More Lifers!

Connected with Flammulated Owl thanks to Brian Linkhart and Brown-capped Rosy Finch at Summit Lake Mount Evans thanks to the Colorado birders group. Trying for Boreal Owl tonight with Richard Stevens. Still no joy with the dreaded White-tailed Ptarmigan!!!

The story so far..

Connected with Gunnison's Sage Grouse but no luck with Brown-capped Rosy Finch or White-tailed Ptarmigan on Mount Evans (14.000 feet+). The weather up top was bad!!!
Off to Black Canyon near Gunnison today to try for Dusky Grouse...and see the sites of course!
I'll post more when I can...

Time to leave...

This track epitomizes why I love America!

Thank you

I just wanted to acknowledge the support I've received regarding Rocky. It's much appreciated and won't be forgotten. Thank you.

There is sorrow enough in the natural way

From men and women to fill our day

But when we are certain of sorrow in store

Why do we always arrange for more

Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware

Of giving your heart to a dog to tear

                                                                                                       Rudyard Kipling 1865 - 1936

The holiday will be a much needed tonic after a tough year and a great loss. I hope you're getting a break somewhere and wish you some great birding. I leave on Tuesday and I'll post a few tales of my travels if possible...

Rocky 2002 - 2011

If you read my Blog you obviously have an interest in birds/animals but maybe you’re not a Dog fan. If this is the case you need to give this post a miss.

I lost my lad yesterday. My wonderful, intelligent, brave, loyal German Shepherd called Rocky.

He’d contracted a terrible disease called CDRM which attacks their nervous system. It is degenerative with no cure. He first showed symptoms just over a year ago and has slowly but steadily deteriorated until he finally lost control of his bladder this week. He was only 8 years old.

I write this post as a therapy for my grief. This is obviously personal but I wanted to pay a tribute to him on my Blog for posterity.

There could possibly have been Dogs as good as Rocky…but none better. Goodbye my friend...gone but NEVER forgotten...

David Ruffin

Following on from my first Temptations post I dug out this amazing vocal performance from their best lead singer. He was a bit of a lad but WHAT A VOICE!!!

ABA MEGA...Bit of a trek though!

Chinese Pond-Heron - Gambell, Alaska

Peerless

Early Temps

Another Legendary Motown Group. Class, great voices and all the moves!!!

The Temptations - Get Ready (1966)

The Temptations - Aint Too Proud To Beg

What a vocal!

Best to check yourself!

With todays news of a mis-identified MEGA, it got me thinking (dangerous I know).
It's easy to be wise after the event but it's clear many experienced Birders went away happy they had seen a Greater Yellowlegs.
Having been the target of scepticism myself on Birdforum I have and always will admire Birders with the courage to follow their convictions and let news out.  Damned if you do...damned if you don't.
Maybe "possible/probable" would have been wiser until we saw this...



I love the wisdom of old tales...

Hans Christian Andersen

More Great Holiday news!

Just found a great contact for an Owl target! Maybe I'll see one of these at last..



Because they're still looking after these...



Great stuff...

Why? Why not!

Just because it's BRILLIANT!!!

Fledged

Did my annual Swift count in Bubwith today...c50 birds. As we all know nest sites are diminishing but there's still a reasonable number locally. I'd try a nest box if I didn't live in a Bungalow! They'll be gone soon. Also had c5 Sand Martin by the bridge and a singing Song Thrush.

Cameras - the Future?

I'm not a photographer, I'm a birder who grabs the odd shot with my point and shoot. Soon as you buy a camera it's almost instantly replaced by a "better" model.
Is this the next big thing?

More Barn Doors arriving. Great News!

SCRAMBLE...PACIFIC SWIFT at Spurn!!!

July ideas

Quiet time and as I've said already I admit to taking my eye of the local ball lately due to work load and birds lying low.
However, there's still some great birding to be had...
Bempton
Wykeham
Blacktoft
Lincs Sea Eagle
and then maybe a sea-watch...
Cory's arriving in numbers...maybe I'll FINALLY see one in Yorkshire!!!

A fellow boy from Bury who now earns his living as a bird guide in SE Arizona has provided me with some brilliant topical information for my forthcoming trip. He's just been touring most o the area I'm visiting!
It's a great read

Doldrums

Summer doldrums have set in. I've read blogs saying Autumn is here...not sure myself. The odd wader passing through, Blacktoft always worth a visit. I guess my thoughts are well and truly fixed on my holiday. I love planning the trip almost as much as actually doing it! Some relevant stuff just been posted here including a Flammulated Owl nest site...almost certainly long gone by the time I arrive? Major Floods in N.Dakota could affect my route. I'm just hoping the waters recede before my visit. I'm also hoping my camera arrives back from repair!!!

Although I've seen them before I always get a real buzz from seeing this bird, and I'll be looking hard to find one...


Lewis's Woodpecker



Missed the (right) boat!

Last summer I visited the NE US taking in Maine. I tried for the Red-billed Tropicbird on Seal Island to no avail. Maybe I should have used this boat!

Great Weekend...missed this though?

Watched the fight last night with "ma boys" boys after a terrific belated Fathers Day treat at Blackpool. Glorious weather. Pitch and Putt (still got it!) and a bit of "lunch"... 

This is a Sausage sandwich!?

...followed by 3 hours on the Pleasure Beach. Pure nostalga and great fun. I used to go here regularly as a lad with my family. Yes times change, but there's enough still there to make it special to me.

Love these...



and this...



and these...



Finally conquered this...



...what a blast!!!

Wladimir Klitschko conducted himself like a true gentleman showing respect and class throughout.

Followed this today by watching the Wimbledon Final. A pretty good match again involving 2 class acts. Great speeches and humility...Can you read between the lines?