This White-rumped Sandpiper, that I encountered this morning, is one of two present at RSPB Snettisham in the past couple of days. #NorfolkBirding

What a great morning watching Britain’s first Western Reef Heron strut his stuff at Caernarfon Castle Harbour today. #BirdingUK

While I’ve seen 13 stunning European Bee-eaters and found a male Blue-headed Wagtail, my photographic highlight in a spring migration spectacular in Norfolk today was actually this fine second calendar year, male Pied Flycatcher at Sheringham. #NorfolkBirding

A couple of reports of Spotted Flycatchers returning to regular breeding sites in Norfolk today inspired me to go out and find one too. I marvel at these super long-distance migrants, the last I saw was wintering in South Africa in February and was roughly 8,000 miles away! #NorfolkBirding

Continuing my “gorgeous summer visitors” theme, here’s an action shot I took of the local Sedgeford Hoopoe, feeding avidly on leatherjackets this morning. #NorfolkBirding

The chance to look for an “April” Lapland Bunting, refound by Mike Buckland out at Burnham Overy Dunes yesterday, was too enticing an opportunity to miss. On arrival I soon glimpsed it, but then it flew - leading to four hours more searching. This late pm photo was rich reward. #NorfolkBirding

Congrats and thanks Trevor Girling for finding this stunning Ross’s Gull yesterday morning and breaking news live. A first for Norfolk for me and undoubtedly Bird of the Year so far! Thanks too, Matt Lonsdale, for relocating in a field inland, shortly after it left the coast. #NorfolkBirding

Continuing the subject of gorgeous summer visitors, grab your sunglasses! 😎 This male Yellow Wagtail at Titchwell this evening certainly caught my eye. #NorfolkBirding

It dawned on me today that another thing I really like about Spring Migrants is they usually offer double the value. Not only are most visually beautiful, they usually have gorgeous voices too! Don’t you find the call of a Whimbrel taking off sends tingles down your spine? #NorfolkBirding

I absolutely love the return of summer migrants and, while I celebrate every one with huge enthusiasm, some feel extra special. I’m sure we all have our favourites. For me catching the first distant snatch of a Grasshopper Warbler reeling is hard to beat. #NorfolkBirding

I visited a cold, windy, Welney yesterday, hoping to see the Red-crested Pochard that had recently arrived. It took a focussed hour scanning to find, finally drifting out of its distant reedy hideout before sailing right below me at Lyle Hide. Phew, what a cracker of a quacker! #NorfolkBirding

Shorelarks have been few and far between in Norfolk this last winter, so I was delighted to join Mike Buckland and search two out at Great Yarmouth North Denes last Monday, after they hadn’t been reported there for 13 days. #NorfolkBirding

After nearly a month away in South Africa, it was great to be back birding on the North Norfolk Coast again today. This imposing 2W Glaucous Gull, between Waxham and Horsey, was my primary target and posed beautifully when it finally flew in. #NorfolkBirding

Water Pipits are always great birds to watch closely as they go about their business. This one at Cley today was picking small red worms from the muddy fringes. #NorfolkBirding

As 2025 closed, I embraced the challenge of seeing as many different bird species as possible, in Norfolk, this January. The variety has been surprising and provided me a huge total of 173 species - quite possibly a new county record? The fitting finale - five fabulous Shags. #NorfolkBirding

Common Crossbills have been performing well in Norfolk this year, since they started arriving in July, but this lovely male, at Dersingham Bog today, surely has to take top billing! #NorfolkBirding

It was great to discover that the Hume’s Warbler found by Roger Skeen at Holme NOA, yesterday, was still present this morning when I visited. I’d seen one a month earlier at Warham, but this one was rather more obliging as it showed better and also called more frequently. #NorfolkBirding

A rare trip south of the Waveney border delivered stunning views of my fifth shrike species in East Anglia this year. This adult, male, Red-tailed (“Turkestan”) Shrike showed remarkably well in calm, sunny conditions, in the great company of some fine, old, Suffolk birding pals. #SuffolkBirding

Luckily, the Greater Short-toed Lark, found by Nathan Pickering at Snettisham late yesterday evening, was relocated at dawn before vanishing for several hours. A teasing glimpse late-morning stimulated further relocation efforts, with rich rewards for those who braved the rain. #NorfolkBirding

This fabulous Lesser Grey Shrike at Winterton Dunes in East Norfolk today was another great find by Barry Jarvis. I don’t recall seeing one in this intriguing plumage before. Thoughts on a postcard please… #NorfolkBirding

While White-rumped Sandpipers have become a regular bird at Snettisham RSPB Reserve in late July, adults in breeding plumage are much rarer. So it was very rewarding to relocate this pristine bird at high tide yesterday evening. #NorfolkBirding

A reverential, hushed silence was observed by all as we waited with bated-breath for an adult Great Grey Owl to come in to feed its two young. Thanks Jari Peltomaki for providing another spellbinding Finnature experience!

Another priority target on our Finnish trip was the elusive Three-toed Woodpecker. Remarkably, this nominate race adult male chose a telegraph pole to drum from, while deep in a 1,000 acre old growth forest.

A fabulous private birding trip to Finland last week enabled me to catch up with several longed-for world lifers, as well as a hatful of other Scandinavian specialities. At the very top of my list was Ural Owl. With expert guiding by Jari Peltomäki of Finnature, we soon scored!

What’s in a name? Would a Rosy Starling, by any other name, smell as sweet as this beauty in Melton Constable today? #NorfolkBirding

When this beauty dropped in out of the blue I was pleased to capture the moment. #NorfolkBirding

The number of Temminck’s Stints at Cley NWT has been slowly building over the past week, with ten or more present yesterday and today. This one came a little closer than the others, presenting a rare opportunity not to be missed. #NorfolkBirding

In recent days, small numbers of elegant, migrating, Wood Sandpipers have been pausing to refuel, at favoured Norfolk wetland habitats, before continuing north to breed. Usually only glimpsed along distant reedy fringes, few are as obliging as this bejewelled beauty. #NorfolkBirding

Welcoming back summer migrants is always a pleasure but I was delighted to find a singing male Spotted Flycatcher today, who has just returned to a regular territory in North Norfolk. #NorfolkBirding

A memorable encounter from southern Thailand was this spectacular female Orange-breasted Trogon perched close to the main track at Bang Khram Wildlife Sanctuary on the 19th of March.