The main reason for travelling to South America was to find this little beauty - the critically endangered Hooded Grebe. It breeds only on isolated lakes in Southern Patagonia, Argentina. We only saw one, but who needed another after this encounter on the first lake we checked... #birdingargentina

This juvenile Eurasian Hobby was at Kenfig Pool yesterday evening and gave me probably the best views I have ever had; what a fantastic bird!! Present gain briefly today but in flight only and at distance.. #birdingWales #ukbirding #birds #birdphotography #falcons

I was fortunate to see this beautiful Red Fox at Kenfig Pool well before it saw me, so I was able to sit quietly as it approached ever closer before jumping right in front of me to make a kill of what looked like a vole - a tasty morsel I'm sure, but not enough to fill it up!! #wildlifephotography

Whilst it is a regular double passage migrant on the reserve at Sker, Grey Plover is a pretty rare bird at Kenfig Pool, so I was thrilled to find this very confiding bird which was only my second ever there this morning. #birdingWales #ukbirding #birdphotography #shorebirds

I wasn't able to get a photo of the Eurasian Hoopoe that flew past myself and @deanbolt.bsky.social at Sker today as it took us both by surprise &unfortunately couldn't be relocated. Here is one from the same site on 22/09/2021 - less than 100m from today's bird! #birds #birdingWales #ukbirding

I couldn't resist a little excursion to Jackstone's Pier in Port Talbot with @deanbolt.bsky.social to catch up with the unprecedented flock of Sabine's Gulls that have assembled there. Six present this morning and showing beautifully. Also 2 Grey Phalaropes and a Black Tern of note #birdingWales

White-winged Snowfinch was seen at several montane locations in Mongolia. This bird was one of a small flock seen early in the morning at Yolyn Am which translates as The Valley of the Lammergeiers #Birds #birding #birdphotography #Mongolia #YolynAm

This rather lovely Grey Phalarope dropped in to Kenfig Pool right in front of me this morning and proceeded to spend much of its time feeding in the sputum on the East Pool Shore #birdingWales #ukbirding #birds #birdphotography

I was delighted to find my first Black Tern of the year in challenging conditions at Kenfig Pool this morning. On a good morning there was also a fem/juv Garganey, three female Northern Pintail, Great White Egret, Marsh Harrier and a Common Shelduck present #birdingWales #UKbirding #birdphotography

A beautiful Saxual Sparrow seen here in the early morning light of the Gobi Desert in Mongolia. They took some finding, but it was well worth the early start #Birds #birding #birdphotography #Mongolia

After missing yesterdays Curlew Sandpipers at Kenfig Pool, I couldn't believe my luck when one flew past me at head height this morning. Camera was in the car due to the rain, so here is one taken in Sept 2024. also Green Sandpiper, 2 female Pintail, Redshank & a Swift of note #birdingWales #Birding

Ruddy Shelducks were extremely common in Mongolia and could often be seen many kilometres from water #Birding #Birdphotography #Mongolia #wildfowl

A bit quieter than hoped for at Kenfig Pool this morning as although very humid the thunderstorms passed us by. The pick of the bunch were four Common Sandpipers that dropped in to join this one that was photographed there yesterday. Grey Wagtail & five Eurasian Wigeon also noted #walesBirding

Red-throated Thrush was a much wanted lifer in Mongolia and didn't disappoint despite being very furtive and rather difficult to get clear views of. This was the best photo I could manage #Birds #birding #Mongolia #thrushes

With none seen during the recent storms, I was beginning to think we had missed our chance to get a Grey Phalarope on Kenfig National Nature Reserve, but I needn't have worried as @deanbolt.bsky.social found this beauty on Sker Pool this morning #birdingWales #ukbirding #shorebirds #birdphotography

I had just found the first Common Firecrest of the year at Kenfig Pool this morning when the heavens opened for a torrential downpour. I managed to snap this one shot before the bird disappeared into cover. Also present 2 Spotted Flycatchers & Lesser Whitethroat #birdingWales #ukbirding #Birds

