Night all. 😴 Episode 170 - Night murmuring in Tenby (60 mins) This is an hour-long, *sleep safe* episode. Let the sound of the wind in the trees lull you to sleep. > radiolento.podbean.com/e/170-night-... <

Just back from our family trip to Vermont, where a few birding sessions were inevitably sneaked in: northernrustic.blogspot.com/2026/07/jama... (Pics: Northern Yellow Warbler, Hermit Thrush, Chestnut-sidedc Warbler, American Red Squirrel)

Oh what a lovely #BirdFair! Good times repping @yorkscoastnature.bsky.social and #Zeissbirding and catching up with lots of lovely people... @globalbirdfair.bsky.social

A huge thank you to everone who donated - three and a half grand for Leeds Swifts! That's more than three years worth of rescue and rehab costs, plus leftovers for boxes at local schools and more. No more half-marathons for the foreseeable 🚑🐢

More breeding wader drama on my industrial survey site on the south bank of the Humber - against all odds, Ringed Plovers have again nested in an area where it seemed all suitable habitat was lost. Also the first returning flocks of Avocets & Black-tailed Godwits as autumn migration begins....

Very happy to have cashed in on the Quail influx on my #York #nocmig - two the night before last, and another two last night! Full counts at trektellen.org/count/view/3... @xeno-canto.bsky.social @trektellen.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social

Ok, one last push... with less than 48 hrs til the race, I'm just a few 100 quid shy of 3K - that's THREE YEARS of funds covering all Leeds Swifts rescue, rehab & release costs with enough left for Swift boxes at local Schools! It takes less than a minute: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding...

Swift fundraising update! With less than a week to go, we've revised the target up to £2500 - and we're not far off! Any chance you could help me get there? Donate here: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding... For a full update have a look here: northernrustic.blogspot.com/.../running-....

A flurry of Common Quails have been picked up by my Flamborough recorder this week - three (!) in the early hours of 10th, and one on 6th - a joy to hear those distinctive rasps and whips recorded as they migrated overhead in the dead of night. More here: trektellen.org/count/view/2...

A long but enjoyable day on the South bank of the Humber: northernrustic.blogspot.com/2026/06/nort... @lincsbirding.bsky.social @lincswildlife.bsky.social

Big dramas with small fluffballs - more here: northernrustic.blogspot.com/2026/06/indu... #Lapwings #Springwatch #Lincsbirds

A real highlight of our last School of Birding was making it to the near-summit of Cairn Gorm, where we were hoping for Dotterel, Ptarmigan, Ring Ouzel and more.... how did we fare? Find out here: northernrustic.blogspot.com/2026/06/cair... #highlands #scotsbirding #cairngorm #birdingscotland

Our new blog on Yorkshire Coast Nature is a wonderfully written feature by @markthebirder.bsky.social on his personal challenge to help Swifts. Please use this link below to read his blog and help him reach his goal: www.yorkshirecoastnature.co.uk/blog/567/swi...

Catch-up time... a summary of a memorable and hugely enjoyable School of Birding last month, with a great many highlights and memories! northernrustic.blogspot.com/2026/06/scho... We're all sold out for 2026, but our 2027 dates are now available and selling fast: www.schoolofbirding.com

School of Birding, Module Two, Class Three - May '26

Alright, catching up time.... May was, as ever, super busy (not entirely sure where it went, to be honest) but after guiding at Spurn and ...

northernrustic.blogspot.com

Up in Northumberland on a family break but the training continues... A few runs including this hilly 15km. Nothing hurts and nothing fell off - so far, so good. I'm doing it for the fantastic volunteer team at Leeds Swifts - can you spare a few quid? Click here: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding...

Up in Northumberland on a family break but the training continues... A few runs including this hilly 15km. Nothing hurts and nothing fell off - so far, so good. I'm doing it for the fantastic volunteer team at Leeds Swifts - can you spare a few quid? Click here: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding...

Please share! I've left it late, but I've decided to run the East Yorks Half-marathon in 4 weeks' time to raise money for Leeds Swifts. Can you get my lazy arse over the line, and help them save the quintessential sight, sound and spectacle of the summer? THANK YOU! Donate here: tinyurl.com/36akubft

Please share! I've left it late, but I've decided to run the East Yorks Half-marathon in 4 weeks' time to raise money for Leeds Swifts. Can you get my lazy arse over the line, and help them save the quintessential sight, sound and spectacle of the summer? THANK YOU! Donate here: tinyurl.com/36akubft

Plenty more to enjoy at Eyemouth yesterday morning (not just the Honey-buzzard): northernrustic.blogspot.com/2026/05/eyem... (photos - Peregrine, female Stonechat)

A little more on this morning's Honey-buzzard, in off the sea and low over my head at Eyemouth: northernrustic.blogspot.com/2026/05/eyem... @scottishbirding.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social

Honey-buzzard just arrived in off the sea here at Eyemouth in the Scottish Borders - right over my head! @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social @scottishbirding.bsky.social

A fine few days guiding back on my home turf of @flamboroughbird.bsky.social and RSPB Bempton Cliffs - northernrustic.blogspot.com/2026/05/guid... (Pics - Black Redstart, Grey Seals) @yorkscoastnature.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social

It was a cracking birding week for Mark Pearson @markthebirder.bsky.social leading our five day YCN Spurn holiday in April with many great birds such as this Wryneck (photo by Mark). Read all about their week in his blog here: www.yorkshirecoastnature.co.uk/blog/565/spu...

Halfway through a working week guiding at @flamboroughbird.bsky.social and RSPB Bempton Cliffs for @yorkscoastnature.bsky.social . Lots of migration to enjoy, sunny skies, and countless thousands of breeding seabirds - including these little 'uns.

Very enjoyable visit to #Flamborough and #RSPBBempton yesterday with @markthebirder.bsky.social of @yorkscoastnature.bsky.social . Great guiding, friendly group and some unexpected birds, inc Hooded Crow and Greenland Wheatear. All the Auks were on show and 2 Razorbills at war. #UKBirding #ECK

Enjoyable sunny afternoon session back at #Filey, with Tree Pipit, Spot fly, Fieldfares, Painted Ladies and more to enjoy. More here: northernrustic.blogspot.com/2026/05/sunn... @nybirdnews.bsky.social @yorkscoastnature.bsky.social

A ridiculous double-header in our last hour at Spurn - Nightjar & Wryneck within 20m of each other! To have these two legendarily cryptic species so close was a classic Spurn moment. Thanks to the Obs team & locals for being so helpful (as ever!). More: northernrustic.blogspot.com/2026/05/guid...

Fair to say the Hawfinch at Kew Villa showed well for our @yorkscoastnature.bsky.social group.... more here: northernrustic.blogspot.com/2026/05/guid... @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social #Spurnbirds #Hawfinch

Black Brant on Kilnsea Wetlands - with a pale-bellied nearby (and hundreds of dark-bellied), we'd a hat-trick of Brents from across the Arctic to compare at close quarters. More here: northernrustic.blogspot.com/2026/05/guid... @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social @yorkscoastnature.bsky.social

Just back from guiding our @yorkscoastnature.bsky.social residential group at the mighty Spurn Bird Observatory - a fabulous group and top quality birding with a great many highlights... more here: northernrustic.blogspot.com/2026/05/guid... @nybirdnews.bsky.social @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social