by Ian Misselbrook

When, in the Bull on one Sunday afternoon in October 2004 Ian volunteered to produce a wildlife article for the Rippingale Village Website his idea was welcomed, and Country Eye Autumn 2004 was published the following month. Since then it has become large enough to be it's own website, so in August 2008 www.CountryEye.org.uk was launched.

Ian has been interested in Nature and Wildlife from a very early age. At 11 he was a member of the Young Ornithologists Club (YOC), and at 16 he was secretary of the Essex Field Club Mammal Group, and founder member and secretary of the Essex Field Club Bird Group. He has been a voluntary warden at various RSPB reserves, and a Wetland Birds Survey (WeBS) wildfowl counter for more than 25 years.

In December 2008 Ian and Hugh Dorrington went on a birding a birding trip of a lifetime to the Gambia. Click here to see Hugh's illuminating diary illustrated with Ian's photos.