Lovely views of this Black-necked Grebe at Pagham Lagoon yesterday in the sunshine. That makes all 5 native grebe species in Sussex for me this year, think that may be the first time I've managed that in my home county.🙂 @selseybirder.bsky.social #ukbirding

Shocking 'disappearance' of not one but three White-tailed Eagles, including a Sussex-born chick. Illegal persecution still happening. @sussexwildlife.bsky.social @sussexornitholo.bsky.social @forestryengland.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I always think there's something irrepressible about Starlings - just such a shame that there aren't as many about as there used to be... #ukbirding

Finally beginning to see a few more winter thrushes down here in Sussex, like this lovely Fieldfare, making the most of the abundant berry crop this year. Amongst the best sights & sounds of the winter countryside for me. #ukbirding

Snipe at Pulborough Brooks yesterday. There are 4 in the last photo. #ukbirding #sussexbirding #birds

Some of the estimated 400+ Black-tailed Godwits at Pulborough Brooks on yet another damp, grey morning. I got up to 350 when they all took off, so certainly at least 400. Love the sound of them all chattering to each other. #ukbirding #birds #sussexbirding

Back at Southwick canal today the Red-necked Grebe was always frustratingly distant, spending more time under than on top of the water. These heavily cropped record shots were the best I could manage. No sign of y'days GND, but incidental sightings of Kingfisher & 2 Peregrines too. #ukbirding

Late this afternoon I went in search of the Red-necked Grebe that's been on the Southwick canal, I only saw it very distantly, but this Gt.Northern Diver fishing close by was some compensation. It was such a gloomy grey afternoon these almost look like intentionally monochrome pics... #ukbirding

Firecrest on one of my Sussex Winter Bird Survey squares today - the 6th year out of 8 I've recorded them on this square, they like ivy covered trees. We also currently have up to 3 Blackcaps eating ivy berries in our garden hedge - ivy is such a valuable plant... @sussexornitholo.bsky.social

I've been doing quite well for close views of seabirds lately...yesterday 1st.w Black Guillemot at Sovereign Harbour, Eastbourne. 8y since the last one at the same location, & that one stayed all winter - hopefully this one will do the likewise! As ever thanks to the finder. #seabirds #ukbirding

At least 8 Purple Sandpipers on a very grey afternoon at Skateraw on our recent trip to East Lothian. @birdinglothian.bsky.social #BirdingScotland

While watching the sea ducks off Musselburgh sea wall last week these 12 Whooper Swans (incl.4 imms) appeared on the Forth, gradually drifting west and giving a pretty memorable, if distant, view of them in front of the Edinburgh skyline. #BirdingScotland @birdinglothian.bsky.social

It was an absolute joy to spend a long time watching good numbers of Long-tailed Ducks along the East Lothian coast last week. The drakes chasing each other around & even calling too. So different to the occasional very distant bird off the Sussex coast at home!🙂 #birdinglothian #birdingscotland

At least a dozen lovely Twite on a rather breezy & chilly seawall at Musselburgh last week - not a species I encounter too often back home in Sussex...(in fact just once or twice in 40y I think!) #birdinglothian #birdingscotland

Incredibly confiding Slavonian Grebe from the causeway at Widewater, Shoreham this morning - giving ridiculously close up views of a species normally only seen distantly on seawatches. What a treat! Thanks to the finder & those who've subsequently reported it. #ukbirding #seabirds

Watching Labour MPs take a wrecking ball to nature makes me so angry & so sad. Their action tonight voting down amendments to the #PlanningBill intended to protect wildlife & habitats from destruction is so reckless & so counterproductive. People didn’t vote Labour for this 👇

Very local Great Grey Shrike just down the road on Beeding Brooks this morning was my first for a couple of years, a particularly obliging bird perching up, flycatching & hunting on the ground. Thanks to @matt-eade24.bsky.social for posting his Dads sighting yesterday afternoon. #UKBirding

Quiet afternoon around Knepp Southern Block. 8 of the sedentary White Storks flew over & appeared to drop down possibly to roost + what looked suspiciously like a Beaver chewn stick in a mass of branches at the outflow of the Hammer Pond - but possibly outwith the Beaver enclosure fence I think?

Yesterday I sat & watched the changing light on Chichester Cathedral from Church Norton benches, Pagham Hbr RSPB as the tide rose & the birds in the harbour moved around...sounds of waders, Brent etc. I must have spent many hours sitting here watching & listening over the years...wonderful place.

Another day, another couple of Bramblings in a West Sussex woodland edge, marginally better photo than last time. I do hope this winter will see an influx of them! #UKBirding

Spent some time in downland woods deep in West Sussex on a grey & gloomy afternoon...very quiet, but delighted to hear, then see, my first 2 Bramblings of the winter (a couple of ropey record shots attached). Later 3 Gt.White Egrets out on Amberley Wildbrooks but curiously no ducks! #UKBirding

Probable 1st winter Isabelline/Daurian Shrike put on a good show catching a variety of insects just up the road @SussexWildlife Woods Mill today. Always just a little distant for photos but terrific scope views. #ukbirding

The First Minister must stop this project. There's still time to stop Berwick Bank...but only if we make ourselves heard. Add your voice and tell them. Scotland can lead on renewables without sacrificing its seabirds. 👇 www.seabird.org/cancel-berwi...

