Off to India

So folks... it's off to India! But I expect delays at the airport here as snow fell again during the night. It will be really good to leave Europe and its weather behind for a while. But it is going to be hard to get internet access in the Western Ghats, which is where I will be most of the time, so I may only be able to up-date the blog when I am back. But keep an eye open here, because I will try to post something if at all possible. When I'm back I certainly will. There is going to be lots of stuff to see on the bird and wildlife front, but my main aim will be to see the ten or so woodpecker species that I have never seen before. Watch this space...

Oh, No! The Snow! Again!

It's back... the snow. Just when you thought it was "safe to go back into the water". So more drive clearing, more seed to put out for the birds and all that. I just hope that my flights out of Europe to India go... and if they do, without those long delays.... again. It is great going to these exotic destinations but getting there can be a real pain, as many of you will know only too well.

Birding Eastern Europe Blog

I would like to draw your attention to another blog Birding Eastern Europe. This blog does exactly what it says on the packet with posts and photos on Special Birds, Destinations and Birding Tours from the Baltic States down to the Balkans. Take a look.

Favourite Bird ?

People often ask me what my favourite bird is. Well, sorry, but I do not have one, or rather I cannot decide. But anyone who knows me, or even those who do not but who follow my blogs, will know that I am very keen on woodpeckers! So, if I have to choose I suppose my favourite bird is going to be a Picid. And here in this photo (taken in Hungary by Laszlo Nehezy) is a strong contender... Black Woodpecker.

Cold and Hot, Hot and Cold

It sometimes gets confusing sat at the PC, I just don't know where I am. Take this week, for example. One minute I am sorting out arrangements for a trip in March to Estonia (gonna be chilly there), then talking to a guy in Cuba about endemic woodpeckers (tropical there), then trying to get good flight deals to Oregon in the USA, then booking hotels in sunny (hopefully) Croatia, then getting info on vaccines and jabs for India (gonna be sweltering there), then I am here again clearing ice and snow in the yard. Planning ahead... sometimes hard to keep track.

Tracks and Signs

I would like to draw your attention to my blog TRACKS AND SIGNS. It seems that few of you look at this blog and I am not sure why. I think it is ace... of course. Actually, there seem to be very few blogs or websites of its kind on the net, I mean dealing with the tracks, marks, signs, droppings, etc, that European wildlife leave. There are a lot more blogs on similar subjects dealing with other regions, like Africa and North America, but not Europe. Maybe the subject is just too obscure ? Too hard ? I do not think so, I think one can learn a lot from it. I do. So, do take a look.

PS. The photo shows a feeding hole of a Black Woodpecker.

Going To Goa

My world woodpecker quest will continue in 2010. First up, this month, will be Goa in India. To be precise the forests of the Western Gnats. Around a dozen woodpeckers are possible there including a range of flamebacks and the impressive White-bellied Woodpecker (a female in the photo here) which is a relative of Black Woodpecker.