More Cassowary encounters today. After seeing a young bird along a forest trail near Mission Beach, called in to Etty Bay, seeing one on the beach

Some birds you just need to wait till they find you. After hours stalking through forest trails this morning, this beast was on the side of the road as we drove to lunch. #MissionBeach

After some great birding in NZ & Auz in the last month, a few days off watching England being put the sword at the Gabba before birding resumes around Cairns next week.

A nice change from Yellow-browed Warblers, found this Siberian Chiffchaff on Kingsdown Beach this morning. Inevitably it was with a Yellow-browed Warbler! Photo- Nigel Jarman

This time last week I was wondering if I was going to see a Yellow-browed Warbler this year. Another four today (2 Bockhill, one Dover Castle and one SFV) takes my week's haul to 12 birds!

Another three Yellow-browed Warblers today takes my week total to seven. Hoping for something better this weekend

Managed to see four Yellow-browed Warblers in the Greater Reculver area today but not a lot else. Photos of birds at Chambers Wall, Bishopstone and Reculver caravan park.

Great days birding in Reculver area today. Richard's Pipit in the early morning gloom and then Yellow-browed Warblers at the Caravan site, Chambers Wall and Shuart

Just once in a while:- right place right time. Marsh Warbler at Reculver this morning. Thanks to Matt Hindle

Dreadful record shots of Pallid Harrier at Shuart today

Kestrel at Bockhill this morning

It's been a good autumn for Crossbills but most have have just been flyovers. #Bockhill this morning

Most unexpected bird today, a Tawny Owl in full view at midday at Reculver.

The three Dotterels (adult & 2 juvs) remain near Dover this morning.

57 White Storks over the house in Canterbury this afternoon. I know they are a bit plastic but nevertheless an impressive sight

A small arrival of Whinchats this morning with five at Bockhill and nine along Reach Road. This inspired me to go to Grove Ferry, where sadly there were none!

First Pied Flycatcher and Whinchat of autumn this mornings #Bockhill highlights

Feeling more like autumn everyday. First Sp Flycatcher, 21 Willow Warblers and seven Reed Warblers this morning #Bockhill

A nice selection of early autumn migrants at Bockhill this morning including my first Wheatear and Gropper of the year. More on the Bockhill blog

Algerian Nuthatch at Tamentout, Algeria from earlier this week.

Checked out 5 potential Nightjar sites in the last week. Only found one pair (at a new site) but they seem to have gone from my former go to site. A woodcock at last night’s site was a welcome surprise given their alarming decline as a breeding species in Kent

After 3 weeks in Arizona - no Roadrunner! Final effort on last morning just outside Tucson. Seen down to 2m. Photo taken with phone

Bar-tailed Godwit is less than annual in the Stour Valley. Two today along middle drove was a nice return to local birding

Black Scoter finally on the list (British & World) at 6th attempt (& 2nd attempt at Hoylake). Was already in Liverpool this weekend for last visit to Goodison.

With Hawfinches seemingly in every churchyard in Kent, thought I ought to check out the churches in the Stour Valley and was rewarded with this valley tick at Westbere. #kentbirding

White-fronted Goose with local greylags at Stodmarsh this morning

Fortunately the Spectacled Eider hung around long enough for me to connect with it yesterday. Unfortunately it never came close but afforded good scope views throughout the morning.

Three species of barbet coming to feeders in Yunnan

Birding Yunnan style, nestled between the heavy artillery of Chinese toggers waiting for the man with mealworms.

I have had worse days! 6 species of L’thrush, 2 Pittas & a zoothera before lunch. Yunnan, China

Grey Peacock-Pheasant has been on my heard only list for 15 years & now it isn’t. Great day birding from photography hides near the Myanmar border.

A few random birds from last few days in southern China

Sitting in hides for hours on end is not my preferred style of birding but it can have its rewards. Hainan Peacock-Pheasant

A few of the 1,100 Siberian Cranes Poyang Lake, China

Scaly-sided Merganser. 24 seen yesterday near Wuyhan, another four this morning ✅

China tour kicks off with Relict Gull near Beijing. Even in winter plumage a smart gull.

Saw some incredible, rare and range restricted birds in 2024 but this Egyptian Plover was my bird of the year. It had been top of my "most wanted" list for a long time.

One of four Hen Harriers seen coming into roost this evening at Grove Ferry.

Mega Kent Christmas. Yellow Warbler on Christmas Eve and now Scops Owl. Two additions to my Kent list to compensate for the loss of two redpolls. #382

One of six Firecrests at Fordwich yesterday morning.

Christmas came a day early. A quick dash from Collard's Lake to New Hythe for this Yellow Warbler. First for Kent. Great patch find by Glen Honey.

Had a quick look at the next round of proposed splits in IOC 15.1 hoping for a few armchair ticks for Christmas. Turns out I lose 11 species through lumps including Violet Woodhoopoe which I only ticked in September

A few edited photos from the Atlas Mountains in Morocco last week

“Atlas” Horned Lark. One of the commonest birds in the high Atlas Mountains. #Morocco

Maghreb Owl outside hotel room this evening. All three Moroccan targets seen.

8km hike to the pass at Oukaimeden, didn’t see a single bird! Fortunately two Crimson-winged Finches were where we parked the car. Mission accomplished.

Short pre Christmas trip to Marrakesh. First target under the belt, Levaillant’s Woodpecker. Lack of snow will make Crimson-w Finch a challenge. Lack of alcohol an even bigger challenge!

Have Kent birders given up on descriptions when they find a rare bird? My one rarity find in 2023 is in the report but there are 3 other rarities that I saw that are missing. Other records are included “per Kent Recorder”, presumably because the finder didn’t do a description. #kentbirding

Several egrets feeding with cattle at Cow Corner. Stopped to count them - 9 Littles, 7 Cattle plus one Great White in the water meadows below.

3+hr session at Collard’s viewpoint this morning produced 58 species inc Black-n Grebe, drake Scaup, 2 Goldeneye & Cattle Egret. As ever everything well out of camera range