Gates - Windmill Farm: July 2018

Croatia (around Cavtat) late May 2018

Sarah (my wife) and I went to Croatia at half-term; what a fantastic and beautiful country. We stayed in Cavtat which is about 15 miles south of Dubrovnik. We got out and about in boats and hire cars and I always had my cameras with me to ensure that I got some average shots lol.

I had 35 bird species - no ticks unfortunately - I did try for Rock Partridge a few times but no joy.

I had a few new other beasties though.

Here is a list of my sightings:

Reptiles:
Glass Lizard
Grass Snake
Hermans Tortoise
Balkan Terrapin

Amphibians:
Green Frog

Odonata:
Eastern Spectre
Emperor
Balkan Golden Ringed
Southern Migrant Hawker
Broad Bodied Chaser
Scarlet Darter
Blue Eyed Damsel

Butterflies/Moths:
Cleopatra
2 Tailed Pascha
Scarce Swallowtail
Swallowtail
Red Admiral
Great Sooty Satyr
Large Wall Brown
Southern White Admiral
Meadow Brown
Clouded Yellow
Painted Lady
Balkan Marbled White
Adonis Blue
Amanda's Blue
Ilex Hairstreak
Hummingbird Hawk Moth

Alpine Swift

Cirl Bunting

Eastern Spectre

Emperor

Glass Lizard (at least 3ft long)

Grass Snake

Spanish Sparrow

Subalpine Warbler

Adonis Blue

Blue Featherleg - female

Great Sooty Satyr

Silver Studded Blue and Ilex Hairstreak

Large Wall Brown

Wryneck

Southern Cyprus April 2018

My birding holiday buddy, Greg Adams, and I spent 5 days in Southern Cyprus in early April (11 - 16). We flew from Bristol to Paphos, picked up our hire car and proceeded to our apartment in Pissouri Bay. Pissouri Bay is well placed to get to many of the South's birding spots - such as Akrotiri area, Paphos Sewage works, Mandria and the mountains - all of which we crammed into our short trip.

We were out early every day and had a great time - we found over 100 species with a few lifers amongst them. I am off to Northern Cyprus in late August - can't wait

Here are some of the birding highlights:

Bee Eater

Black Headed Bunting

Collared Flycatcher

Cyprus Warbler

Cyprus Wheatear

Glossy Ibis

Pallid Harrier

Purple Heron

Red Backed Shrike - juv

Squacco

Spur Winged Plover

Wheatear

A few recent beasties.....

I went down to the reserve with my mate last weekend - he wanted to try out his Fuji mirrorless kit. He was using a Fuji X-Pro2 with an F2.8 80mm and he just bought the Fuji X-H1; can't wait to see the results of that. I think mirrorless is the way ahead!

Here are some of the results.