I got eyeballed at Bempton this week.

Some great close waders on the Yorkshire Birding Tour last week ... including this Greenshank

Water Voles are just adorable aren't they?

There's a good reason why the god of desire and beauty, loaned his name to the Adonis Blue Butterfly. We went South on tour today to see these beautiful airborne waifs amid the short turf of south facing chalk. Extraordinary creatures.

In a spot of 'extreme botanising' from a moving vehicle this summer we came across Thistle Broomrape at the side of the A1

Bat surveying last night. A passer by called me 'Batman'. I asked if he was a joker ... went right over his head ... just like the bats.

Not the best photo in the world but the Black crowned Night Heron was so hidden yesterday evening it might as well have been on the moon!

One or two bit's and pieces from tours over the last week or so. Including Green Hairstreak, Temminck's Stint, Wood Sandpiper, Garganey and Broad bodied Chaser.

The sky was full of larks last week. Short tailed songsters. Wood Larks.

The first few S M Orchids starting to show close to home ssp schoenophila

You don't often get a good view of the underside of a Wall butterfly. Walking along the coastal path last week there were more walls in flight than I've seen in the past few years in total. One landed and obliged by settling and lifting her skirts.

This Little Egret was brimming with breeding hormones. The lores were 'purple' with anticipation.

Cley hit the jackpot with Temminck's Stints and Wood Sands this week but the most confiding wader was without doubt this chunky, subtly beautiful Greenshank.

Three Little-ringed Plovers in a sort of avian ménage à trois made for lots of flying around and calling over the scrape yesterday. I guess it was a 'stay away from my woman' type of moment.

Memories of Scotland in April ...

A great day in Essex yesterday

FIGHT!

After 13 years of research my book has finally been pushed over the line. Published today and distributed to Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society (NNNS) members free of charge; if you'd like to purchase a copy please go to this link on the NNNS Website. norfolknaturalists.org.uk/wp/shop/#op21

The delicately marked underwing on a brute of a raptor ... Goshawk!

OK … ever so slightly creepy … bags of fur and hair being used to increase fertility of soil at Wild Ken Hill 🤢

I'm just not sure if I should laugh or be astounded after reading this company's efforts to de-extinct the Dodo ( ... and more) - who the hell is funding this? colossal.com/dodo/

Just when all the seabirds are coming into Flambrough to nest … yet another potential Torrey Canyon (hope nobody’s hurt)

Lots of European Sprats on Cley beach the other day.

Apparently this falconers Harris Hawk has been at large in North Norfolk a while but it wasn't until the day before yesterday it and I came face to face.

Cranes under a Norfolk rain cloud.

More Lesser Whitefronts in North Norfolk. These were among Whitefronts and Greylags in flooded meadows South of Warham Camp today.

There’s so many *ucked up people in charge of the world. I’ve stopped worrying about things I can’t change. I can recommend it. Here’s a photo of a Richmond Birdwing taken in Queensland for no other reason than they are beautiful 😍

On Sunday when seeking out Hawfinch this Reeve's Muntjac was foraging among leaf litter. An odd growth difference in its antlers drew my curiosity.

The Minke Whale illustration from my upcoming publication “Norfolk’s Whales and Whaling’ a historical account.

Your guess is as good as mine 🤓

Wish I’d thought of this!

The Red necked Grebe was showing extremely well in Norwich yesterday.

Sentry

An informative article by Patrick Barkham in the Guardian this weekend on the whales seen around the UK this winter. Patrick has quoted yours truly www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Not only were the flock of Black necked Grebes at Abberton entertaining yesterday ... they were subtly beautiful too.

The Glaucous Gull at Cley today had a penchant for seal meat.

On my list …

Santa dropped off some interesting reading.

Having used my new thermal imager for a couple of months now I’m both elated and dismayed. Elated at how good it is … see my review (www.facebook.com/share/p/161C... but dismayed at how little there is around to find. #biodiversityfreefall

Peek-a-boo - look carefully

Out on the marshes yesterday running the 'Winter Visitors Tour'. The shorties are thinner on the ground this year and to finish the day a couple came out to play. We had to wait 'till a crowd of birders pulled back from the skyline. Almost dark ... but one came close.

Was in London recently and saw this poster on the side of some random building. Sometimes you find wisdom in the oddest of places.

Went to Titchwell today in a failed attempt for the Penduline. Spent a while searching around the car park with the thermal imager. Plenty of deer … and a couple of Woodcock.

Imagine being a small rodent in a reedbed, looking up and seeing this ...

I’ve now been running Wildlife Tours and Education since 2008. Offering tours around Norfolk and beyond to see birds and other wildlife. A lover of Butterflies and Dragons. Holder of a Certificate in Ornithology and a Diploma in Photography. Blogger. A worker for five charities and …