And they’re back! Swift 3 over the garden this evening- on May 10th nearly every year. Just a joy. 🥰 Also Swallow 10 and bizarrely Sand Martin 2 #NEBirding #UKBirding

1. Patch workout this morning on a very wet and cold May morning. Highlights was undoubtedly the pair of Little Tern on Seaburn and Whitburn Bents beach. Birds exhibited courtship behaviour- something I have never had privilege of seeing before. Beautiful. #NEBirding #UKBirding

1. Quick patch workout in between family duties and rain. Boldon Flats has hosted migrant waders this last week- not huge numbers but nice variety nonetheless; Avocet 23 (my highest count at this site), Wood Sandpiper 1, Dunlin 3, Common Sandpiper 1, Curlew 1, Oystercatcher 3 #NEBirding #UKBirding

Double #vismig sessions at Severn Beach today. @severnsidebirds.bsky.social @matthall95.bsky.social @oscardewhurst.bsky.social 54 Yellow Wagtail* 3 Whinchat 100 Bar-tailed Godwit* 38 Swift* 6 Arctic Tern 260 Swallow 44 Sand Martin 10 Sanderling 21 Whimbrel* Etc. www.trektellen.org/count/view/5...

Interesting paper on White-winged Lark in France and Europe (in English) #UKBirding marcduquet.com/wp-content/u...

1. Patch workout this afternoon determined to find more newly arrived migrant species. Boldon Flats was productive- Little Ringed Plover 2, Common Sandpiper 2, Whimbrel 1, House Martin 6, Swallow 4 and Avocet 2. At least three Lapwing attempting to incubate, too. #NEBirding #UKBirding

HURRAH! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social

1. Patch workout this morning. Whitburn Steel highlights- Purple Sandpiper 10, Sanderling 3, Bar-tailed Godwit 1, Turnstone 17, Oystercatcher 19 and Redshank 8. Sand Martin colony continues to be busy, busy, busy. #NEBirding #UKBirding

1. Went beyond the boundaries of the patch yesterday and visited the WWT centre at Washington. More of a family day out really but nice birds, too- Avocet 32, Little Egret 2, Goosander 1. Some migrants too, Blackcap 3, Chiffchaff 5, Swallow 1 and Willow Warbler 1. #NEBirding #UKBirding

1. Patch workout this morning at Whitburn. Interesting despite cool breeze- highlights my first Willow Warbler of the year in Sea Buckthorn at Jackie’s Beach, another male Wheatear, Swallow 2 arrived from offshore and wheeled south and Sandwich Tern 6 #UKBirding #NEBirding

Delighted to see Marsh Sandpiper on patch this morning. A superb bird and first since the bird at Cley 1987. Brilliant. #NEBirding #UKBirding

Patch workout this morning. Disturbance was high at Whitburn Steel so birds were few. Headed inland and into Mere Knolls Cemetery- Chiffchaff have finally arrived with five males holding territory. No Blackcap as of yet. #NEBirding #UKBirding

1. Patch workout this afternoon. Change in direction of wind and sunshine had an instant impact. A cracking 1st-S. male Wheatear at Whitburn Steel and first Sand Martins returning to cliff-side colony. Meadow Pipit, Linnet and Reed Bunting all singing & holding territory. #NEBirding #UKBirding

I think this is about as good a start to April that I could’ve ever imagined! White-spotted Bluethroat ringed at Skagen. Only the second spring male to ever be caught here!

1. Patch workout this morning. Hard work at the moment. Whitburn Steel- Sanderling 16, Curlew 16, Oystercatcher 13, Ringed Plover 2, Purple Sandpiper 1, Grey Heron 1. Still no Sand Martin or Wheatear. #NEBirding #UKBirding

Male Wheatear. New Passage. From the beach. @bristolbirding.bsky.social

Patch life has been slow of late. First Chichaff of the year in Mere Knolls Cemetery on Wednesday, and Stock Dove setting up breeding territory there, too. No Sand Martin at Whitburn yet, but it shouldn’t be long now, I would think. #NEBirding #UKBirding

The Northumberland White-tailed Eagle finally headed south today and managed to pick it up over Seaburn. Gulls went utterly ballistic. #NEBirding #UKBirding

Due to “interesting” conditions, I have encountered huge counts of absolutely sod all 🤷🏻‍♂️ #NEBirding

I cannot wait for this to be published 🙏🏻

🦢 The International Swan Census is almost here – this weekend! We still have a few priority sites that need coverage. Please check the map & help us assess how well our Whooper & Bewick’s Swan populations are faring. Every count matters! 🙏 bto.org/gsmp-isc 📸 @tangrigg.bsky.social #Ornithology

A room with a view… Eastern Black Redstart favouring residential windows. #norfolkbirding #ukbirding

My Swarovski STS 65 HD scope, with 20-60 zoom is available, although lens caps missing. Comes with stay-on case (front lost its lower clip). Tripod available. Know any local young birders who may like it? - free of charge @landguardbo.bsky.social @landguardbirder.bsky.social @david-walsh.bsky.social

Birthday patch workout and great to start patch year-list on a beautiful, bright day but bloody hell it was cold 🥶 Common Redshank 131, Turnstone 44, Purple Sandpiper 29, Oystercatcher 5, male Stonechat 1, Rock Pipit 6, Pied Wagtail 8, adult Mediterranean Gull 1, Eider 6. #NEBirding #UKBirding

