After a long flight we are now back from #Kenya. The last two weeks of birding were an amazing mixture of habitats, birds and some of the worst driving I have ever seen. A nice total of 363 species this year with our last bird this surprise Red-throated Wryneck.

Were to the North of Mount #Kenya now and after exhaustive searching we failed to find Masked and William’s Lark. It was not for the want of trying ! Some consolation in good views of breeding Donaldson-Smith’s sparrow-weaver.

My 500th Kenyan bird species today at Nanyuki Sewage Works west of Mount Kenya was this secretive Highland Rush Warbler. Now onto 600, lots of good birding to be had on the way. #kenya

Having finished two weeks at #nguliaringing we are now birding around Lake Naivasha, north of Nairobi. Lots of new birds to see including this Golden-winged Sunbird. Mount #Kenya area next..

Ngulia 2025 comes to an end with a final total of 7288 migrants and 730 afrotropical birds ringed. Many thanks to all involved, CJ, KWS, Ngulia Safari Lodge staff and top ringing company x #nguliaringing #kenya #birdringing

The mist produced some good results for 23rd despite heavy rain and dim lights. Total caught at #nguliaringing was 1,186 w Whitethroat yet again dominating at c.50% of catch. Highlight was 3rd Euro Red-rumped Swallow for Kenya caught randomly in swallow nets late a.m.! #birdringing #birds #TsavoWest

The team were astounded to see the first two Violet Wood Hoopoes ever ringed at the #nguliaringing project #kenya #

This year is the 57th consecutive year that autumn migrants have been surveyed at #nguliaringing. in addition to the cake we ringed 1049 birds of 21 species including an amazing 19 Rufous-tailed scrub robin (Rufous Bush Chat to most of us 😁) #kenya #birdringing

Thirty Olive-tree Warblers ringed today at #nguliaringing out of an amazing 1706 birds trapped. Today’s 1017 Common Whitethroat were the highest day total ever for the site. #kenya #birdringing

Little Sparrowhawk is by no means a regular here at #nguliaringing. With four in the previous twenty years, strangely this is the third already this season. #kenya #birdringing

One of the smartest looking birds found locally at #nguliaringing This Grey-headed Bush-shrike was surprisingly calm as it was ringed and released. #kenya #birdringing

Today at #nguliaringing, thanks to Matt Prior’s ingenuity, we retrapped this Rock Martin. It was first ringed by my good self on the 12th December 2023. #kenya #birdtinging

Back in Kenya for two weeks of #nguliaringing No mist tonight so only a few Eastern Palearctic migrants. Four species of #nightjar ringed with the first Slender-tailed since 2022. #ngulia #birdringing

Autumn session finished with 1279 birds trapped & ringed here on #Gibraltar. Best birds - Red-breasted Flycatcher 4th ringed ever and Ring Ouzel 29th. Thanks to all the other ringers for their superb effort and great company. #Gonhs #birdringing

Ring Ouzel move through Gib in small numbers this time of year. Only 28 previously ringed in the last 35 years #gonhs #gibraltar #birdringing

The second one of the year but only the 4th ever Red-breasted Flycatcher ringed on #gibraltar, all in the autumn. #gonhs #birdringing

What a day! Perfect conditions with low cloud and light easterlies brought 322 new birds. Chiff (135) Robin (65) Blaca (58) the top three with the best bird, this young male Dartford Warbler #gonhs #gibraltar #birdringing

Out on the rock with some first time visitors, getting excited about Serin, Crag Martins and Black Reds. A Pied Fly was a late find. #gonhs #gibraltar #birdringing

A Wheatear in the half light this morning whilst opening the nets at #culverwell @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

The warden and assistant-warden, Martin and Jodie, in the act of ringing this afternoon’s Booted Warbler at @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social #birdringing

The most enigmatic of birds and another first for #culverwell, an amazing Wryneck #birdringing @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

Unfortunately a bird that’s on the increase, at least locally. We ring around 5 a year but my first trapped in #culverwell #birdringing @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

Rarely found in Mist-nets but today was the exception. This huge (107mm wing !) “Greenland” race Wheatear

Only my second Nightingale in #Culverwell, the first was in May 2021 #birdringing

Bang on for this time of year, a juvenile Barred Warbler, trapped and ringed in #Culverwell this morning. #birdringing @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

