#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 @suffolkseawatcher.bsky.social

#FootitUnlimited Like the old FootIt we loved but No No no no no No no no no No no There’s no limits?

All the cool kids - like @jonnybirder.bsky.social @uforthbirder.bsky.social and me are doing Foot It again in January. What you scared of birds? Miles? ♠️ #FootIt #Birds #Miles #CarsAreForPussies

A recent image from the garden trail camera, just for @suffolkseawatcher.bsky.social

For a couple of weeks I’ve been putting a trail camera in the bottom of the garden, with the hope of finding hawfinch Species in 1st week: woodpigeon crow jackdaw blackbird pheasant moorhen rabbit I’m now look at the images from the past week and added: Magpie Redwing (at night) Robin Blackbird

Here you go, my account of the recent Blackpoll Warbler saga. collapsedbirder.blogspot.com?m=0 #Addbirder

Back to the desk today. Watched redwings and blackbirds zipping around the trees at the back of the garden. And I’m trying to revive the camera!

Back home for a week. The big news is there is a mute swan back on Ochlochy pond; it we’ll be the usual male after it’s summer holiday.

Back in to Aberdeen this morning, and onto an Ember bus back home. Enjoyed Unst but I’m thinking of a trip to the Scillies next year; maybe back to Unst in 2027!

I’m at the ferry terminal ready to head back from Shetland to Aberdeen. It’s been another good week with Mr @collapsedbirder.bsky.social. The two finds were the highlight of course: BLACKPOLL and MARSH WARBLER; and a supporting cast of 3 GLOSSY IBIS, SHORT-TOED LARK, BLUETHROAT, LITTLE GULL, YBW

Last walk around Norwick before heading south.

Back to the usual start at Vaylie and Norwick.

Views of the Blackpoll Warbler this afternoon at Haroldwick, Unst, Shetland. #ukbirding #rarebirdsuk #shetlandbirding #blackpollwarbler

It took a while to connect with the blackpoll warbler at Haroldswick #Unst today. What a great bird 🤩🤩

This Blackpoll Warbler gave outstanding views on the beach in Haroldswick, Unst today. #birds #ukbirding #shetlandbirds

Out and about on Unst again yesterday. The North American warbler I found the previous day in Haroldswick was still preasant, and we were able to confirm it as a BLACKPOLL WARBLER! No photos from me as camera is officially dead.

Some pictures from Norwick this morning before my phone packed in. My camera has died after I fell in a burn yesterday. It would have been useful today! So today’s birds: bluethroat in the Norwick burn; and brief views of a turtle dove and an American warbler sp in Haroldswick.

Birded around the Norwick, Haroldswick, Baliasta and Baltasound areas of Unst today. Highlight was this marsh warbler I came across in the Norwick burn. Also had 2 glossy ibis, 1 yellow wagtail, 1 lesser whitethroat, 1 fieldfare, and a few redwing.

Baliasta and Baltasound this afternoon

First up today will be a walk around the Norwick Bay area.

Arrived in Lerwick this morning and then made our way straight up to Unst. Had a lesser whitethroat at Gutcher (Yell) and then 2-3 glossy ibis, the short-toed lark, and a tree pipit. We’ll be staying at Northdale for the week.

Now on to part 2 of our journey to Unst

Take 2! After a failed attempt at getting to Shetland pre Storm Amy, we are trying again. Next stop Aberdeen for the overnight ferry to Lerwick, hopefully, and then up to Unst during the day.

A few more things from yesterday mornings walk. A Guillemot off Cambus & I counted 29 Broad-leaved Helleborines on the walk. #Orchids #birds @upperforthbirds.bsky.social

At least 8 crossbill this afternoon commuting between Ochlochy Park and Holmehill, Dunblane.

Just back from a week based on Grantown, cycling around the Cairngorm and Speyside area. The highlight was coming across cappercallie.

The little gull at Skinflats today was #150 for the self-powered yearlist #birdingbybike

Got the bus to Tyndrum yesterday and cycled home via Loch Lyon, Glen Lochay and Glen Ogle. Lots of expected species: redstart, spotted flycatcher, whinchat, common sandpiper, snipe. Over to Skinflats today and saw the summer-plumage spotted flycatcher and the little gull. #birdingbybike

Just had this red squirrel tapping at the patio doors!

A new #birdingbybike tick: crested tit! 230 km and 2.5 days to get up to the Boat of Garten area. Tomorrow is the cycle back (from Braemar) to Dunblane.

A tough twitch today. I was just about to head up onto the Ochils this morning to look for dotterel when I got a text from GG to say there were 2 on Ben Cleugh. The twitch was on! 2 hours of cycling uphill and I was there, finding 3 in total. What a twitch! Amazing birds. #birdingbybike

The morning check of the pond. The little grebe pair hatched at least 1 chick during the week.

Out exploring by bike today. Had a lesser whitethroat by Loch Tay. Also added wood warbler (near Callander) and common sandpiper (various places in Perthshire) to yearlist. #birdingbybike

Yesterday Vis mig gold yesterday: black-tailed godwit flocks over the house, presumably heading from the Forth to Iceland. Also had a gos over the house. A cycle in the Ochils yesterday produced 2 ring ouzel, and several new for year: whinchat, whitethroat, house martin, tree pipit

So this weekend A uk tick in the form of the white stork near Bo’ness. Yes, I did a twitch 😂 House sparrow in the garden today: a garden tick! They may be expanding their range. The nearest previously was 150m away.

White stork still south of Kinneil, Bo’ness. Upper Forth tick!

My only new species whilst I was in Spain: monk parakeets in Barcelona 😂

An amazing end to the Girona trip yesterday when we came across a bee-water colony (c50 birds) right next to the gravel track we were cycling along. Also had 4 white stork plus a great reed warbler calling.

Came across some singing woodlark outside of Girona today. Still loving the Bonelli’s warblers, nightingales, cirl buntings etc.

Another cycle out of Girona today. Plenty of Bonelli’s warblers singing. Plus crested tit, crested lark, wryneck, corn bunting new compared to yesterday, and more of the same: cirl bunting, hoopoe, etc.

Over in Girona, Spain for the week. The highlight from a cycle out of the city was probably sev singing western Bonelli’s warblers - not had singing birds before. Also a couple of flocks of waxbills - a new one in Europe for me. Plus cirl bunting, hoopoe, Cetti’s, nightingale, zitting cisticola…

My first willow warbler of the year this morning in Dunblane whilst out walking the dog.

Was sat outside the front of the house on getting home from work when an osprey flew low over head: the second of the year so far from the house.

Out for a late evening cycle to look for owls. Added long-eared owl to the self-powered yearlist. #126 Plus several displaying snipe are always cool to hear. #birdingbybike

On the cycle home from work I added little ringed plover and green woodpecker to the self-powered yearlist. #125

A day in the garden today, and was joined at one point by this sparrowhawk

Had a flock of 6 male black grouse fly over as cycling back in the direction of Crieff. Also a few gates up around there. #birdingbybike

Cycling along the River Tay near Aberfeldy. Came across a fishing osprey, so stopped on the roadside to watch it successfully catch a fish.

Cycling to Aberfeldy today. White-tailed eagle over the road near Muthill was a good start. First wheatears of the year along Little Glen Shee. #birdingbybike

Yellowhammer in the garden this evening. Also the second mute swan is still on Ochlochy pond.