Yellow-billed Pintail was a very common species on our trip to South America being seen on many sorts of water bodies. I found them to be a very attractive duck #Birds #birding #birdphotography #wildfowl #Southamerica

Any birds with Pallas's in the name are well worth seeing! Here is an adult Pallas's Gull and a lovely frosty male Pallas's Reed Bunting from Mongolia in June #Birds #birding #birdphotography #Mongolia

Yellow-billed Cardinal was only found at Park Alberto Kurz in Uruguay on our trip though it is resident in some other countries. The birds were never in view for long on what was a scorching hot day as they preferred to come down to morsels provided by picnicers from deep shade #Birds #birding

My very first red-naped sapsucker. Found in Rocky Mountain National Park in July. #coloradowildlife #birds #birdphotography #sapsuckers #woodpeckers #naturelovers #naturephotography

I was really pleased to find a few migrant Pallas's Grasshopper-warblers in Mongolia, but they were difficult to photograph. We were very lucky however to also see a singing bird at close range towards the end of the trip which was a lot easier to see!! #Birds #Birding #warblers #Mongolia

I had to make a return visit to Kenfig Pool this afternoon, as after a quiet morning, news of an unidentified small wader broke. I was delighted to see my first Little Stint on the reserve since 2011 - I hadn't realized it was so long... #birdingWales #birding #birdphotography #shorebirds

I saw White-tufted Grebe in a few places in South America, but by far the best views were on The Falkland Islands. A pair came fairly close to the shore allowing close photo opportunities despite the very overcast skies #Birds #birding #birdphotography #SouthAmerica

This male Ortolan Bunting gave fantastic views as it sang from its favourite perch in a Siberian Birch forest near the Tamir River. What a stunning bird!! #Birds #birding #Mongolia #birdphotography

White-rumped Sandpiper was the go to small shorebird in a lot of the sites we stopped at in Argentina & Chile. This bird was one of a dozen or so on the beach at Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina #Birds #birding #shorebirds #birdphotography #argentina

Mongolian Lark was quite common in the right habitat, and I was pleased to capture this one beginning its song flight at Boontsagaan Nuur. I missed one in China way back in 2007, so this lifer was a long time coming... #Birds #birding #Mongolia #birdphotography

Another very tame shorebird at Kenfig Pool this morning - this Black-tailed Godwit was busy feeding on small snails & I got this shot just before it started to dip its bill in the water and then cleaned the mud off with its foot. There were also 5 Little Ringed Plovers present #birdingWales #birding

Initially very flighty, this juvenile Ruff eventually settled down to roost at Kenfig Pool. I gave it a while and sat down further up the shore, and once it had woken up, it walked straight past me at very close range - what a beauty!! #UKBirding #birdingWales #birdphotography #shorebirds

The rather bizzarely named White-naped Xenopsaris was a passerine related to the becards that reminded me of a heavily billed Blackcap, and was a bird that we only saw at Ceibas in Central Argentina. Mostly skulky but it did show nicely on this one occasion #Birds #birding #argentina

This gorgeous juvenile Common Gull was among a small flock of them at Penclawdd Pill yesterday evening. I can't remember ever seeing such a pristine individual as this one... #ukbirding #birdingWales #gulls #birdphotography

Hume's Leaf-warbler was a common migrant throughout the Central and desert areas of Mongolia. This bird was one of eleven that were seen in a small area of dwarf willows in the Kurkh Valley #Birds #birding #Mongolia

White-chinned Petrel was among the commonest of the seabirds seen on our trip around Cape Horn earlier this year. They were often close to the ship but rarely in good light or were going away, so pleased to have managed to get this shot #birds #birding #seabirds #Southamerica

We were treated to almost daily Golden Eagle sightings in Mongolia, not always distant specks on the horizon, but never quite close enough to get frame filling shots. I'm happy enough with these though #Birds #birding #raptors #birdphotography #Mongolia

