Tim Melling – Scotch Argus

  Tim writes: I visited Smardale Gill in Cumbria in late July and managed to find several Scotch Argus (Erebia aethiops) butterflies just emerging.  This male is absolutely pristine with not a scratch nor scale out of place.  It still has that iridescent bloom that freshly emerged butterflies show, but which disappears after a few…

Bird Fair 2017 – Day 2 and Ralph’s cartoon

    Day 2 – this looks like another excellent day. My plan: 1000-1045 Mark Carwardine EVENTS MARQUEE Was it really the last chance to see? 1100-1145 Chris Packham plus EVENTS MARQUEE Tales from the frontline of conservation 1500-1545 Stephen Moss chair EVENTS MARQUEE Bird Brain of Britain – as a previous winner (!) I…

Bird Fair 2017 – Day 1 in the bag

Day 1 of the Bird Fair just flew past – and much of it went more or less to plan. Gave away my spare 3-day ticket (with the plea that the recipient spent some money on the BAWC stand) TICK! Queued in the car but not at the gate – excellent! TICK!! Found Ruth Miller…

Bird Fair 2017 – Day 1

  Here we go –  Day 1 Weather forecast – could get a bit blowy and maybe wet towards very end of day (glad I’m not camping – and best of luck to those who are). Plan for the day – although it will not necessarily happen… 0900 or soon after.  Stand in queue even…