Little Owl near the downs this morning - not an easy bird to see locally these days... #ukbirding

Out & about in W.Sussex yesterday; 7 sp. of raptors incl. Peregrines, a Merlin, & the now well established pair of White-tailed Eagles. Disturbed from their usual tree by farmers on quad-bikes, one gave me a splendidly close flypast... the eagle with the sunlit eye...mightily impressive! #UKBirding

I might be coming to the Lothian coast, either late Oct or mid Nov - not been before - I'm wondering if there are likely to be any numbers of seaducks (?LTDs) close inshore or in the harbours? Or anything else likely along the coast? Any info/tips appreciated. Many thanks. #birdinglothian

Several hours at Cissbury Ring this morning; dozens of Chiffchaffs & a fairly late Whinchat. Many more House Martins than Swallows passing through now, also a Dartford Warbler in the gorse. Nearby, 150+ Corn Buntings in conservation strips - they really do make such a difference! #UKBirding

A trip over to farthest East Sussex on Monday to see an American Golden Plover near Jury's Gap; a striking bird amongst roosting Golden Plovers, then found a Buff-breasted Sandpiper in the same field! 2 vagrant American waders in a small ploughed field in East Sussex! #ukbirding

A Bonxie (Gt.Skua) stood for 4.5h on one of the offshore rocks at Pendeen Watch today, trailing what looked to be a calamitously damaged left wing, I was getting a little fearful for it's future when it suddenly upped & flew away seemingly not hampered by it at all. #seabirds #cornwallbirding

Start of our week in West Cornwall; yesterday, my 1st Black Kite in the UK over Bartinney Downs, West Penwith - nice! Later at Nanjulian, my 1st Choughs this year, always a joy to see (& hear), such joyously garrulous birds, not a cowpat left unexplored for miles! #ukbirding #cornwallbirding

On our way from Sussex to Cornwall yesterday, stopped at Hayling Oysterbeds early on & enjoyed terrific views of this rather splendid juv. Grey Phalarope + later on Salisbury Plain 7 rather distant male Gt.Bustards but just too far away to make any attempt at photographing them. #ukbirding

Migrating Spotted Flycatchers, Redstarts & Whinchats passing through the Sussex downs in numbers this week on their way south - possibly the best time of year to be up on top of the downs. #ukbirding

I think this is a f/imm. Southern Hawker, we've had several around our small wildlife pond in the garden recently - impressive beasts! I sometimes wonder how the world must appear to a dragonfly? Very different to how we perceive it for sure! #dragonflies

Wheatears & Whinchats on downs above Steyning this morning. The Whinchats often allowing a closer approach with the strong glary sunlight behind them - I quite like the resulting slightly washed out contre-jour effect + a Snipe flying N over the parched top of the downs was a surprise. #ukbirding

Early this morning up on downs between Steyning & Cissbury; 40+ Yellow Wagtails around fences & cattle + 4 lovely Whinchats, always a pleasure to see as they head south as summer slowly turns to autumn. #ukbirding

I'd never really noticed how effective these 2 red "eyespots" are on Painted Lady butterflies, perhaps enough to make any would be predators pause & think twice? #butterflies

Lots of butterflies up on local downland this morning; Gatekeepers, Common Blues, Chalkhill Blue, Dingy Skipper - some looking a bit worn as summer feels like it's starting to fade....

Enjoyed spending some time watching the Common Terns at Rye Harbour on a grey day last week. #ukbirding #seabirds

Some Arctic Terns from our Orkney trip last month. #scotlandbirding #seabirds

A privilege to get such exceptionally close views of this rather beautiful Wood Sandpiper in East Sussex earlier this week. #UKBirding

Increasingly I find myself drawn to & humbled by the majesty & utter wildness of the sea (& all the birds that live out their lives in it's vastness). Heard a quote from Claude Debussy today on Radio 3, "The sea. The thing in nature that best puts you in your place"....spot on! #seabirds

Pleased to see decent numbers of Bonxies (Great Skuas) over moor & coast on Orkney. Plumage variations from heavily mottled to pure dark (?age related?). Perhaps not quite as graceful & agile as Arctic Skuas but immensely powerful & untroubled into an Atlantic gale.... #orkneybirding #seabirds

Most of the Arctic Skuas we saw on Orkney were dark phase with just a few pale phase birds. I always enjoy watching Skuas, exciting birds to see, such effortless mastery of their elements. Scootie Allan is the rather marvellous vernacular name for them in Orkney & Shetland. #Orkneybirding #seabirds

Wild, squally & mightily impressive afternoon of rough weather at Yesnaby cliffs, Mainland, Orkney.

Don't see many breeding plumage Divers at home in Sussex, so enjoyed these close views of Red-throated Divers just off the Broch of Gurness on our Orkney trip last month; even a short bout of their evocative wailing song. Comfortably the most numerous diver species we saw. #orkneybirding #ukbirding

I'd only seen imm. Glaucous Gulls previously, so was very pleased to find my 1st adult on an evening visit to the Ring of Brodgar, Orkney on our recent trip - we watched it cruising around, it even perched on top of one of the stones briefly! Memorable & pretty iconic! #seabirds #scotlandbirding

Beautiful creatures in my home-made moth trap this morning. 2 very colourful Elephant Hawk Moths & an incredible Buff-tip - every time I see one I marvel how on earth anything evolves to resemble so perfectly a broken piece of birch twig?...incredible...all going on unseen in the garden at night....

Tammie Norries on Marwick Head, Orkney last month. Not my favourite seabirds, but undeniably charismatic (& very photogenic) birds. #ukbirding

Finally got round to start sorting my photos from Orkney last month, we had mixed weather (to say the least!). Far fewer birds on the ledges than on our last visit (40y ago!), but still impressive. I wouldn't normally do duckling shots, but I'll make an exception for this Eider family! #birdinguk

So pleased to see Ring Ouzels & Black Grouse in our North Pennines stopover this week on our way to Orkney. (pics taken without disturbance from car or public rights of way). Love those breeding wader soundscapes; Curlews, Lapwings,Snipe, Redshanks, Oystercatchers - so evocatively wild. #ukbirding