My final survey of the spring/summer was a WCBS visit to Brantham this morning. 94 butterflies of 12 species, both personal August highs. Highlight a helice female Clouded Yellow. Spent the afternoon with my mum then saw Black Stork at Hemley on my way home!
Great to catch up with @david-walsh.bsky.social in Suffolk today. Hudsonian Godwit and White-legged Damselflies were both new for me and seen fairly well, Wasp Spiders cool to see as always. #birds #photography #nature #birding #wildlife
It was brilliant to spend time with @david-walsh.bsky.social looking for dragonflies after seconds of the Hudsonian Godwit. We saw five species of damselfly including many White-legged Damselflies, a lifer!
Lots going on recently, so great to spend time with @joshuapeverley.bsky.social on Sat & @noahbai-123.bsky.social & family today. The celebrity Hudsonian Godwit was much enjoyed. Dragonflies nearby on the Stour included White-legged Damselflies & (today) Willow Emerald Damselfly. Bonus Wasp Spider!
Extremely fortunate to have had a window of time to whizz to Minsmere and see the Hudsonian Godwit this afternoon.
Just arrived home after a late morning appointment and news of the Hudsonian Godwit at Minsmere broke. Managed to see it on west scrape before it flew to south - the first time we saw the underwing... 2 limosa Black-taileds too #ukbirding #suffolkbirding
That's my office picture selection finished for now... @cach22.bsky.social 3 shrikes print, treasured Mal Bittern photo (see pinned post) and @edkeeble.bsky.social Great Grey Shrike original... ♠️ #Art #Photography #Refined #Classy #Gentleman
Spent an enjoyable hour along the Stour with a budding dragonfly enthusiast yesterday. We found Scarce Chaser, White-legged Damselfly, Banded Demoiselle and Red-eyed Damselfly (photographed) as well as a Norfolk Hawker.
I was fortunate to head to the Peak District for a couple of nights last week. Highlights included several Pied Flycatchers in Padley Gorge plus two singing Wood Warblers nearby. On the moors I found Red Grouse and Golden Plover, whilst a local river held Dipper, Goosander and lots of Mandarins!
On Tuesday, I went to @rspbminsmere.bsky.social with @david-walsh.bsky.social. Had amazing views of the Roseate Terns and of a Tawny Owl! Also 2 Little Gull, Spotted Redshank, Bittern, Stone Curlew, Woodlark, Norfolk Hawker, Variable Damselfly and more!
Lots going on currently, so it was great that the @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social walk in King’s Forest proved so successful and enjoyable. Highlights purring Turtle Dove, Spotted Flycatcher, 7 singing Tree Pipits, pair of Woodlarks, 3 Dingy Skippers, 4 Green Hairstreaks.
Postcard from the field from tour leader David Moore in Morocco: Euphoric scenes today as our group connected with the unicorn, the mythical Vogel's Blue. Obliging insects allowed all superb views. What a result!
A game of 2 halves yesterday at Minsmere with @david-walsh.bsky.social! A relaxed morning around the heath and scrape turned into an afternoon of raptor madness! Pallid Harrier and 2 White Tailed Eagles! Although they were all high and distant at times, it was an unreal experience!
Great to see the ringing demo today - we saw Cetti’s and Sedge Warblers, and the visitors’ interest level was fantastic!
Waveney Bird Club@waveneybirdclub.bsky.social · 4mo agoIt was lovely to see so many visitors at our ringing demonstration at RSPB Minsmere today. Highlights were two Willow Warblers, and the first Reed Warbler of the year that was already wearing a French ring! Thank you to Viking Optical for their support.
