I recently realised with dismay that spring is rushing past like a freight train with dysfunctional brakes, and that I haven’t made the most of it by spending way too much time indoors, staring at my laptop. Following this epiphany, I decided to go on regular nature walks on the edge of Oxford, where I … Continue reading Oxford, 05.2026
As a child, one of my favourite books was that of a young polar bear named Lars, coming across an oil-stained puffin. Rendered flightless by the black sludge, the polar bear led the puffin to warm springs whose hot water relieved the bird of its slick of crude. This plot should’ve been pretty gripping to … Continue reading Skomer Island, 26. – 27.05.2026
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
Ever since Mark Cocker's Birders offered me the first glimpses into the British world of birding as a fledging birder back when I lived in South Africa, I had wanted to visit the legendary North Norfolk coast. When I spent two weeks in England this January, I made it a priority to visit the wetlands … Continue reading North Norfolk, 07. – 08.01.2025
My Zone Is Birding 