Patch has been invaded by mindless obligate bipeds so disturbance is high and birds are few, so went beyond patch boarders. The Russian White-fronted Goose flock is still present at Tilesheds, East Boldon. At least two juvenile birds present and a single Whooper Swan. #NEBirding #UKBirding

Dear bird folk and lovely folk. Hope you all have a lovely Christmas. 🎅🏻🎄🙏🏻 #UKBirding #NEBirding

Return to patch this afternoon. Black Redstart still present at Whitburn Steel on seaweed at base of cliffs. Also Sanderling 32, Purple Sandpiper 6, Turnstone 24, Redshank 48, Rock Pipit 6, Pied Wagtail 10 and Meadow Pipit 3. #NEBirding #UKBirding

Patch workout this morning. Finally managed to dig out a Black Redstart 🙄 A beautiful smokey 1CY/Female type feeding among seaweed at Whitburn Steel. Nice to see patch finally join the nationwide influx. Littoralis Rock Pipit also still present. #NEBirding #UKBirding

Patch workout this morning. High tide at Whitburn Steel- Stonechat 1 (male), Sanderling 17, Purple Sandpiper 10, Curlew 1, Oystercatcher 8 and many Turnstone and Redshank. Also Pink-footed Goose 90 ca. south along the coast at Seaburn. #NEBirding #UKBirding

We are recruiting. If you want to find rare birds and witness spectacular falls & live among 30,000 Manx Shearwaters get your application in for the Bardsey Island Assistant job (Mar-Oct 2026) before 10 Dec. Apply here: tinyurl.com/2026-Assista... #RareBirdAlert #BardseyIsland #ConservationJob

Patch workout at Whitburn Steel this morning after neglecting it these last weeks. Bar-tailed Godwit 3, Purple Sandpiper 1, Grey Heron 2, Common Eider 5, Red-throated Diver 1. Also littoralis Rock Pipit feeding on seaweed along high tide line. #UKBirding #NEBirding

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An unexpected twist to a walk looking for Dipper on the Horton Burn! This Little Bittern was discovered late morning at North Shields in a bit of a sorry state. Pictured here at handover to a rescue team. Looking healthy (and drier), hopefully it will recuperate overnight for a release… #NEbirding

Pretty much how I feel right now 😕

Found out about the Pallas’s Warbler at Whitburn Coastal Park to late in the afternoon to be able to go yesterday. Tried my best this morning but to no avail. Then tried for Firecrest at Roker Park. Nope, didn’t see that either. Just one of those days 😝🤦🏻‍♂️ #UKBirding #NEBirding

1. Patch workout and a much calmer day today. Started brightly- Pink-footed Geese 90ca. (in two flocks), Whooper Swan 16 all heading south at Seaburn. A Woodcock and Common Buzzard over the garden was as good as it got from there on. No passerines at all in Cornthwaite Park. #UKBirding #NEBirding

Patch work out this morning in a stonking easterly. Obvious movement of Common Gull offshore 60 ca. north. Increase in Great Black-backed Gull, too. Also Eider, Wigeon, Mallard and a cracking 1-w Little Gull along the high tide line at Seaburn. #NEBirding #UKBirding

Really wild day on patch. I didn’t hang around too long. Highlight was a Peregrine following the high tide line north from Seaburn, much to the displeasure of the local Herring and Black-headed Gulls. #NEBirding #UKBirding

Still wondering whether to visit the new Fair Isle Bird Obs in 2026? We are open for bookings 20th May to 31st October. Although there is only limited availability in May-July, we still have plenty of space from early August until the end of October. Our website includes information on how to book.

Jammed in the Pallid Swift at Whitburn this afternoon. Great find by @pratorum2112.bsky.social Bird showed well at times and offered good views through bins. Poor light didn’t really help with regard to photographs and this is the best I could do. #NEBirding #UKBirding 🙏🏻

Terrific Pallid Swift at West Runton today.

Just look at this! This is right up my alley, I love ID as most know and seeing work like this that illustrates the differences so well is fantastic.

After Fair Isle it’s back to the realities of patch birding. It may feel like the entire western palearctic is lifting with Pallas’s and Dusky Warblers, and whatever else, but Seaburn and Whitburn? A large slice of nowt, zip and sod all. 🙄🤦🏻‍♂️ #NEBirding #UKBirding

Black-faced Bunting @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social early morning - the second two images probably give a better indication of true colour - another first for Dorset in a remarkable year for this species in Western Europe:

Worrying reports of bird flu (avian influenza) are coming in, including an outbreak in Whooper Swans in the Fens. Other waterbirds are also being affected, and cases are rising. 📷 Sick Whooper Swan by Kane Brides #UKBirding #BirdingWales #BirdingScotland

Finally caught up with a local Yellow-browed Warbler this year. One bird, and calling frequently, in Mete Knolls late morning. #NEBirding #UKBirding

Europe's Insect-Eating Birds Reveal a Hidden Crisis in the Food Chain www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/E...

Warra week. Black-throated Thrush and Sibe Rubythroat! #OrkneyBirding

We are still interested in any found twite feathers for a study on the relationships and genetic diversity between the British groups - particularly now for birds of Scottish origin in the NE of England or, birds on the Avon. DM me for me more info. #birdringing