Well, I didn't expect to see one of these today - Pechora Pipit at South Shields this afternoon. A very tough bird to see, and showed mainly in flight, but it did show well on a couple of occasions... a proper mainland mega, and a lifer for me. #UKBirding #NEBirding

Reflecting on an unforgettable trip to Peru, with the final leg of our visit being centred around the mighty Amazon River. Exotic birds, stunning scenery and a new continent well and truly ticked off! 214 lifers all told - not bad for a ‘non-birding trip’… #Peru

A wonder of the world, and bucket list birds… it’s been a mind-blowing 48 hours around Machu Picchu!

Day 8 in Peru, and we are at the stunning Hotel Pakaritampu in Ollantaytambo, and the famous Hummingbird garden didn’t let me down! Two endemics in Bearded Mountaineer and Giant Hummingbird, plus White-bellied Hummingbird and Black-tailed Trainbearer. Machu Picchu next… #Peru

Yesterday, we visited Chonta Canyon to see the mighty Andean Condors, which gave absolutely stunning views from the viewpoint. Incredibly impressive birds up close - more bucket list stuff! #Peru

Peru trip off to a brilliant start, with two days in Lima exploring the city and checking out the wildlife. The standout highlight was visiting the Inca Tern colony on Lima pier, incredible birds and real bucket list stuff! 25 lifers so far, plenty quality on offer. Cusco next… #Peru #Seabirds

The adventure is underway - the next two weeks will be spent touring Southern Peru! Whilst my wife informs me it’s officially a ‘non-birding holiday’ (whatever one of those is!) I’m sure there’ll be plenty to look at…

A couple of hours from sunrise at St. Mary’s was very productive this morning, with a Marsh Harrier in-off the sea and west at 06:45, closely followed by a female Merlin that darted through the waders and continued south. Two local yearticks in as many minutes - autumn is here! #NEBirding #UKBirding

Top afternoon on the North Tyneside coast, starting with my first Roseate Terns of the year at Tynemouth on the rising tide, followed by a Little Tern feeding between the piers (never an easy species to connect with locally) and ended with the cracking adult Curlew Sand at SMI. #NEBirding #UKBirding

A county tick, giving mega views, in the middle of Whitley Bay - what's not to like!! Sensational display from the Black-crowned Night Heron in Marden Quarry this evening. #NEBirding #UKBirding

After a number of fruitless searches so far this summer, I was delighted to finally find a singing Quail locally last night! #NEBirding #UKBirding

Some Turkey pics from a few weeks back - the first couple of days were spent in the Aladaglar Mountains with some very special species. Shown here are Radde's Accentor, Red-fronted Serin, White-winged Snowfinch and Horned (Shore) Lark.

A juv Cuckoo near the wetland at SMI this evening, and four Med Gulls off the prom were both very welcome reminders that autumn is now just around the corner... #NEBirding #UKBirding

Random bird of the day… just had an Avocet at Killingworth Lake! Only present for 5 minutes, circled the lake calling constantly, and repeatedly tried to land before flying off high north at 18:05. A site first? #NEBirding #UKBirding

Radde’s Accentor from Demirkazik Tepe, one of our big targets in Turkey. We saw a minimum of seven birds around the viewpoint including recently fledged youngsters, and three singing males, often totally unfazed by our presence!

One of the most memorable new birds of our trip to Turkey was Black-headed Bunting, and this exceptional male singing right beside the road was our first!

Our final day in Turkey is sadly at an end, and a fitting way to finish the trip by getting mega views of Kurdish Wheatear at Nemrut Dagi. A totally fantastic week of birding and company, finishing up on 35 lifers! Lots of photos to follow I’m sure…

We touched down in Turkey yesterday, and are very much looking forward to an action packed week of birding. A few lifers in the bag already such as Sombre Tit, Kruper’s Nuthatch, Black-headed Bunting etc, but tomorrow is the big one - operation Caspian Snowcock!

The curtain comes down on a very quiet May! An afternoon on Weetslade hill failed to produce the hoped-for Red Kite, but a Little Egret south over kept a slight bit of interest. Hopefully June produces a rarity or two… #NEBirding

So, that’s a wrap on the Scotland trip for another year! Magical as always, with all the regulars doing their bit, plus a self-found Surf Scoter at Balranald on Monday morning. Until next year…

Our annual Scotland trip is underway, with a night in Strontian followed by four nights on Uist, before finishing up in Aviemore. Loads of quality on offer already, in a stunning setting and glorious sunshine - it’s good to be back!

