Well just about the worst photo I’ve posted here (& that’s saying something) but I’m celebrating my 200th species at my Plym Estuary & Saltram patch (thanks Dave). Part of, but hopefully not the end of, an excellent recent run here.

Penlee seawatch 07.50-13.00: Long-t Skua 3 (ad + 2 juv), 462 Sarnie, 111 Common, 17 Arctic, 14 Commic & 2 Black Terns, 3 Arctic Skua, 18 Med & 43 Manx Shears, R t Diver, c30 Med Gull. @birdguides.bsky.social @cbwps.org.uk

Penlee seawatch 13.05-16.10: 2 Great, 97 Med & 205 Manx Shears, 8 Stormies, Bonxie, 7 Sarnie Tern, 27 Kittiwake, Med Gull. Also Green Woodpecker & Firecrest. @cbwps.org.uk

Penlee seawatch 07.40-10.55: Med Shear 1, Manx 22, Sarnie Tern c80, Arctic Skua 3, Arctic Tern 3, Storm Petrel 2, Teal 5. @cbwps.org.uk

Somerville 😀⚽️👍

Penlee seawatch 12.30-17.00: Cory’s 1, Sooty Shear 1, Med Shear 12, Max 416, Storm Petrel 3, Arctic Skua 4, Sandwich Tern 19 & Med Gull 1. @cbwps.org.uk

Penlee seawatch 13.50-16.30: Mediterranean Shear 2, Manx 201, Storm Petrel 7, Common Dolphin 4+. @cbwps.org.uk

⚽️👍

Before I chuck them out, does anyone want some old Isles of Scilly Bird reports 1987-99? Free to a good home if collected from Plymouth or Colyton.

Penlee seawatch 06.00-09.35: Med Shearwater 1, Manx 200+, Storm Petrel 1, Whimbrel 2, Com Tern 1, Med Gull 7, Com Dolphin 30. Also Tawny Owl & Silver-washed Fritillary nearby. @cbwps.org.uk

Penlee seawatch 08.05-11.35: Puffin, Med Shear 17, Manx 200+, Storm Petrel 8+, Bonxie, Med Gull 9, Risso’s Dolphin 7(2+ calves), Com Dolphin c10 & Harbour Porpoise 2. @cbwps.org.uk

Anyone want these Devon Bird reports, free to a good home? Collect from Plymouth or Colyton.

Ok sorry about the “record shots” but the first Glossy Ibis for the Plym Estuary- in and out before 8am on 16th May - was a red letter day for me.

Dingy Skipper at Plym Estuary last week. One of 3+ and the first here for many years AFAIK.

9 Red Kites just drifted low west over Colyton

Bottom trawling is also responsible for destroying a lot of the seabed habitats for fish, crabs and other marine life. It's time it is banned in the UK

Well we’ve finally left Argentina, flying into La Paz. Then overland by road to Puno & train to Cusco. We loved Argentina and are equally enjoying Peru, where we’ll spend the final 2 weeks of our trip. Pics: Black-fronted Piping-Guan, Surucua Trogon, Azure Jay & Andean Flicker.

Just finished 6 very birdy days south of Salta on the latest leg of our Argentina trip. Wildlife included Yellow-browed Tyrant, plenty of White-tipped Plantcutters (the “complaining bird”, due to the call), Mitred Parakeets & Mountain Vizcachas.

After several days of searching, both Magellanic Woodpecker & Tapaculo, showed during our last hour in Torres del Paine, Chile. Then back in Argentina, Scale -throated Earthcreeper and Elegant Crested Tinamou were just 2 of the birds I enjoyed.

Great views of this lovely White Monjita in Montevideo, Uruguay, this morning. A bird I had missed in Argentina.

Highlights of the Chile leg of our S. America trip have included swimming Puma, Snares Penguin in the King colony nr Porvenir and close encounters with Magellanic Penguins. Also 1000s of B-b Albatross between Cape Horn and the Fyords and White-bellied Seedsnipe in a snow storm.

Unfortunately Costanera Sur (Buenos Aires) was unexpectedly closed this morning. But birding its fringes produced 50 species including 9 lifers. Pictured Rosy-billed Pochard, Rufescent Tiger-Heron & Red-crested Cardinal. #@rainbowtours.uk

My first Rufous Horneros and Rufous-bellied Thrushes since Brazil in 2013 & nesting Harris’s Hawk, in the Plaza next to our hotel today, in Buenos Aires, kicked off our S. American excursion. Looking forward to Costanera Sur tomorrow.

Stop worrying about bats and newts? No Rachel Reeves MP – start worrying about the future of our economy if we tear down the nature it depends on. Nature isn’t a blocker; it’s the foundation of growth.

#BigGardenBirdWatch this morning produced 9 species, with Goldcrest the highlight. Great to be part of such a big community effort. Well done RSPB!

Lots of excitement at breaktime today when our birdwatching group spotted a female Goosander flying over the playground! A new bird for our school list. (That takes us to 75 species seen in or from our school grounds!) #UKBirding #rspb

Plym Est 24: 134 species seen, of which I saw 131, a new personal record. I also had 4 patch ticks: Pink-ftd Goose, Sanderling, Arctic Skua & Lssr Whitethroat, the latter 2 being new for the site. Thanks to everyone who contributed, especially @stuart17.bsky.social , @iteague.bsky.social & Martin P.

Back on the patch this morning with Jack Snipe, Great Northern Diver & Firecrest the highlights. More here www.devonbirds.org/bird-sightin...

2nd time lucky on Saturday with great views of the Grey-headed Lapwing @ East Chevington. Also Surf Scoter, Little Auk, Hen & Marsh Harriers. Many thanks to @CharletonBirder for accommodation despite difficult circumstances.

As ever, slipped a bit of birding into our non-birding trip to Istanbul. A nice circular walk from our hotel via Gulhane Park to the waterfront produced a Hawfinch, c200 Yelkouan Shearwaters and Pygmy Cormorant amongst others.

Predictions for what storm Bert might bring? Suggestions include Great Blue Heron from across the pond or something scooped up from the south with even Sudan Golden Sparrow mentioned. But very few Leach’s so far, let alone a top rare. Maybe birders are struggling to stand upright!

I've picked up a lot of new followers on Bluesky in the last few weeks & guess many of you are new to Bluesky: welcome all One useful thread I've found worth a look at every now & then, esp with this cold snap #BirdingGear Other for the Dorset based birders is to tag messages with #DorsetBirds

Well yesterday, I did it! Fieldfare brought my Plym Estuary patch total for 2024 to 129, a new record! Hopefully still time for one or two more too.