Misty drizzly day in Avon/Glos. Weather dull, but birding wasn’t. 3 Penduline Tits at Aust & first Blackcap of 2026. 2 Water Pipits Northwick Warth. Slimbridge - 94 WF Geese, 64 Bewicks, Ruff, Dunlin, Avocet, Blk-Tailed Godwit, Ruff, Water Rail, Peregrine & 3 more Blackcap @mybirding.bsky.social

Some photos of the Harlequin Duck yesterday. With thanks to @robertvaughani.bsky.social for finding it in the first place.

A notable day in north Wales starting with the male Bufflehead. Shore Lark, Chough, Surf Scoter and Lesser Yellowlegs were the outstanding highlights of a day packed with birds. Forgive the rubbish screen grab of the scoter! #ukbirding #birds #BirdsSeenIn2026

Continuing the frozen theme ❄️⛄️ Firecrest showed incredibly well this morning in snowy Sutton Park. At Blithfield, far less snow. Red-throated Diver and the Tundra Bean Goose were both viewable from the dam. GWE & YLG also. Finally a male Merlin at Whitemoor Haye @mybirding.bsky.social

Revisted Ludham Bridge on Weds, despite baltic conditions & treacherous paths 🥶 A closer look at the ruins of St Benet’s Abbey. Much less birdy than BWK day due to the freeze but birds included 39 Russian White-fronted Geese, Bearded Tit, 2 Cranes, several Marsh Harriers & Red Kites. 23k steps.

First-winter Eastern Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros phoenicuroides) at Sherringham. My first encounter with this subspecies, what an absolutely gorgeous bird! Thankfully looking much more healthy today than recent photos would suggest 🖤❤️

A bitterly cold but fabulous day in Lincs/Cambs ⛄️ Snow Goose at Deeping in Whooper flock, which also contained 3 Bewick’s Swans. LEO close to the hide. Green Sand in drainage ditch. Briefly a Tundra Bean Goose at Thorney toll. Finishing at Eldernell with Short-eared Owl & large Crane Flock.

A wintery start here in the West Midlands this morning ⛄️❄️ Taking it a bit slower today with a short trip to Whitmoor Haye. 2 Russian WF Geese still present. The 3 Slavonian Grebes showed brilliantly at south end of roadside pit, plus 2 drake Red-crested Pochard & Common Sand on small roadside pit.

Happy new year & shiny new list to all! 🥳 Cracking day around north Warks with @mybirding.bsky.social First bird of 2026 was Barn Owl. 67 species recorded, highlights being Yellow-browed Warbler at Hurley, 2 imm drake Scaup at Shustoke, 2 Cattle Egret Bodymoor Heath & 21 Pintail Lea Marston.

Wishing everyone a happy bird filled 2026 🪶 Ended on 253 with 11th hour Black-winged Kite. A cracking bird, blew my mind when it hovered like a Kes! Marsh Sand & Serin my other 2 lifers. Best #PatchBirding finds: Garganey & 4 Cranes. Lesser Yellowlegs: one of many enjoyable #LowCarbonBirding trips

Had a little spare time today, had a look at the Yellow-browed Warbler at Hurley in Warwickshire this afternoon. Always a good bird to watch, called once!

9 ticks this year ✅ Least Sandpiper Booted Eagle Black Kite Broad-billed Sandpiper Zitting Cisticola Black Stork Leach’s Petrel White-throated Needletail Black-winged Kite Woodchat Shrike was a WMBC ✅ 8 White-rumped Sands at Belvide were outstanding, followed by a single bird at Blith.

BW Kite, a stunning phone scope shot this morning at Ludham!

After the painful August dip, Black-winged Kite finally makes it onto my list! Not bad for the last tick of 2025 ✅ 💣 A great day at Ludham Bridge with @mybirding.bsky.social Also 7 Crane, 4 Bewick’s Swans, 31 White-fronted Geese, Bearded Tits, Whoopers, Pinks, Marsh Harrier, Red Kites.

