Hooded Merganser (fem) at Alvecote Pools, Warwickshire today. Fully-winged, wary and scoffing voraciously all day. It also doesn’t appear to carry any leg rings. #peakybirders #patchbirding #localpatch #ukbirding 🪶

A lovely souvenir of a recent trip to Cornwall to see a rare ROSS’S GULL. No birder in their right mind would ever tire of being in the company of such a species. Massive thanks to Theresa Owens for sharing her talents. #peakybirders #cornwallbirding #ukbirding 🪶

A mooch around some secret spots locally with my Great Uncle this morning. The wild Daffodils were out in force in a few of the private areas we gained access to. I also had my first Brimstone butterflies of the year. #peakybirders #localpatch #patchbirding #daffodils #wildflowers

Both HUME’S WARBLER & Yellow-browed Warbler just a few miles from home so far this year. RIDICULOUS. Another great find by Rich Walker! #peakybirders #warwickshirebirding #ukbirding 🪶

‘Peaky Birders Curry Night’ followed by doggin’ and ‘jarrin’ on the Chase…. hence the smiles. #ukbirding #peakybirders #cannockchase 🪶

The quest to obtain every bird species I’ve seen in Britain, in pin badge form. Here are 125 of some the rare and scarce ones. #peakybirders #peakybadgers #ukbirding #birdpinbadges #birdcollector 🪶

Fed up with Farage? Me too. I’ve signed the Never Nigel Pledge. Add your name today, and help show that division and hate have no place in our communities. secure.hopenothate.org.uk/page/170649/... @hopenothate.org.uk

During turbulent times, art and nature help to calm my anxiety. Fresh back from the excellent Ferrers Frames in Derbyshire; ‘Hooded Crows’ original by Daniel Cole, ‘Cross Crow’ woodcut print by Tim Wayne and original ‘Llŷn Peninsula Chough’ by Kim Atkinson. 🪶 #peakybirders #ukbirding #birdart

Stunning views of a DARK-BREASTED BARN OWL (Tyto alba guttata) in Lincolnshire this morning. Close encounters with any Barn Owl are always special but add to the fact that this continental subspecies is extremely rare in Britain, it made the occasion even more thrilling. 🪶 #ukbirding #peakybirders

The highly mobile Great Grey Shrike on Cannock Chase early this morning. It was seen to catch and eat a lizard at one stage. 🪶 #ukbirding #ukbirds #peakybirders #staffordshirebirding #butcherbird #phonescoping

We nailed all three regular breeding British woodpecker species at Middleton Lakes RSPB this morning. Here’s a mega scarce male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker drumming away. You can just about hear another in the background. 🪶 #ukbirding #peakybirders #peakypeckers #woodpecker #phonescoping #warksbirding

A work trip to Scotland provided a few year ticks. I had my earliest ever Sand Martin (#158) at Strathclyde Loch, quickly followed by the RING-BILLED GULL (#159). At Methil I had Eider (#160), Long-tailed Duck (#161) Red-breasted Merganser (#162) and 7 Scaup (#163) among the scoters. 🪶 #ukbirding

The first ‘Peaky Birders Curry Night’ of the year. Quality scran, top company, plenty of birding nostalgia and copious amounts of laughter. 🪶 #peakybirders #westmidlandsbirding #ukbirding #currynight

Urban birding style. Territorial Lesser Black-backed Gull and Herring Gull numbers are building up in Birmingham. More importantly, I had my first ‘City Centre’ Raven, carrying nesting material over the office last week. 🪶 #ukbirding #peakybirders #0121birding #urbanbirding #birminghamuk

I woke up in Cornwall yesterday, had two work appointments in Devon and finished the day birding the patch in Warwickshire. I also squeezed in an early morning stroll around Saltram, near Plymouth to ‘year tick’ Mandarin (#156) and Ring-necked Parakeet (#157). 🪶 #ukbirding #peakybirders #CatCbirding

The Cornish PACIFIC DIVER (#155) proved a challenge today in choppy conditions. It eventually showed well off Jubilee Pool, Penzance this afternoon. Other quality species included 6+ Great Northern Diver, Velvet Scoter (#154), Iceland Gull and 3 Bottle-nosed Dolphin. 🪶 #ukbirding #peakybirders

I was working down on the ‘English Riviera’ today. Lunchtime highlights included a few Red-throated Diver, a singing Firecrest and 11 Cirl Bunting (#151). A break at Slimbridge late afternoon provided 2 Whooper Swan, 45 Bewick’s Swan, Spoonbill and 4 Common Crane. 🪶 #ukbirding #fawltybirders