Singing male Garden Warbler near Swallow Pond yesterday morning, never an easy bird to connect with in North Tyneside in spring. #NEBirding #UKBirding

Long day in the field yesterday! Despite the weather not being overly conducive for a big total, I still finished up with 100 species across North Tyneside. Some good quality on offer inc Garganey, Cetti’s Warbler, Common Sand, Whimbrel and Arctic Tern to name a few. #NEBirding #UKBirding

I’m currently doing a North Tyneside big day, hoping to get somewhere near last year’s total of 104 species. This one wasn’t on the cards when I started the day however - smashing drake Garganey currently in Marden Quarry! #NEBirding #UKBirding

4 Avocets between Backworth and Seghill this evening - wader habitat is a serious scarcity in North Tyneside this spring, so I’ve been checking this unassuming flash for the last few weeks (red pin on map) and tonight it came up trumps! #NEBirding #UKBirding

A showy Cetti's Warbler in the sun at Backworth this morning - it might not be the mega it once was in North Tyneside, but they still feel rare to me! Considering there had never been a record in the borough before March 2021, the expansion of this species has been remarkable. #NEBirding #UKBirding

Delighted to catch up with the Red-throated Pipit at Budle Point this evening after dipping the Newton bird in 2021 - elusive at times, I was chuffed to set eyes on it! Lovely addition to my British and Northumberland lists, courtesy of another top tier find by Ross Ahmed! #NEBirding #UKBirding

Bank Holiday lifer - one of two Balearic Warblers in Boquer Valley, Mallorca this afternoon. #Mallorca #MallorcaBirds

One of three Garganey in front of the viewing screen at SMI Wetland yesterday lunchtime - one of my absolute favourite spring migrants, such a stunning species. #NEBirding #UKBirding #Birds

The patch was absolutely on fire today, with a top quality vizmig session kicking things off this am. GW Egret south over SMI, closely followed by a Hooded Crow both represented #patchgold, topped off by a lunchtime twitch for 3 Garganey on the wetland - red letter day! #NEBirding #UKBirding

Ashy-headed Wagtail at the north end of SMI Wetland currently!! #NEBirding #UKBirding

Lots of migrants around St. Mary’s this morning, giving the place a real spring feel. Wheatear and Sand Martin were both new for the year, plus lovely views of this colourful littoralis Rock Pipit on the south beach. #NEBirding #UKBirding

This classy Black Redstart at the north end of Whitley Bay beach this morning was a welcome reminder that spring is well and truly underway… #NEBirding #UKBirding

The local Pinkfeet was rather flighty this morning, but eventually settled in their usual field - the Tundra Bean Goose was showing remarkably well at times, right beside the road! #NEBirding #UKBirding

The local Pinkfeet were in their favoured ploughed field this morning, and my luck was in when this Tundra Bean Goose appeared in my scope view - a species I last saw in North Tyneside in 2020, which really shows how rare they’ve become. I love it when a plan comes together! #NEBirding #UKBirding

It's been a quiet few weeks locally, but these 12 northbound Whoopers out in the mist this morning, whilst I dipped Whitburn's White-billed Diver, reminded me that spring is here! Singing Chiffs and an Iceland Gull from the house were the best of the rest over the weekend. #NEBirding #UKBirding

Our long weekend in Amsterdam is at an end, headlined by the sensational Spectacled Eider on Texel, a species of near-mythical status in Europe. It’s fair to say Laura was relieved when it made an appearance, after an hour of tense dipping - happy days!

Female Pintail still in attendance at SMI Wetland this morning, showing well from the viewing screen. However, despite the brisk easterly, there were no prizes on the seabird front over high tide. #NEBirding #UKBirding

Two Russian White-fronts with c2000 Pinkfeet just W of Old Hartley at 14:35. The whole flock has just lifted and appeared to land near Seaton Delaval Hall. #NEBirding #UKBirding

The search goes on for a rare anthya locally, with Killingworth Lake being a scarcity-free zone this morning despite lots of birds present. 38 Pochard (23 drakes) was a smashing count by this winter’s standards, plus 6 Goosander and a single GC Grebe. #NEBirding #UKBirding

Flat calm seas off Whitley Bay were productive over lunchtime today, with the star of the show being this Great Northern Diver feeding just offshore, becoming my 100th species in North Tyneside this year. A few auks were on the water too, including an unexpected Puffin. #NEBirding #UKBirding

Juv Iceland Gull still showing well at Royal Quays, North Shields this morning. #NEBirding #UKBirding

Geese have not been all that easy to come across locally so far this winter, so I was pleased to see a large group of Pinkfeet in one of their usual winter fields this morning - even more so when this Russian White-front wandered into view! #NEBirding #UKBirding

Winter birding bonanza! The River Tyne was absolutely on fire this afternoon at Northumberland Dock, headlined by the splendid adult Ross's Gull, plus a more than worthy supporting cast with juveniles of both Glaucous and Iceland Gull + Med Gull and Long-tailed Duck - epic! #NEBirding #UKBirding

Out with the old, in with the new... a quiet start to 2025 for me, but I did manage an hour at St. Mary's this morning where the Water Pipit was in its favourite spot below the prom. #NEBirding

2024 is at an end, which means so is my North Tyneside yearlist! Despite a brilliant spring and summer, autumn was something of a let down, meaning that I finished shy of my target of 200 species. However, I still saw 191, which is my highest ever total. It all starts again tomorrow! #NEBirding

First post on the new platform! Drake Green-winged Teal from Howdon Wetland this afternoon, showing brilliantly from the hide. By far my best views of the species (sadly, soon to be sub-species!) to date. #NEBirding