Neil Donaghy
@neild1962.bsky.social
Birder/wildlife, traveller, hobby photographer. Retired tour operator. I only follow friends, birds/wildlife and some photography accounts.
En route to our final stop in Argentina at Ceibas, we stopped at a small roadside reserve where we enjoyed some excellent new birds such as Freckle-breasted Thornbird, Guira Cuckoo, Savanna Hawk and White Monjita.
February 4, 2026 at 3:23 PM
En route to our final stop in Argentina at Ceibas, we stopped at a small roadside reserve where we enjoyed some excellent new birds such as Freckle-breasted Thornbird, Guira Cuckoo, Savanna Hawk and White Monjita.
A close encounter with a Puma in a garden near Victoria, British Columbia, Canada in June 2023, taken on iPhone SE 2nd edition. Lit by a spot lamp held by another group member - a totally wild and unexpected encounter with this apex predator.
February 3, 2026 at 1:33 PM
A close encounter with a Puma in a garden near Victoria, British Columbia, Canada in June 2023, taken on iPhone SE 2nd edition. Lit by a spot lamp held by another group member - a totally wild and unexpected encounter with this apex predator.
The final port on our cruise was Buenos Aires with time for birding at the fabulous Costanera Sur reserve. Packed with birds here are just a few - juvenile Harris's Hawk, Limpkin, juvenile Rufescent Tiger-heron and a pair of Rosy-billed Pochards.
January 30, 2026 at 3:37 PM
The final port on our cruise was Buenos Aires with time for birding at the fabulous Costanera Sur reserve. Packed with birds here are just a few - juvenile Harris's Hawk, Limpkin, juvenile Rufescent Tiger-heron and a pair of Rosy-billed Pochards.
I had a nice walk to Kenfig Castle Meadow on a cold but sunny morning. The highlight being a flock of a dozen or so Eurasian Siskins that were feeding high in the canopy on alder catkins. I took an age to get a male in shot & in focus, but eventually a couple posed quite nicely.
January 28, 2026 at 5:07 PM
I had a nice walk to Kenfig Castle Meadow on a cold but sunny morning. The highlight being a flock of a dozen or so Eurasian Siskins that were feeding high in the canopy on alder catkins. I took an age to get a male in shot & in focus, but eventually a couple posed quite nicely.
Its been a quieter start to the year at Kenfig NNR than last year & numbers of many species are also down since the end of the cold snap. Just two Purple Sandpipers have been recorded at Sker though 29 Ringed Plovers there included some already in courtship mode.
January 25, 2026 at 10:49 AM
Its been a quieter start to the year at Kenfig NNR than last year & numbers of many species are also down since the end of the cold snap. Just two Purple Sandpipers have been recorded at Sker though 29 Ringed Plovers there included some already in courtship mode.
Our day in Montevideo, Uruguay was the hottest of the whole trip reaching 45C by the afternoon. The strong sunlight made photography difficult, but here a Green-barred Woodpecker, Glittering-bellied Emerald, Great Pampa Finch and Black Skimmer.
January 22, 2026 at 4:08 PM
Our day in Montevideo, Uruguay was the hottest of the whole trip reaching 45C by the afternoon. The strong sunlight made photography difficult, but here a Green-barred Woodpecker, Glittering-bellied Emerald, Great Pampa Finch and Black Skimmer.
Reposted by Neil Donaghy
RSPB reports six of its satellite-tagged Hen Harriers ‘disappeared’ on or close to grouse moors in England in 2025 & another was illegally poisoned – Raptor Persecution UK raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/01/20/r...
RSPB reports six of its satellite-tagged Hen Harriers ‘disappeared’ on or close to grouse moors in England in 2025 & another was illegally poisoned
The RSPB has today issued a press release documenting the suspicious disappearance of six of its satellite-tagged Hen Harriers in 2025, as well as one that had been illegally poisoned. All seven in…
raptorpersecutionuk.org
January 20, 2026 at 12:33 AM
RSPB reports six of its satellite-tagged Hen Harriers ‘disappeared’ on or close to grouse moors in England in 2025 & another was illegally poisoned – Raptor Persecution UK raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/01/20/r...
Reposted by Neil Donaghy
It just goes on, and on!
Satellite-tagged Hen Harrier Edna "suspected illegally killed". Was she killed & dumped at a windfarm in Northumberland? raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/01/19/s...
