It's been a slow but steady few months on the patch near St Albans. At the weekend, a Wigeon was new for the year. But today, I found a #patchgold Dartford Warbler. Patch tick (29 years!) & Herts rarity. Thanks to @rupertevershed.bsky.social for the warbler pic. #PWC2025 @patchbirding.bsky.social

2+ Spotted Flycatchers on Gorhambury Estate, St Albans. In willows close to the floodwater pool. Patch year tick. #hertsbirds #PWC2025

Join us at 7.30pm, Tues 17 June, St Stephen Parish Centre AL2 3PJ. FREE meeting, all welcome. Guest speaker Dr Julie Battersby will tell us about toads; there'll be updates on the state of the #RiverVer & plenty of time for sewage, planning, nature & more. riverver.co.uk/open-meeting...

Get your boots on, it's still there!

A steady fortnight of seasonal migrants plus this Pintail today (a personal patch tick), has brought the patch total to a hundred for the year. Not too shabby for an inland #hertsbirds patch, near St Albans. @bglynn500.bsky.social @patchbirding.bsky.social

Yellow Wagtails aside, times are tough on the patch near St Albans at the moment. Even the Buzzards are turning vegetarian. @patchbirding.bsky.social

That's rather poor form, to say the least. Here's the story of my patch Spring so far - the odd bright spot among a pile of... @patchbirding.bsky.social @bglynn500.bsky.social

🤍Top garden spotting. It deserves a reply!

This morning's visit to a West Dorset coastal strip revealed it was alive with Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and my first Sedge Warblers & Whitethroats of the year. 3 Wheatears lingering but just two Swallows through. Plus two Shelduck halfway up a hill. @bglynn500.bsky.social @bexbirder.bsky.social

Up in the top bedroom this morning. Can just make out the coast! Nothing other than Chiffchaffs headed your way, so far.

Good to hear that you are out there. The garden here was pretty good for the locals this morning but not so good for the photographer!

Out with the old and in with the new today, on my @hertsbirds.bsky.social patch near St Albans. A small flock of Golden Plover (patch year tick) and a final Fieldfare were good to see, while Yellow Wagtail (another year tick) was very welcome. @patchbirding.bsky.social @bglynn500.bsky.social

First House Martins back to the local colony near St Albans, Herts today. Four appeared at lunchtime. Just for a moment a local Buzzard made me think I was in Cornwall!
@rupertevershed.bsky.social @bglynn500.bsky.social @ukhousemartins.bsky.social @hertsbirds.bsky.social

It seems you need to sit outside more in March to me!

And this afternoon, a first garden Swallow of 2025! 🥳

Good effort! It's all painfully slow in these easterlies. A male Reed Bunting the highlight of the regular garden birds here at the moment.

Brilliant. Hoopoe next...

Off patch and birding in West Dorset. Good to catch up with a variety of residents and new arrivals. 25 Cattle Egret (Abbotsbury) Wheatear, 4 Pintail, 2 Sandwich Tern, 4 Gannet and Cirl Bunting all along the coastal strip. Hat tip @bexbirder.bsky.social

There's a great deal of enjoyment to be had from an annual garden list and today #71 turned up in the shape of two lowly but distant Greylag Geese also #81 on the local patch. Buzzard next door too. @patchbirding.bsky.social @rupertevershed.bsky.social @bglynn500.bsky.social