I wouldn't want to be a fish in that channel! Hungry eyes at the Ouse Washes Earith today @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding

Unexpected Egyptian Goose nesting in the Rookery! It's a fair way up. I wonder what the rooks think! 😅 #ukbirding

Found this beautiful male Merlin on my patch this afternoon! 🥰 Absolutely delighted. I'm not confident with Merlin because I've seen so few, usually badly or only as 'possibles' in flight. Really great to get a good look! Patch tick ✅ Earith GPs @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding

This is why I count birds! Two brown geese in a brown field which I hadn't seen until I ran the scope over it to count the Whoopers. Ka-ching! Two Tundra Bean Geese! 🤩 Find tick! 🎉 Behind Rickwood hide, RSPB Ouse Washes @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding

Nene Washes is hosting spectacular numbers of birds at the moment. Clouds of Lapwing and Pink-footed Geese plus Cranes, Bewick's, Whoopers, Blackwit, Ruff, Dunlin and the usual ducks. Outstanding 🤯 @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding

Two Smew at Fen Drayton Lakes today. An easy lunchbreak twitch from work. Couldn't resist. Smew is a good duck! 🤩 @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding

County tick! 😁 Red-breasted Merganser is scarce in Cambs and a bit slippery! So I was pleased to connect at Fen Drayton Lakes with @JoeParham19.bsky.social's bird. Good find! And good team effort to get everyone on it, as it proved mobile & skulky at times @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding

I wasn't expecting to see snow this Christmas..! 😄 Thank you finder Josh Jones. Deep into the Fens and over the border but worth extending my range for the Snow Goose, and it's selection of classy field mates (Whoopers, Bewick's, Tundra Bean and White-fronted) #ukbirding #lifer

Two good birds today: the relaxed Red-necked Grebe at Fen Drayton Lakes offering super views, and the frenetic Firecrest in Over offering a photographic challenge! Both lovely to see 😊 Thanks to finders Steve C and Richard T @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding

Had a look at the Ouse Washes at Fortrey's Hall this lunchbreak and was pleased to see the juv Red-throated Diver, some 9km NE of Earith where I saw it Friday, and it was still going. Hopefully it can get back to the sea! Only about 45km to go! @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding

I wondered if the plunge to sub-zero temperatures would bring anything good inland. I was thinking a wader but I'll take a Diver!! Red-throated Diver on River Delph by Earith Ouse Washes this morning. Self-found county tick! 😃🎉 @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding

Please keep an eye open for dead & dying Whooper Swans (and other waterbirds), see thread below on how to report for possible sampling & please also report to @birdtrack.bsky.social so we can start to build a comprehensive picture of the spread 👇🏻

96 Cranes at RSPB Ouse Washes today 😍 My highest ever total! Getting close to the big 💯 on the reserve! 11 juvs. Initially feeding between Stockdales and Cadbury hides, they later flew west towards Manea. Video of some of the flock departing @rspb.bsky.social @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding

The squeal of 42 Pink-footed Geese over my house in Sutton caught my attention this morning as I worked from home. Nice to be on their flight path! 😁 @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding

The noisy neighbours are back! 😂 And I'm pleased they are. It's like welcoming home returning friends. At Ouse Washes this morning. Skein of Pink-footed Geese over my house tonight too! House tick! 🤩 @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding

On my way back south with a pitstop at Musselburgh. Managed a quick visit to the Lagoons where the Marsh Sandpiper was very obliging. Can't beat a wader lifer! 🥳 Will return tomorrow for a longer visit and to look for ducks! #ukbirding

Saw two absolutely cracking Black Grouse today having a face off through a fence! Another iconic Scottish bird, another lifer! 😊 #ukbirding #highlandbirds

Day 4, lifer number 4: Black-throated Diver! This one feels overdue so I'm pleased to have finally seen one! Tricky conditions so a sweet find #ukbirding #highlandbirds

More Eagles today! No Golden yet but 5 more White-tailed, with 4 together at one point! 😮 They look incredibly majestic in their highland setting 😍 #ukbirding

Day 2 and over to Lewis. We made straight for the Isabelline Wheatear. With thanks to some intel from @pelagicbirder.bsky.social it was an easy twitch to the delight of everyone, especially me 😁 Lifer! And I love Wheatear 😍 #ukbirding #highlandbirds

Day 1 of my Heatherlea Scotland tour delivered 2 of my top target lifers!! 🥳🥳 The cute (and very mobile) Crested Tit and (4) wonderful White-tailed Eagles, looking breathtaking soaring through the Scottish Highland scenery 😃 #ukbirding #highlandbirds

It was all getting quite artistic at Longstanton Lagoons after work today. Curlew Sands still present for their 5th day @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding

RSPB Ouse Washes today. 88 Common Cranes, 19 Glossy Ibis & 50-60 Ruff seen from the Stockdale & Cadbury hides. Great to see @birdergirl.bsky.social @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social

Peachy! First for site Curlew Sandpipers at Longstanton Lagoons. Found by @Laziobirder.bsky.social, hastily twitched by me! 😁 @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding

Lovely buffy Wheatear on the banks of the Ouse Washes this afternoon. Been scarce this year, and I don't usually see many (any!) in autumn anyway. A very welcome sight @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding

