This morning we returned to the same area we had visited on our first day on our birding holiday in Portugal. Today was a very different experience. We made no lists, probably saw fewer birds and certainly took fewer photographs. Yet, we really enjoyed meandering around the site and taking in the various aspects of nature.
A simple chiiffchaff gave us as much joy as seeing a rarer purple swamphen. I would have loved to see a bluethroat again but we just had to make do with hearing them.
Common chiffchaff amongst the broom… and awayThe white wagtails look a lot cleaner than our pied wagtailsThe bees love the local flora… and so do we.The Iberian magpies are fairly special tooWe could here Zitting Cisticolas and Bluethroats hereCormorants came the closest… but there were still reasonable views of marsh harriersCattle egretThe water on the lake was higher today and there seemed to be fewer birds but common pochard and a little grebe were just about in range for meThe godwits were not particularly spectacular here but I could make out a Caspian tern and some pied avocet amongst themThe best moments came when the black-tailed godwits took to the airThey were just as amazing as they came backCaspian ternMoorhenCootBlack-headed gull
A bit like being at home really, except in Bristol it was snowing this morning!
Our five day birdwatching tour has now finished and we have been enjoying the slower pace by discovering the locality around our hotel at Praia Senhora da Rocha along the coast from Armação de Pêra. There continue to be opportunities for more nature photographs .
Along the coastal path we had close encounters with a black redstart, a blackbird, house sparrows and chiffchaffs.
Black redstartBlackbirdHouse sparrowCommon chiffchaffCommon chiffchaffBlack redstart
On our visit to the famous Benagil caves there were cormorants and, of course, yellow legged and lesser black-backed gulls.
Cormorants near the caves of BenagilThe caves of BenagilMaybe you can see a crocodile here…or maybe an elephant
The flora near the church at Praia da Rocha is quite amazing too.
The iconic chapel at Praia da RochaA lovely coastal pathThis euphorbia grows in our garden tooBirds of paradise?
For our fourth day of birding we travelled close to the border with Spain. We started birding at Castro Marim and visited the Castro Marim Nature Reserve visitors centre. The highlights here were a Spanish Imperial eagle and a short-toed snake eagle. There were more saltpans at Santa Luzia and then a study in gulls as we ate our picnic lunch beside the river ar Santa Luzia near Tavira.
On the way home we stopped off near Vilamoura to search for small birds in the pine forests which border the Atlantic coast.
Greater flamingosGreat white egretGreater flamingos in flightGreater flamingosGreater flamingosYellow wagtail and house MartinWater pipitA charm of goldfinches Black-tailed godwits and a spotted redshankSpring has definitely arrived in the AlgarveCommon kestrelThe bridge linking Portugal and SpainThe ubiquitous stonechatA weavers’s nest or a simply caterpillars?More greater flamingosLesser black-backed gull and ruddy turnstones as we ate our picnic lunch at Santa Luzia near TaviraMore saltpansRedshankPied avocets and godwitsGreater flamingos again
In the pine forests near Vilamoura, as well as views of the golf course, we saw siskins, more marsh harriers across the marshes and a glimpse of the beautiful beaches here.
SiskinPine forests bordering the Atlantic coastThe golf course at VilamouraThe Atlantic coast
A black-winged kite from the coach near the hotel neatly finished off our day
Black-winged kite taken from the coach
Another very full day and again a very rewarding one.
72 species observed
Greater Flamingo; Little Grebe; Common Woodpigeon; Collared Dove; Common Moorhen; Eurasian Coot; Stone-curlew ; Black-winged Stilt; Pied Avocet; Eurasian Oystercatcher ; Grey Plover; Common Ringed Plover; Northern Lapwing; Kentish Plover; Whimbrel; Black-tailed Godwit; Common Redshank; Spotted Redshank; Common Greenshank ; Ruddy Turnstone; Ruff; Sanderling; Dunlin; Little Stint ; Black-headed Gull; Audouin’s Gull; Yellow-legged Gull; Lesser Black-backed Gull ; Caspian Tern; Sandwich Tern ; White Stork; Great Cormorant; Little Egret; Western Cattle Egret ; Great White Egret ; Grey Heron ; Glossy Ibis; Eurasian Spoonbill, Osprey; Black-winged Kites; Short-toed Eagle; Booted Eagle; Western Marsh Harrier; Common Buzzard; Eurasian Hoopoe ; Common Kestrel ; Iberian Magpie; Common Magpie; Crested Tit; Great Tit; Crested Lark; Zitting Cisticola; Barn Swallow; Western House Martin; Common Chiffchaff; Sardinian Warbler ; Short-toed Treecreeper; Spotless Starling; Eurasian Blackbird; European Stonechat; House Sparrow; Spanish Sparrow; Pied Wagtail/White Wagtail; Yellow wagtail; Water Pipit; Common Chaffinch; European Greenfinch; Common Linnet; European Goldfinch; European Serin ; Eurasian Siskin; Corn Bunting
We spent our third day of birding in Portugal east of Faro. We started in the Parque Natural da Ria Formosa near to some disused salt pans.
