Another male Channel Wagtail in with the Yellow Wags at Langford Lowfields last night, this one rather showier than the one on the 16th! Also an eye-catching female flava, 19+ White Wagtails, 1 Whimbrel and a Short-eared Owl #ukbirding #birds #nottsbirding

It’s been a couple of years since I’ve come across one locally, so a Channel Wagtail amongst 11+ Yellow Wags and 15+ White Wags was the highlight of a visit to Langford Lowfields this morning. Also a Whimbrel thru N, 2 Dunlin, 1 Common Sand, 1 Greenshank #ukbirding #birds #nottsbirding

Spent yesterday morning dipping Subalpine Warbler at Gibraltar Point, but nice to pick up a Hooded Crow flying N and then back S as compensation (a Lincs tick if I kept a Lincs list). Also Yellow Wags, Gropper, male Hen Harrier and a SW movement of Buzzards and Red Kites #ukbirding #birds

There was only one, and it could have been closer, but pleased to come across a Little Gull on Phase 2 at Langford Lowfields last night, having missed the big passage of them a few days ago! Also a more confiding Greenshank and 2 White Wagtails #ukbirding #birds #nottsbirding

Having suffered the frustration of missing all the Little Gull action on Friday stuck at work it was nice to spend much of today at Langford and Collingham. Best were 2 Med Gulls heading high north, 1 Greenshank, 1 Cattle Egret and the 2 long-staying Glossy Ibises #ukbirding #birds #nottsbirding

No Kittiwakes through Langford Lowfields when I was there today, but some nice birding here (and at Collingham Pits) over the weekend, including Friday’s Little Gull, my first LRP, Wheatear and Sand Martins of the spring, plus 1 Ruff, 1 Ringed Plover and 3 Avocets #ukbirding #birds #nottsbirding

A gorgeous morning for a circuit of Langford Lowfields, just missing a Sand Martin. The 2 Glossy Ibises showed well at times on Phase 1, but could disappear into the reeds - it’ll be interesting to see how long they stick around for… 12 Whooper Swans best of the rest #ukbirding #birds #nottsbirding

Having failed at the weekend to relocate the 2 Glossy Ibises that were at Langford Lowfields briefly on Thursday, they were refound at Girton on Sunday. Today was my first chance to go and see them, looking smart in the early spring sun #ukbirding #birds #nottsbirding

An afternoon on the carrlands of north Notts, a Bewick’s Swan amongst 205 Whooper Swans and at least 25 Corn Buntings on Gringley Carr the highlight. Pulled in the 2 Smew in a downpour on the patch on the way home, reappeared after a three week absence #ukbirding #birds #nottsbirding

An obliging Stonechat digiscoped on the patch this afternoon. At Girton the gaggle of wild geese remain in the sheep fields, with the 5 Russian White-fronts and 8 Pink-feet today joined by 9 Whooper Swans #ukbirding #birds #nottsbirding

The 5 Russian White-fronted Geese continue at Girton Pits. This part of the Trent Valley has an excellent track record for this species, but as my favourite goose they’re not taken for granted - although I wouldn’t say no to another Tundra Bean Goose or two… #ukbirding #birds #nottsbirding

Better looks at the 5 Russian White-fronted Geese at Girton Pits this morning, now present for almost a month, plus 2 Pink-footed Geese and 2 Whooper Swans. At least one of the redhead Smew still at Collingham Pits. #ukbirding #birds #nottsbirding

The first local Cattle Egret of the year (found on Monday) sheltering from the wind behind a hedge at Besthorpe Meadow this afternoon. Nearby, the now 2 redhead Smew were on Wharf Pit again, having been at Mons Pool, although not associating with each other… #ukbirding #birds #nottsbirding

Good numbers of wildfowl across the patch today following the recent flooding, including a total of 87 Pintail, plus the lingering redhead Smew at Collingham Pits and the 5 Russian White-fronts at Girton, as well as 6 Barnacle and 3 Pink-footed Geese and 9 Curlew #ukbirding #birds #nottsbirding

With the patch flooded, frozen and largely inaccessible, I had a change of scenery today and headed to the Dukeries to look for Hawfinches, at one site counting an impressive 51 (at least) as they flew from one tree group to another; quality birds, even in poor light #ukbirding #birds #nottsbirding

