Pennington Flash early afternoon, 5 common scoter (2 drakes), 2 great white egrets, 11 little egrets #PFBirding @birdguides.bsky.social

Black-headed gull J3581 at Newton Lake yesterday and today. Ringed as a chick on 10th June 2024 at Langøyskjær, Råde, Østfold, Norway, just south of Oslo. Distance travelled 1056km (656 miles) #StHelensBirding

Five wigeon at Newton lake today were a site first for me #StHelensBirding

At least 40 common dolphins from the Barra - Oban ferry this morning with at least 1 calf seen. Around 20 were at the entrance to the Sound of Mull out from Tobermory, 10 were out from Castlebay on Barra and the rest somewhere in between #CetaceansUK

Barra's first coal tit for 2 years has sulphur yellow cheeks & appears to be of the Irish race P.a.hibernicus. I have no experience of this race & no idea what the liklihood is of it reaching Barra. Comments welcome. @birdguides.bsky.social @rayb126.bsky.social #BirdingScotland #RareBirdsUK

This morning we found a lesser whitethroat at Northbay, Barra and also managed to catch up with the rarest bird on Barra right now, a coal tit, the first on the island in two years #BirdingScotland @rayb126.bsky.social

Lots of By-the-wind sailors washed up on Barra today following recent gales, plus items with common goose barnacles attached. Also a role of sellotape sp. with what look like goose barnacle sp. but not sure they're common. Any suggestions? #beachcombing @rayb126.bsky.social @barrabirder.bsky.social

I've had a poor year for whales & dolphins having missed out on my annual trip to Gairloch & Ullapool. However, we have seen a few dolphins during our trip to Barra inc. common and bottlenose dolphins and harbour porpoise, the latter with a calf. Hoping for more on the ferry next week #CetaceansUK

Barra, juvenile black tern again this afternoon from Eoligarry jetty in the mist and rain. A bit different to watching them at Pennington Flash, apart from the mist and rain #BirdingScotland @rayb126.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

Barra, spotted flycatcher flycatching on the seaweed on Cleat beach was the birding highlight for me today, also a juv black tern from Eoligarry jetty and a YBW at Castlebay football pitch. 4 bottlenose dolphins also from the jetty #BirdingScotland @rayb126.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

We didn't manage to catch up with the red-eyed vireo at Nask, Barra today but managed to find our 2nd YBW of the trip at Northbay. Hopefully REV still around for another day & it's promising with Swainson's under the belt already 🤞 @rayb126.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #BirdingScotland

Barra, my first yellow-browed warbler of the year at Nask, called a few times & seen in flight. Also this morning, pintail at Castlebay which was a Barra tick, Golden eagle over the co-op & house martin. @birdguides.bsky.social @rayb126.bsky.social #BirdingScotland

A video of the black tern on Barra this afternoon, from Eoligarry jetty. Also juv Sabine's gull past south east. Video slowed to half speed @birdguides.bsky.social #BirdingScotland

Barra, black tern distantly off Eoligarry jetty this afternoon. Presumably same bird as 2 days ago. @birdguides.bsky.social #BirdingScotland

Barra, black tern from Eoligarry jetty this afternoon. Apparently the first Barra record for 15 years so pretty chuffed to find it with @rayb126.bsky.social! The video is slowed to half speed when the bird flies @barrabirder.bsky.social @ianricketts.bsky.social #BirdingScotland

Barra, Swainson's thrush still at the Manse, Cuidhir. Showed well at 10.15am, on the fence & feeding on cotoneaster behind the hut for about 1 minute before disappearing again @rayb126.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #rarebirdsUK #BirdingScotland

Barra, Swainson's thrush still at the Manse, Cuidhir. Elusive but showed well on the fence behind the hut briefly. This is the best photo for now 😆. Barra's 4th record and our 3rd on the island @rayb126.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

Pennington Flash, juv little gull today but not seen by me after 8:30am. Juv ringed plover & 2 common sands still at sailing club. Unfortunately Teal scrape is now Teal lake & the spit is almost under water so only waders likely now are those that can tolerate dog walkers at sailing club #PFBirding

Pennington Flash today, 8 species of wader & 3 species of tern. Ringed plover at sailing club joined briefly by another 3 RP, dunlin & little stint, also ruff, common & 2 green sandpiper, oystercatcher & lapwings. Common, arctic & black terns, plus Grt egret & 13 Pink-feet over. Amazing! #PFBirding

Pennington Flash, moulting adult common tern this evening in the rain, also ruff still, hobby and great white egret, plus 100s of swallows and a few house martins and sand martins #PFBirding

Cricket at Crosby this afternoon left me well placed for a quick visit to Crossens this evening & nice if slightly distant views of juv. white-winged black tern. Also flyover spoonbill #LancsBirding

Pennington Flash today, an adult black tern dropped in to join the 2 juveniles present for their 4th day. 2 juv hobbies over the ruck, ruff still on the spit, green sandpiper on Teal scrape & 1 swift still #PFBirding

Barrow lane, Newton-le-Willows, whinchat this morning #StHelensBirding

A quick blog post about a black tern plunge feeding at Pennington Flash, something I've not seen before. It's a blog post because there's a video and too many photos for bluesky 😉 colinsfieldnotes.blogspot.com/2025/09/surf...