Headed up the coast with @joshuapeverley.bsky.social for what proved to be a wonderfully uplifting day. It’s always special hearing the first Nightingale of the year, today with someone who hadn’t heard one before. Overall we tallied exactly 100 species, mainly at Westleton/Minsmere. #suffolkbirding
Update. I managed to read the ring, and have discovered that the bird was ringed by @btobirds.bsky.social Suffolk rep Mick Wright at Melton, 17 km away, in 2024, Incredibly it is the 7th ringed Reed Bunting in my suburban Ipswich garden since 2021 (five Suffolk, singles Essex & Kent) #suffolkbirding
David Walsh @david-walsh.bsky.social · 4mo agoReed Buntings have visited my garden in 12 of the past 13 years. I feared I might draw a blank in 2026, but two males have just appeared! The only other year with a first visit as late as April was 2019. One is ringed, so I hope it returns for me to try and read the ring #suffolkbirding
My 3 shrikes print is currently at the framers and will join the @edkeeble.bsky.social original and treasured Mal photo (see pinned post) in my office... ♠️ #Art #Photography #Refined #Classy #Gentleman
Brian Small@cach22.bsky.social · 8mo agoThree Suffolk Shrikes - I have a signed, limited edition giclee print of a painting of the 3 rare shrikes in Suffolk this autumn (Isabelline, Turkestan and Brown). Just 50 available and only £50 window mounted (add £12 for P&P): PM me if interested and please repost, thanks
Headed to Giffords Flash early afternoon y’day to follow up Adam Gretton’s excellent find of Lesser Scaup. Great to confirm there was indeed a pair. Perhaps the same birds which spent 6 days there in Apr 2024? Stills from video; the scope views were actually pretty good! #suffolkbirding #ukbirding
Reed Buntings have visited my garden in 12 of the past 13 years. I feared I might draw a blank in 2026, but two males have just appeared! The only other year with a first visit as late as April was 2019. One is ringed, so I hope it returns for me to try and read the ring #suffolkbirding
The next guided wildlife walk from The Froize pub at Chillesford takes place later this month. Hopefully by then spring migration will be in full swing! A superb lunch is guaranteed. See froize.co.uk/product/guid... for booking details.
Bittern, Sandwich Tern, Mediterranean Gull and Stone Curlew from Monday’s @naturetrek.bsky.social day at Minsmere. We also saw Woodlark, Marsh Harrier, Avocet, Snipe and a black Adder! See www.naturetrek.co.uk/about-us/tou... for details of more Suffolk day walks #suffolkbirding #ukbirding
My @naturetrek.bsky.social group at Minsmere on Monday had a terrific day, and it ended with us watching this Bittern out in the open for fully twenty minutes! Places still available on several Suffolk day walks this spring, see www.naturetrek.co.uk/about-us/tou... #suffolkbirding #ukbirding
Time to call a halt on a paint of a juv Roughleg boinging up and down on thin thorn branch before I am tempted to tinker about with it. I miss these chaps more than any other mild winter no-show I can think of. #BirdArt
Nipped to Alton Water this afternoon for a quick catch up with @edkeeble.bsky.social. The two long-staying Scaup were remarkably close and very lovely in the sunshine #ukbirding #suffolkbirding
A new bird atlas for Britain and Ireland has been announced by five conservation organisations:
New British and Irish bird atlas announced for 2027
A new bird atlas for Britain and Ireland has been announced by five conservation organisations. The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), BirdWatch Ireland, the RSPB, Scottish Ornithologists' Club (SOC) and Welsh Ornithological Society (WOS) have come together to begin work on Bird Atlas 2027-31.
bit.ly
Wonderful to finally catch up with the black-winged kite today at Ludham Bridge, watching it catch a small rodent and then perch to eat it, though under the close gaze of a local peregrine #norfolkbirding #birdsseenin2026
Young birders offered rare chance to work at Fair Isle Bird Observatory www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/Y...
Young birders offered rare chance to work at Fair Isle Bird Observatory
New research reveals the scale of losses after a 2021 cold snap - and why increasingly unpredictable weather could pose growing risks for early-arriving migrants.
rarebirdalert.co.uk
A very fun and successful weekend on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands, Marshes and Waterworks NR. Bittern (my 2nd here), White-fronted Goose, Marsh Harrier, 3 Jack Snipe, 3 Common Snipe, Rock Pipit, 6 Sand Martin (my earliest ever), Scaup, 3 Goldeneye, Siskins and Common Sandpiper!
A feeding Spoonbill on the flash at Boyton was one of the highlights of the Naturetrek walk on Friday. We also enjoyed Woodlark, Dartford Warbler, White-fronted Geese, Ruff, Red Kite, Cattle Egrets. Here’s a link to further walks in Suffolk this spring www.naturetrek.co.uk/about-us/tou... #ukbirding
