hoopoe – the modern day pterodactyl?

Bringing the wonder of Osprey migration into the classroom. The annual migration of Ospreys between Europe and Africa is a journey that captures the imagination like few others. In recent years advances in satellite tracking technology have enabled us to follow individual Ospreys on their … Continue readingWorld Osprey Week

Thinking back to my childhood, in my case that almost translates to the dark ages, one of the most impressionable birds I observed was the Avocet. I am at a loss to think of a more elegant or striking bird than this most beautiful of … Continue readingPied Avocet – A success story

(Coccothraustes coccothraustes ) People who move south to Florida for the winter are commonly called ‘Snow birds’ in the US. I imagine we have a similar influx of Northern Europeans here in Andalucia. But for us birders it’s literally true of course; the huge inflow … Continue readingBird Profile – Hawfinch

Every autumn about 500 million birds migrate across southern Sweden, mainly towards the southwest. The migration goes on night and day from the beginning of August until late October. Trying to escape winter as far as possible, many of them are passing over Falsterbo peninsula, … Continue readingThousands of birds in the sky

When it comes to birds, Israel and Spain have a lot in common. Despite the significant difference in size, the fact that both countries are situated on parallel latitudes and boast a wide range of habitats contributes to their impressive natural wealth. It is not … Continue readingFlyway of the Meditarranean – 2 Corners, 2 million birds

I don’t know about you, but for me at least it seems just a short while ago that I sat near to Tarifa watching the large exit of raptors from Europe headed towards the near shores of North Africa. Every year, around the start of … Continue readingMigration Time is here …

The small river—more like a big stream, flowed noisily down the mountain. I could probably jump it if I got a running start, but with all my birding and camera gear that was looking like a bad idea. The old man whose barn we’d slept … Continue readingTrekking for the Philippine Eagle

Know what that is? The Alpine Accentor is one of my favourite birds. Small groups of them are regular visitors to the terraces and car parks in the Sierra Nevada Ski resort, supplementing their insect and seed diet with scraps from restaurant tables and skiers’ packed … Continue readingPolygynandry?

It always comes as a surprise how nature compensates for annual weather fluctuations; things always seem to balance in timescale whatever the conditions. Bee-eaters, after a delayed arrival at their traditional breeding sites, made-up for any delay and were at about the same stage as … Continue readingReturn of the Bee-eater