After the Western Reef Heron flew from the Foryd Estuary yesterday afternoon when I was less than ten minutes away, I was very pleased to relocate the bird on the marshes north of Dinas Dinlle. Lots of familar and happy faces all round with this first for Britain.

For once a non-twitch visit to Belvide Reservoiryesterday. Quail singing from the west track, Yellow Wagtail, Yellowhammer, Lesser Whitethroat, Red Kite, 2 Little Egret. Encouraging to see a Pochard brood (albeit with only one young).

This weekend was all about insects at Hill Hook NR - Small Copper, Large Red + Blue-tailed Damselflies and Hummingbird Hawkmoth all new for the year. Also Common Blue Damselfly, Emperor Dragonfly, Silver Y and the currently ubitiquous Painted Lady. 7 cygnets continue to thrive @ruthnewby.bsky.social

This morning at Middleton Lakes - Pintail♂️ on JW South + 2♂️ Garganey on East Scrape were overdue year ticks; also Bittern & Cuckoo. Insect-wise first Common Blue for year & 33 Painted Lady! Host of new odonata for the year - BT Skimmer, BB Chaser, WL+CB Damsels, Banded Demoiselle, Emperor Dragonfly

A bit of cloud cover and BOOM! Argyresthia spinosella was new for me + the SK10 square; White Ermine + Sandy Carpet were NFG. Small Magpie, C pascuella, Middle-barred Minor, Argyresthia goedartella, C lathoniellus, Codling Moth, Rivulet, Common White Wave, Lozotaenia forsterana, Grey Pug all NFY.

3 Red-tipped Clearwings to the pheromone lure in the garden this afternoon. B74 VC38 SK10 @ruthnewby.bsky.social @bcwarwickshire.bsky.social @ecorecord.bsky.social

A host of NFY moths in recent nights incl Dark Arches, Vine's Rustic, Large Yellow Underwing, Phyllonorycter rajella, Many-plume Moth, Aspilapteryx tringipennella, Epinotia immundana, Eudonia mercurella NFG was Rhyacionia pinivorana whilst Incurvaria maculella was new for me #TeamMoth B74 VC38 SK10

Well that was unexpected. Broad-billed Sandpiper at QE2 (Walton) this afternoon. Think was taken by a Peregrine a few minutes later. #surreybirds #rarebirdsUK. The definition of inland reservoir patch gold. Almost like the Enhanced Games!!

A couple of walks in Sutton Park over the Bank Holiday - Green Hairstreak was a site first for me; also Small Heath, Holly Blue + Painted Lady. Calling Cuckoo, Willow Warbler + Whitethroat still in song, Jay + Nuthatch attending nest right by path. Also a party of 3 vole sp @ecorecord.bsky.social

10 NFG in this morning's trap - 2 Pale Tussock, Mottled Pug, Brimstone, Common Marbled Carpet, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Syndemis musculana, Cydia splendana, Rhyacionia pinicolana, Phtheochroa rugosana + Paraswammerdamia nebulella. All surpassed by calling Cuckoo, a garden tick B74 VC38 SK10

Bird singing in a bush (Part Six) Greenish Warbler singing and showing very well at the south end of the Long Pits, Dungeness this morning - found by Jacob. A Dungeness tick for me 🕺 and it is the first record for over 30 years for Dungeness of a very scarce bird in the South East #KentBirding

12 NFY in this mornings trap: Alder Kitten, Peppered Moth, Dingy Shell, Marbled Minor agg, Common Pug, Scalloped Hazel, Silver Y, Common Wainscot, Tinea trinotella, Notocelia cynosbatella, Neofaculta ericetella, Foxglove Pug but all surpassed by an apparent Pauper Pug, new for me B74 VC38 SK10

Marked upturn in mothing fortunes over last 2 nights with 10 NFY: Least Black Arches, Pebble Hook-tip, Pale Mottled Willow, Ingrailed Clay, Light Emerald, Bee Moth, Rustic Shoulder-knot, Flame Shoulder, Heart+Dart & this Clouded Silver B74 VC38 SK10 @ruthnewby.bsky.social @bcwarwickshire.bsky.social

The well-marked summer plumage Spotted Sandpiper still at Earlswood Lake on Engine Pool this evening, alternating between the dam + the shingle island; left it on the dam at 9:00pm. Also Sanderling and a Caspian Gull candidate.

