Recent content by Mark Newsome

Lazy sensationalism from many areas of the media, trying to create a story of the Walrus having a sleep on a iceberg and waking up off Ireland... eg...

I got a copy last week. It's a bit of an odd book, some excellent info contained, but there are some sections that I find myself just skipping over (eg very similar warblers). I guess it depends a bit on your location and the type of species you're going to encounter as to what parts of the...

There are many variables in this subject - money is a big one. If you have the cash, getting a more distant but very sharp image using a DSLR with 500 or 600mm lens would be preferable to a blurred larger image from digiscoping/inferior camera. But not everyone has a few grand to buy such a...

Interesting that sonograms are included. As someone with a keen interest in nocmig, this could be a very useful feature, esp if these are included for the majority of species covered (philip1947 - could you confirm this?). There are no English language guides extensively covering nocturnal...

At home in UK, I'm desperate to see the sea! Although I live only 7 miles away, I've not been to the coast since lockdown, and as an avid seawatcher, I'm missing seabirds and east coast migration so much... For foreign travel, I'm booked on the West Pacific Odyssey next April. Who knows whether...

Thanks for the suggestion - good shout. Clearly not an adult male, but I'll look into the possibilities with female/imm types. Mark

Has anyone got an ID for this dragonfly, taken in Tobago? Only photo I'm afraid (trying to get IDs for random photos taken from past holidays). I've failed to find a match with an image search on the 'net and haven't got access to the field guide covering this area. Mark

A large section on the top of Baga Hill has been cleared for development. I wouldn't say there are no birds there now, but it's a shadow of its former self and the chance of seeing something scarcer than your standard village scrub birds is much reduced. Backwoods now have 'proper'...

Back on subject... as a birder at Whitburn CP, I can't see a lot wrong with this development. But its much more from a public interpretation/local environment angle rather than having a benefit for birds/wildlife (or birders). There are routes shown in the links to feedback about the proposals...

There are several repositioning cruises in April which go from Dubai/Muscat in Oman, along the Omani coast, up the Red Sea and into the Med (and vice versa in November). £1300 for 2 weeks with Tui/Marella cruises. In theory, there should should be some very nice seabirds and cetaceans...

Everyone's experiences at the Zino's colony are different. I was there in June last year and it was a utterly magical night. We picked a night with a nearly full moon and there were no problems with fog/cloud. The result was that you could easily see birds with the naked eye, even followed a few...

A few sightings from last few days (from Paul Willoughby's Bird Holidays group): 200 Amur Falcons in one flock over Pilerne Lake, displaying Legge's Hawk-eagle at Tamdi Surla, Yellow Bittern and Red Avadavats at Shirgao, Painted storks, Oriental Dwarf kingfisher and 2 Black-naped orioles at...

Red-billed Tropicbird photo'd offshore in last few days.

Not heard of too much out of the ordinary so far this season, but there is some nice video on Facebook of a Malayan Night Heron walking around out in the open at Mollem (Bhagwan Mahaveer sanctuary). A scarce bird in the state with most sightings being just after the monsoon and in the south...

Not sure about July, but I was in Venice Beach in early September a couple of years back. Black Turnstones were easy enough along the main beach; just walk along the tideline between Venice Beach pier and Santa Monica pier, and check around the rocky outcrops. Also Surfbirds, Western Willett...