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.

Barr Beacon yesterday morning: 1 Wheatear, 3 Blackcap, 6 Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warb, few Chiffy, Peregrine over. Early signs of autumn cometh 🍂 @mybirding.bsky.social

Suffolk double-header! Zitting Cisticola giving intermittent song flights, decent flight views, occasionally perched #428 ✅ Juv Black Stork showed incredibly well in the dyke at Boyton Marshes 429 ✅ 2 Wasp Spiders were also interesting to see. [ZC photo is from Spain, NOT the Suffolk Bird]

Sixth regional Night Heron I think at Grimley this morning! Showing nicely in the rain.

Had a day out into Lincs yesterday. No show by the Savi’s at a windy Rimac, but an excellent Frampton RSPB as usual, with Collared Pratincole and several summer Spotted Redshanks taking centre stage! @ochrurosbirder.bsky.social

White-spotted Bluethroat at Slimbridge this morning, singing & showing off & on. Also 2 Spoonbill, SEO, 2 Kingfisher, 6 Crane & Red Kite. A regional birding emergency arose mid-afternoon, so we dashed back for the Woodchat Shrike at Stafford. Regional tick ✅ Fantastic day! @mybirding.bsky.social

Delighted to catch up with the Woodchat shrike at Stafford this afternoon. Showed pretty well TBF, though was quite mobile at times #UKbirding

3 Black-necked Grebes still Belvide @belvidebirding.bsky.social @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

I was delighted to receive a copy of the wonderful Birds of Donegal by Ralph Shepherd, and it is magnificent! I was honoured to be asked to do some paintings for the chapter introductions. The official launch is next Thursday, May 22 in Glenveagh, but tickets need to be booked in advance.

Well hello old friend it’s been a while 😍 A miracle of migration & survival. Perfect end to a few days in Suffolk/Norfolk. Earlier at Cley NWT enjoyed watching 6 Temminck’s Stints and 3 Wood Sandpipers.

A taste of the med in scorchio Suffolk! At least 3 Red-footed Falcons graced the skies at Carlton Marshes, though often high up. Purple Heron flew across the marsh mid morning. 2 Stone Curlew near Minsmere this evening & the soundtrack of Nightingales with one audible from my digs this evening 🎶

Ouse Fen & Washes. Great Reed Warbler in good voice 🎶 3 Common Crane, booming Bitterns, good views of Beardies, Hobby.

Fri - Middleton added 4 year ticks - 2 Garganey, 4 Hobby, Curlew Sand & Whinchat. Also x2 Greenshank, Ringed Plover, 5 Redshank. Gropper & Garblers showed well. Sat- dipped Dudley Ring Ouzel. Hard going & windy Wyre, but added Wood Warbler & Redstart. Fell over in Wyre, triggering a pain flare up 🔥

Roseate Terns on Coquet Island webcam now. I'll be up there in about 10 days or so - can't wait. www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gG2...

Broad-billed Sandpiper bagged at Goldcliff Lagoons. Another highly overdue British tick ✅ #427 BOU & 200th of year. Also drake Green-winged Teal, Whimbrel, 2 Lesser Whitethroat heard, Black-tailed Godwit flock carrying a few Knot, 4 Stonechat, Wheatear & White Wagtail @mybirding.bsky.social

Chasewater poor again first thing, apart from 13 Swift. Whitemoor Haye - 4 Whimbrel, 3 Wheatear, Med Gull, 2 Dunlin, Common Tern, 3 Garden Warbler, 2 Yellowhammer. Branston - 2 Stonechat, Common Tern, 2 Little Egret (Ashy) 2 Mandarin (Newbold) @mybirding.bsky.social @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social

Whimbrel on Jubilee South, near second viewing screen, along with winter-plumaged Black-tailed Godwit. 3 Swifts over also @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

Ending the Easter holiday with a cracking day at Belvide. 13 Arctic Terns, smart adult sp Little Gull, Wood Sandpiper, Whimbrel, 7 Bar-tailed Godwit briefly, 3 Greenshank, Ringed Plover, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Garden Warbler, GWE, Water Rail, Kingfisher & Goldeneye.