The weekly check of the garden trail cam: still no hawfinches, but there was a jackdaw party during the week.

Walked to Holmehill this morning: at least one hawfinch present - there was one calling from the yews but I couldn’t see it.

Was out on the bike yesterday and in a cafe in Stirling when I got a call about a Slavonian grebe on the river in Stirling. After quickly finishing my roll I was soon watching the bird with Ross the finder. An unusual record for this far up the Forth! 90 to 2026 self-powered list #birdingbybike

Your #FootIt summary pod is live. Only eleven months till we go again 🙌 @footit.bsky.social @jonnybirder.bsky.social @uforthbirder.bsky.social www.podbean.com/ew/pb-uyxkg-...

Also been checking the garden trail camera. Highlight was a return of the fox plus a pigeon party!

Cycled up to Braes of Doune windfarm this morning. Struck gold with a SNOW BUNTING up there. Meadow pipit was also new for the year bringing self-powered yearlist to 89. #birdingbybike Nothing new for #footit so I have finished on 80.

The tip of the birding spear! #TheTwoJonnies podcast brings you a @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social exclusive! ♠️ Thanks to Rob Hunton for joining us this evening 🔱 The Two Jonnies is like other birding media outlets - except better. Am I right? @jonnybirder.bsky.social www.podbean.com/ei/pb-g9u2e-...

I’ve got my camera back after failing in the burn on Unst in October. I’m now ready if I find an American warbler 😂

Popped to Holmehill at lunchtime where 2 hawfinch were being watched. Not the easiest to photograph when they are high in trees! #dunblane #footit

So after the discussion yesterday on the difficulty of me getting up to 80 for #footit, I am there this morning with an oystercatcher calling over the house.

Your #FootIt '26 update pod is live! ♠️ One more week to drop miles / seek out any remaining targets... @uforthbirder.bsky.social @jonnybirder.bsky.social @footit.bsky.social www.podbean.com/eas/pb-qsjcp...

6 hawfinch were found at Homehill, Dunblane this morning - the first record for the winter. I tried at lunchtime for an hour without success. I then walked back this afternoon, to find one bird sat up in a tree and ithers calling nearby. I’ll be hoping for them in the garden! 79 for #footit.

I will run through the highlights from the past week with @suffolkseawatcher.bsky.social and @jonnybirder.bsky.social on their Two Jonnies (autocorrect - you can’t get me!) podcast this evening.

Cycled home from the office in Stirling via Blairdrummond GPs, adding the redhead smew and barnacle goose that have been present for a couple of days. Self-powered list up to 84 for the year. #birdingbybike

Yeah, @uforthbirder.bsky.social and @jonnybirder.bsky.social are pretty #Wildfowl #elite 💯🦆 nowadays. You've only gotta listen to the latest pod to onow that... www.podbean.com/ew/pb-qmd7m-...

My only walk today was to Ochlochy pond, to which 2 mute swans have arrived after being absent since December (and usually just one bird) #Dunblane #footit

Your #FootIt update pod is live! ♠️ @uforthbirder.bsky.social is once again our responsible adult and there are actual statistics - plus A LOT of duck chat from @jonnybirder.bsky.social @footit.bsky.social Available on most podcast platforms 🍎🐞🫘 music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/ea5...

Out on today’s #footit saw plenty of dipper.

Out for a #WeBS #footit this morning. Started off with Ochlochy Pond and now walking two stretches along the Allanwater. Hopeful for jack snipe and little egret, and maybe even that white-tailed eagle!

Out on the bike today. Got little egret at Higgins Newk and a few others, bringing this years self-powered list to 82. #birdingbybike

Away in Glasgow today so no #footit other than to the train station and back. I did take a quick walk into the park once back in Dunblane. The pond is still frozen but clearing, so the mallard are returning at least!

Short lunchtime walk down to the river in town. Nothing new for #footit but I watched this dipper for a bit.

Went for a quick lunchtime walk to Holmehill earlier today to look for hawfinch, without any success; however as I was leaving the house I heard and saw 2 whooper swans flying over - that’s a new one for #footit, bringing the total up to 78.

Have posted with the #FootIt If so, you will be mentioned in dispatches! @uforthbirder.bsky.social @jonnybirder.bsky.social and me did a summary after the first full week. By our calcs it's head to head Devon vs Durham with 98 species at the top! thetwojonnies.podbean.com/e/the-two-jo...