Whitemoor Haye roadside pit 9pm - still Turnstone, Sanderling, Dunlin, 4+ Ringed Plover with further obscured plovers, Common Sandpiper @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social @alrewasbirder.bsky.social

On This Day in 1984 - West Midlands Bird Race. Not sure about my maths but back then could rely on black grouse, ruddy duck, turtle dove and long eared owl #birding #westmidlands

A wander around Middleton Lakes ahead of the @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social Open Day. Booming Bittern, calling Cuckoo, Red Kite, 2 Dunlin, Common Sand, 17+ Avocet with at least 4 broods, Ringed Plover, 12+ LRP, Yellow Wagtail and a site tick in Ring-necked Parakeet 😒

Quail still this evening at Whitemoor Haye, audible from bend in rough track @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social @alrewasbirder.bsky.social

My third visit to Belvide in 5 days, this time a first summer Bonaparte's Gull showing nearly continuously from Chappell Hide and at one point resting on the bund - a nice Staffs tick. Also drake Scaup, Black-necked Grebe, 2 Dunlin, 2 Common Sand + Peregrine. What a run of form!

Many thanks to the 20 sites who participated in last Saturday's West Midlands All-Day Birdwatch; apologises for the belated posting. Some impressive totals considering the limited movement on the day. A total of 134 species were noted (compared to 131 in 2025). #westmidsalldayer

Just over 2 hours at Belvide today for a 3 second view of Great Reed Warbler which spent most of its time deep in willow + hawthorn, chuntering occasionally. Another excellent find by the birding machine @belvidebirding.bsky.social. Can't believe its 30 years since I had my first at Elmley.

Best trap of the year to date with 23/10. New for me and the SK10 square was Mompha epilobiella. Brown Silver-line was NFG whilst Barred Hook-tip and Garden Carpet were NFY. B74 VC38 SK10 #TeamMoth @ruthnewby.bsky.social @ecorecord.bsky.social @bcwarwickshire.bsky.social

Another evening, another @WestMidBirdClub reserve. B Pools at Ladywalk NR produced Wood Sandpiper, Greenshank, 3 Redshank, 20 Goosander by 8:10pm, Willow Warbler, Kingfisher and Yellow Wagtail. @mercianbirding.bsky.social @ladywalknr.bsky.social

7 Glossy Ibis were quite a sight this evening at Belvide Reservior, often only viewable from Hawkshutt Hide but still present at 8:25pm. Also 2 Black-necked Grebe, Greenshank, drake Mandarin, Yellow Wagtail, Common Sandpiper + c250 Swift @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social @belvidebirding.bsky.social

Bar-tailed Godwit this morning at Branston GPs on Ashy Pit; also 6+ Dunlin, 8+ Ringed Plover, Common Sand, c15 small waders over (most likely Ringed Plover) + YL Gull. Y'day over 40 small waders incl 8 Sanderling, otherwise Ringed Plover + Dunlin. Also 3 Blackwit. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social

A quick call into Whitemoor Haye - Ruff, 3 Blackwits and 6 Dunlin on roadside pit @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social

A walk along the River Severn opposite #RipplePits north lake this morning, produced good perched views of Club-tailed Dragonfly, White-legged Damselfly & Hairy Dragonfly. Another two Hairy Dragonflies around the lakes #WorcsDragonflies @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Team Blithfield on 75 species by 8:05am. Highlights of Wood Sandpiper, 3 Whimbrel, Ruff, Wheatear, Dunlin and Caspian Gull so far. More to get. #westmidsalldayer

Good luck to all sites participating in tomorrow's West Midlands All-Day Birdwatch. Sadly the only rain is just before dusk + the wind moves westerly; hopefully enough birds already in circulation to create a few surprises. Please keep social media updated with #westmidsalldayer

A pleasant after work trip to #uptonwarren this evening. 2 Black-winged Stilts still performing well at the Flashes at 7:15pm; also Wood Sandpiper, 3 Common Sandpiper, oodles of Avocets and a spanking male Stonechat, surely my latest for the reserve #worcsbirds

This morning's much-hyped moth trap was a bit of a letdown with just 6/5 - Seraphim, Grey Pine Carpet and 2 Waved Umber were NFY B74 VC38 SK10 @ruthnewby.bsky.social @bcwarwickshire.bsky.social @ecorecord.bsky.social

If you're planning on visiting #UptonWarren's The Flashes today to see the black-winged stilts, please be aware that the car park (operated by Aztec Adventure) will close at 7.30pm this evening.

