Monday, 26 December 2016

Trips and events in 2016

TRIPS

CHAMPIONS OF THE FLYWAY APRIL

A great trip in the Spring taking part in Champions of the Flyway in Israel as part of the team 'The Inglorious Bustards'.

Long-legged Buzzard 
Mourning Wheatear 
Bar-tailed Desert Lark 
Team members Simon and Niki at a Kibbutz


A slick and very enjoyable event. Great work by Jonathan, Yoav and the team.

BULGARIA SPRING AND SUMMER 

Visited Bulgaria and the Balkan Ecology Project twice this year carrying out biodiversity surveys and exploring the local area for wildlife. Did some herping with Dylan and Anton and looking forward to go back to Bulgaria on a Reptile focused trip with friends Neophron. 

Dylan and Anton herping 
Smooth Snake
Sand Lizard 
Grass Snake 
Silver-washed Fritillaries 
Balkan Golden Ringed Dragonfly 
Long-horned Bee
Archie with an Emperor Moth

WILDCATS AND WOLVES IN SPAIN AUGUST  

A great mini-trip in August looking for wildcats and wolves in Spain with Jaffa and Wise Birding.

Wildcat 
Iberian Wolf 

AZORES

The usual natural history trip, pelagic and autumn vagrant trip. 


EVENTS 

Attended several great little events through the year with Sue Healey and others. 

 Hen Harrier Day at Rainham 
 Birders Against Wildlife Crime 
The Natural Eye 2016
 London Natural History Society Events 
The London Park City Initiative Event
BirdFair 2016

HOLLYING 

Things 'escalated fast' with long term friend and work partner Holly this year. Had a great year with days out and exploring in the new camper van. 

 Holly at the Old Vicarage 
 New wheels- the mobile obs 
 The mobile obs- records straight into e-bird, i-record and utilising i-spot to help with id.

Been spending more time at Holly this year and well happy with my new local patch- Otmoor RSPB

 Biggest surprise of the year was this little fella

OTHER BITS 
Published the second part of New Directions in Birdwatch magazine this year. 
 A perceived momentous year on the Great Lie Front.  Even more reasons to ignore those muppets and keeping building an alternative advanced society. 
New Gear this year included a Phoneskope adaptor, 100-400mm Canon lens, a few new books, new owling spotlight and a new tripod head for doing some more video stuff

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