UK Bird Fair and Bradt book

From the Bradt website... Bradt staff will be on hand at this year's Glastonbury for birdwatcher's, The Rutland Birdfair. Come visit us at stand 26, Marquee 2 from 15-17 August. This travel fair is an absolute treat for wildlife enthusiasts, with the opportunity to meet Gerard Gorman, author of the much-anticipated Central and Eastern European Wildlife. Do come by and say hello... Yes, I will be there, signing that copy of my new book: the one you will have just bought!

From a hospital bed

I had to spend a couple of nights in hospital last week after a short, "routine" operation. It was mostly very boring, though I managed to finish a very difficult book on chaos theory that I have been digging into for some time. But whilst lying there, at dawn, arount 5am, I heard the yaffling call of a Green Woodpecker and then a Syrian Woodpecker, from my 4th floor room...

A week off ?

After having led tours in Eastern Europe almost back to back since April, and having had to meet publishing deadlines, I have just had a week with the family at Lake Balaton. But no rest for the wicked! On the wildlife front, without even trying, and usually while sipping a nice cold beer, I saw Golden Orioles flashing by, Stag Beetles by the dozen, a Balkan Wall Lizard on the steps, a busy Hummingbird Hawkmoth and also heard the strange nightime calls of an Edible Dormouse...

60 species of butterfly

I have just finished the tour with those nice butterfly photographers. We observed 60 species of day-flying butterfly without rushing around and 45 of these were photographed. Not bad for just 5 days in the field. Besides butterflies Fire-bellied Toad, Agile Frog, White Storks on nests and Common Susliks also had their portraits taken.

More and more photography

We are now in the Bukk Hills in NE Hungary. We are finding all kinds of subjects to take photos of, besides the butterflies and moths. Edible Frogs, Fire-bellied Toads, orchids and helleborines... birds are not as easy subjects but today I am taking the group to a Bee-eater colony...

Hungarian Glider and all that

I am guiding a dozen butterfly photographers around north-east Hungary. We are doing very well, around 50 day flying species seen so far and many night flying species, too. Many also photographed. These people are really keen and really professional. Favouite subjects so far ? Privet Hawkmoth, Buff-tip, Nine-spotted Moth, Lesser Purple Emperor, Scarce Copper and Hungarian Glider.

Very, very busy...

I have just not had time to up-date my blogs recently... very, very busy... mostly guiding birders here in Eastern Europe. It is the peak season for me right now. And when I have had time, usually late at night, I am often in a place with no internet connection. Anyway, please bear with me, I will try to put up some more nice photos of birds, butterflies and places soon...