Yearning for spring, migration & bird song. So it was a bit wonderful this morning. A Hawfinch in misty woodland made it feel like it hadn't been a waste of time, despite no LS Wood as yet. The fog & mist lifted to reveal several pairs of Stonechat & Woodlark, Yellowhammer, Linnets & Mipits 🪶

Lots of lovely Bramblings in Derbyshire today #LowCarbonBirding 🪶

Long-tailed Duck on Mammoth Lake, Watermead South. Sometimes, the BHGs were indifferent, at times they took issue, as in the second clip. What a great bird! #LowCarbonBirding #LeicesterBirds 🪶

Nottinghamshire’s native white‑clawed crayfish have had quite a year, from rescues to new Ark site investigations. 🦐💚 Want to know what happened and what’s planned next? Read on to find out more: nottsbag.org.uk/2026/02/04/w... 🦐💚 #WhiteClawedCrayfish #Conservation #CheckCleanDry

@amythebirder.bsky.social youtu.be/cTV7Cf8zvkw?... This looks great & I thought it might interest you too

There are few birds better than a Red-flanked Bluetail & the wintering Crockham Hill bird was a typical (& occasionally showy) stunner this morning. Surprisingly only my 2nd in my old home county of Kent, after my first ever on its eastern extent at Bockhill back in my teens, many moons ago...

Black-throated Diver at Covenham reservoir. 2 GND, Slav Grebe & circa 15 White-fronted Geese 🪶 Today's twitching/birding was car assisted. My requested Vals/Gals/Pals Day gift was to be chauffeured. It'll never catch on 😅 #LincsBirding

Male Stonechat cheering up a rainy day. I like the colour of his breast being reflected in the post round the number 16 #LowCarbonBirding 🪶 #SmallBirdSaturday #BirdOfTheDay #Portrait

Last train to dullsville #PatchBirding Water levels are high, so no exposed ground. 2 Oycs were cool with that. River Trent has flooded into the fields so no Geese or Lapwings in view. Inauspicious year ticks of Red-crested Pochard & Parakeets. Cetti's moving through the reed bed saved the day 🪶

A wander round county woodland & its margins produced 6 year ticks: singles of Hawfinch, Goshawk & Crossbill. 2 Marsh tit in a mixed flock. Redpolls & Treecreepers. Surprise Witches' butter seeming to grow from the ground. I gave it a bit of a nudge & it appeared securely tethered. #UKBirding #Fungi

Looking through the local gull flock by Gairloch yesterday I thought the Bonaparte's Gull looked different from the one I've been seeing. After looking through a video that I took I can see that there are at least 2 of them! Video grab attached #highlandbirds

It was a pleasing challenge to refind the 1w Russian White-fronted Goose amongst the Greylags, especially without a scope. The over-wintering Scaup & Caspian Gull continue to get around the site, a joy to spot. #LowCarbonBirding #PatchBirding 🪶

Government quietly released a report today. Just 3% of the most important habitat for wildlife is in good condition. This must change or wildlife will be lost forever. Don’t let this report slip under the radar: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/697206...

Great Grey Shrike at Fillingham, Lincs right now. It was reported as singing this morning, but I wasn't prepared for hovering 🩶 Speechless! @lincsbirding.bsky.social #LowCarbonBirding #UKBirding

Very pleased to share #OpenAccess paper, which we think is important to understand woodland bird declines and impact of forestry on native ancient woodland in Britain. nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... #ornithology @ukceh.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social @mizpas.bsky.social 🧵1/n

The resolution for 2026 is to enjoy more lifers. So when Killdeer came on the alerts yesterday, I booked my trains & twitched the bird this morning. Great to spot it doing some of the tapping for prey that I watch Little Ringed Plovers doing. Smart Little Gull year tick too #UKBirding 🪶

Blame the mist, blame the distance, I still had to try to capture these 3 Smew today. Didn't notice the Teal were displaying at the time. Also 3 gorgeous pairs of much closer Bullfinch, Yellowhammers, & a big mixed flock of finches, winter thrushes, tits & buntings. #LowCarbonBirding in east notts🪶

Cracking afternoon at Frampton. Best were 6 Snow Buntings, ♂️ Hen & Marsh Harriers, confiding Merlin on the hunt, Grey Plover & more Pintail than I've ever seen. Peregrine, Sprawk, pair of Stonechat, Fieldfare. Masses of Brent Geese, making their beautiful noise 🪶 #LowCarbonBirding #LincsBirding

First patch trip of the year was misty & moisty. Nice weather for ducks but not for bins & scope. One of the joys for me is watching birds interacting with each other. The over wintering Scaup is fun to watch klepto-ing. Casp flew over calling, like a dirty laugh 🫶 #LowCarbonBirding #PatchBirding 🪶

A bitterly cold but fabulous day in Lincs/Cambs ⛄️ Snow Goose at Deeping in Whooper flock, which also contained 3 Bewick’s Swans. LEO close to the hide. Green Sand in drainage ditch. Briefly a Tundra Bean Goose at Thorney toll. Finishing at Eldernell with Short-eared Owl & large Crane Flock.

