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  1. Oatcake

    Unknown Raptor, Staffordshire, UK

    Dear Bob, It's not caught anything, I checked the other photos. A Red Squirrel in this area would be important! We're just Grey, Grey, Grey. I've tweeted the fact I've seen one to my two local wildlife charities, if they retweet maybe someone has lost a bird. I'm not a big fan of captive bird...
  2. Oatcake

    Unknown Raptor, Staffordshire, UK

    Perhaps I should have been a bit more patient and thought things through. There was a reason I didn't recognise it - it's must be an escapee - I've found images of Harris Hawk.
  3. Oatcake

    Unknown Raptor, Staffordshire, UK

    I was in my garden, which backs onto field/lake/woodland and we're used to a wide variety of birdlife, our house list is pushing 100, but I haven't a clue what this is. https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/EvDBAGB-yeaaE0mIYZtP-ZT0IkDwpKfVX5yOoxN6Q8I?feat=directlink The weather is closing in...
  4. Oatcake

    Islay in 1 week

    I found that blog, got me quite excited. What's the mobile phone coverage like on Islay - just wondering about getting internet in the evenings. I have T-mobile/Orange.
  5. Oatcake

    Islay in 1 week

    Hi, I'm off to Islay for the first time in 1 week. I've been to Skye a few times, and Mull and the little ones around it (see my puffin profile picture!) Doing Arran on the way, and Jura and Colonsay for a day each. I've just bought the Islay nat. hist. guide - but anything in particular...
  6. Oatcake

    'British' list post-Scottish independence

    I think someone hasn't stated the obvious, as the OP still seems confused. The group of islands off the European mainland is the British Isles. It includes the one island that is split between Rep.of Ireland and N. Ireland. The largest of the isles (Great, as in Great Tit, Greater Spotted...
  7. Oatcake

    Where to go for a Bittern

    Thanks for the advice. I hadn't realized they were easier to spot in winter. I'd always believed the best chances were when they were booming. I'll wait for winter. Saves a trip to Lancashire this weekend - I can get her painting the doors instead!
  8. Oatcake

    Lens advice for Canon

    I was originally looking at the 100-400. I was first put off by the "vacuum cleaner" reviews that left me worried about buying a second hand one. And then I saw a few reviews that didn't show much difference between the Sigma 120-400 and the Canon 100-400 @400mm. I think £900 seems to much for...
  9. Oatcake

    Where to go for a Bittern

    Last year I had the luck to watch Bitterns and a Purple-Heron while on holiday in norfolk (we went to Minsmere). My considerably more unlucky wife managed to completely miss the purple heron (despite everyone else in the hide seeing it) and always seemed to miss the bittern - I've since replaced...
  10. Oatcake

    Lens advice for Canon

    I've decided to replace my 70-300 USM canon lens with something a bit better. I'm looking to spend about £500. I'm looking for something that I can use handheld when I'm out walking and happen to see something interesting (off to Arran, Islay, Jura and Colonsay in 3 weeks) but also stick on a...
  11. Oatcake

    New Binoculars - Viking or RSPB

    Yes, Viking make the RSPB binoculars. My question is if someone can explain what the difference is between seemingly similar binoculars. Because if there is something useful in the more expensive pair then I'll buy them, if not I'm not sure what the extra ~£70 gets me.
  12. Oatcake

    New Binoculars - Viking or RSPB

    My Helios Naturesport (not the BAK4 ones) 10x50 are in need of replacing, but I'm not sure what to go for. At the moment I have it down to: Viking Navilux 8x42 Viking Vistron 8x42 RSPB WPG 8.5x42 and a slight outsider Vistron 8x50 (but they're much more expensive) I tried them all out and...
  13. Oatcake

    Atlas of British Birdlife (book)

    In 1991 I was bought the Atlas of British Birdlife and since then it's been a great guide to places to go birding all over the British Isles. But I can't help but wonder if there is a more up to date book that covers all the sites to go birding in the UK. Any suggestions?
  14. Oatcake

    Birding In Staffordshire

    Well our move to our first home was quite eventful. First we broke a key in the lock, and worse the chimney caught fire - extinguished thanks to Uttoxeter and Tutbury finest firemen. On the bird front we've not had much special yet - we're keeping a house list, the most notable so far have been...
  15. Oatcake

    Birding In Staffordshire

    Well, I'm moving 10 miles South next week, to near Marchington. So no more Churnet Valley walks in the evening, but hopefully the small lake behind our house will attract some interesting birds (although not a varied as the JCB lakes I doubt). Currently the garden is empty lawn, so the birds...
  16. Oatcake

    Birding In Staffordshire

    In the Rocester/Denstone area I've come across the following recently: Oystercatchers nesting on an island in the middle of one of the JCB lakes. Barn Owl flying over the lake, and a Little Owl in Denstone (found when looking for the Barn Owl). Grey Wagtail nesting by the weir on the way in to...
  17. Oatcake

    Comment by 'Guest' in media 'Spinner Dolphins'

    Great image, but also it shows an interesting effect of the refractive index change. The out of water part of the image appears to be taken from an angle above the plane of the water but the underwater appears to be on the same level or slightly below.
    • Oatcake
    • Gallery comment
  18. Laughing Puffin

    Laughing Puffin

    One of the billion puffins on the island of Lunga (part of the Treshnish Isle off Mull) poses for a photo. My girlfriend thinks he's smiling for me.
    • Oatcake
    • Media item
    • lunga puffin
    • Comments: 2
    • Category: Britain & Europe
  19. Red Deer

    Red Deer

    Red deer herd. Photographed whilst on holiday on Mull.
    • Oatcake
    • Media item
    • mull red deer
    • Comments: 0
    • Category: Wild Mammals
  20. Oatcake

    Out for an owl

    Two nights ago, while out walking around dusk, I saw a large light-ish shape in the sky that didn't seem familiar (ie duck, goose or thrush shaped). The lightness of the colour, the shape / flight, and the time of day lead me to guess a barn owl. Well, last night we went on a walk to try and...
  21. Oatcake

    New Naturalist (Collins)

    I thought you might ask that :-) I'm afraid I don't know. I only found it yesterday by clicking on the author's name on amazon. From the summary (which stupidly I only read after posting) it sounds much more comprehensive than just UK bats and is probably a bit dry.
  22. Oatcake

    New Naturalist (Collins)

    Also, one of the problems is that there are an estimated 1500-2000 collectors who want a 1st edition hardback. At one stage Collins produced less than that number. Subtract copies to libraries and you are left with extremely fierce competition between collectors. And I wouldn't hold your breath...
  23. Oatcake

    New Naturalist (Collins)

    I've been collecting New Naturalists for the last few years. I have some tips if you're interested in the content rather than the trophy value: 1. Buy Peter Marren's New Naturalist book "New Naturalist" (number 86 I think) get the 2004 reprint. This will give you loads on info on copies...
  24. Oatcake

    Another strange duck - Staffs UK

    On the other thread I started last week someone asked about a good book of world wildfowl for identifying things like this - especially one with migration details to help differentiate (or guess) between vagrants and escapees. No one replied with a suggestion - does anyone have one? PS thanks...
  25. Oatcake

    Another strange duck - Staffs UK

    After last week's silver bahama pintail we've got another strange one that's defied our bird books. This was the only one of it's kind seen on the lakes at JCB Rocester. It appeared to be chasing a female red crested pochard. There seems to be a few introduced species on the lake so I wouldn't...
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