More highlights from @naturetrek.bsky.social Taiwan trip: White-bellied Green Pigeon, Collared Bush Robin, White-whiskered Whistling Thrush and the multi-coloured Taiwan Barbet.

Some highlights from my recent @naturetrek.bsky.social trip: Taiwan Blue Magpie; Swinhoe's and Mikado Pheasants & to brighten up a wet & miserable day a very obliging White's Thrush

A quick trip to the badlands of NE Norfolk for the juvenile Iceland Gull which was showing close-in at Sea Palling with a Little Gull further along the shoreline. A few Sanderling and Turnstones too but didn't go looking for the Purple Sandpipers.

Day out with Reg in NE Suffolk started well with part of the Snow Bunting flock at K'land trapped and ringed + 4 Shore Lark further North; no sign of the Cisticola at W'wick but adult Med Gull along shoreline and 8+ Crossbills nr Westleton Heath car park

An up and down day in N. Norfolk yesterday with Reg Land. Great views of the male Eastern Black Redstart at Sheringham, reasonably close views of 2 Velvets off Kelling, dipped on the Laplands and Stiffkey Glossy Ibises but a close, immature male Hen Harrier at the roost was a great end to the day.

Funny looking female Pheasant wandered into the garden this morning; anybody any ideas of species?

No Twite in 25 but 1 today nr Hen Reedbed, it had been on the plant below but flew just before I took it! A one-legged Dunlin and several Rock Pipits other birds there.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza caused a mass die-off in Eurasian cranes during their autumn migration through Germany, France and Spain. More than 18,000 dead cranes were reported dead in Germany alone. The full demographic impact of this mortality on the crane population needs to be assessed.

When will we ever learn? Cameron's tories vowed to be the greenest government and look where that went!

Temminck's Stint very flighty @rspb.bsky.social Minsmere today between East & West Scrapes. Hopefully RSPB will be compensated by EDF for the continuous annoying noise that will put people off visiting and also disturb birds

Three Long-eared Owls at Deeping Lakes on Monday. One spotted by a very observant lady birder and the other 2 by thermal imager. Not the best view of one I accept but even part of one is great!

Some positive bird news for a change!

Wish this had been available before Dad died in 2000 but published in 2018. Could have asked him about the march from Dunkirk to Germany, camp life & the Death March at end of the war. A truly remarkable account of life in Stalag VIIIB. Nothing left of the camp now as has reverted to peaceful woods.

Went back to Titchwell again yesterday @rspb.bsky.social for another look at the Am. GP, not playing ball in the am but 5 Firecrest behind VC a highlight. Back in the pm & the plover was in the GP flock right near the path in beautiful sunlight.

A lengthy trip up to @rspbtitchwellsnett.bsky.social yesterday, with a lane closure on the A47, turn-off to the Fakenham Road closed and slow traffic rewarded by excellent views of the immature American Golden Plover on the Fresh Marsh. Really did stand out against the yellower, larger Goldies.

The Umayyad Palace and dome in Amman Citadel; The Royal Tombs in Patra; and the Obelisk Tomb along the track towards Petra.

A few more birds and sites from our recent non-birding trip to Jordan: Hadrian's Arch, entrance to Jerash; The Monastery up 900 steps from Petra valley floor; Laughing Dove, vivid colours in the desert light; and White-crowned Wheatear; both birds in Wadi Rum

As well as stunning natural and man-made sights

And some mystery birds which I think are Masked and Red-backed Shrikes and an Indian Silverbill

Managed a few birds on our recent history/landscape trip to Jordan including Sinai Rosefinch, Mourning Wheatear, Sand Partridge and a family of Sooty Falcons

Arrested on charges of "Malicious communications", for projecting a picture of 2 fully clothed men onto a building? Seriously, are we still pretending we're free to peacefully protest, cos it increasingly doesn't look like that.

After a 2 hour wait at Landguard today the Wryneck showed very well!

Windy walk round Aldeburgh Marshes today with few waders on the main scrape area although low tide on the river so godwits there. Then Wheatear & Yellow Wagtails, latter with cattle. At the allotment pools 4 Curlew Sandpipers and more Yellow Wagtails; further on 3Whinchat & another Wheatear.

