Happy and a peaceful New Year to you all and your families. Remember it’s nice to be nice.

Here’s some digiscoped photos of the two Whooper Swans yesterday near Thrussington, Leicestershire Thanks to Lee for access to the farm. @lrosbirds.bsky.social #ukbirding #vc55birds #birds

I’d like to wish all my friends on Bluesky and their families a very Merry Christmas and Happy and peaceful New Year

This morning myself, Jim Graham and Nigel Judson went and picked up LROS’s new acquisition. This clinker style boat which will be used for servicing the Tern rafts , and also getting ringers out to ring the chicks in the spring, on several Leicestershire waters. #LROS #VC55

Saturday afternoon footie was going to be Bridlington v Blyth, after we had seen the Eastern black Redstart at Scarborough. Neither happened. dipped the Redstart and the game was off. All to much for @davidearlgray Thanks for driving @ShrikeBirding in 💩 conditions

Thanks to @leicesterllama.bsky.social for finding the American Wigeon at Eyebrook yesterday. Went today with @greeny55.bsky.social and met @tcartz.bsky.social great views, difficult to photograph through a hedge. #vc55birds #ukbirding

Saturday footie with @ShrikeBirding, @davidearlgray & @allroads1 was a trip to Wales for Merthyr Town FC v Alfreton Town FC in the National league North the home side coming out 6-2 winners.

A cold morning today at the LROS Peregrine watch at the Leicester Cathedral. Good to chat to quite a few people about the Cathedral birds. Myself and @davidearlgray.bsky.social then went to Swithland Reservoir to view a Lesser Scaup. #LROS #Leicestercathedral #KRIII #VC55

Delta Velbron tripod. Free to first interested person who can collect (North Berwick) or who can meet at mutually convenient place in area. Needs a quick release plate but these are still available. DM me if interested #BirdingLothian

Saturday afternoon footie was a trip to Loughborough. This was after @davidearlgray.bsky.social & @shrikebirding.bsky.social and miself went to Hathern for a very confiding Black Redstart that was at St Peter’s & St Pauls church Loughborough Students 0 V St Neots Town 0 not the best game we’ve seen

And here is the Sibe Thrush all framed

My latest piece of art work by Phil Jones. A print of the Siberian Thrush we saw on Shetland earlier this month, the image doesn’t do it justice, absolutely stunning.

LROS held another Peregrine watch this morning at Leicester Cathedral. Both adult birds showed well all morning, and it was a busy, engaging and showing a lot of people the Peregrine’s of Leicester Cathedral. #LROS #VC55 #Leicestercathedral #KRIII

Hi all, the next Leicester Peregrines watch will be tomorrow 21st October. Come and say hello to the group at the Leicester Cathedral gardens from 9.30am to 12.30 as usual @lrosbirds.bsky.social #ukbirding #peregrines #leicester

Nipped over to Eyebrook Reservoir this morning to have a look at an American Golden Plover found by @leicesterllama.bsky.social Showed well, though distantly from the Rutland side. Good to see @davidearlgray.bsky.social and @tcartz.bsky.social Great find Andy #VC55 #LROS

Back home now after a brilliant 12 days on Shetland. As usual saw some great birds. Met the annual suspects, the West Midland crew and the London crew always a good craic and great to meet Phil Jones. To my crew Andy & @davidearlgray thanks for the laughs, brilliant! #shetlandbirds

Last day on Shetland was a mooch back at the pool of Virkie, again lots of waders. Then it was back to Lerwick, we did catch up with the Barred Warbler at Clickimin Loch and then to the ferry for our journey home. Another great trip with @davidearlgray.bsky.social and Andy

Day11 on Shetland with @davidearlgray.bsky.social Weather was a lot better today and even caught up with the B.w.Teal at last. Lots of waders feeding on the Pool of Virkie and we found a G.W.Egret from the outdoor centre at Bridgend. What will our last day bring 🤞

Day 10 on Shetland with @davidearlgray.bsky.social The weather wasn’t good for us again today, with really low cloud and mizzely rain. We did find 3 Slavonian Grebes off of Aith Harbour but not much else, but wasn’t for the want of trying. Let’s see what tomorrow brings.

Day 9 on Shetland. Lot of mist today found it not easy going, but we did connect with a nice Rustic Bunting at Hoswick also a Sibe Chiffchaff (Tristis). Let’s see what tomorrow brings.