Satellite-tagged Hen Harrier Edna "suspected illegally killed". Was she killed & dumped at a windfarm in Northumberland? raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/01/19/s...
Satellite-tagged Hen Harrier Edna “suspected illegally killed”. Was she killed & dumped at a windfarm in Northumberland?
Further to this morning’s blog about a satellite-tagged Hen Harrier (Pete) who has ‘disappeared’ in Cumbria (see here), here’s news of another one, quietly updated in Natura…
raptorpersecutionuk.org
January 19, 2026 at 6:59 PM
It just goes on, and on!
Satellite-tagged Hen Harrier Edna "suspected illegally killed". Was she killed & dumped at a windfarm in Northumberland? raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/01/19/s...
Satellite-tagged Hen Harrier Edna "suspected illegally killed". Was she killed & dumped at a windfarm in Northumberland? raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/01/19/s...
Reposted by Neil Donaghy
Satellite-tagged Hen Harrier 'Pete' disappears in Cumbria raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/01/19/s...
Satellite-tagged Hen Harrier ‘Pete’ disappears in Cumbria
A satellite-tagged Hen Harrier named ‘Pete’ has ‘disappeared’ in Cumbria, according to a Natural England spreadsheet. Pete was tagged as a nestling in Cumbria in 2021 (Tag #…
raptorpersecutionuk.org
January 19, 2026 at 6:57 PM
Satellite-tagged Hen Harrier 'Pete' disappears in Cumbria raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/01/19/s...
Our day on the Valdez Peninsula was hampered by a late arrival, but we did manage to see some nice birds such as Elegant Crested Tinamou and Carbonated Sierra-finch as well as a lifesize Patagotitan on the outskirts of Trelew.
January 19, 2026 at 3:35 PM
Our day on the Valdez Peninsula was hampered by a late arrival, but we did manage to see some nice birds such as Elegant Crested Tinamou and Carbonated Sierra-finch as well as a lifesize Patagotitan on the outskirts of Trelew.
We had a couple of days at sea after leaving the islands, heading back towards Argentina and the Valdez Peninsula. There were noticeably less seabirds in this area, but it was nice to see Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatrosses and a few Great Shearwaters.
January 16, 2026 at 3:43 PM
We had a couple of days at sea after leaving the islands, heading back towards Argentina and the Valdez Peninsula. There were noticeably less seabirds in this area, but it was nice to see Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatrosses and a few Great Shearwaters.
A few more species from on or around the Falkland Islands :- White-tufted Grebes, Falkland Steamer Duck and Two-banded Plover. Our day there was a little rushed and we didn't have chance to catch up with some other species I would have liked to have seen.
January 13, 2026 at 1:31 PM
A few more species from on or around the Falkland Islands :- White-tufted Grebes, Falkland Steamer Duck and Two-banded Plover. Our day there was a little rushed and we didn't have chance to catch up with some other species I would have liked to have seen.
Our first stop after Cape Horn were the Falkland Islands where we had a day enjoying the rookeries of King, Gentoo and Magellanic Penguins on what was a drizzly day.
January 11, 2026 at 1:14 PM
Our first stop after Cape Horn were the Falkland Islands where we had a day enjoying the rookeries of King, Gentoo and Magellanic Penguins on what was a drizzly day.
We rounded Cape Horn on a calm day with the ship's captain saying he had never previously been as close to the shore as we were. Not many birds as we headed north towards the Valdez Peninsula. Soft-plumaged-petrel was new, but no photo, so one of many Sooty Shearwaters seen.
January 8, 2026 at 2:15 PM
We rounded Cape Horn on a calm day with the ship's captain saying he had never previously been as close to the shore as we were. Not many birds as we headed north towards the Valdez Peninsula. Soft-plumaged-petrel was new, but no photo, so one of many Sooty Shearwaters seen.
These are a few more species that we saw around Ushuaia, Argentina before we set sail for Cape Horn. The rather numerous Dolphin Gull, Chimango Caracara and White-rumped Sandpipers all of which were feeding on the dropping tide & Spectacled Duck on the lake in the Tierra del Fuego National Park
January 6, 2026 at 3:03 PM
These are a few more species that we saw around Ushuaia, Argentina before we set sail for Cape Horn. The rather numerous Dolphin Gull, Chimango Caracara and White-rumped Sandpipers all of which were feeding on the dropping tide & Spectacled Duck on the lake in the Tierra del Fuego National Park
Despite a lot of berries and fruitfall at Kenfig Pool, there hasn't been large numbers of Fieldfares this winter, so I was pleased when this bird sat up in nice light. They really are stunning birds.