A rather birdless start to the day in the garden this morning

A new report has for the first time investigated the cumulative impact of the UK pig and poultry sector on the wider countryside:

Every day the government delays banning the sale of peat compost means more carbon lost to the atmosphere from this appalling practice www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/vast-ar...

A slightly tatty, unsuccessful visitor to my garden this morning

Hoping to post an image of the Hazelwood White-rumped Sandpiper but it didn't show today despite a group of birders looking for it. Glossy Ibis, Cattle Egrets, Spoonbills, a good range of waders and an Osprey, which I managed to miss, were more co-operative!

Presumably the tangerine nightmare could be accused of rewarding aggression

Good view of the Cisticola yesterday in song flight rising out of the reedbed and then did the long trek to see the Black Stork at Boyton; perhaps showing signs of some colouring at the base of the bill. #UKbirding

Waterbird day y'day NW Norfolk, +Reg Land, starting at Snettisham; no White-rumped Sand, but Pec Sand as it walked behind a forest of Redshank legs & purring Turtle Dove on way back. Titchwell had a couple of the dark-billed juv Cattle Egrets and Spoonbills @rspbtitchwellsnett.bsky.social #UKbirding

My latest bird painting attempt, hopefully recognisable. Taken from my photo of one seen in India this Spring

An atrocious image of a probable Garganey at Aldeburgh Town Marshes yesterday, showing white fringes to feathering, dark line through eye, white supercilium and chin and possibly white loral spot although the bird was preening very actively or asleep so difficult to be sure.

No Black Stork but this family party(?) of 4 Ruddy Shelduck on Aldeburgh Town Marshes was a nice surprise on the first small pool from 2nd right hand path. #birds

At last one of the adult Roseate Terns came close enough for a decent shot from South Hide @rspbminsmere.bsky.social , initially amongst the large Sandwich Tern flock before walking down to edge of the island

In the garden, enjoying what the late, great Harry Nilsson would term an aerial pandemonium ballet of at least 14 Swifts swirling overhead some coming close enough to touch.

No Caspian Tern at NWT Cley yesterday but a good showing of egrets and Spoonbills

A good range of seabirds in a line, 3 Great Egrets, juv Med Gull and a fine Summer-plumaged Spotted Redshank @rspbminsmere.bsky.social today amongst a wide range of other species #birds

A very pleasant if windy day at RSPB Frampton on Thursday with distant views of the Collared Pratincole, a moulting Red-crested Pochard and some very elegant Ruffs

Mini break in East and North Yorkshire produced the goods but didn't get photo of Song Sparrow but others including the pale morph male Honey Buzzard at second attempt. Tree Sparrows everywhere at RSPB Bempton

A productive, although wet, day in the Brecks with 2 broods of Mandarin Duck with 14 (apparently the upper limit although egg dumping occurs) very young ducklings and then this brood of 7 larger ducklings. Also singing Tree Pipit and Yellowhammer.

Three highlights amongst many from our recent trip to Uganda with Arctic Tern Expeditions and Great Lakes Safaris, Uganda

This is the 7th dead adult buzzard found in my study area in last few weeks. One tested +ve for Bird Flu. Rest are likely victims, getting it from scavenging on infected Geese.

Morning at @rspbminsmere.bsky.social started with no Sandwich Terns, The Blue-headed Wagtails had gone and even the Adders just left a shed skin. Then it improved courtesy of Granty & Pete Phillips with 1 then 4 Sandwich Terns over +LRP, Barwit and a Spotred!

Adders in the dunes, showy Bittern at Island Mere, Knot on South Scrape & a Treecreeper preening in the woods @rspbminsmere.bsky.social today

Male (blue base to the bill) Bittern came out of the reedbed at Island Mere @rspbminsmere.bsky.social this morning and gave great views to the assembled audience

Some great birds and Tigers on our recent trip to India with Wild World India

Starling murmuration over @rspb.bsky.social Minsmere tonight involving well over 5,000 birds (guess) that seemed to settle on East Scrape but left before dusk. Flew low possibly because of cold easterly wind!

And that’s climate popularism. If you agree, please share this thread / the article: www.newstatesman.com/environment/... …Thank you

Just went outside to look at these planets in a line with the moon and several planets visible to the naked eye but instead watched the clouds roll in and it was as if someone had turned the lights off @daraobriain.bsky.social