14 Whooper Swans at Girton this morning, but no sign of Wednesday’s White-fronts here, or in the feral geese at Collingham /Carlton - although a Greylag with a neck collar (orange NJL) was a first for me, alongside 11 Pink-feet. The redhead Smew continues on Wharf Pit #ukbirding #birds #nottsbirding

Green-winged Teal at Langford Lowfields this evening, found earlier today. The 2nd for the site, turning up 21 years to the day since I found the 1st on 3 Jan 2004! This bird presumably the one that was found at Holme Pierrepont on New Years Day but not seen since #ukbirding #birds #nottsbirding

An enjoyable day around Newark as part of a three-way bird race between Notts, Derbys and Leics. Personal total of 94 species (out of a Notts total of 118) included 5 Russian White-fronts at Girton, but had some silly misses and dipped the ‘nailed on’ Slav Grebe at Kilvington… #ukbirding #birds

Some of my 2024 birding highlights - including a self-found Caspian Tern (in Notts), a garden YB Warbler, a few twitches, a week on Scilly in August and some autumn bird hunting in Lincs. On the patch, breeding Cattle and GW Egrets (1sts for Notts) and the first BT Diver were best #ukbirding #birds

After the early-winter excitement of the Black-throated Diver, it’s been slim pickings on the patch since, so I was pleased to come across this redhead Smew at Collingham Pits this morning, alongside a marked increase of Goldeneye (28) #ukbirding #birds #nottsbirding

Slavonian Grebe still on the East Lake at Kilvington Lakes in Notts this afternoon. Present since 14th Dec, I finally made the effort to go and see it, 10 minutes down the road! #ukbirding #birds

A whopping 78 Egyptian Geese in Trent-side fields by the A1 at South Muskham in Notts today - certainly the highest local count, if not a county record. A single Whooper Swan at Girton yesterday (scarce round here so far this winter) was more satisfying, with an obliging Peregrine #ukbirding #birds

An increase in wildfowl across the patch since last weekend, but not holding anything unusual today. Finished off at Langford Lowfields with a 1stW Caspian Gull and another good Starling show, but the reported Hen Harrier didn’t come into roost #ukbirding #birds #nottsbirding

Starlings are putting on a great show coming in to roost at Langford Lowfields at the moment, tens of thousands tonight throwing some shapes. #ukbirding #birds #nottsbirding

After a couple of lacklustre visits to the patch last week looking through wildfowl (5 Pink-feet, 4 Barnacle Geese and 3 Goosander about the best…), I couldn’t resist a visit to Kilvington Lakes yesterday for the drake Ring-necked Duck #UKbirding #birds #nottsbirding

Recent highlights from patch visits - a Black-throated Diver which dropped into Collingham Pits unexpectedly last weekend (staying until Wednesday), and a gang of Cattle Egrets at Carlton on Trent yesterday, the first I’ve seen locally since the breeders at Mons Pool departed in July #UKbirding

Not quite what I was expecting to see whilst scanning (unsuccessfully) for Hawfinches this morning - a Black-throated Diver which flew N over Collingham Pits and then dropped into Wharf Pit. Undoubtedly the bird from Hoveringham earlier on the week, and a welcome patch tick!

Nice views of Hen Harrier yesterday whilst dipping Black-faced Bunting at Donna Nook yesterday.

Some good Caspian Gull action at Girton Pits (Notts) over the last week, with an adult, a 3rd winter and two different 2nd winters favouring the sheep fields.

After yesterday’s frustrations (dipping Black-faced Bunting…) it was good to get back onto the patch and show @daveliverbirder around. A 2nd winter Caspian Gull at Girton Pits and the Red-breasted Merganser at Langford Lowfields were the highlights.

Another look at the sheep fields at Girton Pits today in search of Caspian Gulls amongst the LBBGs. No sign of yesterday’s 2nd winter, but they did hold a big, yellow-ringed adult Casp (pic 1, maybe X34E..?) and a dinkier and more obliging 3rd winter. 3 adult YL Gulls as well.

A wet WeBS count at Girton Pits this morning was fairly quiet on the wildfowl front, but gulls in the sheep fields held a 2nd winter Caspian Gull which relocated to the Sailing Lake before flying south.

