Black-throated Diver still in Hartlepool Marina late afternoon. Also a single Pale Bellied Brent on Seaton Snook just before dusk. @teesbirds.bsky.social

4 Tundra Bean Geese and 24 Whitefronts at Cowpen Bewley late afternoon along with 2 Great White Egrets in the same field. @teesbirds.bsky.social

Drake Goosander on lake in Stewart’s Park. @teesbirds.bsky.social

Lovely photos and great work getting to 310!

I had the Kentish Plover in front of the Bay View Cafe at 3pm, 2 hours before high tide on Weds but think it’s best at first light if it’s not high tide.
I saw the RB Gull around midday in March from Lelant station (not Lelant Saltings). A local told me middle of the day was best for the gull roost.

Great read as always Carl, I always look forward to reading your blog having been on a similar path this year, with similar experiences and emotions. Good luck with the Bufflehead and Diver and I hope you manage to reach 310 for the year. Chance of Ring-billed Gull or Kentish Plover en-route?

Great read but I can’t say I don’t have pangs of jealousy reading this after spending 7 hours today in Beaulieu in the New Forest looking for the long staying GGS with no luck. But beautiful weather and Crossbills, Redpoll and lots of Dartford Warblers kept me entertained and made for a lovely day.

Thanks Carl. Took 2.5 hours of walking up and down the promenade scanning the beach and the island. Very happy to finally connect and glad the rain had disappeared by the time I found it.

Finally put my biggest bogey bird to bed after great prolonged views of the Burnham Kentish Plover this afternoon. 3rd attempt here this year and 5th attempt in total in the UK. Bird number 306 for the year.

What an amazing year you’ve had Carl. Hope you get to add a few more to the tally.

You can say that again. Yesterday was horrendous. I had to shower sand off all my waterproofs and tripod and take my binocular and telescope eye pieces apart to clean them. Also no sign of the Desert Wheatear in a 2 hour search in the morning in strong winds.

So happy to finally get good views of the Lesser Crested Tern at Cockwood after being on site nearly 6 hours and dipping it yesterday afternoon and getting caught in torrential rain and a sand blizzard in the process. Really gave everyone the run around today.

Brilliant blog post mate. It resonates so well with me. I think we’ve had similar feelings towards our big years and I don’t fancy doing this again either. But please be proud of your accomplishments this year. You’ve had a fantastic year and one I’m sure you will look back on positively.

Waxwing flew right into the bush next to where the small group was gathering early for the Hoopoe

Phenomenal day in Norfolk with Hume’s showing well at Holme (iPhone video) then Pallas’s flitting about in the sallows at Titchwell. Waiting for the Hoopoe to roost a Waxwing appeared before the Hoopoe flew in on cue. These 4 take me to 303 for the year. So chuffed to have made 300 for 1st time!

Luckily the Whitburn Pallid Swift hung around for the afternoon and I could make it up there. Second lifer this week. Showed well on and off for the hour I was there. Video of it flying over my head using just my phone.

Now I’ve seen this, I just need Red-rumped Swallow and I’ve seen all non-BBRC rarities so it’s been a target of mine for a long time. Fingers crossed it stays overnight.

I really hope for you it does. Smashing bird and South Gare is 20 minutes from my mum’s and my favourite birding site in my teens. I was relieved it stuck around as we only got back from holiday at 11pm last night.

Great read and glad you had a brilliant day close to home.

@teesbirds.bsky.social

Overjoyed the Olive-backed Pipit stayed at South Gare a second day so I could catch up with it after getting back from holiday last night. Great to see one after none turned up during my stay on Shetland. Lifer!

Good luck

Wonderfully written as always. Great you had a such a therapeutic few days of birding and being in nature

Sleddale from Percy Cross Rigg 3.00-4.30pm: no sign of the Rough-Legged Buzzard but saw Red Kite, 2 Raven, 2 Kestrel, 6+ Buzzard and 17 Pink-footed Geese south. Also large flock of Fieldfare and another Red Kite in fields east of Kildale. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social

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.

Fingers crossed. Only got one full day left on Shetland. I wonder what you’ll be on by the end of Scilly. Hope the birds keep coming for you.

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.

Congrats on getting to 300!

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.