2015 Calendar

Front cover

Front cover		 Little Owl calling

Back cover

Back cover		 January – Whooper Swans
February – Robin singing
March – Male Redpoll
April – Barn Owl hovering
May – Male Dartford Warbler
June – Male Yellow Wagtail
July – Cuckoo calling
August – Wryneck
September – Juvenile Curlew Sandpiper
October – Stone Curlew calling
November – Water Rail
December – Male Common Crossbill


With the Greek economy still in the doldrums and my own finances faring little better 2014 saw me resist even the lure of Scotland and concentrate my photography in East Anglia and primarily Norfolk. This proved surprisingly productive - enabling me to connect with several species which have eluded my lens in the past. I decided on the title ‘Norfolk Nomads’ because, although the term can’t be applied in its fullest sense to all the featured species other than the irruptive Crossbill, the majority can loosely be classed as visitors to the county in varying numbers and Dartford Warbler as a recent but highly localized colonist. This only leaves Barn and Little Owl, Water Rail and Robin as all-year-round residents, and even then the Little Owl is of course an introduced species and the numbers of the last two are augmented in autumn and winter by visitors from further north. This year’s weather has proved fairly kind to our breeding birds and Barn Owls are finally experiencing an upturn following a bumper vole year - though my own breeding pair have had their fair share of drama! On April 22nd I found the male in the road unable to fly and he was duly conveyed to the vets where a small wing fracture was diagnosed. After being strapped up and confined for a ten day period in a local wildlife hospital to allow the break time to heal by 1st May he was considered ready for release back into the owl hole. We were anxious as to whether the female (who had taken over the duties of sole breadwinner for the five young - with help from me by way of nightly food offerings) would accept him after such a long absence but as it turned out we needn’t have worried. We watched the whole scenario on CCTV and after an initial ‘stand-off’ period they gradually began to bond again and were once more mating a week later! Though he can fly OK an early moult of several flight feathers (most likely stress related) has limited his hunting activities somewhat and he seems more than happy to let the female continue ‘punching above her weight’ - truly a man after my own heart! Fortunately all five young fledged successfully but at this stage I can’t predict if a second brood will follow - you’ll have to wait till next year for news! Currently I’m enjoying the nightly magic of up to seven flying Barn Owls just outside my window - regularly joined by a family of badgers foraging for peanuts! With a Little Owl family just down the road and Tawnies all around why would I want to be anywhere else? Meanwhile I continue to offer a series of talks, guided birding and photography days locally and to erect Barn Owl boxes by arrangement. Feel free to contact me on any of these issues.

Sales of this calendar directly benefit my conservation work and feeding programme.
If you want to view an image of both the front and back covers in more detail then click on the links above the images. Better still, of course, you could purchase one (or more!) calendars from me at the prices shown below. Postage and packing rates relate purely to the UK.


 Price UK P&P Total
A4 calendar £9.50 £3.25 £12.75
A3 calendar £12.50 £4.75 £17.25


The 2014 Calendar page is available as an example of Richard's other photos.

To order please contact Richard Brooks.

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