Another ‘what just happened!?’ Moment. Incredible local knowledge allowed us to see this roosting Zig-zag Heron at Limoncocha… with @stevepreddy.bsky.social and @robertkelsh.bsky.social Two flew in as it got dark (apparently) and we saw it in the spotlight in full dark. Marcelo’s pic👌

A few pics from our terrific guide, Marcelo Quipo, over the last week… with @stevepreddy.bsky.social and @robertkelsh.bsky.social

Simply amazing day in Ecuador yesterday with Marcelo, @stevepreddy.bsky.social, @robertkelsh.bsky.social and Rodrigo (and Angel helped us earlier). One of those occasions when the experience far exceeded the hype.

Terrific at Long Drove nr Ham Wall today: The smart new drake Ring-necked Duck still (thanks @glastobirder.bsky.social). The duller drake RND still. The drake Scaup still. And a Garganey. Good numbers of Wigeon, Pochard and Shoveler, plus a few Pintail.

1. Watched a female Peregrine today isolate a Teal from a flying flock on the Avalon Marshes. The Teal dived into a lake to evade the falcon, which doggedly flew round waiting to pounce when the duck came up for air.

Walking up to Turf from Powderham this boat came past heading for the LC Tern, we quickly set up scope on tern as sure it would be spooked. And yes they did just that😡 in front of many birders. LCT flew off and boat headed back down past us. Here they are, well ****** done😡😡!

The Glossy Ibis dropped in to Catcott Lows at 4.18, seemingly from a westerly direction

Firecrest at the NE Shapwick Heath car park this morning

Loads of birds from VP1, Ham Wall, inc 1 Ruff. 2m Ring-necked Duck still, Decoy (and still no sign of the mysterious female).

Back to Cockwood today as my views of a distant 'orange-billed' Tern weren't great and certainly inconclusive on 03/12. But today though distantly perched it did one circuit our way and gave great in-flight scope views. A few quick shots with a 400mm lens. Happy I've seen Lesser Crested Tern👍

Levels birding so far today: 2f Goldeneye Noah’s, good views of Water Pipit Ham Wall Vp1, Firecrest at the Canada Farm parking, and the 2m Ring-necked Ducks at Decoy (yesterday’s reported female a bird-news typo I assume)

The latest BB is now online and ’in the post’. I just wanted to say that these two brilliant photos feature, and they were taken by my good friend Gary Thoburn (not by me). Not sure why the credit slipped the net.

The Black-necked Grebe is still at Cheddar Res today

Ring-necked Duck still, Blagdon lodge

The 2 smart male Ring-necked Ducks are still at Decoy, Shapwick. Blackcap too. Otherwise, f Goosander on Noah’s and 25 Blackwit at Ham Wall.

Green-winged Teal showing from Bernard King hide, Chew. Looking north so light good but quite distant. Head looks great.

2 ad and 1 juv Whooper Swan in fields south of Westhay NNR car park👍

Ring-necked Duck still, Blagdon Lodge

The 2 adult male Ring-necked Ducks are showing well at Decoy, Shapwick today and both looking pretty dapper

Drakes of Scaup and Ring-necked Duck at Long Drove, nr Ham Wall today. This is the RND from Sharpham moved a short distance and now developing paler flanks.

Ring-necked Duck still at Blagdon along with a Blackwit and a few Dunlin (no BN Grebe though). 7 Whoopers at Herons Green, Chew, plus 3 Goosander and a juv Peregrine around the lake.

Here’s the new viewing platform halfway along the south side of Stockland Marsh, Steart. 1f Goosander there today. 2 Little Stint still on a busy Otterhampton.

A Knot at Herons Green, Chew today. Still a few Whoopers around the lake, and an Avocet at Herriott’s End found by Bri.

The drake Ring-necked Duck is showing nicely at Decoy today, Shapwick. Pretty smart, unlike the other 1 or 2 that are around…

Our Kentish Plover is back on Stert Island viewed from Burnham-on-Sea. Very distant as usual…

Outstanding views of the Pallid Swift at times over the middle of Top Fields - thanks @alanlewiswildlife.bsky.social for letting us know it was showing so well up there

Ring-necked Duck still at Sharpham today. A very different bird to the Decoy individual, being largely in eclipse, very dull overall, but with the bill pattern starting to firm up.

Female Red-crested Pochard on Noah’s, Shapwick

Eclipse drake Ring-necked Duck on the Avalon Marshes here this pm

Ring-necked Duck still, Decoy, Shapwick

Black-necked Grebe still close in from Blagdon lodge

Beaut of a SHRIKE nr Ring Marsh, Co Wexford. 📷 photo by Tom Shelvin.

1 Spot Red on the Otterhampton Parrett pools

1 Little Stint from Stert Pt hide, v distant, ID assumed!

Drake Ring-necked Duck still, Decoy, Shapwick, plus a rather striking Garganey

Drake Ring-necked Duck still, Decoy, Shapwick

Arctic Skua this morning from Pendeen Watch. 5+ past in the c90 minutes I was there; also a steady passage of Sooty Shearwaters and several small groups of Common Scoters. #CornwallBirds #CBWPS #ukbirding

After a dawn raid on the Point, this little beauty was cowering in the buckthorn on my birding walk back, not far south of the Breach at Spurn. Thomas Willoughby’s brilliant pic. Bird of a lifetime. A British tick as well 😂

Yesterday's Death's-head Hawkmoth disappearing off into the night after release

We had three Bonaparte’s Gulls (ad and two 1st w’s) in Dunnet Bay this morning!!! Also a Juv Sabine’s Gull, Juv Little Gull, 1st w Mediterranean Gull and a Curlew Sandpiper with @ninaohanlon.bsky.social #CaithnessBirds

A Black-necked Grebe is showing well from Blagdon lodge

The Ring-necked Duck is still at Decoy, Shapwick this pm

Wood and Curlew Sands, and the 2 L Stints at Cheddar still

A drake Ring-necked Duck was at Decoy, Shapwick today, per Charlie Wootton who took nice photos

Yellow-browed and Sibe Chiff at Deerness today in the quarry garden

Red-necked Phal still, Easington lagoons, and a Garganey on Beacon Pond @birdguides.bsky.social

Grey Phal on the mud now from Stert Pt hide, Somerset @birdguides.bsky.social

Red-necked Phal with 2 Greys still at Cheddar, rather good 👌, and the former a super find for @glastobirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social