I haven’t been able to visit the local adders (Vipera berus) until today so far this year which is a bit later than usual. At one site 2 males and more surprisingly a female were found followed by a visit to two other spots where one individual was found at each. Both of the latter…

I haven’t seen any adders yet although many people I know have seen them for several weeks in other areas of the country. A few nights ago there was a big movement of Common frogs (Rana temporaria), although it snowed only hours later. I didn’t see any newts or toads. Up on the tops I…

Myself and Carl have just spent four days in north-eastern Spain photographing vultures and other birds of prey. We hired two hides to photograph lammergeiers, black vultures and griffon vultures and then we spent two days exploring the lowlands of Aragón. Unfortunately with freezing temperatures we were unable to find amphibians and reptiles. Click here…

  Just a quick post to share some photographs of a Short-eared owl (Asio flammeus) from today. I spend a lot of time photographing these owls on my locals moors in the spring and summer when they are breeding but in winter they usually leave for coastal areas and foreign shores. Today this owl was…

A very happy 2016 to all of my blog readers and I hope that you all have some nice plans for the coming year. I have a number of exciting trips lined up this year which will allow me to observe a number of amphibians and reptiles that I haven’t seen before as well as…

On Saturday I ventured over to Lincolnshire to see the annual gathering of Grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) when the females come ashore to give birth to their pups. This week over 1500 pups were counted along this beach. Closer to home, two short-eared owls (Asio flammeus) have arrived on a quiet stretch of local moorland for…

Although there are still amphibians around, the reptiles in the area are long gone now so I need other things to keep me busy through the winter. Many of the birds I photograph also disappear during this period, but one of my favourites, the Tawny owl (Strix aluco) remains in its woodland territory throughout the…

As is usual for this time of year there is a bit of radio silence as my time is mostly dedicated to work and autumn very quickly becomes winter. Unlike last year I shall not be doing any winter trips this year but I am saving my energy for some exciting and rather different trips…

I haven’t been out very much recently due to a busy start back at work. Adder (Vipera berus) numbers are gradually dying off, 14 females in one visit a month ago is now down to about 5 each visit. Still no sign of any newborn snakes although juvenile common lizards (Zootoca vivipara) have been quite…