Afternoon trip to enjoy the roost @LWTWildNews Willow Tree Fen this evening. 22 Cranes, 18 Marsh Harriers plus a single Bewick's Swan with the Whoopers. Bonus woodcock out of the treeline opposite the entrance as we were leaving too.
Oli Beacock
@olibeacock.bsky.social
Professional Ecologist | Birder and Occasional Twitcher from Notts | 26 | MSc Zoology | C-permit Ringer | Amateur Moth-er | Keen but terrible digiscoper
Male stonechat on the moor at Allt-na-guibhsaich. Striking pale underparts at ~150m. In full song. Orange limited to breast, big white collar, large white rump, and black auxilliaries... Siberian? @ScottishBirding @BirdGuides @RareBirdAlertUK @LeeEvansBirding @docmartin2mc
Osprey briefly circling over Cuttail Fishing Pond near Kirkby Woodhouse this morning brightened up an otherwise pretty dull BBS this am. Female Wheatear also in the ploughed field by footpath West of Sherwood Park @NottsBirders
Just relocated the drake Canvasback in the large Aythya flock off the end of Lodge Lane. Flock is fairly mobile and has been relatively close to the viewing screen though spending a lot of time across towards Pumping Station. @BirdGuides @RareBirdAlertUK
Musselburgh today @birdinglothian @ijandrews1 Scoter flock held Stejneger's, drk Surf and probable fem White-winged that avoided usable photos too distant by the time light improved - really striking head pattern and broken nose look hopefully better views can be had... 1/
Six Black Terns currently @RSPBLangford mostly over Deep Water Pit but have been over to Phase 2/SL7 @NottsBirders @notbirdingnick
@RSPBFrampton at its best today - personal total of 78spp but 90+ across the reserve. Wader bonanza included BW Stilt, Temminck's Stint, sp Spotted Redshank and 4+ Wood Sands. Topped off by finding a drake Blue-winged Teal on Marsh Farm @Lincsbirding @PhilOpus
Didn't expect a singing Wood Warbler on my BBS just outside Northampton this morning. Site is private land away from PROWs @BirdNorthants
My first Notts Hobby of the year during a BBS at Barton in Fabis this am. Other notables included a dapper Green Sandpiper on a small flooded field corner, 6 Yellow Wags, 7 species of warblers and a decent flock of 102 House Martins East along the Trent. @NottsBirders
Very elusive drake Garganey currently with Teal on Phase @RSPBLangford. Flock disappeared into reeds on North shore at present @NottsBirders @AlfieBirder @notbirdingnick
No better way to de-stress with the absolutely spectacular hoar frost in the Cambridgeshire Fens today and the birds weren't too bad either: 4 LEOs roosting together plus Tawny and Barn, male Hen Harrier and 7 Cranes bugling in the fog - winter birding at its best.
Pleasant afternoon watching waterfowl at Eyebrook Res and Rutland this pm. Plenty of Smew, 3 Scaup and "the duck-who-must-not-be-named" at the former (plus a funky Aythya hybrid doing its best to look like a Redhead) and added Velvet Scoter and GN Diver at the latter @LROSbirds
Some more videograbs of the Eastern Stonechat from The Hood, Blakeney yesterday am. Seems to fit the bill for Stej on field marks alone but unfortunately no retrievable DNA before tdisappearing. Would appreciate any comments. @NorfolkBirds @Vaasetter
Eastern-type Stonechat poss. Stejneger's om sueda at South end of dunes at Blakeney Point (Dropped pin https://maps.app.goo.gl/v1ULptHXUJ4x7MZK8). Opinions appreciated @BirdGuides @RareBirdAlertUK @LeeEvansBirding @NorfolkBirds
Signs of passrine movement early morning at Treswell Wood. Totals of 15 Redwing, 2 alba Wagtail, 7 Skylark, 4 Meadow Pipit and 19 Chaffinch heading South, single Lesser Redpoll calling as it headed low North. Single Chiffchaff in subsong around the car park @NottsBirders
Dawn til dusk @FlamboroughBird today. Seawatching proved quite productive for the morning with totals below. Landbird interest included two Rosefinches, YBW heard at South Landing with Spot Fly, Sedge in Booted Gully and a Lesser Whitethroat at Old Fall Hedge.
Good day on Yorks coast y'day. Drift migrants plus a couple of headliners with Citrine Wag and RNP at Spurn, South Landing Greenish @FlamboroughBird that caused some panic at first with second wing bar. Ended with frustrating Acro at Bempton, probably Blyth's RW but not certain.
Juv Purple Heron still at Pittam's Pond, Willington GPs until 15.13 when chased by Grey Heron. Flew SW and appeared to go down into reeds by Platform 1. Heading over there to relocate now. @Derbyshirebirds
Big thanks to @FlamboroBirder, @CraigCThomas1 and others @FlamboroughBird Seawatch Festival for an informative afternoon of seabird ID! All 4 skuas, Manx & Sooty Shears and more. 2 Wheatears at the lighthouse. Shame I didn't wait 10 minutes for the Balearic but can't complain!
Juvenile Pomarine Skua just gone north @FlamboroughBird. Also 5 Arctics and 2 Greats plus 4 Manx Shears, 1 Common Scoter and 3 lingering Harbour Porpoise since 12.30
Followed up the plover with the not quite as showy juv Red-backed Shrike still at South Gare on seaward side c200m North of Shrike Bushes
Greater Sand Plover still showing well on the strandlineat Redcar beach south of Majuba C/P this morning. Activity already picking up for the bank hol!
Roller still showing well albeit distantly at Timberland Fen late afternoon @Lincsbirding @lincsbirders
2 juv Black Terns with Arctics/Sandwiches around Aberlady Bay. Plenty of Arctic Skuas too plus 8 Common Scoter W up Forth and single Red-breasted Merganser on sea and a nice selection of waders. No sign of @ijandrews1's Little Terns from earlier this week. @birdinglothian
1s drake King Eider still at East end of Musselburgh sea front (55.9515402, -3.0225069) with 712 Eiders and 42 Velvet Scoters so far @birdinglothian
Adult Roseate Tern close east from Cramond Island early afternoon. Also 3 Sandwich, 4 Common, 37 Arctics (13 juvs) and 10 "Commics" mostly west. 1 Greenshank, 84 Redshank, 53 Curlew, 32 Ringed Plovers, 3 Turnstone, 17 Oystercatchers, 8 Lapwings by causeway. @birdinglothian
3cy Gannet just flown low West over Barnby in the Willows! Huge patch tick and my first new species here this year @NottsBirders
Lunchtime detour on way back to office via Daventry CP. Juv drake Ferruginous Duck still present at south end but v. elusive most of the time hidden in the willows. Flew across to the west back near pin just before I left. 3 Common Sand there too #Northantsbirds @MundyStuart
Earlier Quail aside other highlights from @Bempton_Cliffs this morning included both Turkestan Shrike and BB Albatross in their respective regular spots and 2 juvenile YLGs following the boats. Some light passage evident too with 13 Manxies, Redshank and 2 Whimbrel N, Curlew S.
Quail singing @Bempton_Cliffs in long grass behind New Rollup viewpoint @FlamboroughBird