I was very excited to move to Oxford to study biodiversity conservation, with my only concern being that the area did not appear particularly rich in birding opportunities. Fortunately, this fear was unwarranted as I didn't find many opportunities to go birding next to my busy studies anyway. Moreover, when I did there was always … Continue reading RSPB Otmoor, Oxfordshire, 16.01.2026
What is likely to remain one of The Netherlands' biggest birding events in 2025 occurred in already early January, when a Spectacled Eider was found on the island of Texel. Pandemonium ensued: rightly so, as no birder would have expected this species to ever appear in the country in their wildest dreams. As the species … Continue reading Spectacled Eider Twitch, Texel, 30.-31.01.2025
Resuming the daily life in Bonn was quite a change from the recent bird-rich summer in the Alps and southern France. Not that I don’t enjoy it, but the standard set of birds like Blue Tits and Eurasian Green Woodpeckers does not compare to that including Iberian Grey Shrikes and Eurasian Hoopoes. My assumption of … Continue reading Surprise Eurasian Hoopoe, 31.08.2024
As part of a lovely vacation to southern France with my university friends, I planned to do at least one dedicated birding outing as I've never been in this region. My friends are very supportive of my birding obsession so I was able to do a day trip to an excellent birding site in the … Continue reading Coussouls de Crau, 06.07.2024
The mostly mediocre birding in Bonn is occasionally interrupted by an uncommon or rare avian visitor, providing some excitement and a welcome distraction. Previous sightings I’ve had were a Wallcreeper and, more recently, a Eurasian Hoopoe. One evening in September, however, I received news of a Northern Mockingbird having been found just outside Bonn. This … Continue reading Northern Mockingbird Twitch, 26.10.2024
My Zone Is Birding 