2 BLACK-WINGED STILT at #uptonwarren Flashes. Also a Wood Sandpiper.

Odd Chiffchaff singing in Sutton Park just east of Jamboree Stone yesterday + Saturday. Not quite doing enough for Iberian (from my distant memory) but odd staccato phrases. Not time this morning to go out + take recording but worth a look? @jamiehicken.bsky.social @benjeaton.bsky.social

Managed 5 of my 7 targets in the Wyre Forest this morning - plentiful Tree Pipit + Pied Fly, 3 singing Redstart, Marsh Tit & a distant Cuckoo but no Wood Warbler or Dipper. Also 2 Mandarin + several Garden Warblers. Sadly the peace too often broken by offlead dogs crashing through the understorey.

Another trip up the A38 after work; Wood Sandpiper on Ashy Pit at Branston GPs; also Greenshank + fem Goosander. Bar-tailed Godwit still at Whitemoor Haye on roadside pit at dusk with 2 Redshank; Grasshopper Warbler reeling from adjacent scrub @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social @alrewasbirder.bsky.social

A productive post-work twitch to Whitemoor Haye - Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank + 2 Redshank still present on roadside pit at 7:30pm. Also Yellow Wagtail and plentiful singing Sedge + Willow Warbler and Whitethroat @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social @alrewasbirder.bsky.social

64 species around Branston GPs this morning - Yellow Wagtail, Reed Warbler + Garden Warbler were year ticks. Also 2 Wheatear, Red Kite, 2 Mandarin + Yellowhammer. Eclipsed though by my first Staffs singing Corn Bunting for 5 years at Fisherwick. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social

Disappointing news from Sutton Park 💔 Stonechat pairs dropped from 6 to just 1 in 5 years largely due to increased dog disturbance. These birds nest on the ground & are easily disturbed. 🐾 Please keep dogs on leads 🚶 Stick to paths Small actions = big impact for wildlife😞

A pitiful 5 moths in the trap this morning: Oak Nycteoline + Tachystola acroxantha NYF, as is whatever this was before it got too faded! Also Diamond-backed + Double-striped Pug B74 VC38 SK10 #TeamMoth @mothiduk.bsky.social @ruthnewby.bsky.social @bcwarwickshire.bsky.social @ecorecord.bsky.social

SPOTTED CRAKE at #uptonwarren Moors Pool this morning, found by Nick Earl in front of the North Moors hide. Also 2 Common Sand, 2 Avocet, 5+ Snipe, 2 Oyks, Med Gull 2s, all 3 common hirundines, Reed & Sedge Warblers plus Gropper reported reeling in front of Jacobs hide. #WorcsBirds

Got suckered into trapping again last night - a disappointing 14/10. Diamond-back, Brown House Moth, Early Thorn + my 2nd ever Grey Birch were NFY. Also 3 Brindled Beauty, Muslin, 3 DS Pug, Brindled Pug, Hebrew Character, Clouded Drab. B74 VC38 SK10 @ruthnewby.bsky.social @bcwarwickshire.bsky.social

A saunter around the old lockdown patch north of Four Oaks / Little Aston this morning. No Wheatear despite lots of suitable habitat but good concentrations of singing Skylark & Yellowhammer. Also my first Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat & Willow Warblers for the year.

Like many I have visited Alvecote pools for the Hooded Merganser. It has proved difficult to photograph. Always distant and usually silhouetted. This is about the best I’ve managed. @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social

An improved trap this morning with 19/8 including 4 NFY - Muslin Moth, 3 Brindled Beauty, Beautiful Plume & a surprise V-Pug. Also 6 Brindled Pug, Hebrew Character, Double-striped Pug & 5 Common Quaker. B74 VC38 SK10 @bcwarwickshire.bsky.social @ecorecord.bsky.social @ruthnewby.bsky.social

Feeling far more Spring-like today - an ideal opportunity to advertise the Spring edition of the West Midlands All-day Birdwaching taking place this year on Saturday 2nd May. Usual format - record as many species as you can on your patch in 24 hours. #westmidsalldayer @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social

I always try to record Wheatear before March is out - 2 lingering birds (male + female) still this morning in horse paddocks at the top of Salters Lane, Sandwell Valley @mrvalley.bsky.social