#Northantsbirds Another quality few hours without going too far from home! Coffee at Nene Court, then a walk from the Embankment to the viaduct, with the 2 Glossy Ibis still showing very well. 3 Stonechat on the way to Chester House, with 3 Goosander and a pr Goldeneye, plus the cc Marsh Harrier🙂.

#Northantsbirds Started the day with a stop at Wellingborough Embankment, where the 2 Glossy Ibis were still present; amazing to see them in my home town! On to Thrapston, the 2 Scaup (adult female and 1st-winter drake) showed well on Town Lake, while the drake Ring-necked Duck was very distant🙂.

#Northantsbirds A lovely day spent at Thrapston and Ringstead, with ducks to the fore. Drake Ring-necked Duck and 2 Scaup on Town Lake; the 1st-winter drake and a new-in 1st-winter female (no paler flanks and reduced white blaze cf last weeks adult female), also the cc Marsh Harrier and 8 Gt Egret.

#Northantsbirds A visit to Titchmarsh LNR/Thrapston GP today, the drake Ring-necked Duck eventually showed well on both Town and Aldwinkle Lake, among good numbers of ducks (126 Pochard, c30 Goldeneye), all were skittish and mobile - the cc Marsh Harrier didn't help! Found a chonky female Scaup too🙂

#Northantsbirds A few hours at Pitsford hoping to ditch my recent birding anti-Midus touch (ace Wolfhounds song🙂), but a wander from dam to Catwalk Bay failed to deliver the Black-necked Grebe or Whooper Swan - on the way back, picked up the former v. distantly in Pintail Bay; record-shot photo🤪

#Northantsbirds A beautiful day for a double dip (though I expected both!). No sign of the G-w Teal at Stanwick, but 5 Pintail, Redshank present. Also no sign of the Brent Goose at Summerleys; 7 Gt Egret on Marys was a site record. Heartbreaking to see this Black-headed Gull contorted by Avian Flu😥

Absolutely devastated to hear of the passing of Mani. It’s hard to overstate what a massive impact the Roses had on my formative years and beyond. I could talk about it for hours, but this isn’t the time or place. Rest in peace Mani.

#Northantsbirds Other than the 3 Ibis, Summerleys provided little excitement, but Marys Lake gave up the goodies, with a 2w Caspian Gull and an adult YL Gull among a good number of larger Gulls - if we ever get a cold snap, hopefully a white-winger will drop in🤞

#Northantsbirds Nice to find this 2nd-Winter Mediterranean Gull on Marys late afternoon (more black in the primarys than the 2W I had there Oct 13th). Before this, thought I heard a YBW calling at Podington Garden Centre, only to realise it was a squeaky wheelchair🙂; honestly, it sounded identical!

#Northantsbirds With yet another Black-faced Bunting in the UK today, definitely worth checking every Reed Bunting locally this Winter, some inland county is going to strike it lucky🤞! I wonder what drives these single-species influxes of extremely rare birds cf Siberian Accentor?

But won't someone think of the poor political donors, sorry, housing developers, we build so few houses these days, and they barely make a penny in profits...🤬 Political system utterly broken in this country, bereft of empathy or compassion for anything but capitalism.

#Northantsbirds Another look at the Lesser Scaup at Ditchford this afternoon, thankfully without the stress and swearing of Mondays visit! Love watching the shape of the bird change as it streamlines itself pre-dive; also looks so tiny next to the Gadwalls feeding off whatever it stirred up🙂

#Northantsbirds An unexpected 2nd bite at the drake Lesser Scaup cherry this evening! Arrived to find no birders present and low,strong Sun making silhouettes of all ducks; ran to the North side, constantly swearing, and, as dusk fell, finally picked up the almost mythical duck! And breath...😉

#Northantsbirds Easing ourselves back into local birding with a wander round Summerleys today. Plenty of ducks about but nothing different. A single dead Mute Swan on the main lake😕. A Jack Snipe showed bobingly well on Eddies. The Gull hotspot of Marys produced this 2W Caspian🙂.

Last day in Norfolk😟, but another decent day. Walked to Friary Hills from Cley, very vocal YB Warbler at the East end, on the Freshes, 9 Cattle Egret, Glossy Ibis and Whooper Swan. Back at Salthouse, walked to Kelling Quags, family party of 4 Whoopers on the WM, mobile Glossy Ibis and brief SEOwl.

Lazy day, the weather not exactly conducive for finding migrant passerines🤪. Did have a quick look at Sheringham seafront, but not a lot moving. Decided to head for the shelter of Cleys hides early evening, with some nice waders present - Spotted Redshank, 2 Little Stint and 2 vocal Greenshank🙂.