After a few disasterous breeding seasons at Kenfig NNR, it has been a joy to see a few Sedge Warblers moving through the reserve this autumn. So far a peak of 25 last Saturday, but that amounts to more than I have seen in the last 3 years added together... #ukbirding #birdingWales #warblers

Upland Goose was a very common species in Argentina and Chile in good numbers in some areas. This pair were seen outside our accommodation at Estancia La Angostura, Strobel Plateau, Argentinian Patagonia in February this year #Birds #birding #wildfowl #Argentina #Patagoinia #Chile

There are not too many better looking raptors than a male Eastern Marsh Harrier. I'd seen them previously, but never photographed one until this bird in Mongolia in May 2025 #Birds #birding #birdphotography #raptors #Mongolia

Two-banded Plover from Falkland Islands in March 2025. They were very obliging birds and were often running around our feet at close range, but they never kept still for very long #Birds #birding #birdphotography #shorebirds #FalklandIslands

A nice day for shorebirds at Kenfig NNR. My first Green Sandpiper of the year was at the pool but was flushed without a photo.Two gorgeous Red Knot at Sker more than made up for it- Red adults are scarce here so to get two was a bonus. One seen here with Turnstone & Sanderlings #birdingWales #birds

This pair of Turkey Vultures made light work of the King Penguin egg that they are eating at Volunteer Point on The Falkland Islands. The vultures spent all their time hanging around the penguin colony waiting for an opportunity to grab an easy meal #birds #birding #birdphotography

I love the sand dune background on this male Desert Wheatear taken recently in the actual Gobi Desert, Mongolia, while waiting for Saxual Sparrows to show #Birds #birding #birdphotography #Mongolia

Tropical Kingbird was a fairly common species in Argentina and Uruguay, and as is typical of the family, often showed well while perched openly looking for insect prey #Birds #birding #birdphotography #Argentina #Uruguay

I've seen quite a lot of Daurian Redstarts in various parts of Asia, but have never really been happy with my photos, so I was really pleased to get a male that was happy to pose for me recently in Mongolia #Birds #birding #birdphotography #Mongolia #Asia

A beautiful, pristine second generation Wall Brown from Kenfig Pool this morning; there are quite a few on the wing now. Birds today included 2 Little Ringed Plovers & Black-tailed Godwit with 6 Cattle Egrets at Sker #ukbutterflies

They may have been common in all three countries we visited in South America, but Thorn-tailed Rayaditos were one of my favourite species as they were very charismatic little birds that were also very inquisitive allowing for pretty good views most of the time #Birds #birding #birdphotography

I enjoyed some of the best views I've ever had of Common Rock-thrush in Mongolia recently including this lovely male. A small fall of them occured in the Khukh Valley on this particular day #Birds #birding #birdphotography #Mongolia

Citrine Wagtails were seen at many water bodies in Mongolia but especially at the larger lakes [nuurs]. This fine male was holding territory on the shore of Kukh Nuur #Birds #birding #birdphotography #Mongolia

The only Surfbird I've ever seen was at Cachagua Beach, Chile on an overcast morning in February 2025. Thankfully it allowed a fairly close approach as it fed on the beach among a small flock of Ruddy Turnstones before flying off distantly once the tide was up #Birds #birding #shorebirds #Chile

I was quite surprised that we saw Cinereous Vultures pretty much every day in Mongolia and in all habitats. The larget flock was thirteen that took off a cliff in the Gobi in a thunderstorm, landing only when it had passed but I have no idea what this behaviour was #Birds #birding #Raptors #Monglia

I was delighted to spend half an hour in the company of this gorgeous and fearless Sanderling at Sker on a sweltering morning yesterday. It stayed away from the other small flock so I had it all to myself in lovely light and thankfully no dogs close enough to scare it off #UKbirding #birdingWales

One of my favourite photos from Argentinian Patagonia. A male Spectacled Tyrant - they were common enough birds, but trying to get the exposure to show the yellow eye and the white eye ring was tricky, so I was very pleased to get this shot just before an early evening light rain shower #birding