Two nice birds after work today: Redstart found by @brickert.bsky.social then I found this Curlew Sand at Ouse Fen (cell 10) 🥳 @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding

Sometimes everything seems rubbish and you feel rubbish. Then you go down the Ouse Washes and see 55 Cranes (right outside Cottier hide) and things feel a bit better 😊 5 juvs in the group @rspb.bsky.social @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding

Educational visit to Fen Drayton Lakes for the juv White-winged Black Tern. I've seen 3 adults before so it was good to observe juv plumage. Mainly flying but it's hard to capture a feeding marsh tern with a bridge camera! Here it is on a brief rest stop @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding

59 Cattle Egret on the Ouse Washes at Stockdales hide today! Most I've ever seen, and close to the county record. Quite a few juvs in there too @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding

Some waders flying over 😅 @rspb.bsky.social Snettisham #ukbirding

Post-work twitch to try and pick out the drake Ring-necked Duck on Drayton Lagoon. Tricky, but helps when you know it's there! 😄 Great find by Richard Bradbury 👍 @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @deepseahugh.bsky.social #ukbirding

Thanks to some help...a butterfly lifer! 😊 Chalkhill Blue at Devil's Dyke, Cambs today @epollard.bsky.social @cycle4nature.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Definitely did not expect to get this one back!! Having missed the Grafham Spotted Sandpiper in May while in Italy, an absolute gift from the birding gods, and Steve Cooper this morning to get another Cambs bird, at Dernford Res! 🥳 #lifer Thank you Steve! @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding

Record shot but that's a county tick right there! Crossbill in Southey Wood, Cambs today. Calling loudly, and briefly perched at the top of a pine. Happy with that 😊 @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding

I don't believe it. I found the Frampton Collared Pratincole at Ouse Fen Cell 10 this evening!! 🤯🥳 I twitched that for a lifer on Tuesday 😅 Can't believe it actually came to Cambs, let alone onto my local reserve. Woop! @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding

Collared Pratincole! Too good not to twitch!! @RSPBFramptonMarsh.bsky.social delivers again. What a terrific bird 😍 #lifer Really enjoyed watching it. Short video below. Thank you to the finders Matt and Jonny 👍 #ukbirding

Another day another great bird at Fen Drayton Lakes! Gorgeous male Red-backed Shrike! 😊 Let's hope this streak continues... @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding

White-winged Black Tern at Fen Drayton Lakes today. So crisp and striking - fabulous bird. Glad it stayed all day for the post-work twitchers! 😁 A beautiful evening too @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding

It's behind you! Busy scouring Cell 10 for waders and almost missed the Bittern that was right behind us - at point blank range! Amazing views! RSPB Ouse Fen special 🤩 @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding @rspbengland.bsky.social

Finally caught up with some of the Cambs Red-footed Falcon action! This is the female currently at RSPB Ouse Washes 😍 Lovely views @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding

Back to birding in Cambs. No luck looking for RF Falcons after work at Ouse Fen but was standing next to @bucktonbirder.bsky.social when he found a Temminck's on cell 10! Thanks Mark 👍 @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding

Back home from Ventotene. Amazing birds, good food, great company and a beautiful place. Absolutely knackered and birded out 😂😂 It's been fab 😊 @dtbedford.bsky.social @Laziobirder.bsky.social

A lot of different butterflies on Ventotene this year. Excited to see my first Swallowtail and even more so to see several Monarchs!! Completely unexpected 😃🦋 (Monarch pic by @Laziobirder.bsky.social)

Halfway through my Italian birding trip. Quality birds every day and mind boggling quantities of migrants! 11 Wood Warbler in one tree today! Eastern (lifer!) and Western Bonelli's, Moltoni's, Black Kite, RF Falcon, Honey Buzzard, Purple Heron, Tawny Pipit to name some! #Ventotene #birds

Wasn't feeling that optimistic as I wended my way to Burwell Fen for the Ring Ouzel today. But there he still was! 🤩 Popped up quite close and allowed for a quick digishot @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding

Yellow loveliness in Longstanton 😍 Also 4 Wheatear at Northstowe this evening @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding

Blimey! If I thought yesterday's lunchtime Tern was good, today's was a ROSEATE!! Inland mega and a lifer for me! 😃🥳✅ At WWT Welney. Thanks to finder Paul Fuller 👍 I did get unrestricted views but there was a lot of Godwit blocking going on! 😂 #ukbirding

Black magic on my lunch break! Just in the car to pop out when news arrived of a quintet of Black Terns at Ouse Fen, just minutes away! Seen in flight and on the deck. Thanks to finder Graham Tucker 🙂 Views better than my pics! @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding

Some good birding highlights this weekend! Smart Ruff and 22 Avocet on the Ouse Washes, my first Wheatear of the year, plenty of Garganey, then a patch tick Curlew at Earith GPs 😃 @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding

Always happy to bump into a Knot. My second in Cambs this year! Initially at Rickwood hide but also seen at Welches Dam, RSPB Ouse Washes. Good selection of waders including 6 Grey Plover, Spotshank, 9 Avocet and still over 1000 Blackwit @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding