Up Close and Personal with a......DESERT WHEATEAR

A first-winter male DESERT WHEATEAR was discovered at Severn Beach (Avon) on Wednesday 11th December by Paul Bowerman, after he had followed up a report of a wheatear on the beach from a non-birder. It constituted the second record for the county - be it Avon or Gloucestershire - the latter county claiming it within their jurisdiction also. It was still present today, showing incredibly well on the edge of the saltmarsh, delighting a stream of admirers. At times, it seemed worse for weather, sitting still for long periods of time, but maybe it was because it was overloaded by mealworms - a constant supply being offered to it. I spent the afternoon sitting with the bird and taking photographs and after a while of gaining its confidence, eventually managed to feed it by hand...

Up Close and Personal with a........BLACK-THROATED DIVER

Since Saturday, a juvenile BLACK-THROATED DIVER has graced Crumbles Pond - the boating and amenities lake within Princes Park in Eastbourne (East Sussex). I visited today and spent the entire afternoon with the bird alone - the bird affording me with some outstanding views. I took well over 1,500 photographs of the bird and have weeded that number down to just over 100 - a selection I offer below. It is remarkable how like Great Northern Diver this species can be at very close range, with the thick neck, strong bill, neatly patterned upperparts - but the giveaway feature of course is that gleaming white flank patch.....enjoy

Princes Park is the location - free parking available in Channel View Road