9 ticks this year ✅ Least Sandpiper Booted Eagle Black Kite Broad-billed Sandpiper Zitting Cisticola Black Stork Leach’s Petrel White-throated Needletail Black-winged Kite Woodchat Shrike was a WMBC ✅ 8 White-rumped Sands at Belvide were outstanding, followed by a single bird at Blith.

After the painful August dip, Black-winged Kite finally makes it onto my list! Not bad for the last tick of 2025 ✅ 💣 A great day at Ludham Bridge with @mybirding.bsky.social Also 7 Crane, 4 Bewick’s Swans, 31 White-fronted Geese, Bearded Tits, Whoopers, Pinks, Marsh Harrier, Red Kites.

New Year's Day at Titchwell. Brass monkeys out, even the waders were huddled on the marsh rather than by the sea edge. Best of 67 species: Water Pipit, Med Gull, Water rail in front of the hide, Woodcock. No Merlin sadly. That sunset! There's a pub selling mulled wine on the walk back, rude not to 🪶

Wishing everyone a happy bird filled 2026 🪶 Ended on 253 with 11th hour Black-winged Kite. A cracking bird, blew my mind when it hovered like a Kes! Marsh Sand & Serin my other 2 lifers. Best #PatchBirding finds: Garganey & 4 Cranes. Lesser Yellowlegs: one of many enjoyable #LowCarbonBirding trips

Disillusionment with local birding continues, so I'm mostly just birding whilst walking between other stuff. New streets bring a missed excitement & unpredictability. A Goldcrest flying low across the pavement in front of me, pic a one-eyed individual at the old pit top this year 1/2 #UrbanBirding🪶

I went to see Sentimental Journey yesterday, with my local cinema meetup group. I enjoyed it. It has of course, the elder Skarsgard @carrcole.bsky.social

Closing in on the end of my 7th year a birder. Been reflecting on hubris felt as a birder walking miles, using bus & train, laden with gear. What I always need are some laughs (ducks are great for that) & ID challenges. Refound the over-wintering Scaup, Caspian Gull & 4 Pintail +2 #PatchBirding 🪶

Just started using @duck-duck-go.bsky.social It gives excellent search results, you can opt out of ai & you get to torch your search history, which is fun 🔥

So last Rattray one for now. On 20th October this year I found a nightingale at Rattray. Around an 8th for Aberdeenshire and first since 2007. Then as my photos hit the various channels it was identified as an Eastern Nightingale. 2nd for Scotland and 4th for Britain. #BirdingScotland #RareBirdsUK

The UK charity Hen Harrier Action @henharrieraction.bsky.social launches Xmas fundraiser to buy more satellite tags. Commentary on why this is important & a link to the fundraiser ⬇️⬇️ #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/12/11/t...

🚨Hoylake beach update🚨 After a LONG six years, we’re finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel!! An agreement has finally been reached between @NaturalEngland and @WirralCouncil which means around 2% of the 41ha of vegetated foreshore at Hoylake will be cleared.

Notts birding & twitching incl year list species 255, WF Geese ☑️ A Cattle Egret over the A1133 was lovely to spot. Fieldfare galore, Yellowhammer, Brambling & finally 2 distant Smew just before the light went. Hawfinch from earlier in week. Walked 7 miles twixt train station & sites #UKBirding

OMG !! Should I be as excited as I am ?? Just glanced out of my urban window & noticed a female and a male Blackcap! Passing through the Ash & Holly. Pics are from my garden, of previous over-wintering birds. The benefits of having unruly privet, holly, and ivy. 100% natural bird feeders 💚 🪶

Last day in London. Brent Res for Jacksnipe or Woods in SE? The latter as the hides at Brent need a key. A quick scan at the site, I spotted this female Crossbill. Further on, a Firecrest in a tit flock. Visited St Dunstan, a wild place with a Wren spire & no roof. Grey Heron grabbed my attention 🪶