Trying to catch and ring Barn Owls last night and @bellthebarnowl.bsky.social mum took this image of the Milky way. No joy with the owls 😞 #birdringing #stargazing @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

The autumn truly starts at #Culverwell when I catch my first Grey Wagtail. Others today, Redstart 2, Spot Fly 2, Tree Pip 1, Stonechat 1, Kestrel 1. #birdringing @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

There are records of Essex Skipper for Portland but all the targeted searches for them that we've ever heard of have drawn a blank so they must be genuinely few and far between here - this one beside the beach road last evening is the first we've ever seen on the island

A female African Chaffinch trapped yesterday at #jewsgate #gibraltar. A great opportunity to take measurements of a seldom ringed species. #birdringing

This moth trapped at Jews Gate, #Gibraltar two nights ago. Proving a head scratcher. Thoughts please @davegrundy.bsky.social

A few Cornifrons ulceratalis passing few Gibraltar in the last two days. On their way to you @davegrundy.bsky.social #moths

Its going to be a good year for Blackcaps. I started here in Gibraltar on the 15th Jan and already have 172 Blackcaps. To get to this figure in the last two years, 2024 15th April. 2023 12th Feb. #birdringing #Gibraltar

Leaving #Kenya with some great birding on our way to Nairobi. Coursers and Bustards are hard to see so #white-belliedbustard and #three-bandedcourser were a treat to see #ngutunisafarilodge

Birding on the #Kenya east coast with Martin C. A visit to Arabuko/Sokoke forest. Scops 👍 Pipit 😞 and this confiding Malindi Pipit amongst other gems.

Final total for Ngulia 2024 - an respectable 13,328 Eastern Palearctic Migrants. Two weeks of great birds and good people. #kenya #nguliaringing #birdringing

We just passed 10,000 trapped and ringed birds in 11 days at Ngulia Safari Lodge, Tsavo West. A Eurasian Scops Owl was a surprise in the night. #kenya #nguliaringing #birdringing

No mist meant not many migrants with just over 90 ringed in the morning. The local “afro-tropical” species didnt fail to deliver. From Sunbirds to Hornbills, everyone “oohed and aahed” at each new bird. Female Black Cuckooshrike #nguliaringing #kenya #birdringing

The first night’s ringing at #Ngulia produced over 900 birds. Nets up just after midnight and finishing at midday. Corncrake hadn’t been seen for about 10 years, so two were a surprise. #nguliaringing #kenya #birdringing

31 days at Jews’ Gate, Gibraltar and 2644 birds ringed of 31 species. 1189 Blackcaps. Highlights, in brackets the total “ever ringed” Brambling (14), Redwing (16), two Bullfinch (29), Dunnock (29) thanks to all who took part #GONHS #birdringing #straitofgibraltarbirdobservatory

Redwing this morning at Jews’ Gate. Only the 16th ever ringed here. One of 80+ birds, amazing for this late in the autumn. #GONHS #straitofgibraltarbirdobservatory #birdringing

Gibraltar ringing totals to follow. Today out in the Cadiz area. Globally endangered Northern Bald Ibis, 40-50 birds around the Marisma de Barbate

With migrant passage rather sparse, this juvenile male Kestrel was a pleasant and rather feisty surprise. @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social #birdringing

With a few August ringing records over the years, this male Firecrest is still rather early for this traditional late autumn migrant. #birdringing @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

This is Grey Wagtail No.37 for the year. The previous best annual total at @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social was 36 way back in 1989. Great to see these beautiful birds doing so well. #birdringing

Smart juvenile Whinchat from the obs fields. Gorgeous day on the south coast, birds moving, love it. #birdringing @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

When birds are quiet go looking for Shieldbugs ! Down Shieldbug a B#stard Toadflax specialist @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

This juvenile Yellow Wagtail is No.65 on the list of species I have ringed at Culverwell, small copse about 300 metres north of Portland bird obs, since I started in November 2018. @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social #birdringing

In small numbers so far this August. My first notable Tree Pipit movement today. #birdringing @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

Great to see the light back working again #moonlight @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

My first Garden Warbler of the autumn. Slow at the moment but I know birds will come. I used to get presents at Christmas, now I want presents every day 🥳 #birdringing @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social