Two Black-Necked Grebes briefly at Cheddar Reservoir this morning and then just one, which showed nicely.

I was out of County a long way away when it came up but I just got back in time to see it #lessercrestedtern

Lesser Whitethroat (and a Black Redstart) near Seaton Bowling Green this morning with @leonwr.bsky.social

Nice to get my second Black Redstart in two years in Mid Devon. First one was at a Catholic Church and this one at a Protestant Church 🤣.

Our birdwatching in Extremadura video is live! Our first birdwatching trip abroad and what a time to remember! youtu.be/g4ntM_NxR88 #birds

Incredible pics of the Pallid Swifts at Dawlish Warren today by Luke H shared with his permission

Pallid Swift is a bird I have wanted to see in the UK for many years and today was the day with two over Dawlish Warren. Thanks to @markrabailey.bsky.social for the updates. This is the first lifer I have had in Devon for over 11 years, so, very chuffed 😃.

Peregrine wearing its best trousers to church and tucking into its delicious fresh breakfast.

I made the annual pilgrimage to Emsworthy Mire for migrating Ring Ouzel this afternoon and saw 5 in challenging conditions 🌧️😱.

Did my first ever guided bird watch today for two ladies at Ashclyst. Was a bit nervous but they loved it and really enjoyed seeing Nuthatch for the first time 😀.

Week 42 of my 2025 200 bird year. Now at 228 after a couple of trips Scilly. Will I reach 230? Can I be bothered? There are a few obvious species that I could chase after.....🤔🤣

Hello Scilly again - didn't think I'd be back again so soon but it had to be done #scillybirds

A farewell to Scilly yesterday. We won't be back next year due to other holiday commitments but may be back the year after.

Scilly Day 6:- Bit of a grey old day. Don't mention the Mourning Dove again 😥. Consolation birds were Turtle Dove and Red-breasted Flycatcher.

Scilly Day 5:- T-Shirt weather again. Don't mention the Mourning Dove 😥. Best bird for me today was Common Rosefinch.

Scilly Day 4:- Another fine day. This time spent on St Agnes. Hoopoe, Spotted Sandpiper, Yellow Wagtail and Curlew Sandpiper. #scillybirds

Scilly Day 3:- A beautiful sunny day with the wind gradually easing. Paid homage to the Wilson's Phalarope again. Also Yellow-Browed Warbler and American Pipit. #scillybirding

Scilly Day 2:- Very blowy and therefore challenging but not a bad day with Short-Eared Owl, Glossy Ibis, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, Pied Flycatcher and Rosy Starling. #scillybirding

Scilly Day 1:- A bit blowy and rainy, so only managed to catch up with the Wilson's Phalarope, but what a bird. #scillybirds

Early afternoon sea watch off Otterton with @leonwr.bsky.social gave us lots of Sarnies and 2-3 Arctic Skuas then a dash back down the M5 for the Baird's at LORP this evening.

Distant shot of the turf Grey Phal. Another lunchtime Devon ✔️ for me. Thanks to @markrabailey.bsky.social for pinging me. Now back to work 🤣.

Heard somewhere that there was a Wryneck at the Turf Hotel in Devon 😉 so I finally got off my backside to go and see it.

What an evening:- Sabine's Gull (Devon ✅); Wryneck (Year ✅); Glossy Ibis (Year ✅).

A birder never stops birding, even when being a tourist. Nice Grey Wags at Corpus Christi 🤣.

Took a gamble and decided to take a detour en route to Cambridge for the weekend via Walberswick. Reward after a 90 minute wait - 3 Zitting Cisticolas flitting around the reeds, keeping out of the wind.

Beautiful morning here in Mid Devon but unfortunately the overnight rain did not produce anything in Ashclyst or the near hedgerows. 100s of House Martins though passing over, picking up insects at the forest edge as they headed south. Only 1 Spotted Flycatcher today.

Week 34 of my 2025 200 bird year. Now at 205 after scoring two Devon ticks (Marsh Sandpiper and Black Tern) in one week. Not a bad week with two hits 🎯 and one dip 😱.

Brilliant #patchbirding morning - a Wryneck along the fenceline of Crownhill Down (W3Ws ///bills.tiles.ombudsman). Wood Sandpiper still on small pool on the down. Also in the area, Whinchat, Ringed Plover, Pied Flycatcher, 4+ Spotted Flycatchers and a Tree Pipit. #birding #ukbirding #birds

Black Tern at Dawlish Warren Bight this evening, an Arctic Skua harassing gulls offshore and the most famous uncountable White Stork in Devon atop it's lamppost on the way there and on the way back 🤣.

9 Spotted Flys at Ashclyst this morning but I didn't walk my entire route, so there were probably more. Also 10+ Crossbills still.

A new YouTube Video! Love this one, love Slapton! youtu.be/VAblkNQB2gk?... #ukbirding

6+ Spotted Flycatchers and 10+ Crossbills at Ashclyst this evening.

I don't often drag the moth trap out, but thought I'd give it a try last night but had a disappointing result with just one 😒. Will reposition the trap elsewhere and try again in a couple of days.

Double figures of most species in Ashclyst Forest this morning.

A Swift over our town today was the extent of my birding for the last couple of weeks and probably for the next few weeks. Nice to see though. Plenty of hirundines still around and passing through.

An impromptu visit to Ashclyst this afternoon as I had the day off. Star player there continues to be Spotted Flycatcher. A few frittilaries flittering around too.

Ready to fledge from our neighbour's chimney and then the annual mayhem will commence with the adults dive bombing us each time we leave the house 😱.

Curlew Sandpipers were still at Black Hole Marsh this afternoon, although we spent most of our time just watching the Sand Martins coming and going at their colony 😃.

Flying ant day here in Mid Devon, can't go outside without snorting one up me nose 🤣. The gulls are loving it though with lots above town flycatching.

Into week 30 of my 2025 200 bird year list and I seem to be stuck at 200. Highlights of the week so far though have been Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Coal Tit and Bullfinch in the garden.

A trip up to the Cotswolds today for a birthday party and popped into Slimbridge en route to dip the Bluethroat. No advance from 200 yet....

Week 27 of my 2025 200 bird year list and I made it. I now don't need to go birding for the rest of the year 😉🤣.

Week 26 of my 2025 200 bird year list has been uneventful but Week 27 will be the week I reach 200 😄 - Exactly half way through the year.

An incredible 21 Swifts high over my garden this evening in Mid Devon - I love them 😍

Week 25 of my 2025 200 bird year list done - Finished on 198 with Osprey and a bonus puncture in a brand new tyre 🤬.

Phew - got it 😅. Woodchat Shrike at Dawlish Warren this evening. Takes me to 197 for my 2025 200 bird year list.

A Coot over the house at 2am this morning. Takes the house list up to 59. Not too shabby for birdless Mid Devon. I wonder what my 60th will be 🤔.

Nice day out in Somerset and Avon with Desert Wheatear, Hobbies, Bittern, Great Egrets etc

Well I got my Tern and Shearwater in Week 24 of my 2025 200 bird year list taking me to 195 #slowlydoesit. Also saw some beautiful fields of poppies and wildflowers during the week 🙂

Week 23 of my 2025 200 bird year list done - dipped again - passed my dipping streak onto others (sorry) but somehow did manage to secure another 2 species taking me to 193. Aiming for another couple this week - maybe a tern and a shearwater....🤔