Birding Braunie

People often ask me why I like watching and recording the birds I see. To be honest, I don’t really know. I don’t really remember why birds hit the mark for me except I know it relaxes me and makes me feel good, free and most importantly, makes me feel as though I’m doing something positive to help the future of the nature around me. But it’s not all about me. I record winter thrushes for the BTO and I have started counting butterfly species I see and recording them for The Butterfly Conservation and I submit my recordings to local bird groups. I’m lucky. This doesn’t mean I don’t get frustrated and disappointed if I miss something good – it’s happened a lot. But it never gets the better of me. It just doesn’t matter because there is always next year. People always give me a funny look when I tell them I’ve never seen a Puffin or at least a live one. I will eventually... hopefully. Something to look forward to I say. I would hate to get to the point where a a missed sighting or a m...

Well that was a weekend and a half. Saturday was an eye-opening adventure to Rutland Water. The 25th British Birdfair took place over three days and I was invited by Lee Valley Park to help man the stand they have along with five other members of the Park team including my good friend Brenda who taught me how to womble for freebies. You sure can collect a vast amount of 'stuff' at these fairs but there are a few gems as well. I’m well made up with the double (two stuck together) mousemat(s) I secured from the Butterfly Conservation chaps and this means I can donate one to myself when I’m in the Bittern Information Centre. Win win as they say. Got a million brochures from bird trip companies that think I’m a millionaire. You should see the cost of some, no, all of them. Certain people managed to find free alcohol too but I restrained myself as I wanted to remain the consummate professional that everyone knows me for. Dawn showing excited fair attendees where they can find ...

Blimey. Every year there are certain days that stand out from the main as memorable and incredibly satisfying. Yesterday was just such a day. For a few weeks I had been planning a birding trip and had my eye firmly fixed on Kent. Specifically Oare Marshes – one of my favourite sites – and Grove Ferry, more for the delightful watering hole than anything else but the reserve has been good to me over the years so why not? My good friend Ed was riding shotgun and I would pick him up from his home close to Brentwood. Now Ed is pretty brilliant at many things; it could be Star Wars trivia, BBQ’d kebabs or knowing how to design the interior of a double decker bus. But on this day it was his ability to make the most amazing bacon butty breakfast. We got down to Oare around 8.30am and already there seemed a larger than usual gathering of camouflauge. Now camouflage isn’t always easy to see but when most of it is squarely positioned on the road with huge tripods and rucksacks then it doe...

There’s a definite chill in the air in the early morning now; a clear sign that autumn is thinking about emerging from summer’s strong shadow. My newly found love for butterfly and dragonfly photography will soon be packed away to make room for the birding Grand Prix that is autumn. But before that gets into full swing, there is still a few weeks (longer than most butterflies live) to enjoy the fascinating spectacle of these beautiful creatures. I had some time recently to visit a new reserve in Essex that has a strong reputation for butterflies. Langdon Hills Country Park/EWT is situated in south Essex near Basildon and consists mainly of woodland and meadowland. Large White For the novice explorer though, it is difficult to get your bearings and it is hard to say what bit of the reserve I was actually in. But I know one thing. The area known as Plotlands  where a number of cottages once stood is brilliant for butterflies. The management of the wildflower meadows is skille...

No, I can’t quite work it out. This year has been a bit of an epiphany for me. Here I was aiming for a 200 count for my bird list of 2013 and with only 145 noted, I’m gaily jaunting around meadows ripping my legs to shreds shooting all manner of butterflies. dragonflies and moths until they’re coming out of my ears. Any bird that appears on the horizon is but a distraction – not that I’m missing much. The summer months are slow when it comes to birding; not that there aren’t great birding opportunities to be had. Plenty of waders are being seen, Two-barred Crossbills are turning up and sea-watching is starting to get interesting (oxymoron anyone?) So a bit like when the football season ends my attention turns to cricket. It is slower, takes longer and requires a completely different mindset but underneath the rules and the whites, its a team sport and that”s all that matters. The same is true of birdwatching and the art of watching butterflies and dragonflies. To be honest, I fin...