Got to spend an amazing weekend at the predator-free sanctuaries of Kāpiti island and Zealandia! The forest birds of New Zealand are unmatched

Kererū are the ultimate pigeon- massive body, tiny head, rainbow feathers and (apparently) a habit of eating so much ripe fruit that they get drunk and fall out of trees

A lucky spot in Christchurch yesterday- a kōtuku! These great egrets (Ardea alba) are abundant in other parts of the world but extremely rare in New Zealand, with a total population of less than 200 birds in the whole country

A successful hike in search of the elusive New Zealand rock wren (Xenicus gilviventris)- in summer they can be found hopping between boulders in alpine scree fields but where and how they live in winter remains a mystery

Three penguin species in one day- little blue, yellow-eyed and fiordland crested. Stewart Island is a special place!

‘There are no dangerous animals in the forests of New Zealand’ I thought, incorrectly

My family left me in charge of decorating this year’s Christmas cake…

It’s called Boxing Day because it’s the day to put your tortoise in a box (in the fridge) to hibernate

Cuddles with the Colchester Zoo aardvarks: January 2019/January 2024

In Southampton Old Cemetery today: a kestrel enjoys his lunch before getting mobbed by crows

1/30 Guess who got a special delivery today? RLK KA85 meets his SST chick for the first time at 12:25 today. Chick weighed 405g this morning. The Dad LYO at the foster nest has fed SST well, and now have their own chick today. Thank you Rangers & Dad LYO AllAboutBirds.org/Albatross

We are delighted to announce that Aardvark OQ’s recent arrival has now been named by our Animal Care Team – say hello to Roo! With mum, OQ’s help, her little aardvark is growing stronger every day!

Our latest publication in avian medullary bone! 👇 linkedin.com/posts/muvisxra…

Great crested grebe family at Lakeside park this weekend

🚨 My first PhD paper is out! 🚨 In it we characterise the 3D structure of medullary bone, a type of bone tissue found only in female birds and (possibly) non-bird dinosaurs. Read about it here: sciencedirect.com/science/articl…

Lunchtime on Southampton common with one of my favourite UK birds 🔥

Caught a bird ringing demonstration at RSPB Minsmere over Easter- they let me hold a chiffchaff and I got my closest ever view of a nightingale!

Azores chaffinch (Fringilla moreletti), endemic to the Azores islands- a charming little bird which looks much like a muted version of a common chaffinch with a larger and more robust bill

A week whale watching in the Azores tally: ~20 sperm whales ~10 blue whales 4 orca 2 fin whales 2 sei whales 1 humpback whale + plenty of bottlenose and common dolphins Couldn’t have asked for more!

Great weekend at the Lyme Regis fossil festival representing palaeobiology at University of Southampton- featuring bird evolution, baby seagulls and (unexpectedly) a visit from a bottlenose dolphin!