Visited RSPB Snettisham with Kev Heath yesterday and found a few wall butterflies. Struggled to get open wing photographs and the only individual that compiled was a bit worse for wear @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social.

Out at 4.30 am yesterday to get ahead of the high tide at RSPB Snettisham with Kev Heath. Bonus birds included turtle dove, little stint, and lots of little terns @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @norfolkbirds.bsky.social.

Out at 4.30 am y'day to get ahead of high tide at RSPB Snettisham with Kev Heath. 1000s of knot & dunlin on the move. Joined search for the white‑rumped sandpiper - missed it early but eventually connected as the tide dropped @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @norfolkbirds.bsky.social.

I've posted my latest blog, featuring more local trips with Kev Heath to see Oxon/Glos long-tailed shrike and an Oxon Downs Montagu's harrier. Thanks for taking a look. @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social #UKbirding jkhsmith.blogspot.com/2026/07/east....

Eastleach Martin & Churn, Blewbury :: 20 & 25 July 2026

Only two weeks ago I made the long journey to Crail, Fife, to see what was only the second long-tailed shrike ever recorded in Britain. In m...

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Returned to the Oxon Downs this morning for another look at the first summer male Montagu's harrier. Conditions were better, with less heat haze and slightly closer views, though it was still a bird best appreciated through the scope. @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social.

Spent yesterday with Kev Heath watching the barley harvest on the Oxon Downs and the array of wildlife it revealed. I've never seen so many corn buntings in one place. A brilliantly smooth operation @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social.

Watched the harvesting of barley and the array of wildlife contained in the crop on the Oxon Downs yesterday. A smooth operation.

Watched the harvesting of barley and the array of wildlife contained in the crop on the Oxon Downs yesterday. A smooth operation.

Saw the first summer male Montagu's harrier on the Oxon Downs y'day with Kev Heath. Scope views were good, despite heat haze already being very noticeable at 6:40am. Imagine the view the chap in the video would have had if only he'd looked! @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social #UKbirding.

Saw the first summer male Montagu's harrier on the Oxon Downs y'day with Kev Heath. Scope views were good, despite heat haze already being very noticeable at 6:40am @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social #UKbirding.

Some photos from a visit to RSPB Freestone Shore in the week with Kev Heath - corn buntings calling, lots of yellow wagtails with one that appears blue-headed, small copper butterflies, and small tortoiseshell butterflies.

Better and more prolonged views of the first-summer long-tailed shrike at Eastleach Martin on the Oxon/Glos border than I had of the bird at Crail, Fife. A remarkable record so soon after the Scottish bird - reportedly a different individual. @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social #UKbirding.

I've posted my latest blog, featuring trips with Kev Heath to see a Hudsonian godwit, a black-crowned night heron, and a trip up to Lincolnshire. Thanks for taking a look. @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social #UKbirding jkhsmith.blogspot.com/2026/07/catt....

Cattawade, Sholing & Lincolnshire :: 15/16/18 July 2026

Saturday arrived, and after a quick discussion with Kev @kev07713 , we decided to head down to Sholing, Southampton, in the hope of seeing t...

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While walking through RSPB Freiston Shore yesterday, Kev Heath and I were treated to a flypast by an RAF Douglas C-47 Dakota wearing the distinctive brown and green South East Asia Command (SEAC) camouflage scheme. It certainly had a busy schedule yesterday!

Not what Kev Heath and I were hoping to see yesterday, but it's never a bad day when you're watching a pair of black-winged stilts @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @rspbframptonmarsh.bsky.social.

I've just published my latest blog, featuring a trip to Crail, Fife, to try and see a long-tailed shrike, followed by a quick stop at Musselburgh for surf scoter. Thanks for taking a look. @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social #UKbirding jkhsmith.blogspot.com/2026/07/crai....

Crail & Musselburgh :: 08 - 09 July 2026

With birding largely reduced to short days out and the same species turning up on each visit, Kev and I have been spending more time watchin...

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A stop at RSPB Otmoor yesterday with Kev & Karen Heath paid off with excellent views of brown hairstreak butterflies. A great bonus to our day! 🦋 @ukbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social.

While waiting for views of the black-crowned night heron at Miller's Pond, Sholing, this morning, Kev Heath spotted this lovely fox.

Redemption! Views of black-crowned night heron at Miller's Pond, Sholing with Kev Heath this morning after dipping on Saturday. After 1½ hours we picked it out in a tree, then watched it relocate before flying over the trees to our right @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social.

Trip to Cattawade, Suffolk this morning with Kev and Karen Heath for the adult male Hudsonian godwit @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social.

I've published my latest blog, covering a visit to Hickling Broad, before catching up with some truly splendid butterflies that we've been talking about seeing for several years. Thanks for taking a look! @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social #UKbirding jkhsmith.blogspot.com/2026/07/norf....

Norfolk tern ... then butterflies :: 18 & 20 June 2026

Last year, Kev @kev07713 and I took advantage of the quieter summer period to go butterfly watching, with a particular focus on purple empe...

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Further dragonflies and damselflies through the day with Kev Heath, in Hampshire and Oxfordshire: female emperor and ruddy darter dragonflies, plus red-eyed and white-legged damselflies.

Managed to pick the window where Kev Heath and I would dip the black-crowned night heron at Sholing, Hampshire, but were kept entertained by black-tailed skimmers.

Managed to get to Crail for the long tailed shrike on Wednesday - had good scope views before the bird went awol - it looks like I should have been there early morning. Then stopped at Musselburgh for surf scoters. Won't win any prizes for photos @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social.

A few extras at Bucknell Woods today @ukbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @wildlifebcn.org.

White admiral butterflies at Bucknell Woods today @ukbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @wildlifebcn.org.

Silver-washed fritillary butterflies at Bucknell Woods today @ukbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @wildlifebcn.org.

Painted lady butterflies at Bucknell Woods today @ukbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @wildlifebcn.org.

Gatekeeper butterflies at Bucknell Woods today @ukbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @wildlifebcn.org.

Lots of ringlets and meadow browns for Kev Heath and I yesterday, but also: Essex, small, and large skippers, holly blue, a couple of white admirals, a few silver-washed fritillaries, and lots of gatekeepers, amongst others @ukbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social.