Shropshire Birder

Welcome to the home page for my world of birds, birding and bird photography. The culmination of a lifelong passion for nature and photography, birding has enabled me to combine the two hobbies to good effect! Whether it's record shots only or images suitable for publication, my motto 'never birding without my camera' usually holds true! Every now and then, opportunities arise to capture unforgettable moments. This Osprey seen on 9th April snatching a Roach out of Venus Pool for supper keeps reminding me why I do this!!

Osprey at Venus Pool

What's it all about?

I spend much of my free time birding and try to capture 'moments' that were memorable for me and of course, good birds! Shropshire is my 'base' and I always try put together a respectable County list each year. The places I visit and recommend for birding locally can be found in the Shropshire birding sites section. In addition, I travel all around the Country each year in search of yet more good birds!!

My travels are often linked to speaking and I have an ever increasing range of talks suitable for birding, natural history, photographic and general audiences. More details can be found in the lectures page.

My adventures and birding reports, together with Images are constantly being uploaded to the Shropshire Birder blog. This maintains a record of my birding adventures since 2007 and has now attracted over 148,000 vists. There is a wealth of information and imagery here if you have some time to spare! The Blog and Shropshire Birding Sites will hopefully prove useful resources to locals and visitors, experienced birders and newcomers alike...... A selection of images suitable for reproduction or publication can be found in the Gallery This is constantly being updated and still has a long way to go before the 200+ species are represented.

I've placed some of my personal favourite images in the portfolio section and this will be updated from time to time.

Developments.....

I'm working hard on these, the species gallery is developing nicely with over 175 of the 270+ species currently available, uploaded! Pages detailing my approach to photography and accounts of my favourite species will happen 'one day' - I just need the time. I might even feature some of my most memorable twitches and days out in a dedicated web page! Do check back to see what's happening, even if you're only using the site at the moment as a springboard to the Blog......

More images inside and on the blog.....

Two Shropshire lifers in the space of 24 hours proved to be the undoubted highlight of November 2011, firstly an adult Red-throated Diver at Chelmarsh Reservoir, then 15 miles away, an amazing female Desert Wheatear at the summit of Titterstone Clee.

The highlight of October 2011 was crammed into one afternoon with a lifer Squacco Heron in Notts and County tick Steppe Grey Shrike at Wall Farm.

September 2011 saw the Covenham American Black Tern getting really close and a Hobby at Chelmarsh gave great entertainment eating Hawker dragonflies!

August 2011 was quiet as ever but Venus Pool provided a Spotted Redshank for the County list plus a Green Woodpecker calling out to be photographed!

I spent a lots of time chasing insects during July 2011, this Chalkhill Blue and Silver spotted Skipper were lifers amongst many other good finds!....

Sunny June 2011 provided one of two Red-footed Falcons on one of the wettest days birding I can remember. Then the Hartlepool White throated Robin was a 'just in time' MEGA!....

May 2011 saw star local birds with a group of Dotterel on the Longmynd and amongst the highlights of a trip to Scotland, a pair of Black-throated Divers in Summer plumage at Lochindorb.

The Longmynd was a great stamping ground in April 2011 for two obliging local birds Grasshopper Warbler and Ring Ouzel......

Nearly 500 miles separated these two highlights of March 2011 - Mealy Redpoll in Northumbria and Cirl Bunting in South Devon!

The birding was none too productive in February 2011 but I never tire of Mediterranean Gulls who provided awesome portraits!

January was hard work with generally severe Winter weather but a few decent birds on the water were memorable. Firstly a Fairhave Lake Red-necked Grebe followed at Ryder's Mere by a Black-throated Diver .

Whatever else the year might turn up, December 2010 will be remembered as a Waxwing spectacular in frosty conditions .

November 2010 was generally quiet but I was tempted to travel North for these two obliging birds! Pied-billed Grebe at Hollingworth Reservoir and then Great Northern Diver at Astbury Mere.

The highlight of a mid October 2010 trip to Norfolk was a frantic ten minute period which provided these two lifers! Pallas's Warbler closely followed by Red-flanked Bluetail at Burnham Overy dunes.

September 2010 threw up some great birds and a trip to Devon was crowned by fantastic views of these two! Glossy Ibis at Avonmouth and then Spotted Sandpiper at Exminster Marshes.

The last weekend in August 2010 ended on a hight note with two Shropshire 'Megas' in the space of 48 hours! Wryneck on Titterstone Clee then Whiskered Tern at Venus Pool.

No doubt as to the 'Wader of the month' for July 2010 at Venus Pool! Black-tailed Godwits with up to 40 present dominated the scene from the 18th to 22nd....

A 'quieter' period in June is the norm but regular local migrants such as Spotted Flycatcher and Common Redstart are always worth seeking out....

A cracking start to May 2010 with Dotterel on the Longmynd and Hoopoe at Clayhanger Marsh in adjacent Staffs.

Undoubtedly the bird of the month? May 2010's Frampton Marsh Oriental Pranticole will certainly take some beating....

Great bird interest at Venus Pool in April 2010 with (in addition to the Osprey), Yellow Wagtails and female Marsh Harrier......

Shropshire Birder

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Birding and Bird Photography from Jim Almond

What's it all about?

Developments.....

More images inside and on the blog.....