BEASTIE BIRDERS - ‘Scoping For Your Right To Party’ - left to right: Dave G, MCJ and Adrockpipit. 🎤 🎶 🪶 #ukbirding #peakybirders #beastiebirders #sabirdtage #nosleeptillrooking #intergullactic #birdymovin’

Staffordshire ‘ghetto birding’ continued. At Chasewater this evening, the adult Iceland Gull (#150) was picked out early on in the roost. Other highlights were a couple of adult Yellow-legged Gull (#149) and an adult Mediterranean Gull. #peakybirders #winterbirding #westmidlandsbirding #gullroost

An afternoon of Staffordshire ‘ghetto birding’. Highlights at Whitemoor Haye included Slavonian Grebe (#148), a couple of juvenile Whooper Swan and a trio of adult Whooper/Bewick’s Swan over. It was then over to Chasewater….. #peakybirders #winterbirding #westmidlandsbirding

After spending nearly 5 hypothermic hours, shivering away on the edge of the Bristol Channel, the LEAST SANDPIPER (#147) finally flew in at 3pm. This was only my 2nd sighting of this species in Britain. My first was in Staffordshire back in 2002. 🪶 #ukbirding #peakybirders #winterbirding

After dipping the female KENTISH PLOVER (#146) several times at Burnham-on-Sea over the past few winters, we finally connected this morning. The mosaics were created by the Romans around 69AD. 🪶 #ukbirding #peakybirders #winterbirding #somersetbirding #burnhamonsea #yearlisting

There was sign of the Somerset Least Sandpiper en route to Cornwall today. The weather was appalling for most of the day though. I did have a tiny wader flying around with Dunlin at one stage but it could have been a Little Stint OR a Least Sandpiper. 🪶 #ukbirding #peakydippers #leastweforget

At least 3 Jack Snipe were present on the patch today, along with 55 Common Snipe. Other species included 6 Goosander, Pochard and 2 Great White Egret. The only new species for the year was a sad, solitary Yellowhammer (#132) in Seckington. #peakybirders #patchbirding #thermalbirding #alvecotepools

A walk around the local woods this balmy morn’ produced a few extra ‘year ticks’. A couple of roosting Woodcock (#103) were picked up with the thermal and a singing Mistle Thrush (#104) was finally located around the village. #peakybirders #warwickshirebirding #winterbirding

Taking it back to the birding old school, with a classic quiz book and a couple of fantasy novels. 🪶 #retrobirding #birdbooks #vintagebirdbooks #ukbirding

‘Operation Jaundice’ successfully completed. The vocal male AMERICAN YELLOW WARBLER in Kent eventually showed well to the crowd today. It’s a little Christmas miracle! 🪶 #ukbirding #megaalert #winterbirding #kentbirding #britishbirding #peakybirders

Another day of local mooching started at Alvecote Pools this morning and ended at Whitemoor Haye with a male AMERICAN WIGEON. The wigeon became only my third sighting in Staffordshire following a male at Blithfield in 1998 and a female at Belvide in 2006. 🪶 #peakybirders #ukbirding #staffsbirding

Great to see the water levels dropping and the wildfowl numbers increasing down at Alvecote Pools today. Highlights included 2 Pintail (male & first-winter male), 2 Red-crested Pochard (male & female), Mandarin (female), 3 Great White Egret, Water Rail and 2 Chiffchaff. 🪶 #patchbirding #ukbirding

Birder’s breakfast time! 🪶 #peakybirders #ukbirding #ukbirds

My run of bad birding luck has finally ended. The SCARLET TANAGER (first-winter male) eventually showed well in the late afternoon sunshine in West Yorkshire. 🪶 #peakybirders #megaalert #ukbirding #ukbirds

A new patch tick was a major reprieve from a horrible period of ‘black dog’ this afternoon. A first-winter MEDITERRANEAN GULL loafed around on Mill Pool for about 40 minutes. My first in FORTY TWO years. Also female Marsh Harrier and adult Yellow-legged Gull. #alvecotepools #warksbirding #naturecure

Absolute bargain off eBay for £6.15 including postage and packaging. It’s like it’s never been touched! #shetland #shetlandbirding #birdbooks #booksforbirders #usedbooks #reusereducerecycle

The birding Gods love a trier. After covering an estimated 75 miles on foot around the patch since Shetland, I eventually found a Yellow-browed Warbler this afternoon. I can now celebrate, relax and move on with my life! #localpatch #patchbirding #patchgold #autumnbirding #collinsbirdguide

The aurora borealis last night in Seckington, North Warwickshire. I even managed to get a bit of a reflection in the moat of the 11th century motte-and-bailey castle. A Tawny Owl calling also made the experience all the more special. #auroraborealis #northernlights #theskyatnight

