Very pleased to get both target species from a brief visit to Whitemoor Haye this afternoon; the pairs of Slavonian Grebe & Red Crested Pochard were both exactly where they were supposed to be, and both gave sustained, albeit distant views. Also Goldeneye & Hare! @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social

Somehow managed to miss the Yellow Browed Warbler at Hurley yesterday; no sign from midday to 1:30, but Sibe Chiffchaff in the ditch, ID’d and photographed by Tom Coe. Also Yellowhammer, Stonechat & Grey Wag. Then a couple of hours at Middleton Lakes which was quiet in the mizzle

Full day of birding round Worcs to get the 2026 list going. Best sightings were at Ripple Pits with the Great Northern Diver still + Golden Plover & Bar Headed Goose. Other highlights were Snipe & Sprawk at Upton Warren, Red Kite at Clifton and Water Rail at Grimley. 60 species total! #worcsbirds

Around 80 Bewick’s Swans on the Rushy Pen and roughly 11 Common Crane on the Dumbles at Slimbridge today. Also Ross’ Goose escapee and bar head hybrid with barnacles from estuary tower, Green Winged Teal from discovery hide and a Peregrine took a Teal on the South Lake @slimbridge-wild.bsky.social

Nothing out of the ordinary today at Steart Marshes but a pleasant day out nonetheless, highlights being lots of showy Kestrels and Stonechat, male Pintail near Steart Gate car park and a big flock of golden plover from Quantock hide. Also Raven & Sprawk over #somersetbirds @wwtworldwide.bsky.social

Quality day of birding in Worcestershire, with Long Tailed Duck on the North Pit at Clifton & 4 Glossy Ibis at point blank range at Croome - both county ticks for me. Also a Kingfisher posed beautifully for a few seconds over the Lake whilst I was watching the Ibises #worcsbirds

PHENOMENAL day of birding today in SW Cornwall with Cornwall Birdwatching Tours. Black Kite, Osprey, Pec Sand & Wood Sand at Drift Res, 4 Dotterel at Trevilley, 2 Chough at Gwennap Head, Arctic Tern at Marazion Beach and 2 Glossy Ibis on Hayle Estuary! @birdwatchingtours.bsky.social @cbwps.org.uk

Best bits from a walk round Hayle today; Med Gull & Greenshank galore, 2x Ringed Plover & BlTG on Copperhouse Pool, Knot on Carnsew Pool, several Barwits on the Estuary, Whimbrel on Ryan’s Field @cbwps.org.uk

Wheatear on Black Hill trig point was the birding highlight of yesterday’s Herefordshire hike. Also Stonechat, Raven, Buzzard, Kestrel & Red Kite #herefsbirds

Robbie Garnett hide was the place to be at Slimbridge today with fem. type Garganey, Wood Sandpiper & Spotshank. The Bean Goose coming in nice & close to the discovery hide was another highlight. Also 2 Spoonbill & 5 Crane from Zeiss hide @wwtworldwide.bsky.social @slimbridge-wild.bsky.social

A few hours of local birding this morning visiting a couple of new sites for me. Clifton pits: All 3 egret species, Peregrine, Yellowhammer & large Egyptian Geese numbers. Ripple Pits: Greenpecker, Sedge Warbler, Common Tern & Common Sand #worcsbirds

The Black Crowned Night Heron showed beautifully at Grimley, Camp Lane Pools this morning, in the South East corner of the main pit, viewed through the gaps in the branches from the walkway across. A lifer for me and UK species 215! #worcsbirds @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social

Couldn’t find the White Stork at Welney yesterday unfortunately but still some good bits about considering the time of year, including 2 almost summer plumage ruff, 4 late staying Whoopers + Marsh Harrier, Snipe, Avocets & Black Tailed Godwits @wwtworldwide.bsky.social

Fen Drayton & Ouse Fen were relatively quiet yesterday in the blazing heat but some highlights included both Great Spotted & Greenpeckers at the former plus Turtle Dove heard from the busway path. At the latter, GWE, Marsh Harrier & Bearded Tit heard from reedbed @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social

Quick couple of hours at Draycote Water en route to Cambs Wednesday lunchtime. Couldn’t locate Ferruginous Duck unfortunately but an Adult Yellow Legged Gull was a welcome year tick. Also Grey Wag, Goosander, Little Grebe & 3 Common Sandpiper #warksbirds

Bluethroat sightings were fleeting and distant in the wind at Slimbridge today, eventually stayed up long enough to clinch the ID! Also Hobby over & 6 Crane from sea wall, bar head x snow goose hybrid with barnacles & 2x Spotshank from Hogarth hide @slimbridge-wild.bsky.social #glosbirds

Middleton Lakes this morning, 3x GSW inc. juvenile using feeders, Garden Warbler & Nuthatch in the woods, Avocets on the scrape and a Cuckoo flew over calling. Ladywalk was quiet, but for another brief Cuckoo, Cettis Warblers & a few Oystercatcher #middletonlakes #ladywalk #wmbc #warksbirds

Best bits from a few hours at Spurn yesterday. Kilnsea: 2x Spoonbill, Sandwich Terns, LRP. The path to Spurn point: Brent Geese, Whimbrel & Grey Plovers on mudflats. @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social

Mind blowing numbers and great close views of Guillemot, Razorbill, Gannet & Kittiwake on the cliffs at Bempton Cliffs on Saturday, plus about 8 Puffins seen in total, mostly at the East end. Tree Sparrow using the nest boxes by VC + Corn Bunting in the fields adjacent to the path! @rspb.bsky.social

2x Tree Pipit the birding highlight from Malvern end to end hike today; 1 SW of Pinnacle Hill, 1 near end hill. Also a good selection of warblers inc. 2x Garden Warbler + Raven, Kestrel, Buzzard, Mistle Thrush & 8x Stonechat #worcsbirds

Grimley Pits this afternoon; Cuckoo calling (& flew over), Common Tern, Whitethroat, Shelduck, Little Grebe, Lapwing, 3 Egyptian Geese, Reed Warblers aplenty & Lesser Whitethroat heard #worcsbirds

Reeling Grasshopper Warbler at High Bridge was the highlight of this afternoons walk around Willington. Also GWE, Black Swan, Peregrine over & heard my first Cuckoo of the year! @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social

Lincolnshire yesterday: Frampton Marsh: resident Whooper Swan, Ruff, LRP, Med Gull. Freiston Shore: Yellow Wag & Wheatear on field, Whinchat on tarmac path + Whimbrel from sea bank. No luck with Dark Breasted Barn Owl at Bourne but compensated with a showy Little Owl! @lincsbirding.bsky.social

Summer plumage Great Northern Diver showed nicely, fairly close in to Stones Island, at Carsington Water this morning, albeit in tricky lighting! @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social

Signs of Spring yesterday in Staffs; 6 species year listed! Belvide: 2 distant Little Gulls off the dam, Swallow over the water, singing Blackcaps + Common Sand & LRP West end. Branston GP’s: Sprawk, Sand Martins, Willow Warbler heard + 2x Avocet & 7x Curlew North pit @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social