Red-necked Grebe showed well late afternoon at Cheddar Reservoir, spending most of its time just south of the Axbridge Tower. Another one for the Somerset list! #ukbirding

BTO Ringing Report also shows historic lows for Willow Tits & Wood Warblers. 2024 saw just 132 Willow Tits and 109 Wood Warblers ringed in UK, lowest for ~65 years since introduction of mist-nets. Not a single Willow Tit chick ringed since 2022. Number of Marsh Tits ringed also declining.

Three Penduline Tits at Aust made for great start to birding year this morning. Later trip to Slimbridge produced 55 Bewick's Swan, 80+ Russian WF Goose, 15 Tundra Bean Goose, Water Rail, 500 Golden Plover, 300 Dunlin, surprise Bittern & good views of Cetti's Warbler. @bristolbirding.bsky.social

Here are some of my highlights from what has been an action-packed 2025. Ended on a Sand Point patch list of 138 and a world list of 447! Hope everyone has a great 2026😃 #ukbirding

Great results from a study on migratory heather moorland breeding birds on Dartmoor. Heather moorland has long been overrun by Purple Moor Grass (Molinia caerulea) at sites across Dartmoor and the Welsh uplands so it’s encouraging to see small-scale actions to reverse this trend.

Decent day birding with life tick in the form of Lesser Crested Tern on the Exe Estuary at Cockwood and patch tick in the form of Red-throated Diver down channel off Sand Point. @bristolbirding.bsky.social #ukbirding

Excellent thread from @btobirds.bsky.social on this game changing development for studying Lesser Spots

Sand Point AM vismig: 1 Golden Plover, 1 GBB Gull, 1900 Starling, 12 Redwing, 1550 Chaffinch, 12 Brambling, 3 Greenfinch, 7 Redpoll & 28 Siskin. Grounded: 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Firecrest & 5 Goldcrest. @bristolbirding.bsky.social #ukbirding

Patch year tick Snow Bunting in Sand Bay this evening. The bird was extremely showy, down to at least 5m! First one I have heard of locally this year. @bristolbirding.bsky.social #ukbirding

A video is now available of the lecture I gave last week to the Linnean Society & British Ornithologists' Club in London, on woodland birds, Marsh Tits & Willow Tits (~45 mins): www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7HF... #ornithology #ukbirding @ukceh.bsky.social

Sand Point vismig: 2 Pintail, 162 Woodies, 1 Common/2 GBB Gull, 900 Starling, 18 Redwing, 14 Fieldfare, 1 Grey Wag, 1863 Chaffinch, 4 Brambling, 7 Redpoll, 1 Crossbill & 39 Siskin. Grounded: 1 Chiffchaff, 8 Goldcrest, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Redwing & 1 Fieldfare. @bristolbirding.bsky.social #ukbirding

Sand Point/Middle Hope: 210 Shelduck, 1 GBB Gull, 10 Common Gull, 1 Merlin, 40 Skylark, 2 Chiffchaff, 22 Goldcrest, 1 Treecreeper (3rd patch record!), 854 Starling, 2 Redwing, 583 Chaffinch, 3 Brambling, 44 Greenfinch, 4 Redpoll, 34 Siskin & 1 Reed Bunting. @bristolbirding.bsky.social #ukbirding

Middle Hope vismig AM: 2 Snipe, 148 Starling, 2 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare, 39 alba Wag, 61 Mipit, 233 Chaffinch, 8 Greenfinch, 23 Linnet, 13 Siskin & 5 Reed Bunting. Grounded: 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Firecrest, 7 Goldcrest, 2 Song Thrush & a patch tick male Black Redstart! @bristolbirding.bsky.social #ukbirding

Every new building in Wales could be a home for Swifts – if we make Swift bricks mandatory. ‼️The debate is in the Senedd is tomorrow. ‼️ Contact your local MS today and tell them how important it is to protect Swifts. Every voice counts!

First definitive signs of autumn on Sand Point this morning: 1 Whimbrel, 1 Barn Owl, 20 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 1 Firecrest, 7 Goldcrest, 1 Redwing, 1 Wheatear, 16 alba Wagtail, 44 Meadow Pipit, 10 Chaffinch, 22 Greenfinch, 37 Linnet, 1 Redpoll, 7 Siskin & 9 Reed Bunting. @bristolbirding.bsky.social

CVL (Herriot's Bridge): 2 Pectoral Sandpipers present (albeit distant), w/ 1 Wood Sand, 2 Snipe, 1 Greenshank & an Osprey sat in a tree. Brief views of Temminck's Stint at Cheddar on way back w/ 2 Little Stint, 1 Grey Plover, 2 Ruff & another Wood Sand also present. @bristolbirding.bsky.social

Moth trapping at Watercress Farm last night w/ Paul Chapman. Very pleased to have both been able to find only the U.K.’s 30th record of Shining Marbled! Other spp. incl The Brick, White Point, Gold Spot, Dusky Thorn, Spiny/Oak Hook-tip, Red Green Carpet, Brindled Green & Copper Underwing. #ukmoths