Disused salt pans in the Parque Natural da Ria Formosa
The day started well with good views of two booted eagles.
Booted eagle
As we walked along the pathway we soon saw a marsh harrier. Further in the distance through the telescope we also had reasonable views of an osprey.
Marsh harrierWhite storks
Throughout our trip we have seen white storks perched on nests on lamp posts and low trees. But here there was a colony of white storks building nests quite high up in tall trees.
White storks collecting building materials for their nestsWhite stork with building materials
The highlight of this part of the trip was seeing several crested tits darting through the woods near the end of our walk.
Although my photos of the crested tit are poor we did get good views through binoculars
Our next stop was at the salt pans of Ludo. Here we had great views of numerous waders.
Black-tailed godwit starting to get its breeding plumageWe could really appreciate the length of the godwits’ billsPied avocet with black-tailed godwitSurely this must be black-winged stilts displayingThey reached enormous heights The first of the greater flamingosIt was useful to see different waders near to each other to make comparisons – here a sanderling, a dunlin and a little stint (I think)Black-winged stilt and meadow pipit (in the bushes)DunlinI must try to find out the provenance of this ringed black-winged stilt as its tag is quite clear
We then moved on to some more salt pans at Olhão where there was an old tidal mill.
Tidal mill
Here most of the birds were further away but we did get views of Kentish plover, common ringed plover, common sandpiper, greenshank and greater flamingos.
Our next stage of our birding day was based around the golf course at Quinta do Lobo. The golf course were very impressive but not as impressive as the houses built around them which are owned by the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Madonna (didn’t know she played golf).
Quinta da Lago Country Club
We had some great birding here especially seeing some very colourful birds such as the black-headed weavers, a kingfisher and a red-crested pochard.
Black-header weaverRed-crested pochardIn this area we heard a wryneck There were terrapins (two sorts) in abundance The flora was pretty amazing tooDefinitely my favourite bird of the day = the black-headed weaver
Fabulous day’s birding – just wish I had started this when I was a bit younger!
70 species observed:
Common Shelduck; Gadwall; Mallard; Red-crested Pochard; Greater Flamingo; Little Grebe; Common Moorhen; Eurasian Coot; Western Swamphen; Black-winged Stilt; Pied Avocet; Grey Plover;Common Ringed Plover; Kentish Plover; Whimbrel; Eurasian Curlew; Bar-tailed Godwit; Black-tailed Godwit; Common Redshank; Common Greenshank; Ruddy Turnstone; Curlew Sandpiper; Dunlin; Purple Sandpiper; Little Stint; Black-headed Gull; Audouin’s Gull; Yellow-legged Gull ; Lesser Black-backed Gull; Sandwich Tern; White Stork ; Great Cormorant; Little Egret; Western Cattle Egret; Grey Heron; Glossy Ibis; Eurasian Spoonbill; Osprey; Booted Eagle; Western Marsh Harrier; Common Buzzard; Eurasian Hoopoe; Common Kingfisher; Eurasian Wryneck (Heard); Common Kestrel; Iberian Magpie; Common Magpie ; Crested Tit; Zitting Cisticola; Eurasian Crag Martin; Barn Swallow; Western House Martin; Common Chiffchaff; Cetti’s Warbler (Heard); Long-tailed Tit (Heard); Sardinian Warbler; Short-toed Treecreeper (Heard); Spotless Starling; Eurasian Blackbird; European Stonechat; Black-headed Weaver; House Sparrow; Pied Wagtail/White Wagtail; Meadow Pipit; Common Chaffinch; European Greenfinch; Common Linnet; European Serin; Eurasian Siskin; Corn Bunting.
