Arctic Skua again today chasing Sandwich Terns off Kingsland Rd and Esplanade, West Mersea. Seems to be hanging around in the area. #EssexBirding

My blog about days 3 and 4 of the Scilly trip, and a difficult Pipit that we still haven't 100% identified. #ukbirding #birds

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:

It wasn't all birds for our Isles of Scilly tour. We also encountered RED SQUIRRELS, PRICKLY STICK INSECTS, the endemic subspecies of SPECKLED WOOD and HUMMINGBIRD HAWKMOTH. #wildlife #nature #islesofscilly #mammals #uknature

First Mersea Arctic Skua for some years for me yesterday, off West Mersea Esplanade, flew off high West but reappeared later chasing gulls off Bradwell. #EssexBirding

The immature White-tailed Eagle at Trimley Marshes SWT this morning. #Birds #UKBirding #SuffolkBirds

An almost birdless slog around the patch was finally rewarded when a distant airplane turned out to be a White-tailed Eagle. Unfortunately stayed rather distant but never mind, a full fat patch tick. #HytheLagoons #EssexBirding

A tusker in the reeds! Highlight of yesterday's WeBS count on Mersea Island.......which says it all about the WeBS count!! #Essexbirding

29 'missing' Hen Harriers & nearly 40 birds of prey poisoned, trapped or shot in Yorkshire Dales National Park since 2015. Not so much a National Park - more of a National Disgrace. #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime #Ornithology #Yorkshire raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/10/04/2...

Excellent thread from @alexanderlees.bsky.social More I'll thought out "conservation".

A bit of a surprise when we returned to our holiday lodge in Cornwall this afternoon. An Unarmed Stick, Acanthoxyla inermis I presume, on the door!!

Swainson's Thrush at Cuithir this morning, a well deserved find by Stuart Beeby, incredibly the 4th Barra record, making it our second most frequent North American vagrant passerine. #BirdingScotland #RareBirdsUK

Hard work at Porthgwarra this morning but eventually a few Cory's and Great Shearwaters picked out by the small group of Birders there. Also a couple of Sooty Shears and half a dozen Balearic's, a few Storm Petrels and 2 Chough. #UKBirding

We've changed the location of this month's coach trip from Oare Marshes to RSPB Dungeness and there are still a few places left. Members and non-members are welcome, visit ebws.org.uk/events/field... for further details and to book #essexbirding

Sunday 7th anyone visiting wigborough Church Arctic warbler please note we are keeping the church side of carpark clear for churchgoers from 10.30am.extra parking been arranged opposite first entrance(gate is open please park in there only)noParking on vergeFrontGates ) #Essexbirdnews #EssexBirding

Moulting adult Curlew Sand at East Mersea this morning. #EssexBirding #UKBirding

Don't forget to watch tonight's Birds of Essex - it's going to have a special start...! With the usual mix of birding news, a look ahead to the new season, & the winner of the Summer Photo Comp, it's going to be another packed show. Watch LIVE here: youtube.com/live/O8FNv7anN #essexbirding #birds

A different Pied Fly at Feldy View, West Mersea this morning per Dougal, and 2 Spot Flies still.

The Pied Fly had gone but 2 Spot Flies at Feldy View, West Mersea today. #Essexbirding

A mobile Pied Fly at Feldy View, West Mersea today, thanks to Dougal. #EssexBirders

"Some enchanted evening, you may meet a stranger!"

We were proud to support our local police today on a wildlife crime warrant. The suspect was believed to be catching and selling wild finches. No birds were found, but illegal trapping equipment was seized inc lime sticks, a strong result in the fight against wildlife crime. 👏🕊️

I have cheerlead this project before and seen the storks at the fantastic Knepp estate theconversation.com/stork-chicks... but it is difficult to see this as anything other than a publicity stunt - no evidence it will redress biodiversity loss 2/2

Wood Sand at Abberton Res this afternoon. #Essexbirding #UKbirding

With so-called 'partners' like this, the Hen Harrier Taskforce might as well pack up now before it becomes a laughing stock. #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime #UKbirding raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/07/25/h...

