At last! The Snow Goose at Bourne, Lincs that gave me the run around a couple of weeks ago gave itself up! Distant but unmistakable views (eliminating farmyard goose!) with accompanying Whoopers. @lincsbirding.bsky.social @birdergirl.bsky.social

5 year ticks today & 1 lifer in the form of @birdergirl.bsky.social on a visit to Cambs & Lincs. Sadly dipped the Snow Goose which had hidden away even more successfully than the Long-eared Owls & Glossy Ibises. A good day nonetheless!

A fantastic day in Norfolk today! Star bird the Black-winged Kite at Hickling Broad but plenty else to see inc Snow Buntings, Cranes & Bewick’s Swans. Finished with the Ring-necked Duck at Filby Broad in company with 3 Scaup. #norfolkbirds

My latest sightings blog includes brief summary of 2025 at Stanborough GPs but already 2026 is underway! So far it’s been all about the gulls… www.rupertevershed.com/stanborough-... #hertsbirds

A long-awaited lifer in Cornwall today in the form of a Pallas’ Warbler at Loe Pool. Gave great views & grateful to the finder Joe Jones. @cbwps.org.uk

A Black Redstart today at Stanborough GPs was #134 for the site this year. Latest sightings updated here: www.rupertevershed.com/stanborough-... #hertsbirds

Male Goldeneye at Tyttenhanger GPs this morning- the first since 2022 & #156 for my record-breaking 5-miles from home year list! #hertsbirds

@rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #gowerbirds

Well. My son happens to live 6 mins from this - the SCOPS OWL in Swansea. So he twitched it on my behalf this evening 😂 Feel a mixture of immense pride and being gutted at not actually being there ☺️😭

Got excited today with thoughts of Blue-winged Teal as I picked this bird out from the Teal but in flight revealed itself to be an eclipse male Garganey. Nevertheless, a great late record for Tyttenhanger GPs. #hertsbirds

A perfect afternoon of local patch birding with 9 Whooper Swans seen to drop into Tyttenhanger GPs & then a Cattle Egret was found amongst the gulls. Breaks my previous local year record taking me to 154 species this year seen within 5 miles of home! #hertsbirds #londonbirds

An excellent 40 minutes at #TyttenhangerGP’s this evening. @rupertevershed.bsky.social had found 9 Whooper Swans & while watching them a single Cattle Egret dropped in. Both species are scarce in Hertfordshire #hertsbirds #londonbirds @hertsbirds.bsky.social @hertswildlifetrust.bsky.social

It's been a slow but steady few months on the patch near St Albans. At the weekend, a Wigeon was new for the year. But today, I found a #patchgold Dartford Warbler. Patch tick (29 years!) & Herts rarity. Thanks to @rupertevershed.bsky.social for the warbler pic. #PWC2025 @patchbirding.bsky.social

A bit of vismiging this morning with @rupertevershed.bsky.social at North Mymms Park with the highlights being 2 groups of Crossbills (11 & 6) & a single Brambling #birds #hertsbirds #londonbirds #vismig #ukbirds #ukbirding @hertsbirds.bsky.social @btoengland.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social

Another good week at Stanborough GPs! #hertsbirds www.rupertevershed.com/stanborough-...

Recent sightings at Stanborough GPs - including the big one I missed 😭 Thanks Mike Illett & Rose Newbold for photos. www.rupertevershed.com/stanborough-... #hertsbirds

Spotted Redshank at Devoran this afternoon. @cbwps.org.uk

@markgolley.bsky.social interesting comparison of 2 Black-tailed Godwits at Coursers GPs, #hertsbirds this evening. Both appeared very different - notably bill length. Possibly 2 subspecies??

Really sad to have to announce that Steve Blake @blakey9.bsky.social passed away last night after a long battle with illness. He will be greatly missed, not least as a good friend to many, a great birder and the man behind Herts Bird News @hertsbirds #hertsbirds #londonbirds 😢

This is what Spring is all about - bumping into a couple of Whimbrel in the fields near home! Sorry @johnpritchard.bsky.social for pilfering your patch! 😂 @hertsbirds.bsky.social #Hertsbirds

Recent sightings at Stanborough GPs updated! Highlights include the recent but all too brief PURPLE HERON & Garganey. @hertsbirds.bsky.social #hertsbirds rupertevershed.com/stanborough-gr…

Short clip of the male Garganey present with a female at Stanborough GPs this morning. If you listen carefully you can just hear its rattling display call. Lovely to see & see. @hertsbirds.bsky.social #hertsbirds

Mist this morning has dropped a few Redwings and Song Thrushes into the garden. 5 Fieldfares north yesterday adds to the sense of movement. @johnpritchard.bsky.social @bglynn500.bsky.social @hertsbirds.bsky.social #hertsbirds

Booted Eagle in the bag and Hoopoe to boot! A beautiful day on the Penwith peninsula finishing with a refreshing swim in Mousehole Harbour. @cbwps.org.uk

A short clip of the stunning male Blue-headed Yellow Wagtail at Stanborough GPs this morning. Also 1 White Wagtail, 2 Swallows, 7 Sand Martins, 2 Little Ringed Plovers & 7 Pintail. @hertsbirds.bsky.social #hertsbirds

'Wild About Hertfordshire' our @hnhsoc.bsky.social 150th anniversary exhibition is almost ready for its first visitors @stalbansmuseums.bsky.social. Today a giant Peregrine puppet flew in from @stalbanscathedral.bsky.social . Opens Friday until July 6. @hertsbirds.bsky.social @hmwt.bsky.social

A few of the Rock Pipit this morning at Stanborough GPs - munching on a ladybird 🐞 in one shot! An annual visitor to the pits but always nice to find one inland. @hertsbirds.bsky.social #Hertsbirds

Latest sightings at Stanborough GPs - rupertevershed.com/stanborough-gr… @hertsbirds.bsky.social#Hertsbirdsds

@hertsbirds.bsky.social #hertsbirds

Firecrest 🔥 in my garden this morning! Always a treat and singing non-stop. Guess there might be 2 😊 @hertsbirds.bsky.social #hertsbirds

Recent sightings update for Stanborough GPs - the stage is set for Spring! www.rupertevershed.com/stanborough-... @hertsbirds.bsky.social #hertsbirds

This 2nd cal year Marsh Harrier has been in the St Albans area since June last year. For the first time ever the species has been recorded in every month of the year locally. Records have involved at least 4 different birds. Breeding must surely be not far off! @hertsbirds.bsky.social #hertsbirds

Trip to Cambridgeshire in the sun yesterday. Nice to catch up with a few Bewick’s amongst the Whoopers on Knarr Fen & the Tundra Bean Geese at Thorney. Also spotted a few Cranes in the ditches. Such an amazing landscape! @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social

Walk along the Ver at Sopwell, St Albans today produced a Firecrest (no photo), 3 Chiffchaffs & a Stonechat. @Hertsbirds #Hertsbirds

This map of 1km square species totals has been created by Dean Cornish, using around 10k records submitted to the Herts Bird Club in 2024. Fully interactive version here: dcbirds.github.io/Total-Specie... Featured on the HBC website: www.hnhs.org/herts-bird-c... #hertsbirds

My original birding buddy from almost 40 years ago, Rupert, has come over to the blue side - he’s busy on the Hertfordshire birding scene, but he’s into far more than just birds. Do give him a follow and check out his writing - he’s one of the good ones.

Hello to @hertsbirds.bsky.social who have joined Bluesky. Do check out their profile, find out about the upcoming Herts Bird Club Annual Conference and use the hashtag #HertsBirds in your posts.

Check out my blog & nature writing! www.rupertevershed.com