Busy with Swifts here this morning, side boxes this time. They are mainly banging the occupied nest boxes though, drawn in by the returning adults flight path & attracted by the nesting noise I think. I’m still playing calls at the back of the house, hopefully they’ll learn to turn another corner.

A bumper day for dragonflies at Carlton Marshes with 18 species recorded! Red-veined Darter and Lesser Emperor included. The LE was circling the sluice ‘pool’ giving excellent views.

Who else thought they were going to refind the Hudsonian Godwit today? I tried and failed at Burgh Castle where there were 127 Black-tailed Godwits. The light was less than ideal but nothing unusual stood out. Next time! 🤞🏽

Just arrived home after a late morning appointment and news of the Hudsonian Godwit at Minsmere broke. Managed to see it on west scrape before it flew to south - the first time we saw the underwing... 2 limosa Black-taileds too #ukbirding #suffolkbirding

Hudsonian Godwit showing well on Minsmere south scrape - a mega find by Mike Cartwright!

Vagrant Emperor Dragonfly briefly over Canal Scrape, flew towards Canal path. #Spurndragonflies

Darren Chapman's outstanding capture of the famous Western Reef Heron in Wales is this week's winning image:

Pleased to see 6 White-letter Hairstreak this afternoon along Gunton Cliff, Lowestoft. 28/06/2026

This lake at Lound Lakes was alive with dragonflies early afternoon including 2 male Lesser Emperors amongst the many Emperors and Norfolk Hawkers.

Great to see 6 White-letter Hairstreak along Gunton Cliff, Lowestoft today.

Pallid Swift photographed heading south past The Warren at c.7.20am this morning, confirmed from further review of images. Over 4700 Swifts south since 5.55am. Harry Appleyard 📷

2546 Swifts south past The Warren so far today. #Spurnbirds #vismig @rarebirder.bsky.social

Rusty Wave (Idaea inquinata) taken at light in Ipswich, Suffolk, last night by Samuel Chamberlain. I'm very grateful to Sam for sharing his moth. Possibly the first wild caught example in the UK, occurring during record heatwave conditions. @MigrantMothUK @BC_Suffolk

Does look very good match Allan, the second new to Suffolk from last night following the Rusty wave. No doubt due to the record breaking temperatures in Suffolk yesterday

Anyone familiar with Blastobasis glandulella (& its UK status), last night in Kessingland. @neilsmothman.bsky.social

The garden keeps giving - Sallow Clearwing to SAL lure this evening 6:25-6:45 4th Norfolk record! Just a phone shot for now #norfolkmoths

With rising sea levels this is really encouraging news. #Greensky www.bbc.com/news/article...

2 Honey Buzzards in off the sea over the Eastern docks, Dover harbour today. A♂️at 12.55 and a♀️at 13.07. Its been a few weeks since the last decent arrival weather, these were my 50th and 51st HBs here at the coast since 2020 and both pretty spectacular arrivals as they go. #rarebirdsuk #kentbirding

Have some Lesser Emperors from the Trinity Broads (Norfolk) yesterday. I have seen many LEs over 28 years (it was my 'Ur-dragonfly - the species that got me into Odonata in 1998, when it was about the 3rd UK record: thanks @wildlifeprecey.bsky.social), but never photographed it until this summer.

Holy Island this morning - lots of fresh Dark Green Fritillary, a plethora of Orchids and at least 7 Quail of which 5 were singing birds #NEbirding

On a hike through the mossy montane forests of Kolombanagara, Solomon Islands, I found this incredible little grasshopper. This is a species from the genus Opiptacris, locals called them the 'rasta grasshopper'. It seems this taxon is endemic to this small island. #inverts #insects

and a wee bit of video of the Woodcock with chicks in tow! #highlandbirds 🪶

3 Lesser Emperors and 3 Red-veined Darters amongst 16 species seen at Carlton Marshes. Honestly, it IS a Red-veined Darter 😂

Our walk today at Lowestoft South Beach. Highlight: Red-veined Darter. 22/06/2026

Recent weather: fog to start, but brightened up to sunny and Green! A Green Warbler was trapped and ringed at the Observatory yesterday morning - if accepted by BBRC this will constitute the first record for the Isle of Man! @manxheritage.bsky.social @manxwildlifetrust.bsky.social #ukbirding

Carlton Marshes 20.00-22.00. summer plumaged Cattle Egret, 4 Great White Egret (one black billed), 13 Little Egret into roost, Spoonbill, 2 Bittern, 2 Hobby, 4 Avocet on Peto's Marsh.

