Newlyn: yesterday’s young Ross’s Gull on Tolcarne beach.

Now that Severnside's female Hooded Merganser has departed, the task of submitting the record to BBRC can begin. These brilliant images, captured by Bristol birder @brithompson.bsky.social, showing unringed legs and a full set of primaries, will hopefully serve to support the submission #ukbirding

It's been a top day on the Severnside patch, with birders coming from far and wide to pay their respects to the Hooded Merganser. Great to see so many familiar faces and meet some new ones along the way. Glad to say the Merg behaved impeccably as well! Pic: @rose-setter.bsky.social #ukbirding

A super 'springlike' morning on Severnside today bagging the very first Hooded Merganser (a 1st winter female on Pilning Wetland) for S. Glos! Nearby a 'passage' Scandinavian Rock Pipit on Shaft Beach. Many thanks to @andy-1963.bsky.social

It's been a top day on the Severnside patch, with birders coming from far and wide to pay their respects to the Hooded Merganser. Great to see so many familiar faces and meet some new ones along the way. Glad to say the Merg behaved impeccably as well! Pic: @rose-setter.bsky.social #ukbirding

Was thinking of knocking it on the head for the day, when I decided to take one more look at Pilning Wetland. Glad I did, as this Hooded Merganser had just arrived ahead of a bank of low cloud and drizzle. Needless to say, a patch lifer! Pic: @matthall95.bsky.social #ukbirding

Nobody was expecting this today. A short video of the Hooded Merganser on Pilning Wetland this afternoon. Hopefully it will be there tomorrow in better weather and light.

An amazing day and another Great find by @andy-1963.bsky.social with this flighty and apparently unringed Hooded Merganser on Pilning Wetland and a brief visit onto the estuary as well.

Was thinking of knocking it on the head for the day, when I decided to take one more look at Pilning Wetland. Glad I did, as this Hooded Merganser had just arrived ahead of a bank of low cloud and drizzle. Needless to say, a patch lifer! Pic: @matthall95.bsky.social #ukbirding

The Birds Of South Gloucestershire 🔎 February 23rd: MEGA 💥 A female type HOODED MERGANSER found on Severnside today by @andy-1963.bsky.social represents the first record of this species for S. Glos! #UKbirding #Southglosbirds

The Birds Of South Gloucestershire 🔎 February 23rd: Our first Little Stint of the year takes the S. Glos year list 2026 to 137! 😉 @andy-1963.bsky.social #UKbirding #Southglosbirds

Ross’s Gull at Newlyn, Cornwall this morning (22nd Feb 2026). Found on the 21st in Newlyn harbour by Shaun Grose. This is the 9th for Cornwall and my fourth. The last record was in 2020 when an adult was found at Gerrans Bay on 1st Jan. #cornwallbirding #ukbirding

A return to south west winds and a moderate blow was enough to deliver my first Kittiwake of the year on the Severnside patch. My young pal James Dickinson captured this image. His Dad, Don, then alerted us to a flock of 74 Grey Plover flying high over the estuary. Patch gold #ukbirding

A return to south west winds and a moderate blow was enough to deliver my first Kittiwake of the year on the Severnside patch. My young pal James Dickinson captured this image. His Dad, Don, then alerted us to a flock of 74 Grey Plover flying high over the estuary. Patch gold #ukbirding

A dreary morning on the Severnside patch was enlivened by a surprise encounter with an attractive Scandinavian Rock Pipit (ssp littoralis). Now is a good time to connect with these northern migrants as they assume Spring plumage. Here's one I saw at Staines Reservoir in March last year #ukbirding

The Birds Of South Gloucestershire 🔎 February 21st: Our first Scandinavian Rock Pipit of the year takes the S. Glos year list 2026 to 136! 😉 @andy-1963.bsky.social #UKbirding #Southglosbirds

A dreary morning on the Severnside patch was enlivened by a surprise encounter with an attractive Scandinavian Rock Pipit (ssp littoralis). Now is a good time to connect with these northern migrants as they assume Spring plumage. Here's one I saw at Staines Reservoir in March last year #ukbirding