Late evening dash down to Budleigh Salterton gave very decent views of the Baird's Sandpiper on the LORP reserve with added bonus of Osprey over heading south. #ukbirding

Nice birding back in Avon over past 2 days. Red-backed Shrike showed nicely at Portbury early evening w/ 1 Willow Warbler, 18 Chiffs, 10 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler & 2 Spotted Flycatcher at Sand Point earlier. Balearic Shearwater was a Sand Point patch tick yday evening! @bristolbirding.bsky.social

Pendeen (07:00-11:00): 7 Common Scoter, 4 Grey Phalarope, 8 Sabine’s Gull, 5 Sandwich Tern, 10 Arctic Tern, 4 Great Skua, 2 Arctic Skua & 4 Great Shearwater. @runnelstone.bsky.social @marshallpaul.bsky.social

Cheddar Reservoir this evening: c.15 Ringed Plover, 6 Curlew Sandpiper, c.25 Dunlin, 2 Little Stint, 4 Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Tern, 1 Arctic Tern, 4 Black Tern, 2 Glossy Ibis, 80 House Martin & 1 Yellow Wagtail. #somersetbirds #ukbirding

Few pics from my recent tour of the highlands & coasts of northern Scotland (24-29/08): Black Grouse, Red Grouse, Grey Partridge, Red-throated Diver and Golden Eagle were all life ticks, w/ supporting cast of Black Guillemot, Black-throated Diver, White-tailed Eagle & Barred Warbler. #ukbirding

Sand Point/Middle Hope: 1 Swift, 205 Ringed Plover, 3 Knot, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 7 Sanderling, 1 GBB Gull, 6 S. Martin, 520 Swallow, 210 H. Martin, 1 Firecrest, 2 Spotted Fly, 2 Whinchat, 6 Wheatear, 2 Yellow Wag, 3 Grey Wag, 11 Tree Pipit & 1 Clouded Yellow. @bristolbirding.bsky.social #ukbirding

Sand Point/Middle Hope AM: 1 Greenshank, 7 Swallow, 1 Willow Warbler, 14 Chiffchaff, 6 Blackcap, 8 Lesser Whitethroat, 9 Whitethroat, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Redstart, 2 Whinchat, 1 Yellow Wag and a patch tick Corn Bunting! Hobby over my house later. @bristolbirding.bsky.social #ukbirding

Rewarding weekend sea watching at Porthgwarra with @runnelstone.bsky.social. 1 Blackwit, 1 Ruff, 11 Sanderling, 2 Snipe, 1 distant Black Tern, 200+ Arctic Tern, 70 Common Tern, 1 Arctic Skua, 2 Great Skua, 1 Wilson's Petrel, 1 Euro Stormie, 1+ Great Shearwater & 1 Sooty Shearwater. #ukbirding

Willow Emerald showing very nicely earlier today at a local site near Puxton (W-s-M). Amazing how well this species has spread across the U.K. in the past 20 years! #damselflies

Cracking few hours at Slimbridge yesterday: Garganey, 7 Crane, Little Ringed Plover, 172 Blackwit, 14 Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, 5 Ruff, Caspian Tern (life tick), 2 Spoonbill & 5 Yellow Wagtail. @slimbridge-wild.bsky.social #ukbirding

Sand Point/Middle Hope AM: 1 Whimbrel, 125 Curlew (Sand Bay), 1 Marsh Harrier over east, 5 Sand Martin, 11 Swallow, 4 (1 juv) Willow Warbler, 21 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 9 Lesser Whitethroat, 25 Whitethroat, 1 Grey Wagtail & 7 Meadow Pipit. @bristolbirding.bsky.social #ukbirding

Nice views of a single Brown Hairstreak at Alners Gorse in Dorset yesterday (19/07/25) with supporting cast of Garden Warbler, 4 Spotted Flycatcher, Southern Hawker, Brown Hawker, 3 Purple Hairstreak, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma & 3 Silver-washed Fritillary. #ukbutterflies

Waldegrave Pool (Priddy) v. low on water on Sunday w/ just a small refuge left holding 2 Broad-bodied Chaser & 3 Keeled Skimmer. Southern pool was more productive w/ Red-eyed Damselfly, 2 Large Red Damselfly, Emerald Damselfly, Brown Hawker, Black-tailed Skimmer & Ruddy Darter. #ukdragonflies

Silverlake, Dorset (12/07/25): 5 Small Red-eyed Damselfly, 4 Blue-tailed Damselfly, 5 Emerald Damselfly, 6 Emperor Dragonfly, 7 Scarlet Darter, 3 Four-spotted Chaser, c.30 Black-tailed Skimmer, 4 Keeled Skimmer, 2 Red-veined Darter & 5 Common Darter. #ukdragonflies

Bernwood Forest (Oxford): 11 Purple Hairstreak, 4 Small Copper, 6 Purple Emperor, 34 Silver-washed Fritillary, 21 Marbled White, 4 Gatekeeper, c.200 Meadow Brown, c.400 Ringlet, 2 juv Marsh Tit in subsong w/supporting cast of Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler & Spotted Fly. #ukbutterflies

Ham Wall/Shapwick Heath (22/06/25): 1 late Cuckoo calling, 1 Bittern, 1 Hobby, 3 Garden Warbler, 1 Red-eyed Damselfly, 8 Brown Hawker, 1 Lesser Emperor, 12 Scarce Chaser, 400+ Four-spotted Chaser 2 Black-tailed Skimmer & 2 White Admiral. #ukbutterflies #ukdragonflies

Haddon Hill (21/06/25): 5 Red Kite, 1 Wood Warbler, 32 Willow Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Redstart, 2 Tree Pipit, 2 Redpoll, 2 Crossbill, 15 Golden-ringed Dragonfly, 15 Large Skipper, 1 Green Hairstreak, 1 Small Copper & 1 Painted Lady. Unfortunately no Heath Fritillaries.