Caspian Gull, Eagle Pond, Snaresbrook 01.12.25 First & last time I saw this bird was on 11.01.20 Couldn't believe my luck yesterday, the bird was sat close too waiting for loaf. White Wag on East Warwick res island, Walthamstow wetlands too 🤍 @birdguides.bsky.social #GullOfTheDay 🪶 #LondonBirds

Brilliant views of Little Auk today in Scalloway. Nice to see one that looks so healthy. Bird was feeding/preening/diving all within feet of me off the pier. 😎👍 #YellBirding #Shetland

Beautiful female King Eider in Scalloway giving outrageous views this morning. 😍 #YellBirding #Shetland #RareBirdsUK

In London tomorrow for a gig. Birding before & after naturally. Visited KG V Reservoir for the first time. All 4 uncommon/scarce birds seen. Grey Phalarope, BN Grebe & Scaup. Black Redstart made it 50 species for the day. Well worth the palaver of getting a permit. #LowCarbonBirding #LondonBirds 🪶

A grand day at Titchwell take 3 🎬 70 species, best being a confiding year tick Firecrest (too fast, too close for a snap), a lovely 1w ♂️ Brambling. 2 poss 3 Merlin on the marsh. One blasted through flushing a flock of Wigeon & perched up. 22 Ruff & a smart Water Pipit. So much to enjoy & learn 🪶

#PatchBirding today. Returning Caspian gull was slumming it on a tern raft, calling & displaying. Have I noticed Dunnock undertail coverts before? Goosander roost 50+ Still watching clips of a lovely round bellied Pipit from Friday & finally decided that it is a Water Pipit 1/2 #LowCarbonBirding 🪶

An excellent rainy day birding, listen. Recordings that augment experience in the field. And how else am I likely to hear all those (or any) Tengmalms? Bliss

All day birding at Titchwell. 68 species today, 76 for the trip. Got off to a good start spotting a Firecrest whilst walking into the reserve 🔥 Other highlights: Brambling (nice call), 2 Merlin ♂️ & a ♀️ type. No owls sadly, despite continuing to scope the Marsh from the bus stop #LowCarbonBirding 🪶

Cley Marshes for a talk about Emma Turner. Birding in hail & watching birds' reactions. A Common Gull looked skyward, Marsh Harrier stayed put, Avocet carried on feeding. Enjoyed Pinks, Gulls & Harriers roost at sunset. Waxwing pic by Turner, the first time they were photo'ed. #LowCarbonBirding 🪶

Common Sandpiper, Greenshank & Lesser Yellowlegs at Etton-Maxey Pits back in September for #WaderWednesday On pig jaw pit, named after someone finding a pig jaw there, but I can find no further info. One of the #LowCarbonBirding ticks that constitute 90% of my 2025 year list 🪶

Enjoyed #PatchBirding Teeming with birds this morning. Yummy flocks to look through. Caspian Gull the scarcest, preening in a line of Cormorants & Lapwings. Siskin nos building & Goldcrests were getting shirty. Thrushes & ducks. Floodgates were closed & Mallard pairs floated across flooded paths 🪶

Watching Labour MPs take a wrecking ball to nature makes me so angry & so sad. Their action tonight voting down amendments to the #PlanningBill intended to protect wildlife & habitats from destruction is so reckless & so counterproductive. People didn’t vote Labour for this 👇

Hen Harrier Susie, whose chicks were stamped to death on a Yorkshire Dales grouse moor in 2022, has been found dead on a N Pennines grouse moor with gunshot injuries. 18+ months of silence about this crime from the police & Natural England. #RaptorResearch raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/11/14/h...

Influx of Dusky Warblers at present with 3 at Flamborough yesterday! Just twitched the Leics bird. The most exciting split second I've had in a while. Great site with YBW etc recently. A fair few birds & habitat to enjoy. GS Wood the only bird that lingered for a snap 🪶 #LowCarbonBirding

Worrying reports of bird flu (avian influenza) are coming in, including an outbreak in Whooper Swans in the Fens. Other waterbirds are also being affected, and cases are rising. 📷 Sick Whooper Swan by Kane Brides #UKBirding #BirdingWales #BirdingScotland

Lots to enjoy at the patch. Scaup, Siskins, Caspian Gull, 8 Snipe, 2 Green Sand, showy Water Rail, Goldeneye displaying & calling. At dusk Goosander numbers are increasing 45+ so far & a small murmuration of Starlings. Pied Wag roost building at the train station #LowCarbonBirding #PatchBirding 🪶