Spent hours around the Overstrand-Trimingham area with its Warbler-friendly clifftop woods, for just a single Chiffchaff🤪. Back to Salthouse,a Glossy Ibis behind the ducks pond, then down Meadow Lane at dusk, where the Yellow-browed Warbler showed incredibly well in its favoured tiny Sallow patch🙂.

Started at Stiffkey campsite wood, trees hooching with Chaffinch and Brambling,but just a couple of Chiffchaff; found a roosting Tawny Owl. Nothing at Garden Drove. Parked up at Salthouse, a Merlin flew over, more (distant) views of the GG Shrike, finished with 3 each of Cattle Egret and Glossy Ibis

Ended up a brilliant day in North Norfolk, but started by dipping the 6 Salthouse Glossy Ibis. Parked up at Cley VC and did the walk around Blakeney Freshmarsh, with 7 Cattle Egret and c1000 Pink-footed Geese. At Friary Hills, found 2 Yellow-browed Warblers, elusive but calling regularly. Back to

Started today with a walk round Muckleburgh Hill, just a Rose-ringed Parakeet of note🤪, then on to Sidestrand to try for the Pallas Warbler; after waiting 3 hours we had good views when it was very active for a 5 minute spell, including the classic 'admire my yellowy rump whilst I hover' pose🙂

Atmospheric walk from Hunstanton towards Heacham early morning, Fieldfare, Redwing, Starling and Chaffinch moving in good numbers, with smaller counts of Siskin, Redpoll and Brambling; plenty of 'continental' Blackbirds too. 4 calling Whooper Swan over too.

Away at the in-laws in Hunstanton today before we head for a week in Kelling tomorrow🙂. Couple of hours at Titchwell, spent along the Meadow Trail, heard the YB Warbler calling several times, only to find it was someone using playback🤬. 100's of Fieldfare, Redwing and Pink-feet over, love it!

#Northantsbirds Summerleys this evening, a showy Water Rail in front of Pioneer Hide was outdone by the trio of Glossy Ibis, amazing to see them so close! Female Pintail also on the main lake. A sizeable pre-roost of Gulls on Marys incl. ad Caspian and 3 ad YL Gulls, also 300+ Bh Gull, 150+ Gadwall

#Northantsbirds Summerleys this evening, love this time of year, winter birds piling in and a chill in the air🙂. 3 Glossy Ibis present, 6 (1 drake) Pintail, bobbin' Jack Snipe on Eddies Island, several Redpoll and 17 GoldenPlover. Marys Lake had ad YL Gull, flyaround 2w Med Gull, plus 164 Gadwall.

The breeding population of Red-flanked Bluetail in Finland has risen spectacularly in recent years, with the latest Finnish nesting-bird report estimating there to be 13,000 breeding pairs for the 2019-2024 period:

Came across this little Christmas game in a shop in Earls Barton today, a bingo game inspired by your usual British birds - except, check out no.15, just a common old garden Siberian Accentor...🙂

#Northantsbirds A fairly 'meh' wander at Titchmarsh LNR and Town Lake today, with the juv Glossy Ibis and juv Ruff both still present; otherwise, 8 Great Egret, a male Stonechat and a 1st-winter drake Goldeneye the best of the rest. Some close views of Red Kite were nice🙂

#Northantsbirds Maybe not as exciting as a Needletail, but a pleasant evening round Summerleys anyway🙂. Glossy Ibis still in residence on the scrape, but the ducks were the stars; a personal site record of a minimum 325 Gadwall (plus 54 on Marys), along with 5 Pintail, incl a handsome drake.

If anything, a lot of people should have less access to the countryside, given how some behave already, without letting them trash any more of it...

Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.

#Northantsbirds Despite the wet and windy weather, it was great to have a day in the county with 2 American waders, doesn't happen often! The juv Pectoral Sandpiper was still present at Hollowell Res, plus 3 Gt Egret and several Stonechat. On to Pitsford Res, where the AGP showed distantly🙂

#Northantsbirds Our usual wander round Summerleys this evening (not enough time for a Hollowell/Pitsford US wader double!) with a ton of ducks present - 170+ Gadwall and 300+ Wigeon and 2 Pintail. A check of the pre-roost large Gulls on Marys produced this fine 1st-winter Caspian Gull, plus ad YL🙂

#Northantsbirds American Golden Plover at Clifford Hill this evening, stunning smart juv in lovely light! Got to hear it call too, and saw the grey underwings when it was flushed by a hot air balloon. Hat tip to the finder, glad I messaged him suggesting AGP after it went out as Grey, then Golden🙂

#Northantsbirds A dull, dreary, then warm,sunny walk at Summerleys late AM, with Glossy Ibis still on the Scrape. Dunlin, 2 Pintail also, with several Siskin over. Lots of roving groups of Tits, Warblers and 'crests; Blackcap plentiful, at least 15 along the railway line, and a late Reed Warbler.

