It was great to discover that the Hume’s Warbler found by Roger Skeen at Holme NOA, yesterday, was still present this morning when I visited. I’d seen one a month earlier at Warham, but this one was rather more obliging as it showed better and also called more frequently. #NorfolkBirding

A rare trip south of the Waveney border delivered stunning views of my fifth shrike species in East Anglia this year. This adult, male, Red-tailed (“Turkestan”) Shrike showed remarkably well in calm, sunny conditions, in the great company of some fine, old, Suffolk birding pals. #SuffolkBirding

Luckily, the Greater Short-toed Lark, found by Nathan Pickering at Snettisham late yesterday evening, was relocated at dawn before vanishing for several hours. A teasing glimpse late-morning stimulated further relocation efforts, with rich rewards for those who braved the rain. #NorfolkBirding

This fabulous Lesser Grey Shrike at Winterton Dunes in East Norfolk today was another great find by Barry Jarvis. I don’t recall seeing one in this intriguing plumage before. Thoughts on a postcard please… #NorfolkBirding

While White-rumped Sandpipers have become a regular bird at Snettisham RSPB Reserve in late July, adults in breeding plumage are much rarer. So it was very rewarding to relocate this pristine bird at high tide yesterday evening. #NorfolkBirding

A reverential, hushed silence was observed by all as we waited with bated-breath for an adult Great Grey Owl to come in to feed its two young. Thanks Jari Peltomaki for providing another spellbinding Finnature experience!

Another priority target on our Finnish trip was the elusive Three-toed Woodpecker. Remarkably, this nominate race adult male chose a telegraph pole to drum from, while deep in a 1,000 acre old growth forest.

A fabulous private birding trip to Finland last week enabled me to catch up with several longed-for world lifers, as well as a hatful of other Scandinavian specialities. At the very top of my list was Ural Owl. With expert guiding by Jari Peltomäki of Finnature, we soon scored!

What’s in a name? Would a Rosy Starling, by any other name, smell as sweet as this beauty in Melton Constable today? #NorfolkBirding

When this beauty dropped in out of the blue I was pleased to capture the moment. #NorfolkBirding

The number of Temminck’s Stints at Cley NWT has been slowly building over the past week, with ten or more present yesterday and today. This one came a little closer than the others, presenting a rare opportunity not to be missed. #NorfolkBirding

In recent days, small numbers of elegant, migrating, Wood Sandpipers have been pausing to refuel, at favoured Norfolk wetland habitats, before continuing north to breed. Usually only glimpsed along distant reedy fringes, few are as obliging as this bejewelled beauty. #NorfolkBirding

Welcoming back summer migrants is always a pleasure but I was delighted to find a singing male Spotted Flycatcher today, who has just returned to a regular territory in North Norfolk. #NorfolkBirding

A memorable encounter from southern Thailand was this spectacular female Orange-breasted Trogon perched close to the main track at Bang Khram Wildlife Sanctuary on the 19th of March.

Spectacular world-lifers were coming thick and fast at Doi Inthanon, in northern Thailand, but when this adult male Siberian Blue Robin hopped out, it stopped me dead in my tracks.

A visit to Pak Thale was long overdue, so I thought I’d pop over and see what I could find. This little chap made it all worthwhile this morning.

I hoped I might catch up with the long-staying Black-necked Grebe at Welney WWT Reserve today, but had no idea it would show quite so well. #NorfolkBirding

I felt privileged to attend the matinee when this 1st Winter drake Scaup gave a highly polished performance in the evening sunlight last week. #NorfolkBirding

We were all caught “Waxwing lyrical” today when this surprising first for the Norfolk winter chose a sunlit neon stage to perform on. #NorfolkBirding

When birding in Holland it usually pays to get your ducks in a row…

Still elated by the “Brileider bonanza” we set our sights on other Dutch delights. Next up, was the Pygmy Cormorant at Natuurpark Lelystad on Flevoland. She turned out to be an obliging little stunner too and put in another stellar performance!

The seductive lure of this near-mythical Spectacled Eider on Texel was finally too great and, inevitably, I cracked. While late to the party I’m so pleased to have joined the club!

While elusive throughout January, a couple of days of strong sunshine has encouraged our local Woodlarks to return to their territories. This singing male was still finding his voice, though apparently already paired, when I photographed him this morning. #Norfolkbirding

These are some of the 24 Lesser White-fronted Geese, from the Swedish reintroduction scheme, that are currently visiting Snettisham Coastal Park in NW Norfolk. Seven appear to be metal and colour-ringed, though the majority aren’t ringed, including five 2CY birds. #norfolkbirding

A late afternoon visit to Whitlingham Country Park, in Norwich, surprised me with a lone Russian White-fronted Goose in failing light, as well as a stunning 1W, year tick, Caspian Gull and much better views of the local Red-necked Grebe.

It’s always a challenge to catch up with the interesting geese in the local Pinkfoot flocks, so this Lesser White-front was great to see at Kings Lynn today.

A few days in south-west Cornwall over Christmas have given me the opportunity to catch up with some interesting local birds. None, though, were as spectacular as the Pied Crow, of unknown origin, that I bumped into at the Little Trethewey Wesleyan Chapel this morning.

Joining the festive spirit, this moulting adult Great Northern Diver was enjoying a pre-Christmas dinner of crabs in Newlyn Harbour today.

Right on cue, we welcomed our first young Glaucous Gull of the winter to Old Hunstanton yesterday. I caught up with the handsome fellow today as he remained faithful to the unfortunate seal pup carcass he’s claimed as his own. #NorfolkBirding

This sprightly Siberian Chiffchaff at Titchwell is the first of this form I’ve seen and heard this year and, in the bright sunlight last Friday, it was feeding actively, just inside the sallows. #NorfolkBirding

This sublime Penduline Tit at Titchwell RSPB took some digging out but I was pleased to relocate it, with Mark and Tracey Bradbury, at Patsy’s Pool, four hours after it was initially reported. #NorfolkBirding #RareBirdsUK #RBA

Today’s Arctic winds brought a huge cold-weather movement of waders and ducks west along the North Norfolk coast as well as a further sprinkling of Little Auks. Among the many waders, several Common Snipe among the Dunlin flocks caught my attention. #NorfolkBirds

I was pleased to refind this adult drake American Wigeon at Welney WWT yesterday morning after no further reports since it was first found on Saturday. I wonder how long it will stay. #NorfolkBirding #RareBirdsUK

While she stood me up on Wednesday, this gorgeous female Desert Wheatear and I enjoyed a fulfilling rendezvous on the beach at Winterton, in Norfolk, today.

This lovely Little Bunting was a great find for @mochaman.bsky.social at Holme yesterday. Typically elusive, I grabbed my moment when it showed for a few seconds after two and a half hours of searching this morning.

This 1st Winter Black-throated Diver is showing well again today on the Hardwick Flood Lagoon at King’s Lynn.