A bit late to the BW Kite party, rewarded with good scope views. 4 Bewick, Whooper Swans, 30+ Russian WF & Bearded Tits. Ludham Bridge @ochrurosbirder.bsky.social

Holiday birding with a quick trip down to Aust today. 2 Penduline Tits showed well here, busily feeding on Typha. Also a female Blackcap in the village. Yesterday the YBW showed incredibly well in the ditch at Hurley sewage works. Probably the best views I’ve ever had & a Warks tick to boot.

Second time success with the Baggeridge Firecrest today with @mybirding.bsky.social The bird showed very well and for a prolonged period of time, we watched it very closely low down in holly.

American Golden Plover at Eyebrook. Often staying slightly aloof from its European cousins. Also 7 Whooper, RC Pochard, 2 Dunlin & YLG. Thornton Jack Snipe didn’t disappoint, first good ‘bobbing’ views in a while. Nice day out East. Few Goldeneye around, winter is coming ❄️ @mybirding.bsky.social

This smart juvenile White-rumped Sandpiper showed well this afternoon at Blithfield. Closer views than of the Belvide 8, it was great to spend some time watching this species again. Also 1 Dunlin, 6 Ringy & GWE @mybirding.bsky.social #westmidsbirding #staffsbirding

It didn’t take me being back at work long for the Radde’s to start arriving! #bogeybird

One of the most incredible WTF!! moments I have witnessed in 41 years birding Belvide. 8 White-rumped Sandpiper on the north shore between 4pm-5.30pm. Just short of a British Record of 11 on the outer Hebrides. Thought I'd lost the plot when I saw them. Still pinching myself. #UKbirding

White-throated needletail at Scarborough castle yesterday. A blog at jonathanpomroy.wordpress.com

Still hasn’t sunk in. Incredible views of the White-Throated Needletail which performed for around an hour. One of the best birds I have ever seen in the UK. BOC shots from Steve Nuttall.

More than tripled my life count of White-rumped Sandpipers at Belvide this evening!! Incredible record of 8 on the north shore at Belvide, which then flew out east. Unbelievable stuff! Also today missed Leach’s Petrel at Blithfield, but Rock Pipit & BN Grebe there. 5 Ringy & 2 Dunlin in Tad.

What the hell just happened?!! Never thought I would see a WHITE-THROATED NEEDLETAIL in Britain!! A panicky drive from Flam to Filey to watch this impressive beast of a Swift fly off the Brigg with around 40-50 other observers just before sunset #431 ✅💣💣

White-throated Needletail @rspbbemptoncliffs.bsky.social scored gold again when the Tophill Low bird was relocated there late this afternoon. Still can't believe i've seen this chonky mega Asian Swift a few miles from home. @flamboroughbird.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

Pleased to find this Spoonbill at Blithfield today in Blithe Bay. The Little Stint was still present with 14 Ringies and 5 Dunlin. Also Greenshank, 2 GWE & 3 Stonechat @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social

Spoonbill at Blithfield & Little Stint still @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social

Managed to connect with the stunning male Turkestan Shrike on Saturday, after relocating it early morning. Even managed to get some reasonable photos – which is always a bonus. #Suffolkbirds #UKbirding #rarebird

Best view I’ve ever head of a bonxie today at Leasowe. Loads of leach’s petrels, single stormie, grey phalarope, little gull and Brent’s.

Belvide this am: Black-necked Grebe still distantly, Peregrine, 3 Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin, 15 GWE, 7 Little Egret, drake Goldeneye & at least 10 Stonechat in horse paddocks at west end @belvidebirding.bsky.social @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social

FINALLY!!! Well that’s Leach’s Petrel well & truly put to bed #430 ✅ An exhilarating seawatch off Leasowe with at least 12(!) Leach’s Petrel (including some very close in!), 1 European Storm Petrel, Bonxie, Arctic Skua, Grey Phal, Arctic Tern, Pale-bellied Brents & Merlin @mybirding.bsky.social

Belvide this am: Black-necked Grebe still, 4 Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin, 3 Snipe, at least 14 GWE & drake Goldeneye @belvidebirding.bsky.social @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social

Closer to home today with a day in Worcs with @mybirding.bsky.social First Clifton Pits - adult male Long-tailed Duck (moulting out of sp), 2 Pintail, Green Sand, 2 GWE. Grimley Camp Lane Pits - immature Ringed Plover, 2 Snipe, Water Rail, Common Sand, Kingfisher & a lingering Reed Warbler.

