Plants
Explore the birds I have encountered and documented over the years. Species are arranged into taxonomic groups, with photographs, dates and locations.
The songbirds and perching birds are the single largest bird order: nearly 60% of all living bird species (Brinkworth et al., 2023), a diversity comparable to that of all living mammals (Barker et al., 2004). Scientifically, a passerine is defined by a package of features legs, feet, palate, and above all the syrinx, the avian voice box (Frith & Frith, 2004). Songbirds (oscines) use three or four pairs of muscles in the syrinx, which is why they hold the most elaborate songs of any bird group and their song has driven much of their evolution through sexual selection (Düring et al., 2013).
Blue Jacaranda
Jacaranda mimosifolia
Arusha, Dec 2024
Strangler fig
Ficus aurea
Arusha, Tanzania, Dec 2024
Umbrella thorn
Acacia tortilis
Serengeti Planes, Dec 2024
African Baobab
Adansonia digitata
Tarengere National Park, Dec 2024
Common coconut Palm
Cocos nucifera
Jamaica, Dec 2023
Common Fig
Ficus caria
Krka Valley, Croatia, Jun 2026
European beech
Dactylorhiza incarnata
Mannor Park, Autumn 2025
Europearn mountain-ash
Sorbus aucuparia
Tice’s Meadow, Jun 2026
Giant Sequoia
Sequoiadendron giganteum
Brookwood cemetary, Aug 2026
European holly
Ilex aquifolium
Thundery Meadows, Jul 2026
Sycamore
Acer pseudoplatanus
Wocester, May 2026
Black locust
Robinia pseudoacacia
Polo fields, Jun 2026
Turkey Oak
Quercus cerris
Canal towpath, Aldershot, Jul 2026
European beech
Fagus sylvatica
Canal towpath, Aldershot, Jul 2026
Traveller’s Palm
Ravenala madagascariensis
Negril, Dec 2023
Vanuatu fan palm
Licuala grandis
Negril, Dec 2023
Common Hazel
Corylus avellana
Canal towpath, Aldershot, Jul 2026
Black monkey thorn
Rustenburg
European Robin Erithacus rubecula
Tilford, 12 Jul 2026
Eurasian Magpie
Pica pica
Church Crookham, Jul 2026
Great Tit
Parus major
Tice’s Meadow, Aug 2026
what makes a grass, sedge and rush
Grasses
Meadow foxtail
Alopecurus pratenis
Hawley meadows, Jun 2026
European beach grass
Ammophila arenaria
Camber sands, May 2026
Tufted hairgrass
Deschampsia cespitosa
Hawley meadows, Jum 2026
Crested dogstail-grass
Cynosurus cristatus
Uk, Jun 2026
Cock’s-foot
Dactylis glomerata
Tice’s Meadow, May 2026
Sliky-spike melic
Melica ciliata
Tice’s Meadow, Jun 2026
Rushes
Common Rush
Juncus effusus
Thundery meadows, Jun 2026
Black bog-rush
Schoenus nigricans
Thundery meadows, Jun 2026
Black-headed heron
Ardea melanocephala
Ngorogoro crater, Dec 2024
Marabou Stork
Leptoptilos crumenifer
Ngorogoro crater, Dec 2024
Egyptian Goose (J)
Alopochen aegyptiaca
Thundery Meadows, Jul 2026
Grey Heron
Ardea cinerea
UK, Tices Meadow, Aug 2026
Sedges
Drooping sedge
Carex pendula
Canal towpath, Aldershot, Jul 2026
Greater pond-sedge
Carex riparia
Canal towpath, Aldershot, Jul 2026
Mute Swan
Cygnus olor
Fleet Pond, 2018
Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
Negril, Dec2023
African Penguin
Spheniscus demersus
Boulders Beach,2017
Accipitriformes & Falconiformes — The day-hunting raptors, defined ecologically rather than genealogically: hooked beaks, powerful talons and a predatory lifestyle (McClure et al., 2019). The science has shown that “raptor” is not a single family — eagles, hawks, buzzards and kites form the order Accipitriformes, while falcons sit in their own order, Falconiformes, being genetically closer to parrots and songbirds than to hawks (McCormack et al., 2013). Owls are excluded from this section by our site rule: they are the nocturnal raptors, under Nocturnal birds.