Back on the patch at Alvecote yesterday. High water levels made birding difficult. Highlights included Great White Egret, 2 Pintail, Kingfisher, 2 Cetti’s Warbler and singing Chiffchaff. The list also included ten species I’ve never seen on Shetland! 🪶 #ukbirds #ukbirding #patchbirding #localpatch

Shetland 2024: A final total of 107 species. Highlights towards the end included PADDYFIELD WARBLER, LANCEOLATED WARBLER, PALLAS’S GRASSHOPPER WARBLER and ARCTIC WARBLER. Thanks to Mark Rayment for the Pechora Pipit and Arctic Warbler photos. 🪶 #ukbirds #shetlandbirding #autumnbirding #peakybirders

At last a proper ‘MEGA’ up here on Shetland. We all enjoyed decent views of Scotland’s first ever EASTERN CROWNED WARBLER yesterday. Other recent highlights include Rose-coloured Starling, Golden Oriole and Little Bunting. #ukbirds #ukbirding #shetlandbirding #peakybirders #autumnbirding

URGENT HELP REQUIRED: Does anyone know how to put the ‘squeak’ back into a birder’s old squeaker? So far I’ve tried old grass heads, bran flakes, ground-up vitamin tablets and deodorant (Sure for Men). None have worked. 🪶 #peakybirders #shetlandbirding #autumnbirding #ukbirding #ukbirds

It’s a little slow going up on Shetland due to the ‘fine’ weather. Highlights so far: Pechora Pipit, Red-backed Shrike, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Bluethroat, Barred Warbler, Pallas’s Warbler, many Yellow-browed Warblers & Common Rosefinch. 🪶 #ukbirds #ukbirding #shetlandbirding #autumnbirding

That’s me done with work for TWENTY days. Bring on those rarities, scarcities and falls of migrants! 🪶 #ukbirds #autumnbirding #peakybirders #ukbirding #britishbirding #birds

That time of year every birder loves! A pretty decent time down at the patch this morning. 2 Great White Egret, 6 Little Egret, 4 Lapwing, Golden Plover (over), Snipe, 3 Common Sandpiper, Red Kite & Hobby. 🪶 #ukbirds #ukbirding #patchbirding #alvecotepools #warksbirding #autumnbirding #peakybirders

Peaky Birders vs Leicestershire Llamas Curry Night. Our next one together will be 600 miles further north, up on Shetland in a couple of weeks. 🪶 #peakybirders #ukbirders #twitchers #twitching #birding #ukbirds #britishbirding #autumnbirding

Not much to report from a balmy local patch this evening: 3 Great White Egret, 6 Little Egret, Wigeon, Kingfisher, 20 Swallow and 6 House Martin. The Cetti’s Warblers are starting to become more vocal too. 🪶 #patchbirding #localpatch #ukbirds #ukbirding #alvecotepools #warksbirding #peakybirders

A pleasant few hours at Belvide this morning. The main target was the male Lesser Scaup. It’s looking a lot more handsome now it’s in the final stages of moult. Also 5 Cattle Egret dropped in for a while, 2 Great White Egret, 2 Garganey & 12 Ringed Plover. 🪶 #ukbirds #ukbirding #staffsbirding

It’s always nice to see a Black Redstart. This one showed well around the quaint 13th Century Holy Trinity Church in Morton Bagot, Warwickshire this afternoon. 🪶 #ukbirds #ukbirding #warksbirding #westmidlandsbirding #peakybirders

Bodymoor Heath Pits, Warks - 3 Ruff, Ringed Plover, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, 2 Snipe & 79 Teal this morning. 🪶 #warksbirding #mercianbirds #warksbirding #westmidlandsbirding #ukbirds #ukbirding #peakybirders

A rain storm tonight brought down 132 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a single Herring Gull. Also Great White Egret and Redstart present, plus an influx of Mallard and Teal with Shoveler numbers reduced. 🪶 #patchbirding #alvecotepools #warksbirding #ukbirds #ukbirding #peakybirders #westmidsbirding

The highlight tonight was second-winter Yellow-legged Gull dropping in for a quick bathe. There were also 3 Great White Egret (the first since 27th April), an influx of 122 Gadwall, 22 Lapwing, Redstart and Whinchat. #patchbirding #ukbirds #ukbirding #alvecotepools #warksbirding #peakybirders

Convolvulus Hawk-moth (Agrius convolvuli) at Kilnsea, East Yorkshire today. They’re bigger than the Queen’s grill. #moths #teammoth #mothing #peakymothers #ukmoths