Treated to great views of a Barred Warbler which showed well in the dell, Bempton. The Red-breasted Flycatcher also gave itself up on the 3rd attempt, on motorway hedge feeding in the afternoon sunshine. 9 GWE flew over. 2 Redstarts in old fall hedges this morning. Notable increase in Goldcrests.

Male Brown Shrike at Hunmaby Gap, Filey this afternoon. Great find by the "Gap and Vismig Guru" Keith Clarkson. @nybirdnews.bsky.social

Despite the glorious autumn sunshine, easterly started to deliver. Found Grey Phal on the sea at Flam. First YBW of the autumn 🍂 Nipped into Bempton for the Siberian Stonechat, which showed well keeping close company with an imm Whinchat. Finally the stonking adult male Brown Shrike at Hunmanby 🤩

Grey Phal on sea near drinking dinosaur 🦕 maps.app.goo.gl/F9jGFKYTth9p... @flamboroughbird.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

Well, I didn't expect to see one of these today - Pechora Pipit at South Shields this afternoon. A very tough bird to see, and showed mainly in flight, but it did show well on a couple of occasions... a proper mainland mega, and a lifer for me. #UKBirding #NEBirding

Chasewater am: 3 Common Sand. Whitemoor Haye: Spot Fly, 2 Green Sand. Tuckles: GWE Newbold Pit, Branston: Greenshank, 4 Green Sand, Red Kite, 4 Chiffy. Bits n bobs, but an enjoyable local day with @mybirding.bsky.social @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social

NO SIGN of Red-necked Phalarope at Upper Bittell this am, but Osprey over just now 9.16 SE with @mybirding.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social @midlandsbirder.bsky.social

Decent day at Blithfield today with @mybirding.bsky.social 20 Black Tern, 17 Curlew Sand, 2 Wood Sand, 9 Common Sand, 1st-w Caspian Gull, 2 Greenshank, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 100+ Ringies, Hobby, Peregrine, Red Kite, GWE, Wheatear, Yellow Wags & some smart YLGs.

Getting involved in the Glossy Ibis invasion! This one showed from the west hide mid morning before disappearing again. 4 Black Terns came down in the rain. Also Lesser Scaup, 3 Greenshank, 9 Great White Egret, 6 Ringies, Common Sand & a Dunlin.

Tucklesholme this am: Greenshank over, 3 Curlew, 3 imm LRP, 4 Wigeon, 8 Goosander on river, 2 Little Egret. Newbold Pit, Branston: GWE, 6 Little Egret, 2 Green Sand. Not quite the all dayer & much quieter than hoped, but still nice to get out. @mybirding.bsky.social @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social

Yesterday morning at Belvide for the Grey Phalarope. It felt correct after a series of dips, although the Phal remained quite distant throughout my visit. Also one of the Lesser Scaup, 8 GWE, 2 Greenshank & a juv Peregrine causing havoc. Missed the Glossy Ibis.

There’s been a theme of frustrating dips to the start of the autumn... 🍂 #marshsandpiper #peterstonewentlooge

The first dip of the autumn. After 6.5 hours search for Black-winged Kite, I threw in the towel. Hope it’s still out there somewhere! 4 Slimbridge Cranes, Hobby, few Red Kite & a Marsh Harrier in the area between Cambridge Swing Bridge & Splatt Bridge. Good to catch up with @hughieking.bsky.social

A very frustrating and directly underneath views of 3 Whimbrel/Curlew flying west over Barr Beacon this morning. Gut feeling say Whimbrel, compact, bill not overly long! @ochrurosbirder.bsky.social

A very dried up Blithfield Res yesterday with @mybirding.bsky.social 2 Turnstone, 3 Greenshank, 7 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Dunlin, Common Sand, Marsh Harrier & Yellow Wags, 4 YLGs. Barr Beacon started to yield a bit more this am - with 2 Spot Fly, Wheatear & Yellow Wag. Chiffy numbers low today.