Another great early morning to be out on the #MalvernHills with spectacular views across a fogbound #Worcestershire. Icing on the cake was finding this female Snow Bunting at the summit of Worcestershire Beacon although it didn't appear to hang around for long. #WorcsBirds

Received details today on this colour-ringed Whimbrel I observed at Playa del Janubio, Lanzarote last month. Ringed in Iceland on 16.6.20 it was seen again there in summer '23 & wintered on Lanzarote in the winters of 23/24, 24/25 & now again for at least its third winter. @waderquest.bsky.social

Great to see that Snow Bunting season has finally arrived on the #MalvernHills! Pleased to find this stunning male at the summit of Worcestershire Beacon early this morning. #WorcsBirds #UKBirding

The Brown Booby again offshore at Salinas de Janubio, Lanzarote early this morning. Frequently hassled by the local Yellow-legged Gulls. #CanaryIslands #BirdsSeenIn2025 #Spain

The Citrine Wagtail still present at Depuradora Tahiche, Lanzarote earlier today. A fairly mobile and elusive individual, it's the first one I've seen outside India. #CanaryIslands #BirdsSeenIn2025 #Spain

A leisurely stroll around Marina Rubicón, Playa Blanca on Lanzarote this evening resulted in finding this Spotted Sandpiper feeding along the stream by the Oasis restaurant. Also a Common Sandpiper and Greenshank present. #CanaryIslands #BirdsSeenIn2025 #Spain

The views from the #MalvernHills were spectacular early this morning, unlike the birding. In fact, the whole of October has been extremely quiet. Despite multiple visits each week, the best bird was a Wheatear. Yes, just one. #WorcsBirds

A short work visit to southern Germany and western Austria a couple of weeks ago allowed some time for birding. Highlights included Nutcracker, Alpine Choughs & 3 Black Grouse in the Alps along with Caspian Gull, Water Pipits, plenty of Hawfinches and Black Redstarts in Lake Chiemsee/Übersee area.

Given the weather conditions, this morning had Rock Pipit written all over it. A light north-easterly with persistent drizzle produced at least two birds at Grimley Camp Lane Pits. Other birds of note included Golden Plover south-west, Common Gull briefly & Green Sandpiper. #WorcsBirds #UKBirding

This Wheatear was clinging to the summit of Worcestershire Beacon #MalvernHills in the strong winds early this morning. #WorcsBirds

Challenging conditions on North Hill #MalvernsHills early morning. With poor visibility, a couple of Crossbills calling in flight was the best of it. On the plus side, perfect conditions for witnessing the optical phenomenon known as 'Brocken Spectre'. #WorcsBirds

Trip report now fully updated with pictures of the incredibly successful spring #birding tour of north-east India with @andywarr.bsky.social and @paulrhodes.bsky.social. Many amazing memories and thanks for your great company, Andy and Paul. ebird.org/tripreport/3... #Assam #ArunachalPradesh

I wasn't the only one decidedly underwhelmed by the lack of birds on North Hill #MalvernHills this evening. #WorcsFoxes

Drake Long-tailed Duck still at Clifton GP on the north pit this morning for his third day. Beginning to transition from summer to winter plumage, both of which are impressive in equal measure. Possibly the same drake seen at this site last year. #WorcsBirds #UKBirding

A glorious day for my annual End Hill - Chase End Hill & return walk #MalvernHills. 4 Wheatear (North Hill, Summer Hill, Broad Down, Worcs Beacon), 6+ Crossbills (North Hill & Black Hill), 5+ migrant Song Thrushes top of Happy Valley, lots of Siskins & this Painted Lady the highlights. #WorcsBirds

A Spotted Flycatcher at Powick Wetland, seen very briely this evening, was a site first for me. Otherwise, quiet with Little Egret and 4 Shoveler the best of the rest. #WorcsBirds

The Glossy Ibis was again at Northwick, Worcester earlier this morning. Due to the peculiarities of the boundary line this bird is just outside the city even though the built-up area continues further north. #WorcsBirds

Popped into Powick Wetland on the way back from seeing the Grey Phalarope and Curlew Sandpiper at Ripple. Typically uneventful visit although this female Pintail was good to see. Probably the best bird I've seen here all year! #WorcsBirds

A pair of Stonechats and 2 Great Egrets were about the best of it at Grimley this morning. #WorcsBirds

Single Tree Pipit, Swift, Crossbill, Redpoll, Siskin over the north #MalvernsHills earlier this morning. Also large numbers of House Martins spread along the sheltered slopes. Difficult to count but easily 500+ along with a few Swallows. #WorcsBirds

The wonderful juvenile Temminck's Stint at Throckmorton on the western lagoons this evening. Very rare to see this plumage in Worcestershire. #WorcsBirds #UKBirding @waderquest.bsky.social

Three Wheatear on the north #MalvernHills early this morning including this one on the most northerly ridge of the most northerly hill, End Hill. Also Tree Pipit over, Willow Warbler, plenty of Chiffchaffs (40+) and a steady southbound stream of Swallows and House Martins. #WorcsBirds #UKBirding

A Wheatear on North Hill #MalvernHills during a welcome break in the weather this afternoon. #WorcsBirds #UKBirding

No change around the north #MalvernHills yesterday evening. The Wheatear and Redstart remain on North Hill. #WorcsBirds #UKBirding

Very quiet for migrants early morning around the north #MalvernHills. This single Wheatear was on North Hill. Other than a Redstart in Chat Valley, that was it. #WorcsBirds #UKBirding

Little sign of any passage on the north #MalvernHills early this morning. The same two Wheatear still lingering in Chat Valley, North Hill plus the usual Redstarts and Tree Pipit. #WorcsBirds #UKBirding

