Sitting in a tree Marked out In flight (All photos by Nick Gibson) Newbie Scrubber Nick Gibson was strolling around The Scrubs when his path was crossed by a low flying small falcon flying in a rapid fashion towards the grassland. He had the presence of mind to take some shots of the strange raptor. […]
The Scrubs – I’m lost! Somewhere on the football pitches A thousand apologies, for those who follow my blog for my recent lack of blogging activity. I have been all over the show promoting my book. Since my last entry I’ve given talks and signed books at Rohan Kensington (outdoor clothing store), Waterstones in Notting […]
The view of slumbering Bristol from the Tower Cabot Tower
On Friday I spent four hours basking in the heat of the glorious sun staring into blue cloudless skies from the summit of Tower 42 searching in vain for signs of migrations. There was a southwesterly breeze that at times became surprisingly brisk and was the probable reason for our lack of success in seeing […]
Dawn at The Scrubs Ahh….Summer has finally arrived. Okay, it’s the end of September and a little weird but it sure is nice to feel the heat of the sun. I dragged myself out of bed to be on the patch at 6.30am. My arrival was greeted by a lone and lost looking Redwing that […]
TUB & BBC Radio Cambridgeshire DJ Mark Rumble TUB & the girls at WWT Welney
Scoping Gannets (Cherry Barlow) Had a really nice weekend based at the Portland Bill Bird Observatory. I gave a late night talk at the Obs itself to a tired audience that included a knitting ringer, a sleeping child, a Tawny Owl, a cat and a few humans! On Sunday I traipsed down to the Bill […]
The iconic Tower 42 I’ve been feeling extremely guilty recently. Why? Well, it’s September and it’s the best month to be roaming around Wormwood Scrubs looking for migrants hoping to find that BIG one. That is what I have done for many years until this year. Due to my punishing schedule I have been so […]
So far my book tour has taking me from the streets of Notting Hill to Manchester, Conwy, Norwich, Boston, Maidstone, Cambridge, Thetford and back to Wormwood Scrubs. On Saturday, I will be talking at the Portland Bill Bird Observatory, Dorset. I can’t wait! The Idler Academy, Notting Hill Waterstones, Manchester Waterstones, Boston Waterstones, Boston Waterstones, […]
Photo 1 Photo 2 Photo 3 These series of pictures were sent to me by a member of the public who found this unfortunate warbler over the weekend. My money’s on Reed Warbler. What do you think?
House Martin (Russell F Spencer) The past 48 hours have been very eventful and fun. For a couple of hours during Friday afternoon, I took 100 local school kids – all under six – for a knackering nature walk around Wormholt Park, Shepherds Bush. Luckily they were in 4 groups of 25. When I asked […]
Looking southeast from Tower 42 It’s all go at the moment as I embark on my nationwide tour of bookshops, RSPB Local Groups, Bird Clubs and some weirder places giving talks and signing books. It all continues tomorrow afternoon (Friday) when I take out a succession of school kids around Wormholt Park in Shepherds Bush, […]
Putative African Rail (Russell F Spencer) The above photo was taken in May at Ziway Lake in Ethiopia and I’m convinced that it is an African Rail. I saw it from the corner of my eye whilst looking at a host of ticks that were parading in front of me all at the same time. […]
Let us prey that the carnival be banned in the future (photo: Sue Rylance) I am an absolute Carnival hater. Every year, the thought of an August Bank Holiday fills me with dread. The Notting Hill Carnival hits my area. Residents movement is restricted as roads get blocked off and shops board up and put […]
TUB doing a bit of arm signing! (Russell F Spencer) TUB talk (Russell F Spencer) Call My Ruff – again (Russell F Spencer)
TUB knocking out those signatures! (Russell F Spencer) Call My Ruff teams (Russell F Spencer) Call My Ruff (Russell F Spencer)
Spotted Flycatcher (Russell F Spencer) I have been neglecting my local patch in a major way recently. Everytime the alarm goes off at silly-o-clock I just can’t raise my eyelids let alone my head off the pillow. But last Sunday I dragged myself out of bed, albiet at 6.30 a tad late by my standards […]
Last week I had an exclusive behind the scenes tour of the Olympic Village alongside some of the key players that helped to build ecology into the site. I’ll be writing a piece about in a forthcoming issue of Bird Watching Magazine. I was very impressed at how well nature was integrated into the whole […]
I spent yesterday morning shooting two youtube films for Opticron about how to choose binoculars and digiscoping. Our location was the delightful Lemsford Springs Nature Reserve run by the Herts & Middx Wildlife Trust. TUB & Opticron’s Sarah Onacko (Pete Gamby) Digiscoping (Pete Gamby) Shooting (Pete Gamby)
The roadshow has finally hit the trail and last weekend saw me at RSPB Conwy to help celebrate their centenary. The day involved a two-teamed birdrace (my team lost by 3 birds!), co-leading a bird walk with Reserve Manager and good mate, Julian Hughes (who very kindly allowed me to stay at his house the […]