John Cantelo

a black and white photo of a snowy street ALT: a black and white photo of a snowy street

The challenge was to post a gif of a movie you've watched more than six times. Hard mode: no Stars (either War or Trek), LOTR, or Marvel. To be honest, I'm not sure that there is one I've watched that often but "It's a Wonderful Life" probably comes closest & is happily seasonal!

A wonderful morning in Canterbury, first seeing two lovely former students (one by design, the other by chance), both of whom are doing very well in their chosen careers, & then seeing evidence of fresh Beaver activity (1st for some time) not far from the city centre. Splendid!

"BB" @britishbirds.bsky.social arrived this AM & it's shocking to consider that I've been getting it for c60 years (bar one year), originally via a newsagents. The cover artwork by Darren Woodhead is one of the most handsome ever in my view. A champion of the "less is more" school of wildlife art!

No photos but good to see Dartford Warbler & Little Owl (increasingly scarce in east Kent) on a pleasant ramble around Oare this morning in pleasant sunshine. 🪶

My pen & ink drawing of Firecrest

I first saw Firecrest at Portland in the 60's, in the 70's I was taken to their secret breeding site in the New Forest & in the 80's to a secret breeding site in Kent. Just seen 2 in woods (where they also breed) near my house in Canterbury - now arguably commoner than Goldcrest in east Kent! 🪶

I can't help I'm afraid.

No idea, Doug

I'm giving a talk on 'Spring in Cadiz Province' this coming Tuesday afternoon (25/11) for Gravesend RSPB Group (Kent) at 14:00 at the Masonic Hall (25 Wrotham Rd., Gravesend, DA11 0PA). All welcome!

Sometimes life sucks, particularly when you're of a certain age. En route to my hometown for a wake for an old school pal, I'm thinking of another contemporary who's just started radiotherapy this week for an aggressive cancer. Then, out of the blue, I hear a Kent friend has suddenly passed away😢.

Nor me! I've seen them on Madeira & they're very much like Common!

Awareness that a few Pallid Swifts turn up in the UK in late autumn is relatively new & probably boosts reports. It's a bit left-field but I wonder (esp after colonisation of mainland Portugal) whether the odd Plain Swift is being dismissed as Common but could we confidently identify lone birds?! 🪶

Dusky Warbler on Thanet this AM which showed well intermittently. Also Whitethroat there. Then a desultory look for Pallid Swift (I see too many in Spain to be very bothered). Here's the habitat which held the Dusky - there's miles of similar stuff on Thanet which could hide a dozen Dusky Warblers!🪶

East Kent was awash with rarities today 8/11 - Desert Wheatear, Pallid Swifts, 2 Dusky, 2+ Yellow-browed & 5+ Pallas's Warblers. I only saw the Pallas's at Hope Point (Bockhill) - 3 brief glimpses - as it was very elusive covering every inch of the hawthorn scrub there.

A great find!

A nice chap just knocked on my door in Canterbury & handed over my wallet -lost near Dover a few weeks ago. He apologised profusely for not being able to deliver it earlier (it's a 40-mile round trip). It's good to have your faith in humanity confirmed. I hope he enjoys the bottle of red I gave him!

Just checked & it seems 3 'Carnival UK' cruise ships arrived at 2/11 but not sure where from

Calshot being at the entrance of Southampton Water, I suggest checking for recent cruise ships etc arriving from America...

Interesting tour & wine tasting at Balfour Winery (Marden, Kent) yesterday (1/11). Good wine but most impressed by their concern for conservation/biodiversity. No need to drive - train to Marden & free shuttle bus. Great day out with kind weather.

I thought your name rang a bell! I hope my notes were useful. Good luck in Extremadura

Cadiz province?

An excellent & helpful analysis. Thanks.

In the matter of mistaken grammatical pendantry vs functional usage & clarity there should be only one winner. Pleased to say the Crossbill Guides (which I help to edit) always capitalises species' names.

I saw northern Long-tailed Tits in Kent years ago (and subsequently in Japan). They may not be 'ticks' but they remain amongst the best birds I've ever seen. Arguably, they're one of the cutest birds on the planet!

One of the ringing team on La Janda (Cadiz) tells me that a Little Bunting was 'controlled' in Finland this year. I've seen RfBluetail wintering in a cold & snowy Japan so could the growing Finnish population eventually start doing the same in Europe? (2)

Are Y-b Warblers and 'eastern' buntings gradually establishing a regular wintering area in Europe? I'm told they're now regularly wintering in the Canaries. Ditto Little & Rustic Bunting in SW Spain. Presumably, this is a shorter migration route & may have an evolutionary benefit. (1)

Sounds great but I'm envious as I've yet to see Great Spotted Eagles in Spain.

Thanks for taking the time to look.

Where did Trump get his inspiration for cluttering up his nation's capital with oversized, self-aggrandising, neoclassical kitch buildings?

Many thanks for posting on the St Margaret's FB page.

Lost wallet - if any birding friends hear of a wallet being found at St Margaret's Bay/Pines Garden/South Forereland (Kent) yesterday, it's mine! Last used at the beach cafe. Cards stopped but don't want the hassle of getting a replacement driving licence, etc.