Had a brilliant trip to the French Alps last week. 5 lifers being Lammergeier, Common Rock Thrush, Alpine Chough, Alpine Accentor, and Rock Bunting. Plus, lots of stuff that I don't often see in the UK such as Alpine Swift, Crested Tit, Honey Buzzard, Golden Eagle, Water Pipit and stunning scenery!

It's definitely summer on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands with few birds moving, though it is nice enjoying our breeding birds. Best from recently includes 2 Redshank, Curlew Oystercatcher, LRP, 2 Coal Tit (very scarce here), Garden Warblers, Lesser Emperors, RV Darters, Scarce Chaser, Norfolk Hawkers

An image of a brood of Sand Martins peering out from their nest has won Photo of the Week:

Photo of the Week: 8-14 June 2026

An image of a brood of Sand Martins peering out from their nest wins this week.

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Cattle Egrets and Ring Ouzel - both the first for a year - highlights of May at London’s Walthamstow Wetlands. Round-up of a month which was good for breeding birds but poor for migrants now on walthamstowbirders.blogspot.com Thanks to samodonnell25@bsky.social for photos #londonbirding

📣 Applications are now open for the Martin Garner Spurn Young Birder Competition 2026! If you're aged 16 or under and passionate about birding, this is your chance to compete at #MigFest2026 and win some fantastic prizes. ⏰ Applications close 19 July 🔗 tinyurl.com/MGSYB2026 Please share!

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!

Patch birding has been pretty slow (and mostly quiet) for the whole spring at Walthamstow Wetlands. Here are some highlights in the month or so since I last posted: 2 Black Tern, Ringed Plover, 2 Cattle Egret, LRP, Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Garden Warbler, Goldeneye (!), and Med Gulls. #ukbirding

The first Slavonian Grebe since 2018, Osprey and stunning Whinchats among highlights of an excellent & colourful April at Walthamstow Wetlands. Running total of 123 second best ever. Thanks to @samodonnell25.bsky.social @chris-farthing.bsky.social @Harringaybirder & MLP for photos #londonbirding

Marsh Harrier, Med Gull, Avocet and Rock Pipit among 89 species at Walthamstow Wetlands in March. Annual total as first summer migrants arrive is 99 - five behind last year. Monthly round-up now on walthamstowbirders.blogspot.com Thanks to @samodonnell25.bsky.social @LolBodini and DD for photos

Last weekend was by far the best weekend of the spring on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands so far! The best was this Slavonian Grebe. A patch tick for and it completes the grebe set for me here! Whimbrel, WFG, Whinchat YLG Gull, Swifts, LRP, Rook, Willow Warbler, all 3 Hirundines, Common Tern etc

If birds did tribute bands…

White-fronted Goose - the first to put down at Walthamstow Wetlands for five years - was among the 80 species recorded in February. Monthly round-up on walthamstowbirders.blogspot.com. Thanks to @samodonnell25 & MLP, AW and SN for photos. #londonbirds

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!

Nice to be back in Pembrokeshire last week. Mainly spending time around the Nevern Estuary. Dipped the Ring-billed Gull twice at Goodwick but a very smart (but distant) Black Guillemot made up for it. My first for 3 years! Plus a YLG. At least 2 Dippers showed very well along the Nevern as well!

Nice to finally catch up with the 1st winter White-fronted Goose on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands this morning. Missed it twice, so third time lucky! Please excuse the poor record shots.

Nice to see 2 Firecrest, the Scaup, 4 Goldeneyes, Skylark, Raven, 6 Snipe, Lapwing, Common Sandpiper, Stonechat, Mistle Thrush, Meadow Pipit and more on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands during the weekend!

Good to see this 1st winter female Scaup on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands after college today. It was sleeping most of the time, but it's my first here for 3 years!

Nice to finally find a more interesting bird than just the regulars on Patch today at Walthamstow Wetlands, a Great Northern Diver! Only my 2nd here. Please excuse the poor photos, the light was really poor (just like Arsenal 🙄). It seemed to be just flying around for the hell of it 😅.

The 20th annual BirdGuides Photo of the Year competition is here – and we're delighted to announce this year's shortlist, as well as give you the chance to vote for your favourite. Get voting!

BirdGuides Photo of the Year 2025

This is your chance to vote in the 20th annual BirdGuides Photo of the Year competition. Choose your favourite bird image posted on the BirdGuides website in 2025.

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How incredible is this shot from the talented Sam O'Donnell 🤩 This peregrine falcon was photographed at our very own Walthamstow Wetlands, and if you’re lucky, you might spot one perched high up on the pylon near the bird hide. 👀🪶 Feeling inspired after Wild London? You know where to head! 🦅✨

Bittern, 80+ Snow Buntings and the Temminck's Stint were among the highlights on a recent trip to the Suffolk Coast with @david-walsh.bsky.social @noahbai-123.bsky.social @tsbirding.bsky.social @lucasnature.bsky.social and others!

Bewick’s Swans, the first since 2013, White-fronts & Woodcock took Walthamstow Wetlands 2025 bird list to 148. December round-up now on walthamstowbirders.blogspot.com Thanks to @samodonnell25.bsky.social @chris-farthing.bsky.social & @Ivorh.bsky.social for photos #londonbirding #ukbirding

Thoroughly enjoyable day on the snowy Suffolk coast! Highlights were Temminck's Stint, Spotted Redshank, Bittern, Goosander, Zitting Cisticola, and Snow Buntings. Many snowball fights with @noahbai-123.bsky.social throughout the day, too! @david-walsh.bsky.social @samodonnell25.bsky.social

2025 has been an absolutely incredible year on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands and Marshes. My personal total for the year was 138, beating last year's total by 6 and seeing 12 Patch ticks including RN Grebe, Bewick's Swans, WG Geese, Bittern, Gropper, Osprey, and Water Pipit!

Pleased to finally get in on the Geese action yesterday with these 2 White-fronted Geese! A much anticipated Patch tick. Also Great White Egret, Common Sandpiper, Wigeons, Goldeneye, Stonechats and ridiculous views of Peregrines the best of the rest from recently.

We can confirm these two Bewick's are now at WWT Slimbridge. Known as Clutton & Cameley, they arrived at Slimbridge on Christmas Day / Boxing Day. Clutton is a regular & Cameley is here for the first time @samodonnell25.bsky.social

Sam O'Donnell@samodonnell25.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Mega happy to find these 2 Bewick's Swans on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands this morning! A very rare bird here and a Patch tick. Also found a Little Gull, 2 Ravens, good numbers of Lapwings. Saw a roosting Woodcock earlier in the week plus Wigeon, Buzzard, and more! A nice early Xmas present!

Mega happy to find these 2 Bewick's Swans on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands this morning! A very rare bird here and a Patch tick. Also found a Little Gull, 2 Ravens, good numbers of Lapwings. Saw a roosting Woodcock earlier in the week plus Wigeon, Buzzard, and more! A nice early Xmas present!

Absolutely over the moon to win the urban animals category at the @rspcaoffficial.bsky.social Young Photographer awards yesterday with this image of a Sand Martin taken at Walthamstow Wetlands! I also got my photo featured in The Times, which is pretty cool!

Great to be out on Patch again at Walthamstow Wetlands today in glorious weather. I was certainly caught by surprise when I was looking through a Chiffchaff flock, and then this Common Whitethroat popped up! #ukbirding #patchbirding

We’re delighted to announce ‘Rewilding East London’ - a new species recovery project to reintroduce white storks and beavers to East London! Delivered in partnership with London Borough of Barking & Dagenham supported by the Mayor’s of London's Green Roots Fund. @london.gov.uk #GreenRoots