Adult Female Turtle Dove rung at @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social this afternoon. An absolutely stunning bird and my first for several years #UKBirding #DorsetBirds

This Eyed Hawk-Moth was the pick of the bunch out of the traps at @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social this morning #UKMoths #MothsMatter

One of Four Hobbies seen Hawking from Slapton Bridge this afternoon. Great to see them back! #UKBirding #DevonBirds

Distant shot of the Lesser Kestrel on the Lizard this evening.. #ukbirding

Really interesting Yellow Wag at South Huish Marsh tonight found by me old mate Ritchie Moore. After a lot of healthy debate, the general consensus was that it was a Grey-Head (thunbergi) but all comments welcome! #UKBirding #DevonBirds #RareBirdsUK

Review of the Week: 7-12 April 2026 Spring migration ramped up with some exciting continental overshoots, not least a Sardinian Warbler in Cheshire and a Marsh Sandpiper in Co Durham. Sam Viles reports:

A very dapper Drake Duck Day for me today with the Ring-Necked Duck at Codnor Park Res, the Red-Crested Pochard at Wingerworth Lido & very best of all, the Blue-Winged Teal at Potteric Carr - My first in over 20 Years! @rarebirder.bsky.social @yorkswildlife.bsky.social @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social

Female Hooded Merganser still present at Alvecote this afternoon on the Railway Pool with a very handsome Drake Garganey. Here's hoping it fares better than the one I saw in late '96 at Barnstone Ponds, Notts #UKBirding #RareBirdsUK #WarksBirds

Second time lucky with the Bonaparte's Gull at Blaxton Meadow this morning. Another very nice addition to my Devon List #UKBirding #RareBirdsUK #DevonBirds

A lovely couple of hours birding with the Greenland White-Front, Avocet, Wheater & Water Pipit all still present on a glorious Spring Evening down at South Huish Marsh #DevonBirds #UKBirding

Missed the Bonaparte's Gull at Blaxton Meadow this afternoon however, it was pleasing to see the Male Red-Crested Pochard has returned to the Coach Pond at Saltram House for another year along side the even longer staying female #UKBirding #DevonBirds

Two new Gulls for me today with the superb 1w Ross's Gull giving great views at Newlyn & then finally managing to connect with Ring-Billed Gull at Lelant Saltings after at least a dozen failed attempts! A memorable mornings Birding in Cornwall #UKBirding #RareBirdsUK #CornwallBirds

The best I could get of the Pilning wetlands Hooded Merganser. A great bird for South Gloucestershire @bristolbirding.bsky.social

Ross’s Gull at Newlyn, Cornwall this morning (22nd Feb 2026). Found on the 21st in Newlyn harbour by Shaun Grose. This is the 9th for Cornwall and my fourth. The last record was in 2020 when an adult was found at Gerrans Bay on 1st Jan. #cornwallbirding #ukbirding

Only took me 4 attempts, but finally managed to catch up with the 1W Caspian Gull at Brixham Harbour this morning. A long awaited Devon ✔️ for me #UKBirding #DevonBirds

I do love a Ring-necked Duck so I was very pleased to finally catch up with the long staying male at Shipley Lake this afternoon #UKBirding #DerbyshireBirds #RereBirdsUk

No sign of the Caspian Gull this morning at Brixham Breakwater however, very good views of the Black-Throated Diver on the Harbour side of the Breakwater #UKBirding #DevonBirds

Mightily relieved the Avon Res Killdeer managed to hang around until the weekend. First new bird of 2026 and what a bird! #UKBirding #RareBirdsUK

No sign of the White Stork seen yesterday at South Huish Marsh however, plenty still about with the long staying GWT & Water Pipit both from the overflow carpark. Single Cattle Egret rounded off a decent morning's birding #UKBirding #DevonBirds

Chuffed to finally catch up with the female RND at Slapton Ley this morning from Torcross. Surprisingly only the second I've seen in Devon apart from the returning male 🤷‍♂️ #UkBirding #DevonBirds

The very mobile Black-necked Grebe still showing close off Torcross Beach this morning @rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #UKBirding #DevonBirds

What a way to start the year on my local patch. Landed on the beach for a few minutes then flew off west.

