T Martin Dunn

With so many varieties of Starling to see in Africa one of the most striking is the Violet-backed Starling. Stunning plumage, especially when it catches the sun.

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With its bright red plumage the Southern red Bishop is easy to spot as it flits among the reeds.

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With a wonderful variety of habitats Botswana's Chobe NP is a first class birding destination with some real beauties.

Violet-backed Starling

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I finally got a Broad-billed Roller in my sights, and after waiting so long to see one, there were 3 of them. Beautiful.

Chobe NP, Botswana

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It's hard to imagine a more eye catching bird than the Lilac-breasted Roller. It looks great when perched but in flight is when you see it's true colours.

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Bee-eaters are such beautiful birds and the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater is a stunner.

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If I'm honest, the birding in Hemis High Altitude National Park was a bit disappointing, but we'd come mostly to see snow leopards and birds were just a bonus we were not too disappointed.
We did see a few nice ones though

Red-fronted Serin
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If you like birds then the Himalayan foothills is the place to go. Vanghat by the Ramganga river makes the ideal base. Great birdlife close to the lodge.

Red-billed Leiothrix

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A great day checking out the birds along the Ramganga River, near Corbett National Park.

This is a Blue Whistling Thrush hunting from rocks in the river

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I finally managed to get my hands on a copy of White City by the ever excellent Dominic Nolan.

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Well worth the wait, a terrific read. Well done sir.

The wonderful bright green of the Green Bee-eater lights up the bushes of Jim Corbett National Park

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Pink Cockatoos, showing off the splendid crest.

used to be called Major Mitchell Cockatoo. One of the sensible changes of name.

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Sooty Oystercatcher - Australia

African Oystercatcher

Oystercatcher - northern hemisphere

Pied Oystercatcher - Australia

A collection of Oystercatchers. similar but different
From left: Sooty Oystercatcher - Australia, African Oystercatcher - South Africa, Oystercatcher - UK, Pied Oystercatcher - Australia

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Snow Bunting.
These beautiful little birds visit our shingle beaches in winter and peck amongst the pebbles for food. When they are not moving they can become almost invisible amongst the shingle.

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The magnificent Pink Cockatoo (formerly Major Mitchell Cockatoo)

Goog's Track, South Australia

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Mulga Parrot (male & female)

Gluepot Reserve
an absurd blend of colours

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Royal Spoonbill. Looking regal, of course.

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I was very happy to find this little beauty on my latest visit to Western Treatment Plant at Werribee

Australian Spotted Crake
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Beautiful but shy.
Pink-eared Duck.
The best place I found for seeing them is the Western Treatment Plant at Werribee. Even though there were plenty of them they are reluctant to stay put for photos.

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Israel preparing to deport Gaza aid boat activists, including Greta Thunberg The passengers from the Madleen were intercepted by Israeli forces on Monday and towed to the port of Ashdod

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

Deport them? They were not in Israel, or Israeli waters, when they were taken and they are only in Israel because they were brought there under Israeli force.

The most distinctive sound you'll hear on the Outer Hebrides is the call of the Corncrake.

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Green-winged Pytilia

A flash of colour amongst the greenery

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Dehorning rhinos reduces poaching by 80%, study finds Cutting off the animals’ horns, which costs a fraction of traditional protection methods, reduced illegal hunting by nearly 80%, say experts

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Let's have some more Lillian's Lovebirds. Why not? They're so cute.

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A delightful early morning encounter with a lioness and her young cubs, still wet after a night amongst the reeds.

Lillian's Lovebirds
Like just about all species of Lovebirds they are very cute

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It's hard to think of a cuter little bird than the Puffin. Then you find out that their young are called 'pufflings'. Adorable.

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Purple Sandpiper
Suffolk, UK

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Southern Ground Hornbill

This magnificent bird is endangered.
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Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo
Kangaroo Island

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