https://dartfordwaffler.co.uk Birding from around the world Wed, 03 Jun 2026 11:41:43 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 https://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/a-day-birding-in-qatar-qatar-birding/ https://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/a-day-birding-in-qatar-qatar-birding/#comments Thu, 21 Aug 2025 08:22:58 +0000 Nick http://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/?p=70531 My annual migration between Thailand and UK has not only seen the cost of direct flights rise dramatically but I have grown very tired of sitting on a plane for twelve hours, if only I was able to make the journey under self-powered flight like a Bar-tailed Godwit! Indirect flights are, of course, a solution [...]]]> https://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/a-day-birding-in-qatar-qatar-birding/feed/ 0 https://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/beach-birding-in-august-british-birding/ https://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/beach-birding-in-august-british-birding/#comments Fri, 12 Aug 2022 15:28:51 +0000 Nick http://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/?p=63035 Some birding locations are great to visit because they are new and exciting to explore, with all the possibilities of seeing new birds that goes with that. Other locations are great to visit because they are familiar, always have lots of birds to see, even if they are quite predictable but are just a place [...]]]> https://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/beach-birding-in-august-british-birding/feed/ 2 https://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/dunlin-rhynchokinesis-british-birding/ https://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/dunlin-rhynchokinesis-british-birding/#comments Thu, 13 May 2021 17:28:57 +0000 Nick http://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/?p=23014 Feeding niche and bill evolution specific to prey was shown by Charles Darwin to be an extemely important factor in speciation in birds and this is seldom so obvious than in shorebirds. The wide range of bill sizes and shapes in shorebirds is an obvious indicator to the different feeding techniques they employ and the [...]]]> https://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/dunlin-rhynchokinesis-british-birding/feed/ 0 https://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/oystercatcher-spectacular-british-birding/ https://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/oystercatcher-spectacular-british-birding/#comments Tue, 12 Jan 2021 21:10:35 +0000 Nick http://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/?p=22735 Eurasian Oystercatcher is one of the most recognisable shorebirds in Europe, within the region its black and white plumage and bright orange bill make it unmistakeable. One Oystercatcher is a smart bird, something that stands out in the crowd, while a small flock is even more interesting to watch because of the noisy, bickering interactions [...]]]> https://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/oystercatcher-spectacular-british-birding/feed/ 0 https://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/pied-avocet-with-colour-rings-british-birding/ https://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/pied-avocet-with-colour-rings-british-birding/#comments Sat, 24 Oct 2020 17:09:29 +0000 Nick http://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/?p=22515 On a quite grey and gloomy day on 3rd October 2020 I made a visit to RSPB Rainham Marsh which is just inside the boundary of London. Rather than enter the reserve immediately I walked along the River Thames where there were an intriguing group of gulls and waders which tricked me into thinking there [...]]]> https://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/pied-avocet-with-colour-rings-british-birding/feed/ 0 https://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/purple-sandpiper-close-encounter-british-birds/ https://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/purple-sandpiper-close-encounter-british-birds/#comments Wed, 21 Oct 2020 11:41:11 +0000 Nick http://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/?p=22486 The arrival of some birds really gives you a sense of the time of the year and for me when autumn comes around in UK I look forward to seeing Purple Sandpiper. This handsome little wader breeds within the arctic circle but at this time of the year they move further south and small numbers [...]]]> https://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/purple-sandpiper-close-encounter-british-birds/feed/ 0 https://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/autumn-birds-on-isle-of-sheppey-british-birds/ https://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/autumn-birds-on-isle-of-sheppey-british-birds/#comments Thu, 08 Oct 2020 22:02:51 +0000 Nick http://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/?p=22436 Another window in the blustery and wet weather conditions yesterday gave me the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. Where to go? There were some interesting birds reported from the far east of Kent and rarities in other parts of the country but there is one place that keeps drawing me towards it; the Isle of [...]]]> https://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/autumn-birds-on-isle-of-sheppey-british-birds/feed/ 0 https://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/ruddy-turnstone-feeding-behaviour-british-birding/ https://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/ruddy-turnstone-feeding-behaviour-british-birding/#comments Tue, 29 Sep 2020 11:31:29 +0000 Nick http://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/?p=22401 Whenever I visit stony or rocky coasts around Britain, no matter what other birds of interest there are to enjoy watching, eventually I am always drawn towards Ruddy Turnstones. These comical little characters are always busy running around on the rocks or among piles of seaweed, grabbing morsels of food and bickering with each other [...]]]> https://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/ruddy-turnstone-feeding-behaviour-british-birding/feed/ 0 https://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/high-tide-wader-roost-at-shellness-british-birding/ https://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/high-tide-wader-roost-at-shellness-british-birding/#comments Sat, 29 Aug 2020 19:26:10 +0000 Nick http://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/?p=22316 One of the most spectacular things in bird watching is seeing large numbers of birds together in the same place. When I am in UK there is one obvious place for me to head to in order to get a taste of this type of experience; the high tide roost at Shellness in North Kent. [...]]]> https://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/high-tide-wader-roost-at-shellness-british-birding/feed/ 0 https://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/eurasian-oystercatchers-british-birding/ https://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/eurasian-oystercatchers-british-birding/#comments Mon, 11 May 2020 13:27:34 +0000 Nick http://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/?p=22126 Which birds excite you the most? For many people rarity is a key factor in which birds they enjoy seeing. Of course we all like seeing rare birds but are they really the ones that mean the most to you? Are they the birds that you enjoy watching again and again or are their other [...]]]> https://dartfordwaffler.co.uk/eurasian-oystercatchers-british-birding/feed/ 0