Super early jaunt to foggy Cornwall with @bri66thomp Lesser Kestrel viewed after 30 minutes wait. World LL for me.

Actually managed to get out locally for 1st time in weeks. Felt knackered but did it. Missing out on L Kestrel. Aust and Pilning Wetlands early this morning. 2 Whimbrel, Curlew, Wheatear, 5 Swallow, 11 LRP, 2 LWhitethroat, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Sedge, 6 ReedW best.

Amazing trip to Estonia. After some luggage issues (they left my case in Amsterdam) it all went smoothly. Interestingly on way back airline also left half the entire planes luggage in Amsterdam. Luckily I had mine as hand luggage this time.

Very nice Citrine Wag in SW #Estonia this morn.

Very nice Citrine Wag on SW #Estonia this morn.

Some great birds on first day birding in Estonia Including this Ural Owl

Holyfuckoly all luggage missing/ lost in transit between Amsterdam and Tallin, pre birding tour. All optics gone. Fingers crossed and more, let’s hope the airport finds it all.

150 horses have died on UK courses over the last year. Including one at Cheltenham 1st day yesterday, Don’t go, don’t bet, don’t participate in blood sport.

Ok, so it didn’t work out.. the Zittings didn’t show and the Kite has buggered off, at least for now. But we @0100011s.bsky.social had a good time and caught up in Suffolk to See Humes, a great male Smew, 3 BN Grebe and two Barn Owls. Apologies for the scopeagraphs,

Damp morn out in #glosbirds land. CWP - Woodcock, R C Pochard, though couldn’t find BN Grebe on 120 if still there. CWP doesn’t feel that friendly these days with fences galore. Glos - R Kite, RL & Grey Partridge and 40 Brambling. Slimbridge - Med Gull, Firecrest, Bean Geese, Cranes etc

Good to meet some of the Bristol posse in Hampshire today seeing the usual duo of Killdeer and GT Grackle. Bloody windy and I struggled to match my normal scoped photo standard… Merlin also at Beaulieu consolation for no GG Shrike.

Afternoon off and sloped off to Slimbridge. 8 Ruff and Little Stint best. Also NFY - Pintail, Golden Plover, Barnacle, Ross’s Goose, Redpoll and Treecreeper

Long damp morning at Burnham today. 100’s Dunlin, 15 Avocet, 7 Grey Plover, 0 Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover.

Kentish still skulked down south of jetty at Burnham now. @birdguides.bsky.social

Marshfield, South Glos this morning. 2 Red Kite 20 RL Partridge 10 Corn Bunting 1 fem Yellowhammer 50 Fieldfare 50 Redwing 500 Lapwing high up Stonechat 5 Buzzard 2 Raven

Three Penduline Tits (at least two in this pic), Water Rail, Two Jack Snipe, Kestrel and Common Sand all seen at Cake Pill, Aust, Bristol.

After a pointless traipse down to Kenfig looking for the Bufflehead I managed a bit of casual birding there followed by a trip to Severnside to see the Pendulines at Aust and a few other commons inc Whitefronts. It has begun. When will it end..

Well 2025 was a non event birding wise as I kinda gave up in June thru illness and lethagy. Still managed 212 (200 in June, proving my point). Still managed a few lifers: Booted Eagle Brown Shrike LC Tern Scopolis Shearwater Wilson’s Canvasback. No international birds. Some great times had.

Long drive but nice to get out birding today to St David’s to see lifer Brown Shrike. Not been out for many weeks due to illness and university visits.

Fantastic trip from Falmouth with @ak_cruises. Others have posted numbers and photos of birds. 1000’s of birds in changeable weather. Wilson’s Storm-Petrol, Euro Stormie, Cory’s, Great Shearwater, Scopoli’s Shear, Sooty Sheat, Fulmar, Manx, Balearic and Sunfish.

Some good times in Norway

Chips with Teen O while waiting for 3 nightjars to show. 5 ish woodcock also.

Desert Wheatear, Keynsham, already been and done at 530am. Back home to bed. iPhone photos, so showing well. @bristolbirding.bsky.social

Day off today. Managed two (!) quick visits to CVL. Barn Owl, Tawny Owl, Red Necked Grebe and Spotted Sandpiper plus commons. @bristolbirding

Long day out after v early start travelling to Hamps and Wilts after picking up LD. Then back to CVL. Stone Curlew, GBustard, CBunting, Marsh Harrier, Hobby, Woodlark, Redstart, Spotted Fly Cuckoo, RKite, YHammer, GWoody & Turtle Dove. Spotted Sand and Garganey pair.

