Olive-backed Pipit today at South Gare. Much better views for me this time compared with the Hartlepool bird a couple years back. Great stuff @teesbirds.bsky.social

These two Velvet Scoter had a brief flight into Middlesbrough earlier before drifting back downstream with the tide. Well picked up by @ianfoster1971.bsky.social , another urban mega! Also 3 Long-tailed Ducks flew up river into Middlesbrough! @teesbirds.bsky.social

The superb Pallas’s Warbler at Trow Quarry this afternoon was a long overdue lifer for me. Also 2 YBW. Thanks to the finder @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social

Recent birds at Albert Park. The Casp gull was a boro tick, great find by Ian Foster

Not wanting to miss out on the Dotterel action, I decided on a quick trip up the Northumberland coast this evening to Druridge Ponds. @teesbirds.bsky.social

Menorca 6: Rain just before dawn and S’ly winds, I visited the SE point of Alcafaur. On the cliffs, a peregrine watched on and some Balearic Shearwaters passed. Plenty of Thekla’s about and I was pleased to find a moustached warbler which was singing and briefly showing from some nearby bushes.

Menorca 5: A visit to Punta Nati (the NW point of the island) produced plenty of thekla’s &, gtr short-toed lark (one of which was snatched mid air by an Eleonora’s, an incredible sight!), tawny pipits and corn buntings. A pair of Egyptian Vultures and a distant harrier sp. made it a special visit

Menorca 4: Son Parc wetlands Access to a viewable position was a challenge. Worth it though, with 4 Ferruginous Duck, a Western Swamphen and woodchat shrike the highlights. No pics, as SD card has somehow gone missing, so here’s a booted eagle and Italian wall lizard instead!

Menorca 3: Son Bou Wetlands A circular route ended up being a 3hr walk through a ravine when I realised some of the path was impassable. Beautiful place, with highlights being Tawny Pipit, Gtr Flamingo, B-W Stilt, Turtle Dove, Marsh Harrier, Greenshank & Glossy Ibis

Menorca 2: S’albufera des Grau. A visit to this spectacular location resulted in an osprey at dawn and a distant Kentish plover and amongst the usual wildfowl. A Zitting Cisticola also landed near the watchpoint. En route back to the car, a Golden Oriole called twice and was briefly seen in flight.

Menorca 1: A nice trail through shrub and along the coast near the villa at Cala en Porter has provided Alpine Swift, Blue Rock Thrush, Hoopoe, Spotless starling, Stone Curlew (at dusk) and Raven overhead, amongst the usual suspects. A Scops Owl has regularly called after dark.

Eider on the River Tees near transporter this evening. A new boro tick for me, thanks to @ianfoster1971.bsky.social and @teesbirds.bsky.social for finding / relocating 👍

Drake Shoveler, Albert Park this morning, along with two drake goosander @teesbirds.bsky.social #NEbirding

Great to catch up with the Long-tailed duck yesterday on the tees. After dipping one last year, it was good to tick this one off for boro. Further upstream at the barrage, a seal has been enjoying some easy pickings recently…. #NEbirding

Average day off work… literally thousands of quality wildfowl included 2 drake Smew, Beans, White-fronts, Barnacles and Brents. Plus the biggest flock of Shore Larks I’ve ever seen, Hen Harrier… oh, and this fella… pic courtesy of Chris Bell 😊

Great to see the American Buff-bellied Pipit at Ross Sands, Northumberland earlier today. Not the best photo as only caught it skulking a bit before it took flight. Also 2x distant Redhead Smew at Widdrington Moor lake on the way home.

A couple of lifers….fantastic views of the Druridge Bay White-billed diver followed by more distant views of the South Shields Ross’s Gull.

Shoveler and wigeon at Maze Park, Boro side @teesbirds.bsky.social

The river tees grayling were playing ball in the freezing conditions this morning, the net decided to freeze though….

Some highlights of 2024, a year which has included 19 lifers from the North East. Have also ended up with 120 Boro ticks for 2024, falling short of my best 123. Some plans for 2025 including a couple of trips abroad….