A Gold Crest

Bird names often fail to make sense, but here you have a species that is very well named, the Goldcrest! (Photo taken in October 2014, Hungary, Gerard Gorman).

Well that was a lot of cranes... and owls

Just finished another trip, with 1000s and1000s of Cranes seen in eastern Hungary. And, of course, lots of other birds, too, including dozens of Long-eared Owls, here is one... 

Next birding trip !

Getting ready for another birding week in eastern Hungary. Main targets will include Great Bustards, Saker, Imperial Eagle and other raptors, geese arriving for the winter, the sight and sound of 1000s of Common Cranes and in the forests, up to 8 species of woodpecker. Autumn is a great birding time

Cranes, owls, raptors, bustards and this chap

Just finished another great birding trip in Hungary. Highlights included roosts of Long-eared Owls, birds of prey like Saker, Red-footed Falcon, 4 Goshawks soaring together and White-tailed and Imperial Eagles, Great Bustards and 1000s of Common Cranes. Of course, we also saw many common birds which are arguably not as exciting and are often 'neglected', like this Crested Lark. I got this one in a motorway parking area.

Book published today !

I'm proud to announce that today my book POCKET GUIDE TO TRACKS AND SIGNS was published. It deals with the evidence left by European wildlife. Here is the cover on the left. Click here TRACKS for more details.

Still early, but ...

It is only September, but Long-eared Owls are already beginning to occupy their winter roosts in Hungary. I know a few such roosts where dozens sleep together, and numbers rise the colder it gets.

Book Review

In this review of WOODPECKERS OF THE WORLD, I am referred to as being "obsessed". I have been called worse, so will take this as a compliment!