This year Rose and I decided it was time to take a trip away and join fellow birders at the British Bird fair. What a interesting experience and how much we enjoyed it. We helped on Albatross Encounters stand profiling Birdingnz and general birding enquiries New Zealand . The variety and styles of the various countries stands was a tribute to them all and overall it was a fascinating insight for us.
French flair
French wine and tip bits drew the crowd!
Our friends across the ditch
Falklands flair
It was great to see the disabled birders association so active here and I would like to think that this would be incentive for disabled birders in New Zealand and the rest of the world. I have taken a delightful disabled lady kayaking several times and it was most rewarding for both of us.
Harlequin duck
These ducks on the Iceland stand really stood out. What a fantastic image.
This stand from Greece was like a very colourful brochure and certainly created some interest.
We had a good look at this stand because we were on our way for a brief holiday after the bird fair. As it turned out not the best time of the year for birding in Iceland but never-the-less a rewarding experience in a very unusual environment. At Lake Myvatn we did see 5 Great Northern divers plus some tufted ducks swimming and diving in beautifully clear water.
juvenile tufted duck
Art work of wildlife
Art work of bird life
and then there was bug man Nic Baker
plus running hares and
a bird fair auction
Manu expeditions of South America
and the wild hinterland of Papua New Guinea which was one of my favourite stands.
Plenty of smiles on the Malaysian stand and not only birds to intrigue us.
Back in Uppingham where we were staying was some interesting backyards and peaceful rural scenes
South Devon cattle
and we were here for New Zealand the land of flightless birds and the long white cloud
Our thanks to Albatross Encounters and John Barratt of www.kapitiislandalive.co.nz for all there encouragement and advice on a most memorable journey.