Birding highlights this week - finding a Yellow-browed Warbler in my Newark garden on Wednesday, Sibe Stonechat and RB Flycatcher at Donna Nook on Friday, and a twitch with the family up to Bempton today for the Pale-legged Leaf Warbler (which showed better than my photos suggest!) #ukbirding

Combining a ‘family trip to the coast’ with twitching an elusive Phyllosc could have gone horribly wrong, but the Pale-legged Leaf Warbler at Bempton co-operated (and showed better than my pics suggest), and was followed by a run on the beach and fish & chips in Bridlington.

The Siberian Stonechat at Donna Nook only put in a fleeting appearance this morning, but the Red-breasted Flycatcher was more a bit more co-operative. Single Redstart and Yellow-browed Warbler also present, and a Hen Harrier made a brief appearance.

Fairly delighted to find a Yellow-browed Warbler in my garden in Newark this morning; I thought I was hearing things at first, but when it flew into a tree just above my head there was no doubting it!

Having booked Thursday and Friday off work some time ago so I could go birding, I had a productive time at Gibraltar Point, finding a Richard’s Pipit, 2 juv Honey Buzzards and 2 Yellow-browed Warblers #ukbirding

Another good day at Gibraltar Point, finding Richard’s Pipit and Yellow-browed Warbler. I thought the former was lost into the saltmarsh as it dropped in calling, but it reappeared and showed pretty well. Otherwise, a single Redstart and a Cattle Egret was best of the rest.

Limited numbers of waders passing through locally this autumn, but the big white birds continue to entertain, with 24 Great White Egrets on Phase 3 at Langford Lowfields this morning, and 27! together at Collingham Pits on Friday, both record site counts by some margin.

A few photos from a good day at Gibraltar Point last Saturday, a lovely juvenile Honey Buzzard overhead and then settled in the dunes being the highlight. Also a Barred Warbler and modest numbers of Redstarts, Pied and Spotted Flycatchers and Tree Pipits #ukbirding

A further lightened image (thanks @BillAspin!) from yesterday of the juvenile Honey Buzzard that flew overhead at Gibraltar Point. I’ve never seen one perched before, so quite a treat when it then settled in the dunes. Photos indicate there were actually 2 HBs present.

An enjoyable day at Gibraltar Point; failed with Wryneck and Icky, but connected with Barred Warbler and a super juv Honey Buzzard which then landed in the dunes. A smatter of common migrants included 10 Spotted Flys, 7 Pied Flys, 6 Redstarts, 1 Whinchat and 5 Tree Pipits.

A short detour on the way home from work this evening to see the 2 juvenile Black Terns currently at Kilvington Lakes. Should’ve packed my SLR as they were barely 10m away at times, but very tricky to digiscope! #ukbirding

A day on the Lincs coast at Anderby/Huttoft, birds a bit thin on the ground but included a Pied Flycatcher, 2 Whinchats, 3 Wheatears, a young Spoonbill flying south and a 1cy Caspian Gull. Evidently more stuff arriving on the east coast from mid PM, by which time I was having to head home…

Migrated here from Twitter.

Three Spoonbills still/again at Mons Pool this morning, including green V463 ringed as a chick in Denmark in June 2023 and aRG/RNfY ringed as a chick in The Netherlands in May 2018. Both first showed up on 21 July (the former also being seen at Alkborough Flats in the interim).

A productive afternoon visit to Langford Lowfields with 1 Sanderling, 4 Ringed Plovers, 1 Greenshank, 1 Common Sand and 3 Curlew, plus the Garganey, an adult YL Gull and 10 Swifts. No sign of yesterday’s exotics (Black-necked Swan and Fulvous Whistling Duck!).

Great to be able to share news of successful breeding by Great White Egrets and Cattle Egrets on my patch at Mons Pool - both the first confirmed occurrences in Notts! We also had Spoonbills present all Summer…

Family holiday on Scilly done; lots of time on beaches and visiting islands, two evening pelagics (the 2nd scoring the 300th Wilson’s of the season!) and a gentle twitch for the Cliff Swallow. Finished off with 49 Cory’s, 34 Great & 3 Sooty Shears from the Scillonian last night.

Having only seeing one Cory’s Shearwater in Britain previously, I enjoyed seeing 12 on the Scillonian crossing yesterday. Then multiple more from the Sapphire in the evening along with smaller nos of Greats, and several Wilson’s Petrels in the slick among the Stormies. Awesome!