Common Buzzard
Buteo buteo
Thundery Meadows, Jul 2026
Goshawk
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Martial Eagle
Polemaetus bellicosus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Red kite (J)
Milvus milvus
Gillian Avenue, Aldershot, Jul 2026
Bateleur
Terathopius ecaudatus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Secretary Bird
Sagittarius serpentarius
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Chanting Goshawks
Genus Melierax
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
African Fish-Eagle (J)
Icthyophaga vocifer
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Buteos
Genus Buteo
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Hooded Vulture
Necrosyrtes monachus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
Tice’s Meadow, Jul 2026
Red-and-yellow barbet
Trachyphonus erythrocephalus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Chanting Goshawks
Genus Melierax
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
African Fish-Eagle (J)
Icthyophaga vocifer
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Buteos
Genus Buteo
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Hooded Vulture
Necrosyrtes monachus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
Tice’s Meadow, Jul 2026
Red-and-yellow barbet
Trachyphonus erythrocephalus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Chanting Goshawks
Genus Melierax
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
African Fish-Eagle (J)
Icthyophaga vocifer
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Buteos
Genus Buteo
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Hooded Vulture
Necrosyrtes monachus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
Tice’s Meadow, Jul 2026
Red-and-yellow barbet
Trachyphonus erythrocephalus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Chanting Goshawks
Genus Melierax
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
African Fish-Eagle (J)
Icthyophaga vocifer
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Buteos
Genus Buteo
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Hooded Vulture
Necrosyrtes monachus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
Tice’s Meadow, Jul 2026
Red-and-yellow barbet
Trachyphonus erythrocephalus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Chanting Goshawks
Genus Melierax
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
African Fish-Eagle (J)
Icthyophaga vocifer
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Buteos
Genus Buteo
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Hooded Vulture
Necrosyrtes monachus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
Tice’s Meadow, Jul 2026
Red-and-yellow barbet
Trachyphonus erythrocephalus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Chanting Goshawks
Genus Melierax
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
African Fish-Eagle (J)
Icthyophaga vocifer
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Buteos
Genus Buteo
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Hooded Vulture
Necrosyrtes monachus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
Tice’s Meadow, Jul 2026
Red-and-yellow barbet
Trachyphonus erythrocephalus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Chanting Goshawks
Genus Melierax
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
African Fish-Eagle (J)
Icthyophaga vocifer
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Buteos
Genus Buteo
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Hooded Vulture
Necrosyrtes monachus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
Tice’s Meadow, Jul 2026
Red-and-yellow barbet
Trachyphonus erythrocephalus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Chanting Goshawks
Genus Melierax
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
African Fish-Eagle (J)
Icthyophaga vocifer
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Buteos
Genus Buteo
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Hooded Vulture
Necrosyrtes monachus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
Tice’s Meadow, Jul 2026
Red-and-yellow barbet
Trachyphonus erythrocephalus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Chanting Goshawks
Genus Melierax
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
African Fish-Eagle (J)
Icthyophaga vocifer
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Buteos
Genus Buteo
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Hooded Vulture
Necrosyrtes monachus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
Tice’s Meadow, Jul 2026
Red-and-yellow barbet
Trachyphonus erythrocephalus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Chanting Goshawks
Genus Melierax
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
African Fish-Eagle (J)
Icthyophaga vocifer
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Buteos
Genus Buteo
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Hooded Vulture
Necrosyrtes monachus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
Tice’s Meadow, Jul 2026
Red-and-yellow barbet
Trachyphonus erythrocephalus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Chanting Goshawks
Genus Melierax
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
African Fish-Eagle (J)
Icthyophaga vocifer
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Buteos
Genus Buteo
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Hooded Vulture
Necrosyrtes monachus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
Tice’s Meadow, Jul 2026
Red-and-yellow barbet
Trachyphonus erythrocephalus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Chanting Goshawks
Genus Melierax
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
African Fish-Eagle (J)
Icthyophaga vocifer
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Buteos
Genus Buteo
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Hooded Vulture
Necrosyrtes monachus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
Tice’s Meadow, Jul 2026
Red-and-yellow barbet
Trachyphonus erythrocephalus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Chanting Goshawks
Genus Melierax
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
African Fish-Eagle (J)
Icthyophaga vocifer
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Buteos
Genus Buteo
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Hooded Vulture
Necrosyrtes monachus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
Tice’s Meadow, Jul 2026
Red-and-yellow barbet
Trachyphonus erythrocephalus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Chanting Goshawks
Genus Melierax
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
African Fish-Eagle (J)
Icthyophaga vocifer
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Buteos
Genus Buteo
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Hooded Vulture
Necrosyrtes monachus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
Tice’s Meadow, Jul 2026
Red-and-yellow barbet
Trachyphonus erythrocephalus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Chanting Goshawks
Genus Melierax
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
African Fish-Eagle (J)
Icthyophaga vocifer
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Buteos
Genus Buteo
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Hooded Vulture
Necrosyrtes monachus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
Tice’s Meadow, Jul 2026
Red-and-yellow barbet
Trachyphonus erythrocephalus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Chanting Goshawks
Genus Melierax
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
African Fish-Eagle (J)
Icthyophaga vocifer
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Buteos
Genus Buteo
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Hooded Vulture
Necrosyrtes monachus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
Tice’s Meadow, Jul 2026
Red-and-yellow barbet
Trachyphonus erythrocephalus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Chanting Goshawks
Genus Melierax
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
African Fish-Eagle (J)
Icthyophaga vocifer
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Buteos
Genus Buteo
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Hooded Vulture
Necrosyrtes monachus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
Tice’s Meadow, Jul 2026
Red-and-yellow barbet
Trachyphonus erythrocephalus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Chanting Goshawks
Genus Melierax
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
African Fish-Eagle (J)
Icthyophaga vocifer
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Buteos
Genus Buteo
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Hooded Vulture
Necrosyrtes monachus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
Tice’s Meadow, Jul 2026
Red-and-yellow barbet
Trachyphonus erythrocephalus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Chanting Goshawks
Genus Melierax
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
African Fish-Eagle (J)
Icthyophaga vocifer
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Buteos
Genus Buteo
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Hooded Vulture
Necrosyrtes monachus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
Tice’s Meadow, Jul 2026
Red-and-yellow barbet
Trachyphonus erythrocephalus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Chanting Goshawks
Genus Melierax
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
African Fish-Eagle (J)
Icthyophaga vocifer
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Buteos
Genus Buteo
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Hooded Vulture
Necrosyrtes monachus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
Tice’s Meadow, Jul 2026
Red-and-yellow barbet
Trachyphonus erythrocephalus
Central Serengeti, Dec 2024
Badger Ecology 