The 4 Dotterel showed well at a chilly Cefn Cadlan early Monday #glambirds Helped a chap down off the hill who was severely struggling walking. I can’t remember his name though it may (or may not) be Steve. He was a lead south west wales birder. Was 70, Cardiff & recently widowed. Anyone know him?

Dotterel/Brecon Or Red F Falcon/ Ham Wall - you decide…

Trip out to Slimbridge yesterday to catch up again with the Bluethroat. Also Temmincks, Wood Sand and Glossy seen. Missed out on Garganey as it was hiding. Good to see friends up there. Nice clear shot of the Stint as you can see.

#glosbirds Mid morning today FoD Crabtree Female Pied Flycatcher 2 Wood Warbler Garden Warbler Tree Pipit Redstart Siskin 20 Willow Warbler 10 Blackcap 3 Buzzard Cannop Mandarin Nuthatch Red Kite

Aust-Pilning - surprised to see a SEO. Also 10 swifts, 5 house martin, 100 swallow, 5 wheatear, lesser Whitethroat, 6 greater whitethroat, 8 LRP, 2 RP, 1 Yellw Wag, 40 Dunlin, 5 Mipit, cacophony or reed and sedge warbs, Redshank, 3 Kestrel, Sprawk, 4 Stonechat & Buzzard. Distant scoped iPhone photos

Not sure which is worse real life or AI ?

Birds are meant to fly free, not fall victim to a disgraceful industry driven by greed and violence. Stand against bird shooting and fight for their freedom! SHARE if you agree!

Nice trip to Ham Wall today. Three bitterns heard, 2 marsh harrier, spotted redshank, glossy ibis, 3 treecreeper, blackwit, 2 gwe, 1 legret and some other stuff

The Marbled Duck was relocated by Ian and Lawrence Machin this pm at Longdon Marsh WWT Roadside pool. It is un-ringed and fully winged and can be elusive but was viewed from 5m inside entrance gate. The drake Ring-necked Duck was again at Hill Court Screen. Image by Andy Warr.

Brambling in with the Chaffinch at Hazleton today. 5 Red Kite but no Grey Partridge that I could find at Harnhill. 30-40 RC Pochard at Pit 44 at CWP. Today #GlosBirds

Finally a trip to Abberton today with @bri66thomp and saw Canvasback (LL), 14 BN Grebe, 2 Slav Grebe, 6 ish W Front Geese, Kingfisher, 5 Green Sand, 6 Scaup, T Owl, 100 Brent Geese (nearby) 200 Blackwit, male Smew, plus usual multitude of Red Kites enroute.

Nice day out in Cornwall with Brian. After painful wait we saw the Booted Eagle, new British bird for us both. Plus some decent sea birds & waders at Marazion. A couple of contenders for Pacific Diver but nothing 100% Obligatory Pasty. Little Bunting up the road in a field

1 Yammer, 4 Corn Bunting, 30 released RLPartridge, 700 Fieldfare, 10 Redwing, 2 Red Kite, Mistle Thrush, 4 Stonechat, 4 Buzzard and 2 Kestrel Marshfield this morning

Wet and cold morning out seeing the equally damp Yellow-Browed Warbler (much nicer, in every way, than the more garish & show offy Yellow Warbler) at Frampton. Then off to Slimbridge - nfy L Stint, Whooper, Bewick, GW Teal, Skylark, GSW, G Plover, Barnacle & Spoony

Bloody bastard Yellow Warbler.

Quick jaunt to Greylake today to dip Baikal Teal. Did see a very nice male Merlin, f Hen Harrier, several Marsh Harrier, Water Rail and a few more year ticks. At Burnham a host of waders but no banana.

Started the year well with an iPhone photo. GN Diver at Barrow Tanks. 60 species seen this morning around the reservoirs in intense rain at times.

Strange birding year. Normally have a wobble in May but this year kept going till October. Didn’t bird in Nov/Dec. Still ended up with 252sp. Including only bad views of 4 new British birds - Little Crake, Pom Skua, Semi P & Stejneger’s Scoter. Life List still floundering on 379.

A very Merry Xmas to all my friends on here. I hope the last few days of 2024 are fun and happy for you. Have a great day today. I didn’t take many bird photos this year but here’s a Xmas Robin.

Birding or Chocolate Orange? Why are there these challenges in life?

Black Parrot

Portland today to try and catch up with Pallas’s Warbler and transatlantic Red-Necked Grebe. The double dip ensued. Here’s a photo from a few years back. Ahhh that’s better.

More Seychelles iPhone photos

Back from Seychelles via 20 hour return trip Great family holiday and some brilliant birds seen, will list later. Inc Black Parrot, Paradise Flycatcher, Magpie Robin, Sunbird, Fairy Tern, Frigatebird, White T Tropicbird and Noddies

Cute #Cousin