Thanks for the info Martin, I'll send the record on to Dr Reynolds. It was a strange sight, I thought it was a fish hook when I first saw it but then it wiggled it around and I realised it was its tongue! It was fit and healthy looking though so obviously coping with the deformity.
A trip down to St.Ives yesterday where The Pallas's Warbler in Trewyn Gardens didn't stay still for a second. A Herring Gull with its tongue hanging out under its bill was scrounging food near the train station while the Bonaparte's Gull showed very well at the nearby Hayle Estuary #cornwallbirds
Interesting to watch a pair of Adders getting frisky in the sunshine today although the larger female seemed quite unimpressed by the males attentions.
Green Hairstreaks at Wembury today, my earliest date ever. The human world may be getting increasingly darker but Mother Nature just carries on to remind us that there is still beauty in the world #butterflies
After being present for over 3 months I thought it was about time I headed down to Boscathnoe Reservoir near Penzance to have a look at the wintering Dusky Warbler and it showed very well indeed. Also a bonus Bonaparte's Gull on the Hayle Estuary before heading home #Cornwallbirds
Ha! Back in Plymouth but still feeling like I'm on Japanese time! 😂
Finding a 1st winter Bonaparte's Gull on The Plym wasn't on my radar this morning but it was a very nice surprise, my first in Plymouth #devonbirds
Black-headed Gull, Tokyo
Shovellers, Osaka
Great White Egret, Nagano
Tree Sparrow, Tokyo
A few familiar birds from the UK also seen in Japan, some 6000 miles away. No House Sparrows present but Tree Sparrows very common, even in the cities.
Steller's Eagle, Kushiro
Vega Gull, Tokyo
Slaty-backed Gull, Kushiro
Azure-winged Magpie, Tokyo
Very pleased to see Steller's Eagle in Japan, a beast of a bird with 6 seen, and also pleased to see Azure-winged Magpie after failing to see them in Spain.
Sika Deer, Nara
Sika Deer, Kushiro
Japanese Macaque, Nagano
Japanese Macaque (Snow Monkey), Nagano
Sika Deer and Japanese Macaque showed very well on our tour of Japan and the only mammals seen.
Brown-eared Bulbul
Daurian Redstart
Dusky Thrush
Red-crowned Cranes
Amazing trip to Japan on a non-birding holiday but with some interesting bird sightings along the way including Tancho (Red-crowned Cranes), the symbols of longevity, good fortune and fidelity in Japanese culture.
Okay, this is quite outstanding from Bedford Council.
Black-throated Diver
Black-throated Diver
Grey Seal hauled out on the beach by The Breakwater
Guillemot in breeding plumage resting on The Breakwater
Caspian Gull may have been a no-show for me at Brixham on 31/1/26 but a Black-throated Diver showed incredibly well amongst the many GNDivers also present. 3 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Med.Gull, 1 RTDiver, Razorbill, Gannet, Kittiwake, Guillemot & Grey Seals also kept me entertained #devonbirds
Tears of joy! SCOTLAND HAS JUST PASSED SWIFT BRICKS INTO LAW unanimously!
4 years of asking England & Scotland sorts it in a month led by ACE MARK RUSKELL MSP ♥️The RELIEF is unreal! Tell England to follow 🏴by emailing PlanningPolicyConsultation@communities.gov.uk now!WOOP!
Kittiwake
Interesting post-Storm Ingrid walk around Plymouth Hoe this morning with the star bird a very smart adult Little Gull feeding in The Cattewater amongst BHGulls and 5 Kittiwake. Also 8 Purple Sandpiper at Rusty Anchor, my highest ever count here, & a male Black Redstart nearby #devonbirds
I couldn't find the Water Pipit along the beach today at Wembury but the presumed Siberian Chiffchaff was still present and showing very well #devonbirds
Siberian Chiifchaff, Wembury
Yellow-browed Warbler, Efford Marsh
Siberian Chiffchaff, Efford Marsh
The Water Pipit still present along the beach at Wembury on 5/1 along with a showy Siberian Chiffchaff amongst the collybita Chiffchaffs. The Yellow-browed Warbler also still present at Efford Marsh on 6/1 with another Siberian Chiffchaff seen amongst the collybita Chiffchaffs #devonbirds
Happy New Year to you too, hopefully will bump into you locally at some point.
Congratulations and Snap! Finished the year (without Bean Goose) on 216 and mostly local too and bizarrely my 200th bird was the Rose-coloured Starling at Wembury. Here's to 2026 being just as good if not better.
A Yellow-legged Gull along The Plym was the highlight on a quick walk this morning, presumably the same bird seen back in November & now developing full adult plumage. The female Red-crested Pochard was now back on the Saltram duck pond & also of note were 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Goosander & Jack Snipe
The Water Pipit at Wembury Beach was still in the same place on yesterday's visit while 4 Snipe flushed out of the seaweed mass were a surprise. Not very keen on the new path and fencing put in by the National Trust, don't think I'll be seeing any Common Lizards along here now. #devonbirds
A beautiful but chilly walk at Wembury this morning, a Red Kite over heading towards Plymouth was a surprise, I eventually found a Water Pipit along the beach and a Black Redstart showed very well at the church #Devonbirds
Hundreds of the "skeletal" remains of By-the-wind Sailors (Vellela vellela) washed up on the beach at Wembury and a near adult Yellow-legged Gull on the roof of Chelson Meadow recycling centre the highlights yesterday on a day out when the sun actually appeared!
Very surprised to find a Dingy Footman attracted to the underpass lights at Marsh Mills Roundabout in Plymouth yesterday #teammoth
A pair of Lesser Scaup at Helston Boating Lake today showed amazingly well, very unconcerned by the numerous people and dogs walking by and looking very smart in the sunshine #cornwallbirds
Despite the grey and claggy skies the Lesser Yellowlegs showed very well at Truro yesterday while at Hayle the highlights were White-rumped Sandpiper, 3 Spoonbill, Spot Red, Curlew Sand, DBBrent Goose, 2 Barnacle Geese, 5 Pintail and a Kingfisher #cornwallbirds
On an enjoyable but often rainy trip to Siracusa in Sicily I managed to see a few butterflies when the sun did shine - Lang's Short-tailed Blue, Cleopatra, Clouded Yellow Sp. and a Swallowtail on a mans foot around the hotel swimming pool!
Very pleased to see the Curlew Sandpiper found yesterday at Wembury by local birder Jenny was still present this morning, busily feeding along the beach in the company of 4 Bar-tailed Godwits and 2 Sanderlings. #devonbirds
So sorry Chris, I didn't realise it was you at Blaxton this morning until I saw this post, shame the Curlew Sandpiper had moved on. Love the Osprey photos.
After a bit of a wait this morning the juvenile Rose-coloured Starling eventually appeared amongst the mobile Starling flock at Wembury, perching up in the dead tree at Mewstone Avenue/ Brownhill Lane #devonbirds
