randombirder

 ...a very short break - pretty much two and a half days to an area I have wanted to visit for a while. Particularly the 'El Fondo' reserve a mere thirty minute drive from Alicante Airport. A two hour delay from Gatwick meant that my drive down to Torrevieja was made in the dark - a shame really having realised on the drive back just how vast the wetland is in this area. Greater flamingo were dotted seemingly on every pool, glowing in the bright Spanish sun. A beautiful country outside of the resorts and away from the sun parched tourists. Thankfully it was relatively quiet at this time of year. The El Fondo reserve surpassed my expectations. It's a truly stunning reserve, free at the point of entry for everyone to enjoy. It appears to be really well managed. The wooden walkway through the wetland is stunning, where species such as red-knobbed coot , purple swamphen , black-winged stilt and glossy ibis can be seen in close proximity.  The paths wrap round the reedbeds and...

30th - 2nd June 2012 A trip of a lifetime and one that I will never forget.  This was my first experience of meeting some of the planet's most revered animals. Africa is a huge continent and there are plenty of destinations to choose from but Kenya is a one that has been well explored, and set-up for mass tourism.  I admit feeling ambivalent at times particularly when charging around this sensitive and globally-important verdant landscape in a mini-van, in pursuit of the next prized mammalian target. At least my aim to shoot these wonderful creatures was with a camera and not a gun.  It is a most spectacular place. Here are a selection of the many photos taken on the 8 day trip taken in May 2012. Camp Carnelley's was my base for the first part of the trip located on the foreshore of Lake Naivasha.   The grounds were full of birds including s uperb starling , l ilac-breasted roller , and this wonderful r ed-chested cuckoo . Li...