A brilliant day out at RSPB Minsmere with 5 species of Tern including 2 adult Roseates, 2 Little, many Common and Sandwich topped off with a brief staying adult Gull-billed Tern. Plus supporting cast of Little Gull, Hobby, Bittern, Marsh Harriers et al. #UKBirding #SuffolkBirds #BirdsSeenIn2026

Turtle Dove was once a common summer visitor on my local South Suffolk patch but sadly now very few remain. Always a joy to see and hear one returning in the spring. #UKBirding #SuffolkBirds #BirdsSeenIn2026

The smart Tawny Pipit at Landguard Common was largely elusive late afternoon today but eventually appeared close enough for a pic! Almost like a new tick, this is the first I have seen in Suffolk since 1991 and the first in the UK since 2003.

On Wednesday got up to Norfolk to see the splendid Eastern Black Redstart in Sheringham. The bird showed very well at times but was often rather inactive, probably eaten too many of the Mealworms which had been put out for it! #UKBirding #SuffolkBirds #BirdsSeenIn2026

Blackcap is a regular winter visitor to my garden. This female has been seen most days this year. mostly feeding on Ivy berries. #UKBirding #SuffolkBirds #BirdsSeenIn2026

Last Friday had a couple of hours free while waiting for my van to be serviced. These 2 very tame Snow Buntings at Landguard filled the time nicely. #suffolkbirding #ukbirds

A disappointing 2 of 2 in last nights light trap, on a warm, overcast but quite windy night. Both moths possible immigrants being Siver-Y and Dark Sword-grass #suffolkmoths #teammoth

After a damp night had a small catch (12 of 7) in my VC25 garden trap. Small numbers made up for by December Moth NFY and my first ever Black-spotted Chestnut. #teammoth #suffolkmoths

Last nights trap had 24 of 11 in mild but quite windy conditions. Including NFY Feathered Thorn and Sprawler and NFG Dotted Chestnut. Of interest 2 very late Dark Arches. Possible migrants 1 Rush Veneer and 3 Rusty-dot Pearl. #teammoth #suffolkmoths

Today was the first chance I had to try for the probable 1st winter Isabelline Shrike (Daurian) (Lanius isabellinus isabellinus) at North Warren. Thankfully the bird was still present and showed extremely well in the sunshine. It was feeding well, frequently catching wasps.

Wildlife Recorder taxonomy now updated to incorporate Clements/eBird 2025 changes. Update is now available to Wildlife Recorder users

The Barred Warbler at Landguard was mostly true to type, skulking in thick privet bushes but did show very well occasionally. The Pallas's Warbler was very elusive but I did eventually manage to catch up with it. #suffolkbirding #ukbirds

Last nights trap contained 16 of 12. New for the year was a Satellite, also of interest a Common Quaker well outside its usual flight dates. #teammoth #suffolkmoths

This weeks trapping produced 5 of 4 on 3rd, including my 2nd Oak Rustic of the year. Better numbers on 5th, 29 of 15 including a Palpita vitrealis and 3 Rusty-dot Pearl. #teammoth #suffolkmoths

Brown Shrike still present and showing well at Upper Hollesley Common yesterday. Nice to meet up with several #suffolkbirding friends, including Gerald Jobson who I have not seen for some time.

Yesterday was the first chance I had to get to Hollesley for the Brown Shrike. Windy conditions made viewing difficult the bird frequently spending long periods hunkered down in a bush sheltering from the wind. The bird was never close enough for good photos but I did manage some record shots.

