21000 steps today with @dartfordtrapper.bsky.social . Higham, Shorne and Cliffe marshes and a brief stop at Shorne woods on the way home. 91sp all within roughly 6miles of home . Scaup, Ruddy Duck, Great Egret, plenty of Med Gulls, Greenshank, Stonechat, Peregrines, Stacks of Wildfowl +Firecrests

Eastbourne: Many thanks to Harvey for turning up this zinger of a Wheatear at Sovereign Harbour today. What a treat and my first EVER in February. Spring is offically here!

Looking forward to browsing through this new present to myself which arrived today You can never have enough ‘Grasshopper books’ on the shelf A beautiful upgrade and valuable reference - highly recommended @kentgrasshoppers.bsky.social @kentfieldclub.bsky.social

Explored some new areas today , for me anyway and found a vocalising Lesser spot Woody 😀. The expected Firecrests were singing at several sites including two associating with the Faversham Pallas’s Warbler #kentbirding

Get 2 years of complimentary accidental damage cover with all new Leica binoculars & spotting scopes. This is in addition to the excellent Leica 10-year warranty.View our full range here: www.cleyspy.co.uk?post_type=pr... #BirdingGear

This is your annual reminder to look closely at Mediterranean Gulls for colour rings - read and report them. Today at Pett Level, 85 was the peak count and 3 rings were read - the second image is of right white 3L3R @sussexornitholo.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social #gulls

The two Shore Larks reappeared for the first time this year, while the other overwintering rarities in Kent (Bluetail, American Wigeon and Pallas’s Warbler) remained on show. For full weekly highlights see kentos.org.uk. #kentbirding

Super to see this continuing flow of new publications from @denisewawman.bsky.social DPhil thesis (and associated work!)

More Red Kite action in West Kent, a minimum of 25 at this site at present

Another day out with @dartfordtrapper.bsky.social checking out a few sites in West Kent . Plenty of Red Kites and Buzzards plus the expected Firecrests in most sites we visit. Add to this five Crossbills, a Little Egret in a farm field, 12+ Yellowhammers amongst 250+Chaffinch 🫣😳. #kentbirding

Bad weather so cracking on with 2025 Sandwich Bay Dragonfly report. 30 sp & Zygoptera section done. Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly breeding confirmed; a surreal experience of surveying pumilio thru 'swarms' of Dainty Damselflies - a scenario inconceivable 2 years ago. 🤯@britishdragonflies.bsky.social

The Bittern obeying the RSPB rules and regs at Loch of Spiggie, Shetland... #BirdingScotland #UKbirding #RareBirdsUK #UKWildlife #Birds

Bird of the week in Kent was a smart drake American Wigeon, but there was a lot more on offer such as a Red-necked Grebe, Common Crane, the Bluetail and the Pallas’s Warbler. Full highlights in kentos.org.uk. #kentbirding #birdguides

An enjoyable day in Kent with @dartfordtrapper.bsky.social 82 species of bird with Firecrest, LSW in two sites, lots of Snipe, Mergansers, BNGrebe, Scaup, all three Egrets, Peregrines, Mandarins and a surprise Tawny Owl 😳

Our new website is 💥LIVE💥 Lots of new content & images and plenty more to come. Home banner image, Waxwing - Adam Bowley. sos.org.uk #sussexbirds

My two hour sea watch at Dunge yesterday produced a few nice birds . Two Little Gulls the highlight

A few highlights from the weekend in Kent .

American Wigeon on Peto’s Marsh at SWT Carlton Marshes this afternoon.

What looks like a dark morph Lapwing seen at #RSPBGreylake #Somerset this morning. It was very aggressive to any other Lapwing that came to close.

We lost a birding legend today, my uncle Gary (Messenbird) passed away after several health issues this morning, a Beddington and Surrey legend and a big influence on my birding life, something I will be forever grateful for ! He will be missed 🪶

Tonight's online talk is going to be a cracker, as Dr Rob Williams talks about Hummingbirds of the World! With lots of superb photographs and interesting information it's definitely worth tuning in to watch at youtube.com/live/g9ioCPr...

This Thursday evening’s talk at Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory is about wardening for a year on the island of Bardsey All are welcome #kentbirding

Today is World Wetlands Day celebrating the more than 2500 areas of international importance. Some of these are in Kent such as the Thames Estuary and Swale. Wetlands represent 6% of Earth but are home to 40% of all plant and animal species. #kentbirding #WorldWetlandsDay2026

A mini break last week , Lincs, Cambs and some birding with Nik Borrow in Norfolk

An enjoyable day out birding at various sites along the N Kent coast with @dartfordtrapper.bsky.social RBMergs, GND, Scoters, Pintail, Eider, Snow Bunts, Woodcock, one in off at Swalecliffe and one on the shingle at Minnis. Finally Bittern at Oare , my first ever at this site +2 Spoonbill Harty

I spent much of this week back on the coast, inc. couple of sessions on the clifftop at Bempton and Buckton were high quality - one of which was spent guiding the fabulous RSPB Bempton Cliffs volunteering team with Will (our first of the year). More here: northernrustic.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-...

