http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/rjhall/ birding all over the place en-us 2008-05-15T15:37:59+00:00 http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/rjhall/archives/2008/05/desperately_seeking_redfoots.html Something's going on with Red-footed Falcons. The number of individuals seen up until last week in France was conservatively estimated at 550. There has been a flock of 60(!) in Switzerland. Cambs has recorded this species annually for several years,... rjhall 2008-05-15T15:37:59+00:00 http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/rjhall/archives/2008/05/dotterel_dash.html After several consecutive early mornings in France, when John dropped me home from Stansted airport I fully intended to have a siesta and relaxing evening. Instead, about 430pm while checking email, I noticed that 2-3 Dotterel were being seen at... rjhall 2008-05-09T14:48:06+00:00 http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/rjhall/archives/2008/05/la_dombes.html Following our descent from the Alps, we attempted two more birding stops as recommended by the 'where to watch' guide for France. The first, l'etang de Haut-Jarrie, is a small reedbed surrounded by farmland, and apparently has nesting Little Bittern.... rjhall 2008-05-09T11:48:54+00:00 http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/rjhall/archives/2008/05/french_alps_2008_best_of_the_r.html While Rock Partridge and Eurasian Pygmy Owl were undoubtedly the icing on the cake, other excellent birds were seen at the different habitats and altitudes on the Termignon-Bellecombe road. Our Friday evening scan from the car park yielded calling Citril... rjhall 2008-05-08T17:02:56+00:00 http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/rjhall/archives/2008/05/french_alps_2008_corking_pygmy.html On the drive down from our Rock Partridge success, we heard Crested and Willow Tits (Mesanges huppee et boreale) close to the roadside. John wanted a better look at the crestie, so we played the call of Eurasian Pygmy Owl... rjhall 2008-05-08T16:40:42+00:00 http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/rjhall/archives/2008/05/french_alps_2008_rock_partridg.html Last bank holiday weekend, I met up with former Cambs birder extraordinaire John Oates to search for a bird that we have both heard, but never seen - the Rock Partridge (Perdrix bartavelle). Our plan was to bird a road... rjhall 2008-05-08T15:41:57+00:00 http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/rjhall/archives/2008/05/alpine_quizbird.html rjhall 2008-05-07T08:56:37+00:00 http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/rjhall/archives/2008/04/camargue_crau_and_narbonne_whi.html Following a productive morning at the Etang de Scamandre, I went looking around the flooded rice fields in the Camargue. Many were devoid of birds, but those with the right water levels were teeming with gulls terns and waders (mostly... rjhall 2008-04-30T22:11:00+00:00 http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/rjhall/archives/2008/04/herons_galore_at_the_etang_de.html Last weekend I paid my first visit to the Centre de Scamandre, an excellent (and free to enter) nature reserve at the south end of the Etang de Scamandre. It has recently come into the spotlight for hosting a growing... rjhall 2008-04-29T21:44:17+00:00 http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/rjhall/archives/2008/04/quiz_tern.html Taken in the Camargue last weekend. Answer coming soon.... rjhall 2008-04-28T22:35:06+00:00 http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/rjhall/archives/2008/04/disobedient_ducklings.html This law-breaking Mallard family ran the gauntlet of facing the wrath of the porters as they waddled across the grass at King's College Cambridge without permission. No respect, the youth of today...... rjhall 2008-04-28T22:28:09+00:00 http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/rjhall/archives/2008/04/ladybirds_galore_in_the_brecks.html Yesterday we had a lab field trip on ladybird identification to the Brecks. In spite of the cold, rainy weather, beating the Scots pines was very productive and by the end of the day we had a logged very respectable... rjhall 2008-04-24T21:46:58+00:00 http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/rjhall/archives/2008/04/cambridge_miscellany.html I was delighted to spend much of my 30th birthday with Davis birding buddy Marcel and his fiance Elham on the tourist trail in Cambridge (King's Chapel, cream tea at Fitzbillies). During our pub lunch sitting on the terrace by... rjhall 2008-04-24T20:39:19+00:00 http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/rjhall/archives/2008/04/almost_birding_in_the_south_of.html I must be getting old. I went sightseeing with some non-birding friends in Aigues Mortes and Arles, passing along the edge of the Camargue in peak migration season, and I didn't even take my binoculars! Nonetheless I noted Black, Whiskered... rjhall 2008-04-24T18:38:31+00:00 http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/rjhall/archives/2008/04/fantastic_fulmars_at_hunstanto.html On the way back to Cambridge we made a fish and chips stop in Hunstanton. The clifftop here provides awesome views of the nesting Northern Fulmars. I took many hundreds of photos, the top 10 of which are below. Other... rjhall 2008-04-16T17:59:37+00:00