Priddy Pools (15/06/25): 2 Downy Emerald, 13 Four-spotted Chaser, 5 Black-tailed Skimmer, 4 Large Skipper, 2 Comma, 1 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, 2 Dark Green Fritillary, 13 Meadow Brown, 3 Small Heath, 3 Ringlet & 15+ Southern Marsh Orchid. #ukbutterflies #ukdragonflies

Late evening WhatsApp alert for Desert Wheatear had me scrambling over to Keynsham for an early morning visit. Was rewarded with stunning views! @bristolbirding.bsky.social

Westhay Moor (08/06/25): 30 Swift, 3 Cuckoo, 2 Hobby, Garden Warbler, Spotted Fly, ++ Azure/Variable/Blue-tailed, 1 Red-eyed Damselfly, 1 Brown Hawker, 1 Norfolk Hawker, 3 Emperor, 1 Broad-bodied, 3 Four-spotted, 6 Scarce Chaser, 2 Black-tailed Skimmer & 20 Small Tortoiseshell. #ukdragonflies

Fontmell/Melbury Downs: 2 RL Partridge, 1 L. Whitethroat, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Stoat, 3 Large, 1 Dingy Skipper, 3 Brown Argus, 32 Adonis Blue, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 6 Marbled White & 36 Small Heath. Silver-studded Blue photo taken in New Forest the other day. #ukbutterflies

Normandy Marsh in Hampshire absolutely alive with terns on a brief visit there last week, with both Common and Little Tern present and very active. Shame the pair of Roseate Terns were not around this year but a pair of Med Gulls were nice to see. #ukbirding

Made a trip to see the Common/Sandwich Tern colonies on Brownsea Island last week and was awarded with very close views of both species. Even got to practice taking photos in flight! Several Med Gulls present too. #ukbirding

Nice to get close-up views of some of the common U.K. migrants whilst I was in Poland. Both Redstart and Black Redstart were very regular in all of the villages, with Spotted Flycatchers absolutely everywhere! #Bialowieza

Four nests have been found so far across Devon and Somerset, including one brood of six). There’s still time to find more this week @lesserspotnet.bsky.social

Spent some time around Biebrza National Park during my recent trip to Poland. Montagu's Harrier, Great Grey Shrike, Blue-headed & Citrine Wagtail were all lifers for me but Whiskered Tern & Bluethroat also showed well. Picked up Ortolan Bunting on the way there, which was another lifer! #Biebrza

Sensational views of Pygmy Owl and Lesser Spotted Eagle in the Bialowieza Forest in Poland last week. Plenty of other raptors too with an Osprey seen attacking a White-tailed Eagle and a Honey Buzzard over.

Small selection of some of the many warbler species I encountered in Poland. These included Barred, Grasshopper, River, Savi's, Marsh, Great Reed, Icterine & Wood Warbler, with the highlight being the now increasingly rare and endangered Aquatic Warbler. #Bialowieza

Back from Poland now. What an amazing trip! Saw 8 species of Woodpecker incl 3 life ticks (Black, White-backed & Three-toed). So nice to see a place where much of the natural forest is still intact & where so many species now lost in the UK are thriving. Great company too! @ianhayes.bsky.social

Day 6 in eastern Poland: White-winged Black Tern (pic taken on iPhone 15!). Plenty of Black Terns too w/ Caspian Gull, Greater Spotted Eagle, Montagu’s Harrier, White-tailed Eagle, Hoopoe, Black Woodpecker, Barred Warbler, Bluethroat, Crested Tit, Blue-headed Wagtail & Citrine Wagtail also seen.

Superb trip yesterday evening to see Great Snipe lek in eastern Poland. Quail and Corncrake also singing around the lek area and this Elk seen on the journey there. Nice to see Woodcock flying over too. #bialowezia

Forest of Dean: 2 Wood Warbler, 14 Willow Warbler, 3 Garden Warbler, 2 Firecrest, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Pied Flycatcher & 2 Tree Pipit. Arctic Skua & Guillemot off Sand Point this morning and LRP seen today elsewhere. @bristolbirding.bsky.social #ukbirding

Red-footed Falcon from Ham Wall this afternoon. The bird was mostly circling w/ 4+ Hobby and c.50 Swift but perched just long enough to get a photo. Other highlight from today was a possible Red-rumped Swallow over St. Thomas's Head nr W-s-M. @bristolbirding.bsky.social #ukbirding