After a couple of days in Suffolk it was a long trek to Cornwall, but well worth it for the Lesser Kestrel that showed brilliantly on Monday morning hunting around the small pines on Goonhilly Downs ✅

It was good of RSPB Minsmere to release the Bitterns in front of Island Mere hide at 7am on Saturday. An incredible show - booming, catching frogs, swimming and reed climbing. This one was booming at us from about 5 metres away @rspb.bsky.social @rspbminsmere.bsky.social

Squeezed in 24 hours birding in Suffolk last weekend, one of the highlights was the Tawny Pipit at Languard Point on Friday evening.

Red Grouse on a wall at Langsett.

The long staying Sheffield Sibe Chiffy at Kelham Island, usually in the reeds but on warm days fly catching from the rooftops

Star bird in Shetland this week, the magnificent but elusive Siberian Thrush at Loch of Asta.

The juvenile Eurasian Dotterel on Houndkirk Moor #Sheffeild has been typically confiding @shefbirdstudy.bsky.social

Garden mega! Hummingbird hawk-moth on my Buddleja this week. Grow it and they will come!

The last days of the #Sheffield Leadmill☹️ Tragic outcome for this legendary venue. Went to see the man who's played there for many years - Richard Hawley. Magic!

Highlights from today's @shefbirdstudy.bsky.social meet-up at Padley Gorge.

A nice wander around Orgreave lakes this morning with @shefbirdstudy.bsky.social Highlights were a Great White Egret, brief Marsh Harrier, Yellow Wagtails, loads of singing Whitethroats, Common Sandpipers and Redshank, plus a Grey Partridge.

Superb views of the summer plumage Slavonian Grebe at St. Aidens @rspb.bsky.social Great site!

A slow start at Carsington Water last Saturday but the distant ducks finally showed, Lesser and Greater Scaup, plus a nice Willow Tit @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social

Goldeneyes doing their thing last weekend at Carsington Water @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social

Last weekends 'day trip' to Shetland. Big relief that the American Coot was still present, plus nice supporting cast - Bufflehead at Hillwell, Ross's Goose at Scatsta (well spotted Trudy!). Thanks to the locals for updates. Great day!

Moore Street Substation, Sheffield

Relieved to have finally connected with the Booted Eagle at Marazion in Cornwall recently 🦅 Great views for 30 minutes after it rose from the pines before drifting off. We found it north of Crowlas shortly after, where it briefly came a little closer😎

🥶Two freezing hours at South Shields pier this morning before the magnificent Ross's Gull was refound nearby on the Tyne. A bit of a gullfest with Iceland, Glauc and Med gulls also present (plus LT Duck). Thanks to the locals for getting the news out.

My first new bird of 2025 - the Least Sandpiper (with Little Stint) at Steart Marshes on Friday @andy-1963.bsky.social @somersetbirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social @wwtworldwide.bsky.social

So my birding 12 months finished with the Yellow Warbler taking me to a best ever 275 for the year. 16 new lifers was more than I expected at the start, with some great highlights. Thanks to everyone who found stuff, put out news and helped along the way Happy New Year. UTB

Worth the wait in Kent on Friday - eventually got cracking views of the hyperactive American Yellow Warbler, plus bonus Firecrest

Happy Christmas everyone. 🌲🌲 (Goldfinch in my garden last winter)

This cartoon is from 1930. It could have been today.

A December Hoopoe brightening up the rainy day at Rossington, very mobile but got lucky early morning @s-yorksbirding.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social 🪶

Swift bricks are in! Thanks to Jan for installation from Sheffield Swift Network sheffieldswiftnetwork.org Also got a caller up and running. Roll on spring! @hannahbournetaylor.bsky.social @shefbirdstudy.bsky.social

Woohoo. Going to see The Pulps next summer 😎 @tramlines.bsky.social

Good afternoon. We've launched another petition calling for a ban on driven grouse shooting. Please sign & share! @chrisgpackham.bsky.social @markavery.bsky.social @ruthtingay.bsky.social petition.parliament.uk/petitions/70...

Five Ring-necked Ducks this afternoon at Anglers Country Park, West Yorkshire. There could be more! Is this a Yorks record? @birdguides.bsky.social

The two Snow Geese at Swine Moor on Friday morning. They were flying around in the dark when I got there, before settling down for an hour and finally leaving around 8am 🪶 #swinemoor #eastyorkshirebirding

Despite the long wait on Monday it looks like that was the best day for sightings of the erratic Scarlet Tanager in West Yorkshire @birdguides.bsky.social #scarlettanager