No sign of yesterday's Slavonian Grebe at Chew Valley Lake, but compensation in the form of this showy adult drake Ring-necked Duck. This dapper bird has graced the lake for much of the winter. Also found a 1st w Med Gull at Herriott's Pool. This RND image by young birder Enid Wilkinson #ukbirding

No sign of yesterday's Slavonian Grebe at Chew Valley Lake, but compensation in the form of this showy adult drake Ring-necked Duck. This dapper bird has graced the lake for much of the winter. Also found a 1st w Med Gull at Herriott's Pool. This RND image by young birder Enid Wilkinson #ukbirding

It's been a decent winter for Red Knot on the Severnside patch. I found 16 sheltering from the bitter northerly wind on Northwick Warth this morning. Also, a single Golden Plover picked up by @oscardewhurst.bsky.social as it flew high overhead calling. Pic: @sibechat.bsky.social #ukbirding

A Swallow was seen in East Harptree today!!! avonbirding.blogspot.com/2026/02/19-0...

It's been a decent winter for Red Knot on the Severnside patch. I found 16 sheltering from the bitter northerly wind on Northwick Warth this morning. Also, a single Golden Plover picked up by @oscardewhurst.bsky.social as it flew high overhead calling. Pic: @sibechat.bsky.social #ukbirding

Managed a couple of hours #goosing this evening and came across this delightful Todd's Canada with Pinks between Docking and Bircham at Honey Hills! #happydays #norfolkbirding

A successful return to the Severnside patch today, when a female Merlin made a spectacular appearance at Aust Warth. Scared the living daylights out of the Mippits before crossing the estuary towards Wales. Here's one of these superb predators from Cornwall a couple of years ago #ukbirding

One of the perks of any visit to Cornwall is the ready accessibility to wintering Great Northern Divers, especially along the south coast. Three seen outside Looe harbour at the weekend. Would love to find one on the Severnside patch, now I'm back home #ukbirding #birdingCornwall

One of the perks of any visit to Cornwall is the ready accessibility to wintering Great Northern Divers, especially along the south coast. Three seen outside Looe harbour at the weekend. Would love to find one on the Severnside patch, now I'm back home #ukbirding #birdingCornwall

What a difference a day makes. Stunning scenery in the sunshine on the north Cornwall coast on Saturday, only for rain to reassert itself at Looe today. Great Northern Diver & Eider off Hannafore Point made braving the soggy murk worthwhile #ukbirding #birdingCornwall

What a difference a day makes. Stunning scenery in the sunshine on the north Cornwall coast on Saturday, only for rain to reassert itself at Looe today. Great Northern Diver & Eider off Hannafore Point made braving the soggy murk worthwhile #ukbirding #birdingCornwall

Some thoughts on birding content online and how old guys like me could or should respond to it. Thank you again for reading any if this stuff! #ukbirding #birds

February 13th: For anyone remotely interested - A checklist of The Birds Of South Gloucestershire has been updated inline with the BOU Avi List. 😉 Find it here: www.thebirdsofsouthgloucestershire.co.uk/Publications... #UKbirding #Southglosbirds @runnelstone.bsky.social

50% rise in lekking Capercaillie at Abernethy over five years www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/5...

On this day last year, I spent a superb morning studying sea duck off Gullane Point, Lothian. I was delighted to pick out this male White-winged Scoter on choppy waters. The firth of Forth has become a stronghold for this species in the UK. Pic: @kgbirder.bsky.social #ukbirding #birdingScotland

Signs of Spring. My first Med Gull of the year on the Severnside patch today. Also, a trickle of migrant Lesser Black-backed Gulls heading north east over the high tide, including a dark intermedius type. Wildfowl/wader numbers falling and a notable uptick in song #ukbirding

Signs of Spring. My first Med Gull of the year on the Severnside patch today. Also, a trickle of migrant Lesser Black-backed Gulls heading north east over the high tide, including a dark intermedius type. Wildfowl/wader numbers falling and a notable uptick in song #ukbirding

