Dragged myself out of bed before 05.00 this morning to visit a recommended site in Dubai. Entailed a drive of over one and a half hours, but at that time and it being Ramadan the roads were extremely quiet. With temperatures rising to in excess of 40 degrees by mid day I wanted to get there in good time.
International city is a massive residential complex and the lakes are to be developed as a nature reserve. Due to the recession most of the construction work is on hold and there is no...

I have been in the West Midlands for my Nephew's Christening and after visiting Brandon Marsh near Coventry yesterday, I made a trip to Hamstead in Birmingham today, to visit the RSPB reserve; Sandwell Valley.

I was last here in a very cold and snowy February when building work had not long started on improving the centre and facilities. Sadly, not long after this, the centre was subject to an arson attack.

I arrived today to find only half of the building still standing,...

It's hard to believe that almost 15 months have passed since my first visit to Brandon Marsh. It was the day after the birth of my nephew, Nathan, I struggled with a hangover in the heat, taking very shaky photo's and feeling sorry for myself!!

I've just returned from the West Midlands for Nathan's Christening. I'm happy to report that he is now a wriggling, giggling, non-stop baby machine only content with ripping off Uncle Alan's glasses and trying to poke me in the eye with them...

It is nice to see the birds with their young as they start to fledge. Seeing a Whitethroat today at the old Govan docks was a first for me. I didn't know any Whitethroats were there.
Seeing the Goldfinch youngsters coming on too is nice to see. None of the regular swans seem to have been successful in breeding again this year. Pity.
The Cormorants are looking scruffy.
I spotted a red breasted Merganser some months ago and it was great to see it go up the Clyde with young ones...

Bird Sightings from my local patch in the West Midlands/Worcs can be found on my blog at:- lutleybirder.blogspot.com