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

The cruelty of bird migration laid bare at Cley this morning as a tired Woodcock reached the end of its sea crossing to be met by a hungry Peregrine. Knocked into the water the Woodcock ultimately succumbed to the rough breakers while the Peregrine left with just a tail feather. #NorfolkBirding

Mainland Shetland Day-8. Atrocious conditions but ventured out anyway. A brief view of the Steppe Grey Shrike at Scousburgh before it for cover, and an immaculate male Northern Bullfinch at Geosetter. Simply stunning birds. And that’s a wrap for Shetland 2025. See you next year. #UKBirding

1. Fair Isle Day-7. After a howling westerly yesterday a shift to a gentle ESE overnight had potential. The Obs. team trapped two Bluethroat in the observatory garden and the lads then found a Paddyfield Warbler. Sadly it did disappearing act before we managed to see it #UKBirding

1. Fair Isle Day-6. We spent the entire day trying to identify a Pipit in the Boini Mire. Six and half hours we grilled it, photographed it and tried to record it. It was giving some really weird calls- nothing like I have ever heard from other Richard’s Pipits. Proper scary. #UKBirding

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1. Fair Isle Day-5. A much calmer day and the feeling that birds were taking their time to emerge after the battering of yesterday. As the morning wore on Woodcock were zipping around all over the place. And Blackcaps- swarms of the sods. #UKBirding

Boom 💥 lightening strikes twice @kevinshetland.bsky.social and I have just found Isabelline Wheatear on Fair Isle. @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social #UKBirding

1. Fair Isle Day-4. Flag cracking SSE to SE later meant birds were seeking whatever cover they could find and that made it hard work for birding. And yet, there was still the feeling that birds were arriving. Managed to catch up with Yellow-browed Warbler in the morning. #UKBirding

1. Fair Isle Day-3. A shift in prevailing wind with a moderate variable S-SSE made the difference. An increase in Redwing, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Brambling and Goldcrest. Also Lesser Whitethroat, Whinchat #UKBirding

1. Day-2 early flight to Fair Isle. A stunning day with cobalt blue skies. The Black-throated Diver was still present. A really good Fair Isle bird and perhaps only the 8th record- equal to the number of Siberian Rubythroat seen on the Isle. Crazy. 🤪 #UKBirding

#Shetland2025 day 1 - a beautiful day but struggle finding birds. Managed a male Marsh Harrier & Grater Scaup at Spiggie; female Western Subalpine Warbler (calling frequently) and 2 Siskin at Levenwick; Merlin and Minke Whale and 3 Great Northern Divers at Sumburgh. #UKBirding

My journey north begins- I’m heading north to Shetland and Fair Isle for the next nine days. And what if this forecast holds?

BirdLife International has issued a firm warning against proposals to cull Great Cormorant across Europe, arguing that the measures would fail to address pressures on fish stocks and could damage years of conservation progress:

Patch workout this morning, following a clear arrival of Redwings during the early hours. From Seaburn to Whitburn and Cornthwaite Park- at least 300 Redwing; some deliciously smokey Blackbirds; lots of Robins and also Reed Bunting and Stonechat in the dunes. Zero warblers. #NEBirding #UKBirding

Autumn has officially arrived to the garden. Redwing low and calling at 03:30 this morning. ☺️ #NEBirding #UKBirding

One of the most incredible WTF!! moments I have witnessed in 41 years birding Belvide. 8 White-rumped Sandpiper on the north shore between 4pm-5.30pm. Just short of a British Record of 11 on the outer Hebrides. Thought I'd lost the plot when I saw them. Still pinching myself. #UKbirding

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

Great to have stayed at @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social for a week after watching the rebuild over the last 5 years. A fabulous place & a great team. We’ve already booked again next year. Now to lose the weight United on despite walking 23k steps/ day. The food was terrific.