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Next November I shall be in Darwin for one day, I'm on a cruise. I plan to visit the Botanical Gardens where there is plenty of birdlife I'm told. Any other town-based birding locations that I can visit by taxi? Many thanks Rob

Not the best time of year for a birdwatching trip I know. However this year's family holiday will be based near Padua, with trips planned to Venice and to the mountains to the north. I will be able to fit in some birdwatching so if anyone has any ideas for places to go I would be most obliged...

I have only ever had 2 scopes and I have never spent a lot of money on one. Maybe because of that I have not got on well with scopes, today my existing scope could easily have ended up in the water, but dumping stuff in a nature reserve is not really on, is it? So I was wondering whether to...

Very pleased to add Napton onto my regular trips to Draycote Water. Found the reservoir easily enough, parked up and then commenced walking around it. Got right to the end of the reedbed when, despite the wind,1 Bearded Tit popped up on the reeds not 10 yards away. Fantastic. Will definitely...

Out for a walk this morning on my local reserve and a flock of about 8 birds flew over. Not ideal viewing conditions this morning but I believed they were Fieldfares. Is it too early for them? Has anyone else seen them already? Rob

Run out to Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire today. First stop was Cannop Ponds near Parkend. This yielded Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Nuthatch, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Mallard and the target bird, Mandarin Duck, flushed by a photographer. Then we went to Parkend...

In the summer i went to the Birdfair at Rutland Water and there I won a fat feeder made of half a coconut filled with fat and seeds. Put it out a couple of days ago inside a cage to keep the squirrels out. Was well chuffed today to see a male Blackcap on it, first one I've seen in the garden...

In May I shall be making my first birding trip to the USA, on an organised group tour. Are there likely to be any birds either within the airport perimeter or in the immediate vicinity of the airport that I should look out for? I have to say this will be my first visit to continental USA...

Well, not too long to wait now. First ever visit due in the coming Spring. Cannot wait! Coming over with Limosa and heading to Cape May. Rob

A Short-eared Owl is consistently being recorded being in Coleshill, Warks. Anyone know where? Rob

When I parked my car to go to work in Balsall Common on the morning of 1 July, I looked up and saw a magnificent Red Kite. My first ever in the West Midlands.

Now, I'm about to make a confession. I have a scope, but it rarely gets used as I much prefer using my image-stabilised binoculars. However, the major reason is that whenever I try to use it I just have so many problems. I have an Opticron scope and a Velbon tripod; I also have a hide clamp...

Paid another visit to Priory Fields, which I like as I can walk there. As I entered the reserve I looked down at the angler's pool next door (I have never seen anyone fishing there, ever). My attention was caught by a Grey Heron flying across the pool but then imagine my surprise as I panned...

The below link gives details of the superb bird app that NSS have produced. It is a free download and I think it is brilliant. http://www.nss.org.sg/nss_group.aspx?news_id=WD4nAJNGyuo=&group_id=yclleUod3WM= Rob

Great day out at the WWT centre at Martin Mere yesterday. Bit cold and blowy but no rain, thank goodness. Nice to get Whooper Swan in same year as Bewick's for me, doesn't happen very often. 54 bird species was good, especially the Siberian Chiffchaff. Ringed Plover was an unexpected bonus...

I had to travel by train to Liverpool yesterday. As the train left Wolverhampton station I spotted a derelict factory with a rather large chimney. Circling round that chimney was what I am convinced was a Peregrine. Does anyone know if there any in Wolverhampton? Rob

All credit to those birders in the UK who have been out today. Weather just too foul here in the Midlands, so my start to 2014 will have to wait until tomorrow.

A quick visit to Spain to see what was passing over to Africa. The town nearest to where I was staying was Estepona, between Malaga and Gibraltar. Not a great deal was seen that could be identified on the drive down but in the Puerto de la Duquesa area on the first day were: Little Egret...

Went down to Upton Warren today hoping to catch a glimpse of waxwings as they have evaded me so far this winter. Arrived, parked the car and got out to put on my boots. I looked up and across the road towards the huge garden centre opposite the reserve. There, at the top of a bush was my...

I have a stopover in Singapore next July that gives me one full day birding. I plan to go to Sungei Buloh. I have visited the website, however does anyone have a rough idea of how many birds I might see? Thanks, Rob