There may have been thousands of birds at Ouse Wash RSPB but todays visit was more memorable due to the dead Swans littering the place Around 25 maybe 30 noted Sad to see And with a Buzzsrd feasting on one of 'em it could be a bleek winter ahead

Don't expect to see much when I take a walk at RSPBHQ in Sandy but a few moments ago I flushed a Woodcock from the side of a footpath and watched it fly off for a few seconds before it disappeared from sight - Crackin'

A leaving gift from Martin and the team Pallas's Warbler What a stunner

Well just as you thought birding couldn't get any better a Pallid Swift flies over my head in top fields What a day on Portland and it ain't over yet

I haven't stopped smiling all morning Black-faced Bunting on Portland

The weather on Portland has been awful today and got worse as the day went on Gannets and Auks abundant om the sea but the land quiet again An overhead Siskin and a Sparrowhawk were my highlights Better weather expected tomorrow so hoping for change in fortunes

First day of 7 on Portland Its been a day of strong winds and sunshine with very little overhead or on the ground Loads of Gannets Kittiwakes & Auks on the sea with some Med Gulls too Bird of the day was a Snow Bunting found on east cliffs mid morning A Razorbill rested up on the rocks at the bill

@andy6day.bsky.social @laziobirder.bsky.social I was there today The staff are aware I spoke to one of them A dead goose was tested recently but showed no signs of bird flu apparently I was told the Swans are to be collected and tested too

36 Cranes from Cadbury Hide at Ouse Wash RSPB @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social

Main reason for coming to Ouse Wash RSPB was to see the Cranes which are year ticks for me The now gloomy weather doesn't help the photo taken through the scope but at least you can see what they are There are 36 in total

First decent movement I've seen of Fieldfare this Autumn Around 200 moving along the treetops at Ouse Wash RSPB this morning on a bright sunny albeit breezy day

Constant drizzle at PaxtonNR today made for a murky day Even the Buzzards looked unhappy Sparrowhawk Marsh Harrier & 2 Redpoll were the only quality with just a single Redwing Wildfowl included 2 Goldeneye 33 Pochard 140 Shoveller 100 Wigeon 90 Teal and the female Red Crested Pochard

Don't wish to belittle seeing a Peregrine scything through a Goldfinch flock but Cliffe RSPB was hugely disappointing today A scattering of duck included 310 Wigeon 155 Shoveller & 160 Shelllduck Waders were largely absent with just 5 Greenshank 71 Redshank & 155 Lapwing due to little water

Would be wrong to say Goldeneye are pouring in at PaxtonNR but at least a slight increase noted today with 5 (up from 3) A cracking female Marsh Harrier was on the deck on an exposed island on heronry lake 7 flighty Siskin in the tree tops & 7 Redwing went over 2 Kingfisher worthy of a mention too

My 7 hours at PaxtonNR was very productive today A late Hobby 8 Siskin 13 Redpoll 15 Skylark 6 Chaffinch a Grey Wagtail a Marsh Harrier & 160 Lapwing were the vismig birds overhead My first Goldeneye of the season was noted with 29 Pochard 110 Shoveller 135 Teal 150 Gadwall & 110 Wigeon on the lakes

Some days I like a rest from driving Today was one such day so I gave attention to local farmland immediately south of Baldock It was a pleasant amble and quite busy albeit with routine fair See below for bird list

Good to see a flock of 30 Redpoll at PaxtonNR this morning & with 15 Redwing & 3 Siskin overhead it's a reminder that winter is fast approaching Duck numbers on the heronry lakes included 155 Wigeon 80 Gadwall 135 Teal & 120 Shoveller Green Sand Water Rail & Kingfisher joined 'em in the notebook

Not a lot happening at Fen Drayton this afternoon A leisurely walk round Ferry Lagoon and the only birds of interest are 120 Lapwing 3 Snipe and 10 Whooper Swans Not sure if I've seen Whoopers here before Will have to check when I get home

Back at PaxtonNR today after my UK adventure where many water birds have moved in during my absence including 70 Shoveller 90 Teal 80 Tufted Duck 165 Gadwall & 160 Wigeon Also Green Sandpiper 66 Lapwing Water Rail & 2 Kingfisher Redpoll were noted with 8 feeding in the tree tops before moving on

29 days after leaving Hertfordshire the journey home begins The drive home from Aberdeen tomorrow being split over two days with a stop over in Hexham Northumberland to come Very much looking forward to sleeping in my own bed again!

Not a pleasant start to the weekend here in Shetland Strong winds and/or rain predicted next couple of days I can hear the beer and TV screens calling me in to The Douglas Arms Might just watch some football today

Confess to not doing much birding on my 4th Shetland day Getting battered by strong winds is not my idea of fun so returned to hotel mid afternoon and tended to the needs of my sick wife And another confession - upon returning I had an afternoon nap

Yellow browed Warbler still at Sumburgh Head Shetland in hedge by visitors centre @shetlandwildlife.bsky.social

Disappointing That's the only word that can describe my 3rd day in Shetland Given the run around by a Citrine Wagtail and a Rosefinch it ended with no year ticks of trip newbies On top of that no Otters were seen in a place we've seen them before On a good note a large bar of chocolate was eaten

Second day in Shetland and day 23 of 30 day UK trip One of the Mainlands (4?) Barred Warblers made it in to the notebook along with a Pied Flycatcher at Quendale Otherwise the usual stuff was on show including Eider Wheatear Red Throated Diver Common Scoter and Black Guiilimot