Red-veined Darter and Lesser Emperor on Share Marsh Carlton today. Also first Ringlets. It is amazing that synchronous emergence occurs at sites miles apart

Breydon Water early morning in a bid to beat the heat! Crane west, 6+ Spoonbill, 8 Little Tern west along the channel, Hobby, 15 Med Gull and 6 Black-tailed Godwit.

I long for these beautiful summer evenings for months so I fully intend to make the most of them. Last night, I checked what I suspect will be the first of many local fields for Quail to no avail #ProjectQuail #QuailFail

Six limosa Black-tailed Godwits at Minsmere yesterday, but they never came close for nice photos. A selection here; a couple 'beasts' plus a small nicely barred and white-browed bird #ukbirding #suffolkbirding

My first Southern Hawker of the year by Round Water at Carlton Marshes today. Also 2 Green Sandpipers on Peto’s marsh

Venus in conjunction with the new moon 17/06

Really enjoyed this limosa from last night. Wouldn't hang my hat on the sex tho' structure (long legs, longish bill) suggest a ♀️. Already this bird has dropped a number of dark, new winter scaps (red ⬆️). It has remnant summer feathers (blue ⬆️) that fit L3 patterns... #cleybirds #norfolkbirding 1/2

Add nest space and wait, it can take some time but conservation works. Swifts nest in the gable box above and now after a 4 year wait House Martins have found the nest cup beneath. The 2 species will nest close to each other and co-exist without bother. @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social #SuffolkBirding

A nice surprise to find Yellow-browed Warblers (Phylloscopus inornatus) breeding in a relatively small larch forest at ~2,000m elevation in E Kazakhstan, in the same habitat as Hume’s Warbler. As far as we know, the species was not previously known to breed in Kazakhstan. @pdvsky.bsky.social

This sequence of pics is utterly brilliant!

Caspian Tern with Common Tern at Hickling NWT this afternoon. #Norfolkbirding

This Small Red-eyed Damselfly seen today at Outney Meadows Bungay is not only my first for the year but also my earliest by a long way

Dungeness: The gorgeous Squacco Heron at the Long Pits found by Dave Carrington and refound by Jacob. I've still got another 800+ images to look at.

Porthgwarra seawatch this am (16th June). Found my second Wilson’s Petrel of the year, fairly close from the cove viewing platform. First signs of return migration with 5 Med Gulls and 2 Sandwich Tern west. Normal numbers of Manx (pic from last week at Pendeen).

Sussex Honey-buzzard nest camera is now LIVE. You can always find the live link (and previous days' recordings) at: www.youtube.com/playlist?lis... Enjoy this UK first for this incredible species!

NEW BLOG: Elation/frustration. On finding (or not) Caspian Tern in Norfolk yesterday. www.jameslowen.com/blog-15-jun-... @lowestoftlizards.bsky.social

With all these Quail around, I'm feeling inspired to look locally. However, we have lots of fields near Lowestoft! Was wondering if anyone can share any tips/knowledge of the types of crops/habitat they've preferred this year. Might narrow the search down a bit.

Just found this adult Caspian Tern at Brendan’s Marsh, Hickling, Norfolk. Presumably yesterday’s Breydon bird relocating. After putting the news out I learn that someone else found it 90mins earlier. From elation to frustration in ten minutes! #ukbirding

Female Red-footed Falcon, Westleton Heath, Suffolk. 13062026 #UKBirding #SuffolkBirding

Interesting acro trapped in the Crown Estate Field this mrng - suspect it's going to turn out to be a Blyth's Reed but certainly a pretty subtle one - plumage not too bad, decent biometrics, poor p4 emargination etc. No field views & no calls.

What a stunner! Enjoyed absolutely incredible views of this Arctic-bound White-billed Diver (aka Yellow-billed Loon) in full breeding plumage at West Burrafirth, Shetland yesterday. #BirdingScotland #UKbirding #RareBirdsUK #Birds #UKWildlife

Red-footed falcon at strumpshaw this morning, first male I've seen for 10+ years. Very smart #norfolkbirding

Day 8 #30DaysWild Went to see the Red-breasted flycatcher again which has been singing in a local woodland for the last 10 days. #RareBird #BirdingUK #BirdingScotland

Red-footed Falcon has been recorded in the West Indies for the first time after a bird was seen on Barbados: