Best ever views of Jack Snipe at RSPB Saltholme this afternoon. Still present at 4.15 in the left hand cut from the Wildlife Watchpoint. @teesbirds.bsky.social
I’m sure! I want to get 8 more birds and then I can relax. I’m still hoping I can stumble on a Jack Snipe here at some point but it feels like it’s dried up here for new migrant arrivals.
Misty and wet day with moments of sun on Shetland today. Highlights were great views of the Barred Warbler at Clickimin (no photo) and closer views of the BW Teal at Spiggie (still taken from video). Also a photo of the RB Fly on Yell the other day.
Another good day on Shetland. Very happy to see the Rosefinch at Grutness after a short wait first thing this morning. Made up for not seeing it yesterday despite spending a lot of time waiting/searching for it. Also got flight and very brief perched views of the Rustic Bunting at Urafirth.
1st full day on Shetland started with distant flight views of the Blue-winged Teal then a no show from the Common Rosefinch at Grutness. But the Western Subalpine Warbler gave much better than expected views and I finished the day with Lapland Bunting just before dark.
Amazing start to my first trip to Shetland. An hour after landing I was watching the Siberian Thrush, which gave great views in the open. Unfortunately the viewing window was narrow and my digiscope view was partially obscured but I was just happy to see it! #shetlandbirds
Great day in Lothian started with a lifer in the form of the long staying Marsh Sandpiper at Musselburgh, followed by lovely views (but no dodgy digiscope pics) of Red-breasted Flycatcher and Yellow-browed Warbler at Barns Ness.
Sorry to hear you’ve had a bad weekend. Hope you’ll take away the positive of catching up with the marsh sand. Must be a great feeling after a double dip earlier this year. Can you go for the Nosterfield RN Phalarope tomorrow? It was still there at dusk apparently.
Wonderfully written as always. A story I can relate to. I too was a keen reader and loved wildlife/nature. 36 years ago my cousin told me about SE Owls on Teesside and my parents took me. We saw them & so many other birds. I had no idea they were on my doorstep and I was hooked. A real spark moment.
Nice prolonged view of the Spotted Crake at Sandwich this morning. Much better than the fleeting glimpse I had of the only other I’ve seen. Digiscoping tricky as facing into the sun, views were much better than the photo suggests….
Brilliant views of the Arctic Warbler in Essex today, which was a lifer, followed by even better views of the Rutland Grey Phalarope. Such striking birds and a fantastic day.
Saw the White-rumped Sandpiper at East Chevington today whilst visiting my mum in the North East for a few days. Nice year tick after missing the Snettisham bird by a day. Real dodgy digiscope using my old telescope I keep at my mum’s.
A wonderful 2 “warbler” day taking me to 275 for the year. Barred Warbler showed much better than I hoped at Kessingland and then I had multiple flight and a few brief perched views of the Fan-tailed Warblers at Walberswick. Dodgy digiscopes as per usual
Wonderfully and honestly written Carl. I’m glad you are finding wellbeing in your big year and wish you the best of luck as you storm towards 300 and beyond
I’m the same with drift migrants. Will spend time on Norfolk and NE coasts when I can and I have a week on Shetland booked in Oct for 1st time. Annoyingly I was in Cornwall until yesterday. TBF I can’t complain after clearing up on shearwaters and storm petrel despite the Easterly gales when there.
Not until the winter months when a trip to the Norfolk area might bring 5-6 species. I might try for the Zitting Cisticola and WR sandpiper in Suffolk at the end of the weekend.
I'm in SW Cornwall for 6 nights from tomorrow looking for seabirds. My day trip on the Scillonian on Sat is cancelled and the winds are moving round to be ESE. Anyone any tips on trying to see seabirds in Cornwall in these wind conditions please @cbwps.org.uk@birdwatchingtours.bsky.social
