It’s been a while! After ten years of blogging, I took a two-year break to recharge. Sometimes it’s hard to tell if these posts find their way to fellow birders or just drift off into the digital ether. But the birds kept showing up, so I’m back with a massive roundup of highlights and eBird trip reports from my many destinations!
If you enjoy these updates, please drop a quick comment. Even a simple 'hello' lets me know I’m not just talking to myself, and it really helps keep the motivation alive. Enjoy the sightings!
If you need info on any of the locations, birds, travel, hire cars, or even where we stayed, I'd be happy to help.
Cyprus 11-17th October 2024
A 7-day trip, staying at Ayia Napa end, managed 3 lifers and finally a Lime swallowtail.
88 bird species seen
Slender-billed Gull - Larnaca
Lesser- Spotted Eagle - Orolinki
Trek Sandpiper - Larnaca
Lime Swallowtail, Butterfly - Larnaca
Tui Cruise January 2025
including British Virgin Islands, Sint Maarten, Saint Kitts, Antigua, Saint Lucia,
23–29 Jan 2025
Our second TUI cruise, 9 lifers and an excellent trip.
41 species seen
Broad-winged Hawk, St Lucia
Antillean Crested Hummingbird- St. Lucia
Lesser Antillean Bullfinch, Antigua
Pearly-eyed Thrasher - Virgin Gorda
Purple-throated Carib - St. Lucia
Canada to California May 2025
4–10 May 2025
7 amazing days, we hired a car, and it made a huge difference to getting around and exploring, I'd recommend! 5 lifers with 93 species seen. I've included some of the sealife we saw, as it was unforgettable.
American Bald Eagle + Glaucous-winged Gull, Vancouver, Canada
American dipper, Big Sur, California
Black-footed albatross, Monterey, California
Violet-Green swallow, Vancouver, Canada
Humback Whale, Monterey, California
Risso's Dolphin, Monterey, California
Pacific white-sided dolphin, Monterey, California
Mallorca July 2025
21–28 Jul 2025
A return visit, after 7 years away, I still love Mallorca! Just one lifer with 77 species seen.
Purple Heron, Parc Natural de s'Albufera
Zitting Cistcola, Parc Natural de s'Albufera
Thekla Lark, Son Real
Cyprus October 2025
20–29 Oct 2025
Back to one of my favourite places with 10 days, 97 species and 3 Lifers.
Black Stork, Achna Dam
White-throated Kingfisher, Akrotiri Marsh, tower hide
Hen Harrier, Paphos STW
Norway (Tromso)
4–7 Dec 2025
My 59th birthday treat, Tromso is a beautiful place, Orca, Humpbacks, but sadly, with only 4 hours of sunlight, made daytime photography difficult. The snow was everywhere, a hot tub and a hire car, the best time was still had!
1 lifer+1 sub species 10 species seen.
Little Auk
Northern Lights, every night!
View from Fjelheisen
Caribbean criuse Jan 2026
Including: Aruba, Caribbean Netherlands, Curaçao, Dominican Republic
Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands (U.S.)
13–27 Jan 2026
71 species
15 Days with multiple islands in the Caribbean, 17 Life ticks, We hired cars on some islands, so much better and cheaper than going on tours and making many more amazing Memories.
Crested Carcara- Curacao
Aruban burrowing Owl, Aruba
Hispaniolan Woodpecker, Dominican Republic
Greater Antillean Bullfinch, Isla Catalina, DR
White-necked Crow, Saona Island, DR
Not just Birds, snorkelling is a must, we saw Barracuda, Turtles and Octopus!!! & Butterflies
Green Turtle Frederiksted, US Virgin Islands
Hispaniolan Zebra Longwings, Isla Catalina
6 Days and a Spring return to Cyprus, 106 species, 1 Lifer.
Greater Short-toed Lark, Mandria
Asprokremmos Dam is so different from October, but still only half full.
Cretzschmar's bunting, Mavrokolympos Dam
Cyprus Wheatear, Mavrokolympos Dam
Wood Sandpiper, Sprio's Pools, Lanarca
Hoopoe, Asprokremmos Dam
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