Army Birding

After a cracking session in the Officers' Mess last night I did not get up for the now customary first light wander. I finally bagged the male Great Horned Owl which was sat out in the open at the Mess so headed for work and, as I was the first in, decided to walk around a couple of ponds adjacent t...

It had been noted that I had been absent from my office yesterday. An explanation that life was short and so was my time in Canada and thus birding was at the top of things to do seemed to rub! I think there was also some admiration given that I had walked some 3 miles in torrential rain in pursuit ...

As at midday, 3 Jun 11 (Lifers in bold) Canada Goose Trumpeter Swan Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard Blue-winged Teal Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Lesser Scaup Ruddy Duck Black-crowned Night Heron Merlin Prairie Falcon Northern Harrier Red-tailed Hawk Ferruginous Hawk American...

Tim, Thanks for all the info you have sent to me. Once I can get on a DII terminal here I'll print off. I intend to go to waterton for 2 days next week so will keep you posted. Not sure if I want to basha up in the hills there as there is still quite a lot of snow. Whilst we have torrential rain her...

The first full day at CFB Suffield started well with me waking up at 4.30am and, as I was unable to sleep, I walked down to Ralston at first light. This proved a great idea with 3 lifers found, Willet, Tree Swallow and Western Kingbird, all before reveille. Wildfowl numbers were up and two additiona...

This first of, I suspect, many reports has been written under the influence of jetlag. Please forgive me for any bad English for the time being. I’ve been in Alberta for less than a day and already I can say ‘God I love Canada’. I managed to bag 5 lifers along the Route 1 from Calgary to Canadian Fo...

Neil,

cracking bird mate and certainly seems to fit 'Channel' Wagtail. Very similar to one I saw at Dungeness a couple of years back. I would say it's an adult bird, although possibly fledged last year. Has this been posted on Birdguides as one so far north and west is worthy of note?

Rich

Over the past 10 days Waxwings have been arriving in large numbers in eastern and northern parts of the UK. There has been a number of sightings of flocks in excess of 100 and at least one flock of over 500. As they strip berry bushes they will no doubt be spreading west and south, so keep your eye...

Tony,

glad you are back on the message board - I was beginning to worry! Please send PM or email and I'll pass on details of a USMC Major in Leatherneck who's a birder and, I suspect, been trying to get hold of you.

Rich

Tony,

the Shrike is a Bay-backed. Did not see on HERRICK 11 but found a few on HERRICK 6. Hope all is well in BSN and look forward to seeing more of your reports. Keep up the good work.

Rich

Tony,

best of luck with the WWS. Great that you have seen Black-winged Stilt there and thanks for the last minute trip on the 5th. Hope all is well in Bastion.

Rich

This is the final Bird Report following a six month ‘holiday’ in Helmand. The last couple of weeks have seen migration in full swing. The day time temperatures have increased significantly as have the winds and I am relieved that I am not on another summer tour. The Waste Water Site (WWS) is now wit...

Met up with Tony Giles yesterday for an informal handover of the WWS. New species for Bastion, Desert Wheatear, confirmed when I got back to Bastion 2 and checked tail patterns. Two Hoopoes still present and were both confiding. Thirteen Little-ringed Plovers and two Green Sandpipers still around an...

This has been a cracking couple of weeks with a visible migration and a couple of surprises. Below is a day to day account, some of it extracted from my birding diary, showing the birds of Bastion and the surrounding Helmand countryside. It will hopefully give you a taste of what the middle of Helma...

The start of the last fortnight started off extremely well with both Turkestan and Isabelline Shrikes at the airfield and Waste Water Site. The latter was also joined by a stunning Citrine Wagtail, several Masked Wagtails and 20+ Spanish Sparrows and it was apparent that the Pipits had all continued...