Dare we say it's Spring?

It's always good to see the Fulmars returning

The poor weather meant we couldn't get the nets out yesterday at WWT Washington Wetland Centre so we ended up doing a quick site survey instead. This unexpected Red Kite was a very nice surprise! Pic by Hayley Cook

Little poser

The glorious crown of the mighty Goldcrest

A tiny bit of colour emerging from the endless grey

First Harlequin Ladybird of the year this morning and I'm really going to go out on a limb here, I don't think it'll be the last!

Why we do what we do

Couple of geese and a couple of divers!

Just a handful of the 100+ Twite down at North Gare this morning

Another little session at WWT Washington Wetland Centre this morning

Lovely little half hour bug hunting in the garden this morning

This absolutely gorgeous, tiny little Rosy Woodlouse was a lovely find in the garden this afternoon

One of the regular Woodpeckers that come to the feeders at WWT Washington Wetland Centre

Lovely fox strolling past this morning, completely minding it's own business!

There seems to have been an explosion of Snowdrops at WWT Washington Wetland Centre! It's always a good day when you get your first sighting of a new year.

First Ladybird of 2026 is a 10-spot Ladybird

I mean, Robins take some beating don't they!

Had a lovely, gentle little rockpooling session this morning, and although there wasn't much around it was some of the most fun I've had in a good while

Very quiet session at WWT Washington Wetland Centre this morning, cut short due to the rubbish rainy weather

They may not be the prettiest species in the world, but these two Agonopterix are the first moths of 2026

And the absolute LEAST surprising news of the year, my first ringed bird of 2026 is a Blue Tit. It genuinely looks like it's pouting!

First spider of the year. Allow yourselves to be excited!

If the ice is good for one thing, it's bringing out the Water Rails

Very distant Brown Hare in the snow this morning at WWT Washington Wetland Centre

Had a lovely wander around WWT Washington Wetland Centre in the snow this morning. As expected the feeders were very busy!

First insect of the year!

The pretty much resident Whooper Swan was still at Herrington CP yesterday

Bitterly cold session at WWT Washington Wetland Centre this morning but it's always fab to recatch one of your project birds

Nice little bonus session at WWT Washington Wetland Centre this morning to blow off the Christmas cobwebs

Best Christmas card ever!

One of the three Stonechats on the Whitburn coast this morning

Had a little friend playing alongside me on my walk

I always find spending time watching bird feeders an absolute pleasure. It's so calming, almost hypnotic. I could genuinely spend hours transfixed.

Pretty quiet session at WWT Washington Wetland Centre this morning before the rain came 🌧️

Some more lovely birdies from the Wetlands

After the morning's session at Washington it was a quick dash to Whitburn to help out Lauren with her Coastal Birdwatch event. It was a beautiful afternoon and thankfully there were a load of waders on view. But the biggest reward were the gorgeous sweet mince pies she used to bribe me to come along

It was a very chilly start to the day today but we still had a cracking couple of hours at WWT Washington Wetland Centre. Another 40+ birds ringed with a nice variety of species.

After a pretty dismal couple of weeks I really needed this to cheer me up

I love this time of year

Another cracking session with the guys at WWT Washington Wetland Centre with over 50 new birds ringed on a chilly winter morning. Alas no Willow Tits this week but still some nice birds, including another Treecreeper and only the second Jay we've had!

A few more from this morning's session at WWT Washington

It was a pleasure to be back at WWT Washington Wetland Centre this morning to resume the ongoing Willow Tit Project. It was a cracking start with lots of birds caught, including one of the target species. Hopefully the first of many this winter.

Had a fab little public ringing demo at Washington Old Hall - National Trust this morning with Neil Arkley and Hayley Cook. We had around 30 birds in the nets around the feeders which is the best total we've had at this site!

Warbler migration has slowed right down at the lighthouse with just the occasional individual, like this Blackcap, passing through

Led a lovely nature walk today around Crook Hall and surrounding area. The wind made things a bit rough at times but it was still nice to be out in the sunshine.

A disappointingly quiet morning at the nets today, cold and windy and not many birds around

Best mates

Honestly, every single bird ringing session should be like this!!!!!

First December moth of the winter in the lighthouse trap this morning