I've just returned from a family holiday at Sunny Beach, Bulgaria on the Black Sea. As you'd imagine, I went out as many mornings as I could for sunrise. The surprise on the penultimate morning was this GOLDEN JACKAL. Video handheld phone binned, hence the lack of quality!

In 2025, I failed to find any Small Red-eyed Damselfly on the Sankey Canal with just a decent number of Red-eyed Damselfly amongst the more standard Common Blue, Blue-tailed and Azure. In 2026, Small Red-eyed aren't far off outnumbering Red-eyed. A remarkable increase...or I'm just getting my eye in

Tis the season 🥰 woodland Helleborine season is underway with local Broad-leaved now in flower

Three-spined stickleback on a tiny roadside stream in Knutsford. Still amazes me how colourful the males can be

An early June holiday to an all inclusive hotel at Castillo Caleta de Fuste saw this birder do his best to make the most of being located on the fantastic Fuerteventura, whilst also making the most of the holiday with his young family. Highlights listed below #BirderAbroad #Fuertentura #AllInclusive

Lovely little jack Pike this evening on the Sankey Canal. I'm told they potentially get up to 10lb in this canal, but I'd be surprised if this one was more than a lb. Cool fish though and my first on patch. Plenty of willow warbler, whitethroat and blackcap singing too #SankeyValley #PatchBirding

Bird spotting still going strong with a willow tit on the Moore reserve feeders this morning. Other highlights inc. brambling, siskin & my boy once again enjoying using his binocs. This time he managed to focus on some tufted ducks - "Tufties, Mama!" @zachinch92.bsky.social #birding #birdwatching 🐦

Great-tailed grackle just now on Estuary Blvd, west of Speke Hall. Good to know I can still spot birds without my glasses 😅 Wife points gained! @birdguides.bsky.social @zachinch92.bsky.social #birds #birdwatching

2 Tundra Bean Geese with Greylag flock at Ballamenaugh Beg, Baldrine, Isle of Man late afternoon. #UKBirding maps.app.goo.gl/aXbp3ViqADDd...

It's a special day when you pass on your first pair of binoculars to your son & take him #birdwatching for the first time. I got them at University so he has definitely got a headstart on me! @opticron.bsky.social @zachinch92.bsky.social @wwtworldwide.bsky.social #ornithology #birds 🐦

I mean, he's on 97 but at least he will have the right attire for #100 next month! Whereas I'm on 105 so will give my Xmas pressie a whirl tomorrow 🎉 Big thanks to #parkrun for another great year #running & I've enjoyed #volunteering the last 9 months at wonderful #widnes 🏃‍♀️ @zachinch92.bsky.social

Yesterday was national #reptile day so the pet #snakes enjoyed some 🎃 enrichment! @zachinch92.bsky.social

MEGA - White-throated Needletail earlier this pm at Tophill Low, E.Yorks First mainland record since 1991 😲 No sign at the moment but make sure you have the BirdAlertPRO app if its re-found. Get a 30-day free trial here rarebirdalert.co.uk/realdata/bir... 📷 via tophilllow.blogspot.com

When there's a storm and the toddler is asleep.... BIRD! 3 Leach's petrel in the bag, RNLI station - Hoylake. @zachinch92.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #birding

Patch Gadwall are still increasing with 134 tonight, but likely many more between Sankey Bridges and Ferry Tavern and beyond on the St Helens Canal. Would to do a full count before their numbers drop around Christmas. #SankeyValley #Patchbirding

I can remain in Cheshire for another year 🙌🏻 a fruitless dawn raid on the Mersey at Runcorn bridge was always asking a lot, but luckily the family and I headed to Hoylake and Meols for lunch and had prolonged views of 4 Leach's Storm-petrels. Epic birds in every sense. @dannihinchy.bsky.social

High count of 121 Gadwall on the St Helens Canal near Bewsey Lock, #SankeyValley this evening. It's always been good for them, but that's an impressive count. Also my second record of wigeon on the canal itself #PatchBirding

4 Ruff on patch this evening were a nice patch tick with additional 14 Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, 8 Ringed Plover and adult Yellow-legged Gull. Also grey seal. River Mersey south of Moss Bank and the St Helen's Canal. #SankeyValley #PatchBirding

Otter! Went to check the river for waders before work and was greeted by a wonderful dog otter feeding along the close shore line only a few 100 metres east of the Mersey Gateway. A Cheshire tick for me #SankeyValley #PatchBirding #Digibinned

Moulting adult Sanderling, 28 Black-tailed Godwit and 9 Ringed Plover on the River Mersey east of the Gateway and south of Moss Bank this afternoon #SankeyValley #PatchBirding

Quest for Small Red-eyed continues but six Red-eyed on the St Helens canal in Sankey Valley this evening

First patch tick in a while off Sunk Island. Yellow legged gull at low tide today.

Somewhat of a Cheshire rarity seen this morning on the drive to work with Schedule 8-listed Jersey Cudweed spotted from a moving car near IKEA Warrington on Gemini Retail Park. #UKWildlife #BritishPlants

Currently staying in northern Normandy for D-day and surprised to find lizard orchids in their hundreds at Utah Beach and (so far) a single at Omaha Beach. Fantastic plants.

Merlin and lots of corn bunting whilst on survey in Lancashire this week. Really nice to see and hear

Holyhead to Dublin ferry in the rain. Blackcap, willow warbler (3), meadow pipits (20+) temporarily touching down throughout the journey. Harbour Porpoise, puffin, lots of manxies and pipit/finch flocks the highlights over the sea.

Two red-eared sliders on the St Helens Canal were a novel patch tick this afternoon. Yeartick or two reed warblers was also nice. #SankeyValley #PatchBirding

Drake Common Scoter swimming around on the River Mersey below Forrest Way overbridge, Sankey Bridges, Warrington just now. Excellent suggestion by @liamlangley1.bsky.social to check the river. Literally the first bird I saw when I got out the car! #SankeyValley #PatchBirding #PatchTick

I've seen them along the Mersey closer to Fiddlers Ferry, but a flock to four REDSHANK heading north low over the water along the St Helens Canal in the #SankeyValley CP. Much excitement on my morning run into work #PatchBirding

Delighted to be the opening speaker for @ljmuofficial.bsky.social International Womens Day ♀️ event "Strength in Action: Women Redefining Change" #AcceleratingChange speaking about our recently published paper on barriers to #breastfeeding in the UK workplace. @ljmu-ris.bsky.social lnkd.in/eMkQRh39