Our plans for today were changed last minute as the forecast for the beginning of next week was for strong winds on the south west tip of Portugal. It wasn’t too bad today and so the programme was reversed.
You might get an idea of why you wouldn’t want to be here on a windy day
We started our birding in the port of Sagres on the south west coast of Portugal. On the quaysides there was a ruddy turnstone, crag Martins and not much else. We were looking for a purple sandpiper but no luck. As well as the usual gulls we could see cormorants and gannets out at sea. Also way above us there were two peregrine falcons.
Ruddy turnstoneOne of two peregrines overhead
We moved on to the Cape St Vincent (the most south-westerly point of Europe) which is one of the best on-shore birding sites to observe seabirds in the Vicentine Coast Natural Park. Notable species include Cory’s, Balearic, Great and Yelkouan Shearwaters, Parasitic and Pomarine Skuas, Grey Phalarope and Audouin’s Gull. However, in the wind and then rain all I managed to see at sea were Audouin’s Gulls. I was quite happy though to see a black redstart and a shag.
Audouin’s gullOnly room for one at a time.Shag in flightThe headland on a calm dayBlack redstartBlack redstart in flight
We pottered around inland a bit and had more success. We saw two flocks of choughs with more than 20 birds in each flock. As I was trying to photograph them there was a cry of what I thought was “buzzards” which I ignored but which turned out to be “bustards”. I didn’t see them but luckily Wendy caught sight of two little bustards in flight.
Flock of choughs
Here again we saw lots of swallows which looked as though they were catching up on food after their long flights from Africa. There were also corn buntings and meadow pipits.
Prince Henry the Navigator at Sagres
We then returned to Sagres and headed to Ponta da Atalaia / Baleeira Viewing Point. The first bird we saw was a Thekla’s Lark. Maria carefully explained the difference between Thekla’s Lark and Crested Lark but I didn’t hear it as I was too busy photographing the lark, some stonechats and a common kestrel.
Thekla’s LarkCommon kestrelStonechat
This area was particularly rewarding for seeing the beautiful coastal spring flowers and a few butterflies. We also saw another striking lizard – a Spanish Sand Racer, Maria thought.
Western Psammodromus has been suggested on INaturalistSmall copper butterfly
As far as birds were concerned the most interesting aspect was seeing more choughs, this time displaying by flying high and descending rapidly – a bit like lapwings. Again we had views of gannets.
We then had a drive inland to go to Montes da Fóia at Montchique (about 900 meters high) in search of buntings. En route we had a very good view of a black- winged kite from the coach. Maria then related her very interesting views on why she considered these birds closer to owls than eagles (but don’t get me to tell you all of them). On the top of the mountain, in quite cold conditions, all we saw at first were stonechats, robins and meadow pipits but then a blue rock thrush was spotted on a nearby rock. Our guide Rui then saw a small flock of ring ouzel in front of the woods and I managed to catch sight of two of them before they disappeared.
On the way home we stopped briefly to get some photos of a colony of white storks which were nest building down in the plain. I’m not sure the keen birders approved.
White storkWhite storkWhite stork
Another fascinating (and exhausting) day’s birding.
Species observed:
Rock Dove (Wild type); Common Woodpigeon; Collared Dove; Ruddy Turnstone; Audouin’s Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, White Stork; Northern Gannet; Great Cormorant; European Shag; Little Egret; Western Cattle Egret; Black-winged Kite; Common Buzzard; Great Spotted Woodpecker; Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon; Common Magpie, Red-billed Chough; Eurasian Skylark; Thekla’s Lark, Crested Lark; Eurasian Crag Martin; Barn Swallow; Red-rumped Swallow; Common Chiffchaff; Common Starling; Spotless Starling;Eurasian Blackbird; Ring Ouzel; European Robin; Black Redstart; Blue Rock Thrush; European Stonechat; House Sparrow; Pied Wagtail/White Wagtail; Meadow Pipit; Common Linnet;European Goldfinch; Corn Bunting
Seen by Wendy: Little Bustard
Seen by others: Red-legged Partridge; Whimbrel; Sardinian Warbler
We had a gentle start to our Saga birding holiday to the Algarve which gave us a chance to recover from our rather uncomfortable flight of the day before. (An unexpected cloud burst on the tarmac caught us by surprise and resulted in us sitting for the two and a half hour flight from Bristol to Faro soaked to the skin.)
