Definition of Optimism

BirdGuides Technical Director John Cromie sets the moth trap at our Holy Island offsite.

Cake Week

It has been a triumphant week for cakes. Thanks to a series of cunningly scheduled important afternoon meetings (and a birthday) we managed to have cakes at tea-time five days in a row. Here's the fifth one about to be sliced up by Stalwart-Friend-of-BirdGuides David Lindo

The big screen!

I've had an intriguing day. Thanks to lovely Mull birders and David Lindo, I was asked to provide some "atmospheric" bird footage for a proper feature film! I was briefed to think "winter, mysterious, magical, spooky, islands" - so came up with some hunting Short-eared Owl, soaring White-tailed Eagle, some Common Seals, a flock of Twite and some dusk Barn Owl. But exactly the bits that hit the BirdGuides cutting room floor. They wanted all the dark and too-distant bits.

I was invited over to Soho today to watch the embryonic film so that I could get a flavour of the piece. The film (Island) is a psychological thriller, and stars Colin Morgan (he of Merlin fame), the wonderfully cast Janet McTeer and Natalie Press. It was fascinating to see a "proper" film being made, and our footage really brought the island to life. I need to supply some more bits and bobs - some moon footage, and a few moths, and flying Cormorant (which is a key part of the film bizarrely). Anyway - I'll let you know when I'm at the red carpet premiere...

I leave you with a much more humble offering: bouncy Jack Snipe from the previous post.