January 4, 2026 at 2:39 PM
Despite a lot of berries and fruitfall at Kenfig Pool, there hasn't been large numbers of Fieldfares this winter, so I was pleased when this bird sat up in nice light. They really are stunning birds.
The next leg of our journey took us through the Straits of Magellan on to Ushuaia, Argentina, the most southerly city in the world. We spent a few hours in the Tierra del Fuego NP seeing the giant Magellanic Woodpecker, Patagonian Sierra-finch & Black-chested Buzzard-eagle among others.
January 2, 2026 at 2:26 PM
The next leg of our journey took us through the Straits of Magellan on to Ushuaia, Argentina, the most southerly city in the world. We spent a few hours in the Tierra del Fuego NP seeing the giant Magellanic Woodpecker, Patagonian Sierra-finch & Black-chested Buzzard-eagle among others.
No sign of the female Bufflehead at Kenfig Pool, but the four Tundra Bean Geese had a fly around from Sker and were briefly at the pool before heading back to Sker Farm, where the 4 Barnacle Geese were still present.
January 1, 2026 at 1:18 PM
No sign of the female Bufflehead at Kenfig Pool, but the four Tundra Bean Geese had a fly around from Sker and were briefly at the pool before heading back to Sker Farm, where the 4 Barnacle Geese were still present.
Finished an amazing year by smashing my personal patch year list record at Kenfig NNR by 13 species, ending on 182. Final species was also a County and Welsh tick - a female Bufflehead found today by MikeCram
December 31, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Finished an amazing year by smashing my personal patch year list record at Kenfig NNR by 13 species, ending on 182. Final species was also a County and Welsh tick - a female Bufflehead found today by MikeCram
One of the four Tundra Bean Geese that were at Sker this morning - not a species I was expecting to see when I went out this morning given how rare wild geese are anywhere in Glamorgan. Never close but a great find by @deanbolt.bsky.social
December 28, 2025 at 1:39 PM
One of the four Tundra Bean Geese that were at Sker this morning - not a species I was expecting to see when I went out this morning given how rare wild geese are anywhere in Glamorgan. Never close but a great find by @deanbolt.bsky.social
Continuing south, we began to encounter a new range of seabirds including Snowy Albatross, Slender-billed Prion & Southern Giant Petrels as well as amazing scenery such as the Amalia Glacier seen here at first light.
December 27, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Continuing south, we began to encounter a new range of seabirds including Snowy Albatross, Slender-billed Prion & Southern Giant Petrels as well as amazing scenery such as the Amalia Glacier seen here at first light.
Merry Christmas to all friends, family and followers near and far. Your support, comments and likes are really appreciated and wish everyone a happy, healthy and wildlife filled 2026 😍
December 25, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Merry Christmas to all friends, family and followers near and far. Your support, comments and likes are really appreciated and wish everyone a happy, healthy and wildlife filled 2026 😍
A couple of excursions on to dry land in Chile produced a nice variety of species though the weather was unpredictable. Greater Yellowlegs, Fire-eyed Diucon, Silvery Grebe and Crested Caracara.
December 22, 2025 at 10:20 AM
A couple of excursions on to dry land in Chile produced a nice variety of species though the weather was unpredictable. Greater Yellowlegs, Fire-eyed Diucon, Silvery Grebe and Crested Caracara.
As we sailed further south, the variety of seabirds began to increase with Northern Royal Albatrosses, Chilean Skuas, Masatierra Petrels and South American Terns often accompanying us as we headed towards Punta Arenas for a day of land based birding.
December 20, 2025 at 11:35 AM
As we sailed further south, the variety of seabirds began to increase with Northern Royal Albatrosses, Chilean Skuas, Masatierra Petrels and South American Terns often accompanying us as we headed towards Punta Arenas for a day of land based birding.
Heading south into the open ocean from San Antonio, we began saw a wide range of seabirds such as Black-browed Albatross, Antipodean Albatross & Stejneger's Petrels from our high viewing point, but also from a lower deck where we lost height, but were closer to the birds.
December 17, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Heading south into the open ocean from San Antonio, we began saw a wide range of seabirds such as Black-browed Albatross, Antipodean Albatross & Stejneger's Petrels from our high viewing point, but also from a lower deck where we lost height, but were closer to the birds.