Day 8 on Shetland with @davidearlgray.bsky.social Wind and rain didn’t make it easy birding today.Sandwick was quite calm and a drake Long-tailed Duck was nice. But even was at least 3 Orca’s going north from Sumburgh head, we picked them up at Levenwick

Day 7 on Shetland with @davidearlgray.bsky.social was visit to Unst to have a look at an American vagrant in the shape of a Blackpoll Warbler, and it didn’t disappoint, showing well on the beach. Also had 3 Glossy Ibis and a Bluethroat

A lot of island clearing at Hicks Lodge today with LROS in conjunction with Forestry England. Ready for next years breeding Gulls Images by Andy Smith #VC55 #LROS #ForestryEngland #Hickslodge

The good lady and miself went to have a look at the On Freedom’s Wings life size sculpture of the Avro Lancaster bomber MK1 this morning just off the A46 at Norton Disney……..Absolutely beautiful #Onfreedomswings #BBMF ##Lancasterbomber

The recent Rutland Water Grey Phalarope, and a Buff-breasted Sandpiper I started ages ago, but only finished recently. Both gouache & coloured pencil on tinted paper. #BirdArt #WildlifeArt #UKBirding

A few hours birding at Rother Valley today with @davidearlgray.bsky.social, @shrikebirding.bsky.social, @orgreavebirder.bsky.social & Richard Fray. Good views of Grey Phalarope, Glossy Ibis and Little Stint. Then a game of football Glapwell FC v Dinnington Town FC

My new piece of artwork of a Dusky Warbler by Andy Mackay, absolutely stunning. Thanks Andy

LROS Peregrine watch at Leicester Cathedral this morning. Wasn’t busy, and the adult Peregrine weren’t playing ball, and with no juveniles present it was quiet. #LROS #VC55 #Leicestercathedral #KRIII

First WeBS count of the year done yesterday, not a lot on the patch. Couple of Snipe were nice though.

Once again spent the morning with the Stanford ringing group. It’s always a pleasure watching this friendly group of guys. Almost 250 birds ringed and processed, including this male Redstart. #VC55 #Stanfordringinggroup

Spent a few hours with the Stanford Ringing Group this morning. Always a pleasure watching this well oiled machine in operation. It was a tad windy but still well over a hundred birds were processed, including these two Redstarts.

Mandarin Duck at Cropston Reservoir this morning, and some Juvenile Common Terns that fledged from the Tern Raft that was installed this year at Swithland Reservoir. #LROS #VC55

One of the 20 Mandarin’s I saw yesterday at Cropston Reservoir #VC55

Another busy LROS Peregrine watch at Leicester Cathedral today. It’s good to see young children getting interested in these urban raptors. #VC55 #LROS #Leicestercathedral #KRIII

A couple of pics of the Caspian Tern that Rod Baker found at Eyebrook Reservoir early yesterday morning #VC55 #LROS

X6F one of the Juvenile Peregrines surveying the city of Leicester from the Cathedral. #LROS #VC55 #Leicestrrcathedral #KRIII

LROS had a Peregrine watch to day at Leicester Cathedral. Busy morning showing people the adults that never moved off the spire all morning and the 3 juveniles did have a fly around then went back to their breeding platform on the spire. #LROS #VC55 #KRIII #Leicestercathedral

Out again tonight with Paul checking 8 more Owl Boxes under licence, but sadly only 2 adults seen and no eggs or chicks. We also had a couple Little Owls and a couple of Grey Partridge.

Spent a few hours on the LROS stand at the Leicester University Botanical Gardens plant sale, talking to lots people on what the Leicestershire & Rutland Ornithological Society do within the two counties

A few hour spent at Frampton RSPB today with @davidearlgray.bsky.social and Andy (Gucci) Smith. Good views of the Pratincole but always distant. But loads of other birds to gander through.

LROS did another Peregrine watch this morning at Leicester Cathedral, and were very busy engaging with the public. There’s a lot more action now that the 3 juveniles have all fledged, and keeping the adults very busy. #VC55 #Leicestercathedral #LROS #KRIII

Out again this evening with Paul Riddle checking some more of our Owl boxes. Out of 6 boxes checked, only found 3 chicks at one box. So looks like a poor breeding year for Barn Owls, at least on our patch. We did find 4 Kestrel chicks as well 👍

Busy morning at the LROS Peregrine watch at Leicester Cathedral #LROS #Leicestercathedral #VC55 #KRIII

Been out this morning with Paul Riddle checking our Owl Boxes under licence in South Leicestershire. Not good news on our patch, out of 8 sites 5 boxes had 2 adults no chicks, 1 box had 1 adult and 2 chicks and 2 boxes had no activity at all. 

Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, now there’s a legend. RIP sir🏄🏄🏄

Female Peregrine Falcon surveying Leicester City centre from its cathedral vantage point at Leicester Peregrine Watch this morning. #VC55 #LROS #Leicesterperegrines #KRlll #Leicestercathedral

Been out today orchid hunting around Leicestershire with @davidearlgray.bsky.social Excellent few hours, Dave showing me Lizard, Fragrant, and Heath spotted Orchid. We also saw Broad-leaf Helleborine and Common Spotted Orchid. One downer, lost my notebook ☹️

Leicestershire and Rutland Ornithological Society successfully launched two Tern rafts this morning onto Swithland Reservoir. Thanks to all that was involved. Within 15 minutes of Andy and Josh returning to shore there was a Common Tern on one of the rafts forming a scrape, result! #VC55 #LROS

Looks like a celebration Dove was a easy target for the Leicester Peregrine’s #VC55 #Leicesterperegrines #KRlll

The ball of Peregrines are doing well at Leicester Cathedral #VC55 #LROS #KRIII #Leicestercathedral