About Graham Clarkson

Born & brought up in Marshside, I started birding there in the mid 1970s & made my first birding trip to Martin Mere in 1977. I've lived, worked & birdied in Abu Dhabi, Northern Ireland & Gloucestershire & I've spent time working in Kazakhstan & Madagascar. I enjoy birding my various West Lancashire patches, making frequent birding visits throughout the north-west of England and North Wales. I stray elsewhere in the UK & enjoy birding abroad from time to time. I'm particularly interested in wildfowl (especially pink-footed geese) with an interest in waders & raptors, bird counts & surveys & conservation. I'm trying to get the hang of photography & digiscoping - I'll get there eventually.

My degree from Edge Hill University is in conservation biology. I've guided on numerous birding days out & trips & guided birding holidays to Lesvos, Andalucia, Extremedura, Majorca, Camargue, Hungary, Finland & Florida. I enjoy showing people birds & habitats & helping them learn more about birds & enjoy birding. I'm currently involved with the Birdwatching and Beyond course at Edge Hill and a brand new venture; Skein Birding.

As well as birding I'm interested in captive breeding & reintroduction projects & zoos, how they're managed & how they contribute to conservation. I'm a proud Lancastrian & love the Lancashire countryside & landscapes. I'm an Evertonian & also keep up with what's happening at Southport, PNE & Bristol Rovers. Gardening, dogs (I have a Labrador & a Tibetan Terrier) and keeping chickens (especially Marsh Daisys & Scots Dumpy Bantams). Ruth & I have two marvellous boys who both love nature too. I hope you find the blog and subjects covered interesting; please feel free to leave a comment.

Sunday, 30 December 2012

Christmas and rain stopped play

I spent Christmas with the family down in Hereford. It was great for the kids and we all had a smashing time. Unfortunately the weather was wet and grey, so not conducive to birding and with the flood plains of the Wye and Lugg full, not conducive to getting around either.
Pair of Mute Swans swimming around the King's Meadow in Hereford on Christmas Day.
 
The Lugg floodplain full up at Christmas
 
Floods at Bodenham on Boxing Day
 
Got back home to Lancashire on the 27th December to more grey, dank, wet days; hardly inspiring stuff. I did haul myself out a couple of times and managed big flocks of Whooper Swans at Bescar, Hundred End and Low Meadows. The herd at Hundred End contained five Bewick's Swans and a big flock of Pink-feet there held three Barnacle Geese. A couple of Jack Snipe near Rufford station were worth noting, as were a flock of 21 Yellowhammers nearby. Hopefully some sun soon. Please.
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