After breakfast we were able to explore the bird life of the hotel grounds and get our bearings. From our balcony we had a splendid view along the coastline and could see through the telescope on the cliff opposite both cormorants and shag.
Cormorants and shag on the point opposite our hotel balcony
Iberian magpies and house sparrows, however, were much closer and didn’t even require binoculars.
Iberian magpie from our balcony
Later in the morning Maria, our very enthusiastic, knowledgeable and personable guide for the week gave us a good presentation of the birding areas we were going to explore and, accompanied by excellent photos, an idea of the of the birds we might expect to see.
After lunch we had a short drive by coach to our first birding area Lagoa dos Salgados (also known as Pera Marsh) where we joined by Rui, a local bird guide.The excellent website Walk Algarve describes this area:
“Lagoa dos Salgados is one of the most important freshwater wetlands in the Algarve. Despite being much smaller than Ria Formosa or even the Alvor Estuary, Lagoa dos Salgados is nonetheless inhabited by a quite large quantity and variety of bird species that include numerous rarities and scarcities. With reason, this severely threatened IBA site has become one of the most rewarding and sought-after birding hotspots in the Algarve.”
Before we even started birding we saw a spectacular oscellated lizard.
Oscellated lizardPera marshes from the boardwalk
The first section of our walk was along a boardwalk where we had good views of the wetlands. We soon had close up views of a bluethroat (which was not easy to photograph as it darted in and out of the bushes in the shade) and a zittling cisticola in the reeds.
From the board walk we could easily pick out a large variety of waders and gulls.
Snipe
Marsh harriers and a booted eagle in the distance excited the group. We retraced our steps and then walked on grassy paths around the fringes of the wetlands where we had even better views. Spectacularly a small flock of spoonbills flew in to join a small colony of herons.
Spoonbills and herons
Purple swamphen could also be easily seen.
A purple swamphen skirting the reedsCaspian tern
I loved seeing swallows (both barn and red rumped) for the first time this year as they have already arrived back here from their long flights from Africa.
Swallows recently returned from AfricaGlossy ibis
Black-tailed godwits also stood out in their breeding plumage.
I must admit I often dropped behind the group as I jostled activities between viewing with binoculars and telescope and trying to take photos with my bridge camera. (I have sacrificed my Sony mirror camera and long lenses for a telescope on this trip). Fortunately the terrain was very easy but by the end of the day I was certainly ready for a beer.
A very good start to the week.
Endemic flora around the marshesEndemic flora
List of species observed:
Northern Shoveler; Gadwall; Eurasian Wigeon; Mallard; Northern Pintail; Eurasian Teal; Common Pochard; Little Grebe; Collared Dove; Common Moorhen; Eurasian Coot; Western Swamphen; Black-winged Stilt; Northern Lapwing; Black-tailed Godwit; Common Snipe; Common Redshank; Sanderling; Dunlin; Audouin’s Gull;Mediterranean Gull; Yellow-legged Gull; Lesser Black-backed Gull; Caspian Tern; Great Cormorant; Little Egret; Western Cattle Egret; Grey Heron; Glossy Ibis; Eurasian Spoonbill; Booted Eagle;Western Marsh Harrier; Little Owl — Heard; Common Kestrel; Iberian Magpie; Common Magpie; Eurasian Skylark; Crested Lark;Zitting Cisticola; Barn Swallow; Western House Martin; Red-rumped Swallow;Common Chiffchaff;Cetti’s Warbler — heard; Sardinian Warbler — Heard; Spotless Starling; Eurasian Blackbird;Bluethroat; European Stonechat; House Sparrow; Pied Wagtail/White Wagtail; Meadow Pipit; European Greenfinch; Common Linnet; Corn Bunting
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Painswick Rococo Garden near Stroud on the edge of the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire is currently resplendent with its display of snowdrops and hellebores.