Day 20 spent travelling to Aberdeen The ferry left on time on day 21 but arrived in Lerwick a bit late on day 22 Not surprising given the rough crossing First job on arrival was breakfast The second was a gander at the Ring Necked Duck at Tingwall The Scalloway Hotel is my home for the next 7 days

Day 19 was spent on the Northumberland coast Trip newbies included Treecreeper & Eider The star birds of the day was up to 500 Pink Footed Geese high over Hauxley and Druridge Bay on a day when many were reported elsewhere too A cracking sight and sound even if it is a sign of the approaching winter

Moved further north on day 18 Now in Warkworth alongside the River Coquet and just north of Amble Gave the wife a choice for tomorrow Bamburgh Castle or Hauxley NR Glad to say she chose the latter

Day 17 started with strong winds and rain and made morning birding difficult It got a little better after midday but still didn't see a great deal Spotted Flycatcher and Hobby the best birds after the rain stopped Today was the last day at Spurn I move further north tomorrow

Even though the winds abated a tad not much birding was done on day 16 Partly due to heavy showers and partly due to a long lunch break in the Crown & Anchor During a brief late morning seawatch Arctic Skua & Manx Shearwater was noted Meadow Pipits Swallow and House Martins were still moving through

As birding in gale force winds is not my cup of tea most of day 15 of my UK trip was spent indoors It was hard to escape the wind other than seawatching in the hut along beacon lane

The morning of day 14 of my UK 30day wild September trip was the best birding so far Several trip newbies including Red Necked Phalarope Common Crane Arctic Skua Red Throated Diver Grey Wagtail & Common Scoter Trip list now well over 100 Got 3 days left at Spurn and Shetland very much getting nearer

Day 13 and other than an early morning visit to Sammys Point birding took a back seat for the football A few trip newbies though including Caspian Gull Med Gull and Swift A Whimbrel posed nicely on the shoreline while getting battered by strong winds

Left the Wader roost at Freiston Shore in the sunshine and arrived at Sammys Point in a thunder storm on day 12 Trip list already increased by one with a Whimbrel on the mud of the Humber Weather unsettled over next 5 days but hoping for enough breaks in the rain for some decent birding

It took too long to get my UK Birding trip list over the 100 but it finally happened today on day 11 with Winchat at Gibralter Point The most memorable interaction of the day was going eye to eye with a stoat on the edge of east dunes Cracking it was Off to Yorkshire tomorrow for 6 days at Spurn

Returned to Freiston Shore on day 10 for the early morning Wader roost There were thousands - 2000 Oystercatcher 1000 Redshank 600 Curlew 300 BlackTG 10 BarTG 55 Greenshank 10 Knot 20 Grey Plover 800 Ringed Plover 800 Dunlin 25 Spoonbill 50 Little Egret 10 Turnstone & 2 Little Stint

Changed counties yesterday (day 8) so today day 9/30 was spent at the RSPB Reserves Frampton Marsh and Freiston Shore in Lincolnshire Frampton very dry but with patience Geeen Sand Spot Shank Greenshank & Little Stints can be seen Waders were elsewhere at Freiston but 3 Little Stints were noted

Was hoping day 7 of UK trip would see me hit 100 species but it didn't 6 hours at Cley saw Cattle Egret & Sand Martin push me up to 97 The most memorable part of the day was coffee & walnut cake in the VC and a cooling pint of Cider in the pub on what was a hot albeit windy day

End of day 6 and it's been a fun one apart from watching the England game which was really tedoous Trip list up to 93 with Little Stint & Greenshank amongst the 6 added today Couldn't resist another look at the Wasp Spider at Titchwell Pizza & wine this evening a perfect end to the day

37 species added to the trip list on day 5 A list which stands at 87 Birding highlights were Turtle Dove Pectoral Sandpiper Curlew Sandpiper & Spoonbill But the real highlight was my first ever Wasp Spider which was not easy to capture in the breeze with the phone camera

Day 4 is almost over Minsmere was once again wet & windy but adding amongst others Hobby Wheatear & Lesser Whitethroat to the trip list was some consolation HQ has moved to Hunstanton for the next 3 days & pleased to see tomorrow's weather is looking good

First time I've seen significant amounts of water at a bird reserve for a long time even if there was little on it Minsmere on day 3 was quiet with just 4 Green & 2 Common Sands 10 Ruff 20 BlackTG + singles of Dunlin & Ringed Plover The rain held off (till now) but the wind felt gale force at times

My 30 day UK adventure is finally underway after a 24 hour delay due to the wife's op to mend her broken wrist My 'home' for 2 days is The Fox Inn close to Minsmere Gonna head there tomorrow and hoping the hides will provide respite from the predicted wet and windy day

Its been a while since I've done a UK birding tour so my 30days wild September kicks off soon with firstly a visit to Minsmere from which all roads lead to Shetland with a number of stops on the way Including Gibraltar Point and Spurn Should be a crackin' month

Got my first Winchat of the Autumn at Portland last week and an attempt at hand held photography through the scope got me a half decent record shot

Today has been the best day of the week on Portland with enough migrants to please everyone but todays stars have been the moths on show at the Obs

Very much looking forward to the cooler sea air on Portland next week where it should be 8 or 9 degrees below recent local temperatures And with not much birding done recently I'm also looking forward to getting amongst the migrants which I'm hoping will include a Melodious

What a cracking beast

Still getting Jersey Tigers in the garden but Straw Underwing have taken over in terms of numbers The most common moth in the trap last few days

The trap hasn't been on last few days but that hasn't stopped the moths from inhabiting the garden The wife's eagle eyes found this Poplar Hawk Moth this morning