A couple of Wheatear still lingering in Chat Valley, North Hill #MalvernHills early this morning, plus 5 Redstarts and 2 Tree Pipits around the hill. Two juvenile Skylarks on nearby Table Hill was a welcome sight. #WorcsBirds #UKBirding

Visibility at a minimum on the #MalvernHills early morning. A single Wheatear on the summit of Worcestershire Beacon was the best on offer. #WorcsBirds

A Whimbrel that flew SW calling over North Hill #MalvernHills this morning was unexpected. Best of the rest included 3 Wheatear, 2 Redstarts, Tree Pipit and 2 Red Kites. #WorcsBirds #UKBirding

A few of the highlights at Grimley Camp Lane Pits this morning - Spotted Flycatcher at south end, Cattle Egret and with its two larger cousins, Great & Little. Also a Tree Pipit flew south calling, Redstart in west hedge, Dunlin and Common Snipe. #WorcsBirds

With overnight rain and a light north-westerly, thought it may be worth a quick check of North Hill #MalvernHills early this morning. This Wheatear was my first of the 'autumn' while 8+ Redstarts were also present along with a few Willow Warblers still in song. #WorcsBirds #UKBirding

Great Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron & Little Egret at Grimley Camp Lane Pits today, 21st July 2025. The birding has changed beyond all recognition since my first visit here on 21st July 1998! It took until 2002 to see a Little Egret here and Great Egret followed in 2007. #WorcsBirds #UKBirding

Quite why it's taken so long for local birders to see a Night Heron in Worcestershire is one of the many vagaries of birding that we all experience over the years. Anyway, today it finally happened! First-summer Night Heron at Camp Lane Pits, Grimley. #WorcsBirds #UKBirding #PatchGold

A few of the avian highlights from a 'non-birding' week in Madeira. The endemic Trocaz Pigeon, Madeiran Firecrest & Madeiran Chaffinch seen easily at Palheiro Gardens. Also good to see the Macaronesian endemic race of Rock Sparrow (P. p. madeirensis) at Quinta do Lorde. #BirdsSeenIn2025 #Portugal

An audience with His Imperial Majesty did not disappoint with fabulous views of this male Purple Emperor on Perseverance Hill #MalvernHills this afternoon. The first confirmed record for the hills since the 1980s. Good to watch it with @northsidedan.bsky.social who found it a couple of days ago.

Highlight at Grimley Camp Lane Pits this morning was the almost constant presence of four very obliging Cuckoos incl. the regular hepatic female. At one point three flew along the 'willow tunnel' on the south causeway. Marsh Harrier, Red Kite and Hobby the best of the rest. #WorcsBirds #UKBirding

Six Crossbills that flew south over Perseverance Hill was the highlight on the #MalvernHills early this morning. Again, good to see decent numbers of young Stonechats with seven along the ridge of Pinnacle Hill as well as a few adults keeping a watchful eye. #WorcsBirds

Grasshopper Warbler at Castlemorton Common this morning. Encouraging to see very good numbers of Stonechats including nine juveniles. #WorcsBirds

Good to see the first young Common Redstarts of the year on the #MalvernHills. This showy individual was on Hangman's Hill early this morning. #WorcsBirds

A beautiful morning to be birding on Midsummer Hill #MalvernHills this morning. Five mobile Crossbills were in larches on east side, plus Pied Flycatcher, 4 male Redstarts but no sign of the long-lived ringed Tree Pipit. #WorcsBirds

The Pectoral Sandpiper that spent a few days at Clifton GP earlier this week. Finally managed to retrieve the pictures from a faulty memory card! #WorcsBirds

A few common birds from a brief visit to beautiful northern Portugal last week; Zitting Cisticola, Iberian Wagtail, Cirl Bunting and Black Redstart. #BirdsSeenIn2025 #Portugal

This Tree Pipit is currently holding territory on Midsummer Hill #MalvernHills. Noting it had a metal ring last week I managed to obtain enough images for it to be read. Turns out it was ringed in the Forest of Dean #GlosBirds on 11.08.16, smashing the UK longevity record for the species.

Beautiful views of the Black-necked Grebe at Grimley Camp Lane Pits this evening. Plenty of washing, preening and wing-stretching so maybe preparing for a Friday night departure...... #WorcsBirds

Another decent early morning visit to North Hill #MalvernHills. Four Crossbills (incl. 3 red males) that flew south calling was the highlight while two Ring Ouzels ranged widely, particularly the male which joined this female briefly. Also 17+ Willow Warblers singing & Red Kite over. #WorcsBirds

These two male Ring Ouzels on the #MalvernHills flew from North Hill and landed in this tree towards the north end of End Hill early morning while a female flew north over the east side of North Hill. Also male Wheatear, Tree Pipit over calling and 15 Willow Warblers singing. #WorcsBirds

Pleased to find this female Black Redstart on the south-east side of North Hill in Chat Valley #MalvernHills early this morning - my first on the hills for 3 years. Also a single Swallow flew north and Willow Warbler numbers continue to increase with seven males in song. #WorcsBirds

A poor record shot of the male Ring Ouzel on the south-east side of North Hill in Chat Valley #MalvernHills this morning. Unusually it was silent, soon disappearing amongst the gorse and I never saw it again. #WorcsBirds

Yellow-browed Warbler at Betancuria, #Fuerteventura, #CanaryIslands. One of at least two birds present around the village, this male was singing near the church this morning. #BirdsSeenin2025 #Spain

Any hope of finding spring migrants on the #MalvernHills early this morning was quickly thwarted with a fresh overnight fall of snow. Thankfully the Stonechats remained undeterred despite the perishingly cold north wind. #WorcsBirds