#Northantsbirds An enjoyable visit to Titchmarsh LNR today; 1 juv Glossy Ibis showed well, but we failed to locate the 2nd bird. A Ruff and 2 YL Gull present, plus 7 Great Egret, several Snipe and good numbers of Teal, plus 26 Pochard🙂

Let's hope our impartial media are all over this...

#Northantsbirds Me, by the time a long-staying Lesser Scaup turns up in the county...🙂

#Northantsbirds A hot wander around the New Workings at EBGP today, with an adult cc Marsh Harrier the sweaty highlight (arguably the 2 Grey Partridge it flushed were rarer!); my 2nd in a few days locally, the bird at Summerleys was a juv with missing primaries. 3 Common + 1 Green Sand, Hobby also.

A few hours at Cley/Salthouse today, no sign of the 2 Pec Sands (refound after we'd left, by the Iron Road, which we'd checked twice🤬). Great views of the very mobile Glossy Ibis, also 17 Spoonbill, 10+ Cattle Egret, 2 Spotted Redshank, 2 Lt Stint, 3 Curlew Sand, 4 Wood Sand. Post-storm rainbow too🙂

A plan to stay in Hunstanton with the in-laws in preparation for a twitch to Hickling tomorrow went down the pan with no sign of the B-W Kite😟; but an excellent few hours at Titchwell cheered us up, with 2 R-N Phalarope, Pec Sand, 4 Little Stint and 3 Curlew Sand. And Eagle Owl at Old Hunstanton...😀

Spent hours being spellbound by Convolvulus Hawk Moths last night as they nectared on Nicotiana plants in my highland garden!. Up to 3 feeding at a time, their entire abdomens glowing red hot in the thermal from flight muscle use!! #teammoth @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

#Northantsbirds Had a Swift over our Wellingborough house on Sept 5th, which I assumed would be my last here, but when we arrived back home from Pitsford Res, 2 birds were buzzing around briefly before heading off South. Funny to have birds over the house when I've seen none at local water bodies.

#Northantsbirds A couple of hours below Hanging Houghton, the Hen Harrier eluded us, but the 4 Whinchat showed nicely, also plenty of Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting. On to Pitsford, with good views of the juv Glossy Ibis; 15 Greenshank, 4 Ruff, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Osprey, Redshank, 6 Green Sand.

So, are there any Glossy Ibis left on the European mainland..?😀

#Northantsbirds With Vicky out shopping, got the bus to Gt Doddington and wandered down to Summerleys. By the river near Wollaston Lock, 100's of mainly House Martin and Swallow were on the wires, like musical notes - 'So long, goodbye, auf weidersehen, adieu' perhaps? Glossy Ibis & Ruff also.

So should be a few Glossy Ibis breeding records next year I guess then! Wonder what the largest flock will eventually be (34 at Minsmere to beat)!

#Northantsbirds Titchmarsh LNR today produced some decent juvenile waders;Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff, 2 LRP and Common Sand. On to Kinewell Lake, and a real surprise with 2 more just-fledged Cattle Egret on the island (adult also)!! That makes it 3 nests, 7 young, this year🙂; Gt Egret also on site.

#Northantsbirds The Glossy Ibis at Summerleys put on quite the show early evening, feeding directly in front of the Paul Britten hide. Other birds noted were RP, juv Ruff, Green Sand, 3 Common Sand and 3 Gt Egret. Large number of dodgy/freaky Mallard at the East end must be Clifford Hill refugees!

#Northantsbirds No Little Stint redemption today at Pitsford Res, shouldn't have stopped for that coffee in Brixworth first🤪! But quality birds present - Black Tern, Wheatear, 5 Black-tailed Godwit (family group? Adult and 4 juvs), 7 Greenshank, 9 Gt Egret and 2-3 Osprey, also 4 Green Sand and Hobby

#Northantsbirds A visit to Clifford Hill, and the rain meant anticipation of grounded waders - hopes dashed with just a juv RP and several Common Sand (any decent waders probably crushed by the stupid number of released Mallard!) Better at NW South with 4 vocal Greenshank, Whinchat, 2 LRP and Hobby.