Hungary, now Peru

After some highly successful trips in Hungary, next up is something completely different... Peru! Here is one of the birds we should see, up in the Andes, the Andean Flicker. This woodpecker is highly terrrestrial and rarely seen in trees. Photographed on a previous trip by Gerard Gorman.

Another Great Tour Done!

Just back from a trip around Hungary with a group of nature lovers. We saw a great range of birds, bugs, butterflies and mammal. Now I am off to the UK, to the Birdfair, at Rutland Water. I am giving a talk on Friday, see here WOODPECKERS and see you there?

My Zeiss binoculars, past and present

I remember my first pair of birding binoculars, over 30 years ago, a pair of so-called "East German" Zeiss! They were great, I saw many good birds, often "lifers", with them, but very different from the ones I use now... the state-of-the-art Victory SF 10 x 42. Still Zeiss glass, of course, but the technology has moved on a little! I flirted with two other binocular brands for a year or two (another German make and a Japanese one) but soon returned to Zeiss, using various models over the years. Here is the past and present, before and after, my first and my current pair.

Back from Malaysia

Just back from Peninsula Malaysia... another great Asian destination! The many highlights included a troop of Siamang, the largest gibbon species, at Fraser's Hill. Here is the male, who was the last to swing off when they spotted me peering up at them.

Malaysia again!

After a very busy and successful spring in Central and Eastern Europe, it is time for another long-haul trip, this time to Peninsula Malaysia. A few rainforest woodpeckers will be high on the agenda, and I hope to return wth observations, images and sound recordings... Here is a shot from my last visit!

Spring trips done!

Well, it has been a very busy spring here in C & E Europe! Just finished a trip where butterflies as well as birds were the focus. Here is a Yellow-legged Tortoiseshell, one of the rare butterflies we found. A big thanks to all, clients and local guides, who were involved this successful season. 

Very Busy Spring

We have had a very busy spring here in Central and Eastern Europe, organising and guiding tours in Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Slovakia, Romania and Hungary. Too many great birds to mention! But here is one here from last week in the Kiskunság region in Hungary... a Lesser Grey Shrike (Lanius minor) which posed nicely.