Don't usually get to see large flocks of wild geese in Devon other than Brents, so it was a treat to see these 30+ Russian White-Fronts at South Huish Marsh this morning @rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #UKBirding #DevonBirds

Didn't manage to pick out any White-Fronts at Hallow Farm, Youlgreave this morning however, there were two Pink-Feet mixed in with the Greylag Flock. Unsual to see them on the ground in Derbyshire @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social

Wild few hours at Slapton this morning in the wind and rain. Birds were quite hard to come by given the conditions but did stumble across these Gooseneck Barnacles recently washed ashore which was a first for me #BeachCombing #Devon

Took a bit of searching but ended up with good views of the Green-Winged Teal at South Huish Marsh this morning. Great views too of the Greenland White-Front previously seen at Slapton Ley recently @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social #UKBirding #DevonBirds

How extraordinary it was to see a Eurasian Scops Owl tonight, locally here in Gower, and in December of all months! A fabulous little bird that was hunting in a suburban park. #GowerBirds #ScopsOwl @gowerbirds.bsky.social

Absolutely fantastic views of the Desert Wheatear this afternoon at Bolberry Down in the howling wind. Many thanks to me old mucker @grangetownbirder.bsky.social for the tip off. @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social #UKBirding #DevonBirds #RareBirdsUK

Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bangalensis off Dawlish Warren this morning. Was speedily succesful catching a good sized fish. Probably the rarest bird I will see in my lifetime. A probable vagrant from W/N.Africa and found in Indian Ocean as far east as Australia.

Cockwood Steps - After frustratingly distant views in poor light, the Lesser Crested Tern showed much better flying up the Exe showing all it's key features before settling back at Warren Point. Another superb December bird down here in Devon! #UKBirding #DevonBirds

A quick dash to Spiggie this afternoon to see this female SIBERIAN RUBYTHROAT released back in to the ‘Bumblebird’ wild bird crop. Clearly autumn isn’t over for us here in Shetland! #BirdingScotland #UKbirding #RareBirdsUK #Birds #UKWildlife

Solid couple of hours birding around the South Hams this morning. The RND still at Beesands Ley, back for his 9th consecutive year. Single GWE also present. The Greenland White-Front also still at Slapton Ley near the Pond Dipping Station #UKBirding #DevonBirds

Good views of the 1cy White-Fronted Goose at Slapton Ley this afternoon. Present since the 17th, a nice Patch Tick for me ✔️ #UKBirding #DevonBirds @rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

Pine Bunting seen briefly with mobile Yellowhammer flock at St Aldhelm's Head Quarry at 1030hrs & not relocated as of 1250hrs. Ltd parking available in Renscombe car park, otherwise park in Worth Mattravers village car park and walk down, staying out of private fields @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Sorry for the late news, ridiculously busy first couple of hours so not had time to post a photo of the Black-faced Bunting trapped in the Crown Estate Field on the first net round of the day - ta to Duncan Walbridge for this pic

Relieved that Steppe Grey Shrike managed to hang on over the weekend at Pedngwinian Point giving great views. The Lesser Yellowlegs was nice bonus bird too showing even better just outside Truro Tesco. A good day indeed. @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social

A 1st winter male SIBERIAN RUBYTHROAT caught on North Ronaldsay!!! #RareBirdsUK #BirdingScotland #OrkneyBirding

Wow – Britain’s first Great Crested Flycatcher! Photos in the BirdGuides gallery: www.birdguides.com/gallery/bird...

Death's-head Hawk from the Obs moth-traps this morning

But then I spotted these 2 ducks asleep in the harbour at Maheroarty. A comical wait for them to pop their heads up, Irelands first Harlequins! Great to hear they are back again this morning. #donegalbirding

Grey-Cheeked Thrush trapped and ringed @lundybirds.bsky.social this morning. @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social

Yellow-browed Bunting trapped, ringed and released at the Swannery. It's flown to the hedge which runs alongside the Swannery grounds and the bird may be viewable from the permissive path heading west from Grove Lane.

Passenger Moth trapped overnight at @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social #TeamMoth #MothsMatter

Our long weekend at @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social off to the perfect start with this re-trapped Wryneck. First rung on the 9th, not seen again until today @rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

BOOTED WARBLER trapped in the Crown Estate Field

...you get the idea

Unusually good views of this Wryneck down at Turf Lock this evening. A very long overdue Devon Tick for me ✅ @rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #UKBirding #DevonBirds

The Marsh Sandpiper at Seaton Wetlands this morning. Only my second ever bird and a lovely addition to my Devon List @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social #UKBirding #DevonBirds

A glorious early mornings walk at Slapton was rewarded these 3 female Red-Crested Pochards on the Ley. Still a scarce bird down here in the South Hams @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social #UKBirding #DevonBirds