Luckily the Whitburn Pallid Swift hung around for the afternoon and I could make it up there. Second lifer this week. Showed well on and off for the hour I was there. Video of it flying over my head using just my phone.

Overjoyed the Olive-backed Pipit stayed at South Gare a second day so I could catch up with it after getting back from holiday last night. Great to see one after none turned up during my stay on Shetland. Lifer!

Sleddale from Percy Cross Rigg 3.00-4.30pm: no sign of the Rough-Legged Buzzard but saw Red Kite, 2 Raven, 2 Kestrel, 6+ Buzzard and 17 Pink-footed Geese south. Also large flock of Fieldfare and another Red Kite in fields east of Kildale. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social

Best ever views of Jack Snipe at RSPB Saltholme this afternoon. Still present at 4.15 in the left hand cut from the Wildlife Watchpoint. @teesbirds.bsky.social

Misty and wet day with moments of sun on Shetland today. Highlights were great views of the Barred Warbler at Clickimin (no photo) and closer views of the BW Teal at Spiggie (still taken from video). Also a photo of the RB Fly on Yell the other day.

Another good day on Shetland. Very happy to see the Rosefinch at Grutness after a short wait first thing this morning. Made up for not seeing it yesterday despite spending a lot of time waiting/searching for it. Also got flight and very brief perched views of the Rustic Bunting at Urafirth.

1st full day on Shetland started with distant flight views of the Blue-winged Teal then a no show from the Common Rosefinch at Grutness. But the Western Subalpine Warbler gave much better than expected views and I finished the day with Lapland Bunting just before dark.

Amazing start to my first trip to Shetland. An hour after landing I was watching the Siberian Thrush, which gave great views in the open. Unfortunately the viewing window was narrow and my digiscope view was partially obscured but I was just happy to see it! #shetlandbirds

Great day in Lothian started with a lifer in the form of the long staying Marsh Sandpiper at Musselburgh, followed by lovely views (but no dodgy digiscope pics) of Red-breasted Flycatcher and Yellow-browed Warbler at Barns Ness.

Lovely views of the Siberian Stonechat at Hawthorn Dene this afternoon.

Nice prolonged view of the Spotted Crake at Sandwich this morning. Much better than the fleeting glimpse I had of the only other I’ve seen. Digiscoping tricky as facing into the sun, views were much better than the photo suggests….

Brilliant views of the Arctic Warbler in Essex today, which was a lifer, followed by even better views of the Rutland Grey Phalarope. Such striking birds and a fantastic day.

Saw the White-rumped Sandpiper at East Chevington today whilst visiting my mum in the North East for a few days. Nice year tick after missing the Snettisham bird by a day. Real dodgy digiscope using my old telescope I keep at my mum’s.

A wonderful 2 “warbler” day taking me to 275 for the year. Barred Warbler showed much better than I hoped at Kessingland and then I had multiple flight and a few brief perched views of the Fan-tailed Warblers at Walberswick. Dodgy digiscopes as per usual

I'm in SW Cornwall for 6 nights from tomorrow looking for seabirds. My day trip on the Scillonian on Sat is cancelled and the winds are moving round to be ESE. Anyone any tips on trying to see seabirds in Cornwall in these wind conditions please @cbwps.org.uk @birdwatchingtours.bsky.social

Amazing views of the Black Stork at Boyton this afternoon. Not always showing as it sometimes kept hidden on the near bank of the ditch, but when it showed the views were crippling

Lovely afternoon at Oare Marshes where I caught up with the returning Bonaparte’s Gull. Also singles of Curlew Sand, Green Sand, Whimbrel and Knot and heard a Turtle Dove purring but didn’t see it.

Great day in Norfolk and Lincs for the year list began with the Caspian Tern at Cley, then White Stork distantly at Welney and finally the Savi’s Warbler at Rimac shortly before dusk. Views got steadily more distant and digiscope photos steadily more terrible during the day!

@fifebirdnews.bsky.social I am travelling up to the Scottish Highlands tomorrow. I had thought about looking for the Surf and WW scoter in the East Wemyss/Leven area on the way but they’ve not been reported for a while. Have all the scoter moved on now or are they just not being looked for/reported?

5m Ring Ouzel south of Hambleton Hobble between Osmotherley and Square Corner at 6am (awful digiscoping video). Also 4m Redstart and 1m Pied Flycatcher at Snilesworth @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social