The wind and rain finally gave way to birding-friendly conditions this afternoon, allowing me to search for owls. A pair of ghostly Barn Owls eventually put in an appearance in the near dark at a site by Chew Valley Lake. Avon county year list now stands at a sluggish 126 #ukbirding

An interesting goose paired to a Tundra Bean. The all pale peachy-pink bill, white halter and small dark spots on the upper belly perhaps point to it being a Tundra Bean X Russian Whitefront hybrid rather than an aberrant Tundra Bean. With Ash McElwee and Graham Fellows

North-east birders! The talks continue this week with a face-to-face presentation for the lovely folk of North Northumberland Bird Club: Filey International - Migration Magic and Madness on the North Yorkshire Coast Bamburgh Cricket Pavilion; 1915 for a 1930hrs start - visitors welcome!

The wind and rain finally gave way to birding-friendly conditions this afternoon, allowing me to search for owls. A pair of ghostly Barn Owls eventually put in an appearance in the near dark at a site by Chew Valley Lake. Avon county year list now stands at a sluggish 126 #ukbirding

On this day in 2025 - a memorable encounter with this stunning Lesser-spotted Woodpecker at a site in Devon. February and March are the best months in which to connect with this secretive and increasingly scarce breeder. Still gives me a buzz whenever I see one . . . #ukbirding

Wandered off the Severnside patch towards Oldbury Power Station today in search of Bar-tailed Godwit. Found 8 in all, keeping company with Curlew on the tideline. An overdue addition to my Avon year list (125). Possible Merlin seen too briefly/distantly to nail ID #ukbirding

Happy 40th anniversary to me! 09/02/86 & today is the day I reminisce about one of my favourite finds, the Portscatho Least Sandpiper. I'll never forget seeing a tiny wader land on the harbour wall, just above the female King Eider & then BOOM! Olive legs! Disbelief all round! #oldrares #ukbirding

Wandered off the Severnside patch towards Oldbury Power Station today in search of Bar-tailed Godwit. Found 8 in all, keeping company with Curlew on the tideline. An overdue addition to my Avon year list (125). Possible Merlin seen too briefly/distantly to nail ID #ukbirding

As weekends go . . . Added this returning Pink-footed Goose to the Avon year list and then enjoyed watching little old Brentford winning at Newcastle for the first time since 1934! Pic: @reuben-veal.bsky.social #ukbirding

Rolling back the years... #UKBirding

My attempt on the Avon county year list record (208, set in 2006) began modestly with 123 species seen in January. But there was some quality in the form of Penduline Tit, RN Duck, LEO, Whooper, Bk Redstart, Gtr White-front, DB Brent, RB Merg, Firecrest, Scaup, Woodcock & Brambling #ukbirding

My attempt on the Avon county year list record (208, set in 2006) began modestly with 123 species seen in January. But there was some quality in the form of Penduline Tit, RN Duck, LEO, Whooper, Bk Redstart, Gtr White-front, DB Brent, RB Merg, Firecrest, Scaup, Woodcock & Brambling #ukbirding

This obliging juvenile Black-throated Diver at Brixham marina helped brighten what has been another dull and damp week in the West Country. Back home in Bristol now and praying for the rain and eternal south easterlies to abate ahead of a return to the Severnside patch #ukbirding

Examples of wintering Curlew Sandpiper may be scarce in the UK, but the West Country is as good a place as anywhere to find one. This juvenile has been present on the Hayle estuary since the Autumn, spending much of its time in company with Dunlin. Pic: @runnelstone.bsky.social #ukbirding

Examples of wintering Curlew Sandpiper may be scarce in the UK, but the West Country is as good a place as anywhere to find one. This juvenile has been present on the Hayle estuary since the Autumn, spending much of its time in company with Dunlin. Pic: @runnelstone.bsky.social #ukbirding

I've seen the Hayle Ring-billed Gull on numerous occasions across several years, but never so well or for so prolonged a period of time as today. I settled on the edge of the saltings at Lelant and enjoyed this scarce American larid for a couple of hours. Pic: @yeovilbirder.bsky.social #ukbirding