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| Sunset on Cairn Gorm, with a blanket of fog shrouding the valley below |
The final part of my 2019 year in review - on reflection, a very busy, fulfilling and productive one - and the theme continued; in fact if anything it became busier still, with three memorable trips crammed into the last six weeks or so of the year.
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| Great views of Golden Eagle in the Strathdearn area |
In November we were invited back to the Grant Arms Hotel in Grantown-on-Spey in the Scottish Highlands, and what a week it was: as well as the stunning landscapes, the full spectrum of suitably dramatic weather (heavy snow, deep frosts, bright sunshine, impenetrable fog and more), the warm hospitality at the hotel, the fine company and the peace and quiet, we pretty much cleaned up regarding our wildlife targets....
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| Cold... but happy |
... which included stunning views of Golden Eagles (see here), highly entertaining Black Grouse leks (see here), showy Ptarmigan and Mountain Hares on Cairn Gorm (see here), lots of Crested Tits and Red Squirrels (see here), and plenty more besides. My talks and walks for the BWWC during the week were busy and lots of fun as always, and we're already looking forward to returning next winter.
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| Crested Tits in Abernethy - not to be missed |
I was back for a few days (just long enough for Humber surveying and giving talks) before it was time to exchange the damp, dark North Yorkshire December for the warmer, brighter, bird-filled alternative of Northern Israel. I was invited by Sheli and the team to assist and advise on the amazing job they're doing with the Jordan Valley Birding Centre, near Beit She'an on the Jordanian border - a birder's dream scenario of peace, relaxation, great hospitality, and so many birds....
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| Black Storks - the very appropriate and approachable logo bird for the JVBC |
I spent the best part of a fortnight out there, and for first part I was based at the JVBC with its perfect placement for great birding right on the doorstep and a little further afield (including the legendary northern valleys within an hour or so); I blogged about it throughout December (see here and work down!) and early January (see here) and had a blast with fine friends, birds and weather - and will be back sooner or later!
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| Dead Sea Sparrows are commonplace around the lodge |
The Jordan Valley Birding Centre and Lodge is the very model of sustainable, ecologically-sensitive, small scale, perfectly accommodating eco-tourism, and I'd recommend it to anyone; it's almost too good to be true and I've huge respect for what Sheli and the team are achieving there.
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| Of the many raptors wintering in the Hula Valley, Eastern Imperial Eagles are one of the most majestic... |
For the latter part of the trip I stayed with our dear friends the Perlmans, joining Yoav on plenty of fieldwork excursions and birding sessions at numerous locations from the Mediterranean to the West Bank to central interior Israel; as always, a huge pleasure and a lot of fun (jumping a high fence for a Lesser White-fronted Goose springing to mind...); roll on March and another opportunity to savour one of the world's greatest migration bottlenecks.
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| Tufted Titmouse.... |
Back home to the Yorkshire coast for a week or so and then it was time for the final trip of the year - a fortnight with my American family in Massachusetts. We've been back to Amity's home turf many times over these last 15 years, but never at Christmas - and it's a big deal to our warm and inclusive extended family, and so was long overdue.
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| ... and White-throated Sparrow in the garden.... |
It was all about family time of course, but there's always something to enjoy, and the snow made for a pretty backdrop - so bone-cracking temperatures were braved for short forays now and again to enjoy some familiar garden species. More here.
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| ... sensibly avoiding a Sharp-shinned Hawk close by |