The Rococo Garden website:
“Painswick Rococo Garden is quirky and pretty unique. Designed in the 1740s as a fanciful pleasure garden for the owner of Painswick House and his guests, today it’s a place to roam free, to get up close and personal with nature, or to feel the warmth of the sun on your face as you take in the spectacular views of the Cotswold countryside and magical follies”
I must admit it was great to see the light of the sun even though we couldn’t quite feel its warmth.
This wasn’t really a birding trip but we did enjoy hearing the drumming of a great spotted woodpecker. The great tits and robins were particularly vociferous too but the only visuals (apart from the carved tawny owl) were 8 moorhens on the pond.
Snowdrops and helleboresSnowdrops and crocuses Swathes of snowdrops in the woodland,,, and following the streamThe formal gardens come to their own later in the year“Magical follies”Up close with natureA badger’s setRococo – of or relating to an artistic style especially of the 18th century characterized by fanciful curved asymmetrical forms and elaborate ornamentation
This morning we had a break from birding activities and visited the pretty town of Tavira and the the beautiful village of Cacela Velha on the Algarve just across the border in Portugal.
A taste of TaviraTaviraTaviraView of the Algarve from Cacela VelhaCacela Velha
This evening we went back to visit the salt pans just north of Isla Cristina.
Little stint, I guessCommon ringed ploverCommon redshankWhite stork2 of a dozen white storks flying above usFlamingosSalt pansWhimbrelNo, its not the arctic – gulls on the salt pansSpotless starlings on the way back to the hotel A welcome rest on the balcony of our hotel
I’m afraid my link to bird photography becomes rather tenuous at this time of the year. Many bird photographers often turn to butterflies at this stage but my focus turns to gardens. All the same, nature in all its glory is very evident in these wonderful tended gardens.
Our trip to The Newt in Somerset was a birthday treat. In fact, due to the inclement weather my birthday treat turned out to be watching cricket on the television as England levelled the “Ashes” series with Australia. So, our trip to Somerset was delayed by a day and generally we had dry but very cloudy weather.
Why The Newt? The name has been chosen because of amphibian friends that have been found on the estate. As The Newt’s own website says: ‘They also possess the incredible ability to regenerate, retaining their functional and structural properties. And so this resident was a perfect fit. ‘The Newt hotel in the backgroundThe Garden Café offers a perfect vantage point over the kitchen gardens and orchards below Lemons from Babylonstoren, their sister property in the Western Cape of South Africa, greet visitors to the gardensThe gardener’s cottage (at one time!)Windows around the garden lead to one spectacular vista after anotherPerhaps an onion from this plot formed the main ingredient of one of my dishes at lunch?Can’t wait to go back and explore further afield and perhaps find some birds!
I’ll let my slideshow of our trip to The Newt in Somerset do the rest:
A grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus), also known as the Congo grey parrot, Congo African grey parrot or African grey parrot, at Chew Valley Lake today.
Is this another sign of global warning? I presume not. More likely it was the pet of the owners of a van parked adjacent to it.
We made a brief stop at the lake before visiting Yeo Valley Organic Garden, one of my favourite gardens in the area.
Yeo Valley Organic garden
At this time of the year there is always a chance to see a variety of butterflies , bees and damselflies and yesterday did not disappoint.
Here are some of the ones I managed to photograph whilst still taking in the full beauty of the garden and not ignoring our friends with whom we were visiting the garden.
Speckled Wood butterflySpeckled Wood butterflyRed Admiral butterflyCommon Blue DamselflyComma butterflyGatekeeper butterflyBuff-tailed bumblees on Echinacea
Slideshow of my photos from my visit to Chew Valley:
A few days away on the south coast of England around the New Forest doing touristy things gave me gave me the opportunity to take a few nature photos.
The butterflies were taken at Exbury Gardens near Beaulieu and in the gardens at the National Trust property of Mottisfont near Romsey. The swallows were taken when I had a spare moment at Beaulieu.