Get you answers it for this evenings #TheTwoJonnies recording - where we run down the first full week of @footit.bsky.social with our responsible adult @uforthbirder.bsky.social ♠️ #FootIt @jonnybirder.bsky.social @footit.bsky.social

How has #footit been for you so far? What have been your best birds? What have been your best finds?! What is your species count up to? How many more do you think you can get by month end? Any epic adventures so far or planned?

Just back from dinner in town; walk onto the driveway and we both hear a distant tawny owl calling. That’s me up to 77 for #footit.

From the garden trail camera this week: a stock dove (a rare visitor to the garden) and a red squirrel

18 km #footit walk east from Dunblane to Sheriffmuir and Glentye Hill. Woodcock, red grouse and crossbill were all new for the year. I had hoped for the possibility of snow bunting but it was always going to be an outside chance.

Not living in the Mediterranean climes of Suffolk and Yorkshire, #footit is a struggle this morning due to icy tracks. I have consulted the #footit rules and sliding on yer arse is an acceptable way of getting around.

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A lunchtime #footit walk in Dunblane to check for hawfinch and jack snipe was unsuccessful on both counts and there was nothing new for the year, although I did come across a common snipe.

Just a very quick walk for me today to look at the iced up local pond. Nothing new for #footit. I’d be hoping for a flyover whooper swan, crossbill, peregrine, or gos; or hawfinch to turn up on the treetops at the back of the garden.

A few snaps from the first 4 days of #footit A snowy Ben Ledi on the horizon A red squirrel in Holmehill Two of the red-breasted merganser on the River Teith A grey heron on the Allanwater in Dunblane

I also checked the garden trail camera today. 8 species so far this year. Jackdaw Woodpigeon Moorhen Blackbird Greenfinch Chaffinch Coal tit Robin

No luck with hawfinch today in Dunblane, but I will keep looking. #footit

No big walk for me today for #footit. I am instead staying local in Dunblane and searching for hawfinch. They are usually regular here in the winter but I’m not aware of any sightings this winter so far.

Today’s 22 km walk down to Lecropt and along the River Teith gave 7 new #footit species, with the best being 1 green sandpiper, 4 red-breasted merganser and 1 golden plover. 70 km walked in the 3 days has given me 73 species.

SIX SEVEN! Snipe! #footit

Day 3 of #footit and I’m heading south again, this time to the Lecropt carse. Easiest species I’m yet to get is pink-footed goose. Targets today include woodcock, little egret and green sandpiper.

A 23 km walk today to Blairdrummond GPs. Got the target of the 6 Russian white-fronted geese; a new addition to my self-powered 25km list. Added 11 other species, including brambling, to the #footit list, bring total to 66. Grabbed a coffee & cake at Boho Coffee Van in Doune. Fell into manure 😂

Day 2 of #footit and I’m heading west today towards Doune and Blairdrummond. Song thrush added this morning; not an easy one to find in Dunblane for me in January.

I had one choice to make this morning when I left the house; turn left to go south, or turn right to go north. I went south. Pete went north. I was nowhere near the white-tailed eagle when Pete had it.

Went for a 21 km walk from the house to Airthrey Loch and then back via Keir estate. 54 species, including kingfisher, redpoll; but nothing really unexpected. Also found the old ice house on the Keir Estate - had never quite looked in the right place before. #footit

A summary of 2025. House: 80 Non-motorised within 25 km: 152 Non-motorised, no limits: 154 It was the highest count I’ve had for the non-motorised lists, despite getting out a lot less in second half of year. Highlights: dotterel, crested tit, great egret, lesser whitethroat

Happy New Year everyone As I leave the house to start #footit my first bird of the year is blackbird, closely followed by woodpigeon, robin and carrion crow. Let the walking begin!

Went looking for this but no sign. I’ll have another look when I start #footit tomorrow.

#footitunlimited2026 Rules Count the number of species you see at home or whilst on foot from your home during the month of January. No distance limit. Walk as far as you want. You just need to make it home by the 31st Jan Have fun and post it on Bluesky #footit

With all respect to our #FootIt forefathers @tommckinney.bsky.social @orgreavebirder.bsky.social and the late great Martin Garner. ♠️ We are joined by @uforthbirder.bsky.social to introduce Foot It 2026! #TheTwoJonnies #FootIt #Unlimited www.podbean.com/ei/pb-2dgyg-...

HAPPY XMAS MOTHER LOVER! ♠️ The latest #TheTwoJonnies is live! Sniff it! We answer listener’s questions and basically sort stuff out @jonnybirder.bsky.social #TheTwoJonnies #Podcast #Viral #Christmas www.podbean.com/ei/pb-iyave-...