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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Recent content by John Dixon

  1. J

    Dullest Spring Ever?

    Still think its dull? Book your chunder trip to Sula Sgeir and enliven the North Atlantic with your diced carrots as you try to determine whether the Black-browed Albatross has gone fishing for a couple of days! Hermaness, oh happy memory. John
  2. J

    Moustached Warbler

    I've just got to ask why you suddenly need it? John
  3. J

    Is Kent the place to see Raptors?

    "All five" what, no Eagle Owls? John
  4. J

    Eagle Owls in Yorkshire??

    I see Birdwatch is reporting the presumed demise of another breeding pair, with an implication that the game rearing fraternity could have been involved. It would be nice to see land owners making some strong statements like "I practise responsible land management and would sack anyone breaking...
  5. J

    Alligator & Crocodile Safety Protocol

    Don't know if they still do but the restaurant used to serve Alligator nuggets and fries. Rather like strong tasting white fish with a tougher, slightly rubbery texture. Better than them eating you anyway! John
  6. J

    Calling all bat lovers

    Another new mammal to chase then.
  7. J

    Dead Grass Snakes

    Adders are not actually that bothered by water. I have seen them in the middle of Thursley bog basking on islands of vegetation to which they could only have got by swimming. There was a bit about them on Mersea Island on TV a few weeks ago in which the local rangers said they occasionally get...
  8. J

    Calling all bat lovers

    I had a look, and then googled Pond Bat. In Britain it is described as a very rare vagrant (Warks Bat Group website: The Mammal Society UK Mammal list is incomplete to the tune of half a dozen recent vagrant bat species. I recommend the Warks site as a read, the details of bat vagrancy will...
  9. J

    advise please

    Concur. Mull is tops for both and has lots of other charismatic wildlife as well. John
  10. J

    birdwatching language

    More shorthand names for birds: Spaccie or plastic spastic (sorry, not very PC!) - Feral Pigeon Whopper - Whooper Swan alba wags - usually used on Scilly - sum total of Pied and White Wagtails Surf Scrot - Surf Scoter
  11. J

    Please give Never and always birding advice.

    Always go for the tick at once - going early increases score rate Never pass on a bird just because it was found by a known stringer, most of them know what's what, they have to to know what to claim and when. John
  12. J

    yellow colour Black-headed Gull

    I've seen Brent Geese which have had the same treatment (on their flank stripes) - I think its practically certain this is a dyed bird. An even more disgusting habit than sticking loads of bling on their legs, but at least it moults out! John
  13. J

    Ever gotten this close to a bird?

    On Sealion Island in the Falklands I once sat and hand-fed seven Striated Caracaras (adults and juveniles) with ham sandwiches, which they ate with relish. Or was it pickle? Having a bunch of wild buzzard-sized hawks that close was awesome, man. John
  14. J

    quail and barley fields?

    At a pinch they will use any but there is no doubt that if there is a choice they will go for barley. I have no idea why, and no hypothesis either. John
  15. J

    London wildlife

    London Underground is great for House Mouse. Try the Northern Line at Waterloo, especially the ends of the platforms, and look down onto the rails. Photography or prolonged watching is risky however as you may be taken for a recconnoitring terrorist. Always take the first train! John
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