Every autumn we get a small number of Fly Agaric under the Silver Birch in our garden. This is the first this year. #fungi

Last nights trapping produced 88 moths of 30 species, including a garden record of 10 Merveille-du-jour. Grey-shoulder Knot and Streak were NFY. Streak has only been trapped once before, coincidentally, on exactly the same date 13th October in 2021. #teammoth #suffolkmoths

This Glossy Ibis on the River Stour near Flatford was a welcome addition to my Local Patch list. #ukbirding #suffolkbirding

The Red-tailed (Turkestan) Shrike (Lanius phoenicuroides) at Dunwich Heath gave wonderful, prolonged views. The bird was feeding actively, the majority of prey items were wasps but was also catching spiders and bumblebees which it was also storing in a larder for later (see LH side of third photo)

Just finished converting the Wildlife Recorder species IOC taxonomy to AviList. There are a lot of lumps, my World list of 3061 species lost 19 to lumps e.g Carrion and Hooded Crow are lumped and are now groups in a single species. Update is now available to Wildlife Recorder users

Last nights trap 106 moths of 24 species including a 2nd very worn Clifden Nonpareil and a garden record 12 Clancey's Rustic. NFY were Merveille du Jour and Dusky-lemon Sallow only the 3rd record here in 25 years of recording. #teammoth #suffolkmoths

A distinct autumnal feel to the moth trap last night with 94 moths of 25 species, 23 were Lunar Underwings. Highlights were a splendid Clifden Nonpareil, Pearly Underwing, 4 Clancey's Rustic and a very late Scarce-Silverlines. #teammoth #suffolkmoths

A morning visit to Landguard produced brief, un-photographable views of the Hoopoe but excellent close views of the Wryneck. Nice to bump into @nickburfield.bsky.social at the Hoopoe site.

A coldish night with bright skies was not the best time to put out the MV trap so only 27 of 14 species were trapped. Of note , for my garden, were 1 Clancy's Rustic, I Cypress Pug and 1 Beet moth.

A walk around Landguard Common yesterday produced a few migrant birds including Common Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler. Good number of Common Blue butterflies still about, many very fresh, and at least one pair mating. Also a few Small Heath, Small Coppers and Whites.

173 of 51 species in my VC25 garden MV trapincluded the second Clancy's Rustic (Caradrina kadenii) of the year. Possible migrants include 2 Rush Veneer (Nomophila noctuella), 1 Delicate (Mythimna vitellina) and 1 Rosy Knot-horn (Oncocera semirubella), only the 3rd record for my garden. #teammoth

This is the best I could manage of the Walberswick Zitting Cistocolas. Even using a doubler and the built in teleconverter on my lens they were always just a bit too distant. In the third shot four of the Cisticolas can be seen.

Just 1 week after the first Marbled Clover (Heliothis viriplaca) for my garden another was present in my MV trap. #teammoth #suffolkmoths

The Black Stork at Boyton showed extremely well and was feeding up on a mixture of small fish, invertebrates and water snails.

A visit to Dersingham Bog in Norfolk last week produced excellent views of several Black Darters and Keeled Skimmers .

I have been trapping moths in my garden since 2001 so it is not often I get any new macros. Three new species in the last few weeks is a nice surprise. #teammoth

... on Speyside Northern Damselflies were plentiful at the usual pond near Loch Garten. At a new site, for me, near Grantown there were plenty of Northern Brown Argus and Dark Green Fritillary.

Just finished processing my shots from this years Scotland trip from end June to early July. All target dragonflies seen well but Azure Hawker was difficult with only one individual seen in 5 days searching ...

35 years ago on this day in 1990 I photographed this Pallas's Sandgrouse at Loch of Hillwell, Mainland Shetland.

Yesterday had a successful trip into Cambridgeshire for Small Blue and Adonis Blue. Small Blue was easy to find at Magog Down and present in good numbers. Adonis Blue at Newmarket Devil's Dyke was more of an effort to find in breezy and mostly overcast conditions but eventually I found at least 3.

Small White, Green-veined White and Peacock on the wing at Alton Water, Suffolk today.

First moth trapping session in my garden this year produced 20 moths of 9 species.

Formerly a common daily visitor to my garden feeders this Greenfinch, photographed yesterday, is the first in the garden this year.

On this day in 1990 I made a second visit to see this Naumann's Thrush in Chingford Essex. This photo was taken on my first visit in February