Black tern at Pennington Flash this afternoon #PFBirding

Pennington Flash, 2 juv black terns still, ruff, great egret, 2 swift, hobby hunting hirundines over ruck #PFBirding

Willow emerald damselfly again at Bickershaw CP Greater Manchester today, including one at the Stock pond adjacent to Diggle Flash. We've suspected them here previously but today we managed to confirm the identification @rayb126.bsky.social

Barrow Lane, Newton-le-Willows, 1st win wheatear this morning #StHelensBirding

Pennington Flash, yellow wagtail at the sailing club and ruff still this morning #PFBirding

A fabulous day in rain & murk at Pennington Flash. Almost as soon as the rain started an ad moulting black tern dropped in & stayed all afternoon. Then at about 12.30 5 curlew sandpipers flew in, attempted to land but headed off south. Possibly same birds reported at Sandbach at 14.52 #PFBirding

Just a quick look at Pennington Flash today where the only bird of note I saw was the juvenile ruff still present for it's 11th day!

Glossy ibis at Martin Mere today, a new species at the site for me, bringing my site total to 190 species. #MMWWT ##LancsBirding

Pennington Flash, juvenile little gull still present, also the ruff (10th day), green sandpiper and hobby over. #PFBirding

Pennington Flash this afternoon, juv. / 1st win little gull, juv. Ruff still for 9th day and green sandpiper still f' umpteenth day #PFBirding

Leighton Moss, Eric Morecombe hide, 1 spotted redshank best today ##LancsBirding

Curlew sandpiper at Leighton Moss, Allen pools today #LancsBirding

Pennington Flash, ruff on the spit, hobby hunting over the ruck, 2 green sandpipers on Ramsdales scrape, great white egret & a Polish ringed black-headed gull #PFBirding

Great views of the juvenile Montagu's harrier this morning, but apparently not seen since 9am #Marshside #LancsBirding #UKBirding #RareBirdsUK

Billinge Hill this afternoon, spotted flycatcher #StHelensBirding

Bickershaw CP Greater Manchester today, at least 3 willow emerald damselflies including pair egg laying on willow. Looks like the first records for Greater Manchester unless anybody knows different.... #BCPBirding #UKDragonflies @rayb126.bsky.social

Birding highlight for me today, this remarkable albino/leucistic moorhen at Bickershaw Country Park, Greater Manchester #BCPbirding @rayb126.bsky.social

Billinge Hill this morning, 3+ tree pipits heard overhead but none seen. Also 1 swift, peregrine and raven #StHelensBirding

Billinge Hill this afternoon, two tree pipits on wires #StHelensBirding

Billinge Hill this morning, osprey drifted south at 8am then 15 mins later was over Carr Mill Dam for 10 mins before finally heading east (Pennington Flash?). Any thoughts on age? I'm thinking adult but earlier thought juv. Not sure I can be certain from these photos #StHelensBirding

A 5 hawker day at Bickershaw CP, Greater Manchester yesterday, with common the star, a site first for me bringing my personal site total to 18 species since mid June. Also several emerald damselflies. Birds inc. 2 great white egrets & 5 little egrets on Nevisons #UKDragonflies #BCPbirding

Billjnge Hill this morning, 3 tree pipits over and a lesser whitethroat with a roving tit/warbler flock #StHelensBirding

Genuine question, whats the logic behind reports like this? Are they about to be added to cat C? They occasionally turn up at Pennington Flash but never get a mention on birdguides from the flash, but they do when they turn up elsewhere. What's the difference? #PFBirding #LancsBirding #RareBirdsUK

Emperor dragonfly at Bickershaw CP yesterday #UKDragonflies

Common tern minus the black tip to the bill at Martin Mere today #MMWWT. When they are lacking the black tip like this, the bill seems much bigger and more orangey to me! 😱.

A bad hair day at Martin Mere for these cattle egrets. At least 20 birds present, most in breeding plumage but at least 3 locally bred juvs #MMWWT. Also today 4+ green sands & a dunlin. Quality of the video affected by having to view through glass but at least I wasnt getting buffeted by the wind!