Not sure I've ever seen an American Wigeon as well as the Ribble one. Even better when the sun came out this afternoon. Couldn't find the nearby Myerscough drake late on though #lancsbirding #wildfowl

If you're planning an epic road trip this year, make sure that you take one of our fantastic binoculars with you. Then you'll be sure not to miss that Eagle overhead, Stag on a hillside or Otter in a Loch! With models available from just £29, we have something for everyone: www.cleyspy.co.uk

Translocation of Raso Larks to the island of Santa Luzia in 2018 after eradication of invasive cats has been spectacularly successful, with nearly 1000 individuals now. Great work by @birdlifeglobal.bsky.social partner Biosfera, and long-championed by Mike Brooke www.birdguides.com/news/raso-la...

KOS species of the month – January Kittiwake – No longer a breeding species within Kent these medium sized gulls are best identified off the coast in winter by their yellow bill, grey wash over the back of the neck, black wing tips and black legs.  #kentosbirding #kentbirding

Two Pacific Divers off Roskilly (12th Jan). These are probably the third & fourth for Cornwall. Photo includes four Great Northern Diver and two Pacific Diver (extreme right and second left). This is the first time that two Pacific’s have actually been seen and photographed together in Cornwall.

Anyone will an interest in bird finding and the history of birding through the decades, particularly in Lincolnshire, should read this wonderful piece by our esteemed birder, Graham Catley. #lincsbirding

I started my weekend by trudging around Whetsted GP’s where I got 51 species (just 80% of my NYD total there). 2 White-fronted Geese the best plus 3 Great White Egrets, 2 Ravens, drake Goldeneye, 600 Lapwing and a Muscovy Duck 🤭 RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL was #236 for West Kent - amazing!

It was only 200 metres more to Surrey 🧐🫣😎. Kent and LNHS won though 🫣🤗. Red-flanked Bluetail found by Will Oliver yesterday afternoon and very very elusive . Still difficult today but a few saw it well with patience . Also in the area, Woodcock, Brambling, Crossbills

This month's online talk on Friday evening is a fascinating one about Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers. Full details at www.ebws.org.uk/talks/jan26 #essexbirding

Today a few of said goodbye to John Tilbrook (JT) RIP John. @kentishplover.bsky.social

I was lucky enough to bump into the Black-winged Kite just S of Horsey Mill at 1410 today before it drifted off towards Hickling. Very happy indeed. The male Hen Harrier had won the drive round the Broads before that. #UKBirding #norfolkbirding

Sadly I heard a few days ago that John Tilbrook died on 22nd Nov last year, a day after his 87th birthday . John had a stroke about seven years ago and was pretty much housebound from then on. Many of you will have fond memories of John or JT as we called in . He’s catchphrases will live on though

Another opportunity for insomniacs to catch up on some sleep - I'm giving a talk on "Birds in History, Myth and Folklore" on Friday 9th January at 7.30pm in Blean village hall.

Happy New Year 🥳 We hope 2026 is a good one! Remember, you can keep up with all the latest dragonfly news this year by signing up to our free monthly e-newsletter 📰 british-dragonflies.org.uk/get-involved...

The wider Dungeness recording area had 240 bird sp in 2025 Plenty of scarcities/rarities but declining number of migrant birds and breeding species No Sabines Gull, Snow Bunting or Glaucous Gull during the year Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler and Zitting Cisticola the new Dungeness birds #KentBirding

End of 2025, 1876 species of bird recorded in my 48th year of birding. Met friends old and new, a year of mostly good memories tinged with sadness though, a sad reality of getting older. Too many highlights so here’s four random photos . Happy new year to all for 2026

I explored Shorne and Higham marshes today, another enjoyable walk. I recorded 72 species with Merlin, Great Egret, Buzzard, Ringed Plover, Brent Goose, Marsh Harrier amongst others. Here’s to 2026

RSPB Dungeness from Dennis’s Hide on 6.12.25 & 17.12.25 - Caspian Gull R-OY, rung as Pullus on 13.05.22, At IJsselmeer (De Kreupel), Noord Holland. #birds #birding #gulls #kentbirding #ukbirding

North Kent, part 2 . The return walk to pick up the car . 44 species with Redpoll, Water Rail, Buzzard, Firecrests, Raven, Grey Wagtail, Shovelers, Great spotted Woody all topped off with the glorious sights, sounds and smells of the Garden of England 🧐🫣🥹

A bonus Dungeness year tick early afternoon thanks to a timely call from John Young, a Common Crane circling over Dengemarsh plainly visible from my house albeit a distantly. My 232 species this year in Dunge area. @dungenessowen.bsky.social will have the full year list. #UKBirding #Kentbirding

Just when you thought it was safe to come out of the Water.....

The guardians of the countryside have been busy again out on Walland Marsh, I have no idea why they have butchered the hedges, I can only think that some government incentive was offered, as we know the Guardians do nothing without a return.

One of two Siberian Chiffchaffs at Colyton WTW this afternoon. Impossible to count in any meaningful way, but wouldn't surprise me if there were 100+ Chiffs present here. Quite a captivating sight. 😎 #DevonBirds