Autumn slowly arriving for the birds at Abberton today - seen today Pec Sand, Crossbill, 2 Greenshank, 12 Common & 5 Green Sands, 10 Blackwit, LR Plover, Spoonbill, 11 GW Egret, 75 Teal & the first returning Common Gull #essexbirding

Nearly ready to go. Just the one this year. #Essexbirding #UKbirding

2 of Brightlingsea's Cattle Egrets did the decent thing and turned up on Mersea today for a year tick, also, fist 2 Common Sands of the year and a constantly calling Willow Warbler. ##Essexbirding

Splish splash I was taking a bath........... @drhedgehog.bsky.social

#essexbirding gofund.me/5a423456

Trump's 2026 budget plan to defund the North American Breeding Bird Survey and USGS Bird Banding Laboratory will be a continent-wide blow to bird conservation efforts. Undoubtedly, that's the point. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/int... #citizenscience #birdbanding #ornithology

Red-belted clearwing in my greenhouse! A first for me. #TeamMoth

3 Hog night! 3 of at least 4 Hedgehogs visiting our feeding station last night. youtu.be/B1TQuwvG24Q

Hanningfield Res this pm - 4 Common Sands, 10 RC Pochard but little else as yet. However, a small pond there held 6 Lesser Emperor, Norfolk & Southern Migrant Hawker, Scarce Chaser, Willow Emerald, sev Small Red-Eyes & Marbled White - that would have been unthinkable even 10 years ago! #essexbirding

Thanks, @bobberzins.bsky.social for writing this guest blog. Detailed observations and commentary about what goes on on Peak District grouse moors... raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/06/18/m...

New Hedgehog feeding station is proving a hit with the Hogs but note the tactic of curling up in the food bowl to prevent sharing!😂 #Hedgehogs #nature youtu.be/4tAQG8HLUiM

Still 10+ Lapwing chicks at Cudmore Grove CP, a little bigger now. Finally had good views of a Cuckoo and my first 3 House Martins of the year. First Green Hairstreak as well. #Essexbirding

Red-footed Falcon showed well in Hide Bay (better than my photo effort!), at Abberton this morning then sat on the power lines below Layer Church. Also Garden and Willow Warbler. #Essexbirding

First Little Tern of the year in the Colne off Stone Point this morning, let's hope not the only one! Also my first 3 Sandwich Terns this year and 6+ Common Terns. #EssexBirding

Welcome home!

NB: Comments are turned off as this case is live ⚖️ #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime #Ornithology #UKBirding raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/05/04/n...

At least 10 Lapwing chicks on the grazing fields at Cudmore Grove CP this morning, probably the most I've seen there. Also a Ringed Plover sitting on eggs on Stone Point (now fenced off thanks to Bird Aware Essex Coast). #Essexbirding

Wall Brown in my greenhouse this morning, only my second on Mersea Island!

Drunk, with an air rifle, in a local park. Shoots a Tawny Owl & Woodpigeon & dumps them in wheelie bin. Various community/rehab orders & fined £40 (!) + £85 costs + £114 victim surcharge (Total: £239). That'll learn 'im. FFS. #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/04/29/l...

At least 6 Lapwing chicks on the grazing fields at Cudmore Grove CP. Other than that a Barn Owl and plenty of common migrants. #Essexbirding #UKBirding

Press release from Police & RSPB about this latest crime & commentary from me about whether Scottish Government's strategy on tackling raptor persecution is effective (spoiler alert - it isn't). #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime #BirdingScotland raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/04/23/s...

Has anyone else had a problem with their Benro tripod leg bolts constantly coming loose? Have you found a fix for this and can you get spare bolts as I've lost one! #birdingGear #BirdingUK

Still time to visit the Geedon Gallery Fingringhoe Essex for the Society of Wildlife Artists exhibition, with added bonus Nightingales down the road at Fingringhoe Wick NR #UKBirding #essexbirding #birdart