This section of the gardens at Exbury was great for butterflies and bees. Gatekeeper in the meadows at Exbury GardensLarge White butterfly at ExburyPeacock butterfly on Echinacea at Exbury GardensBee on Echinacea at ExburyA moth on thistles at ExburyPuffins at Keyhaven opposite the Isle of Wight – no, just wishful thinkingThe Needles off the Isle of Wight from Milford on SeaPonies in The New ForestPonies in The New ForestPonies and cattle in The New ForestSwallow at Beaulieu Swallow performing acrobatics at BeaulieuSwallow hunting fliesMottisfontBrimstone butterflies on sweat peas in the wonderful walled gardens at Mottisfont
Large skipper butterfly on verbena at MottisfontRed Admiral butterfly at Mottisfont
Slideshow of some of my photos from The New Forest:
We have been on holiday in south Devon and, although not a birding holiday, there were a few opportunities to photograph some of the delights of nature at this time of the year.
I suppose the most exciting moment was seeing a bird that I had never seen before – a cirl bunting.
The cirl (pronounced sirl) bunting is a small finch-like bird which is a close relative of the yellowhammer.
Cirl buntings were once widespread and common across much of southern England, but in recent years, they have become rare and only found in south Devon, mostly confined to coastal farmland between Plymouth and Exeter.
We saw the cirl bunting on a visit to Dawlish Warren Nature Reserve and, although we saw three of them, it was such a fleeting moment which might explain why I have published an out-of-focus photo of the male as my headline photo.
Cirl bunting
The Dawlish Warren website has this to say about the reserve:
“Dawlish Warren National Nature Reserve is an area of grassland, sand dunes, mudflats and centres on a 1½ mile long sandspit/beach across the mouth of the Exe Estuary. Dawlish Warren is an important holiday resort and is visited by thousands of people each year.
As part of the Exe Estuary it is one of the most important places for wildfowl and wading birds in the whole of the South West. Thousands of birds come to feed, on migration, or to spend the winter here.
The dunes and grassland have a host of special plants. Over 600 different types of flowering plants have been recorded on the Warren. This varied Reserve has many different habitats including salt marsh, fresh water ponds, wet meadows and woodland.
The Warren is so important that it is protected for its wildlife by both national and international law.”
In Devon we were staying in a converted Wesleyan Chapel on the edge of Dartmoor which was well situated to visit Dartmoor, other nature reserves (Stover Country Park and Slapton Ley) and visit a few National Trust properties (Coleton Fishacre, Compton Castle and Castle Drago) with magnificent gardens which were at their very best at this time of the year.
The Wesleyan Chapel with views across the rolling hills of DevonGreat Crested Grebe surrounded by flies at Stover Country ParkCommon spotted orchid at Stover Country ParkPurple loosestrife at Stover Country ParkThere was always a robin to greet us at every venue we visited but this one (at Stover Country Park) had its mind on other mattersThe squirrels at Stover Country Park were amazingly tameThere was an interesting Ted Hughes (the poet) trail at Stover Country ParkDriftwood sculpture at Stover Country ParkA dull morning at Slapton LeyTufted ducks at Slaton Ley
We had really nice weather all week except one morning when we visited Slapton Ley. We did get good views of reed warblers, bullfinches and a few tufted ducks but it should have been a great place to see dragonflies and butterflies. However, it was too early on a grey day to have any joy.
We were luckier with dragonflies and damselflies when visiting Two Bridges on Dartmoor.
Beautiful demoiselleGolden-ringed dragonfly on DartmoorWidecombe-in-the-MoorThe birds were very elusive on Dartmoor although skylarks and meadow pipits were easy to hear.Speckled Wood butterfly at Coleton Fishacre (NT)Wild meadows at Coleton Fishacre encourage wildlife – the 1920s country retreat of the D’Oyly Carte family complete with tropical garden by the sea1920s country retreat of the D’Oyly Carte family. Arts and Crafts exterior, Art Deco interiors, servants quarters, sea views.Coleton Fishacre – RHS-accredited coastal valley garden. Exotic plants, herbaceous borders and sea views. Bordered by woodland and wildflowers.Lampranthus roseus have no problems with the mild south Devon climate at Coleton FishacreThe roses at Compton Castle were at their best Compton CastleThe medieval barn at Compton CastleCastle Drogo – the last castle to be built in England in the 1920sFormal terraces at Castle DrogoThe formal gardens at Castle DrogoThe rhododendron gardens at Castle Drogo Fantastic views from every aspect at Castle DrogoWe seemed to spend a lot of our holiday driving along the amazing high hedged Devon lanes with small birds constantly flying out in front of us
The contenders for the most cheerful song birds of our holiday :
Martin's Bird Blog & Nature Photos 