Redstart, 19th April 2026

Lesser Whitethroat, 19th April 2026

A decent little fall at the Bill this morning: towards 130 ringed so far incl the first Lesser Whitethroats of the spring and several Redstart - nice!

Ecocide. #ecocide

Minor Bill goodie: 2 Red-necked Grebes currently settled on the sea distantly off Pulpit Rock per Kim Milsom

Sooty Shearwater lingering off the Bill tip amongst the gull flock

Bit of an ongoing fall at the Bill this morning including this nice Ring Ouzel that's just dropped in at the Obs and a Mistle Thrush trapped in the Crown Estate Field

Rarity finders: Black-faced Bunting in East Yorkshire A quiet late-autumn visit to Spurn took a dramatic turn for Andy Mears when a 'dull Reed Bunting' at Middle Camp slowly revealed itself to be something far rarer.

Rarity finders: Black-faced Bunting in East Yorkshire

A quiet late-autumn visit to Spurn took a dramatic turn for Andy Mears when a 'dull Reed Bunting' at Middle Camp slowly revealed itself to be something far rarer:

Sorry for the late news, ridiculously busy first couple of hours so not had time to post a photo of the Black-faced Bunting trapped in the Crown Estate Field on the first net round of the day - ta to Duncan Walbridge for this pic

We have just launched our projects for #phd studentships starting in Sept 26 🙌

⏰Application deadline: Midday, Wed 3 Dec 25

Come and see the (wide!) range of #bioscience projects 👉 tinyurl.com/3m9um286

Thanks for letting me know, Bob...a great bird, especially for campus!

Trip to Isle of Wight for Sylvie's birthday turns out to have been superbly planned. Calshott Great-tailed Grackle looking lovely in the sun!

Today was the funeral of Richard Parry the creator of Pilning Wetland. He sadly passed away suddenly last month. I first met him in 2005 when he purchased the ex MOD rifle range and he told me about his ambition to create a wetland. Well through his hard work he certainly created a special place.

I'll bet you are, quite rightly👏

Hi Bob, I'd be keen to know exactly where, since I work there. Nice find!

Fabulous find, Andy!

Government U-turns on support for bird-friendly swift bricks in new homes Housing minister Steve Reed refuses to back mandating measure, despite giving support while in environment job

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Such a wasted opportunity

Gorgeous!

Turning our backs on the Climate Change Act is turning our backs on the future.

Scrapping it would be a reckless retreat from climate leadership, threatening both our seas and the UK’s green economy 🌍🌊🔽
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

2 each of Whinchat and Wheatear, and 8 Golden Plover, on Salisbury Plain (Everleigh) this morning. Also 7 species butterflies, including Wall Brown, Common Blue and v worn Small Copper

Great time at Cheddar after work today. Still present, in lovely light: 5 Glossy Ibis, 3 Grey and 1 Red-necked Phalaropes, 7 Curlew Sandpipers, 3 Ruff and 21 Dunlin @birdguides.bsky.social

3rd September We're usually the first ones to moan about constantly windy weather but the quality of the seawatching that it's precipitated has been so go...

www.portlandbirdobs.com/2025/09/3rd-september.html

Nice one!

Montagu's Harrier pair successfully breeds in England A pair of Montagu's Harrier, Britain’s rarest breeding bird, have successfully raised four chicks at a secret site in England, the first UK nesting success since 2019. Monitored by the RSPB and a farmer, the rare birds' return offers hope for the species' future in Britain.

Wonderful news this evening! A pair of Montagu's Harrier has bred at a secret location in England this summer, the RSPB has announced:

📢Open for registration📢

Our FREE PhD #biosicence Taster Summer School🙌

Try out a 3wk SELF-PACED mini-PhD #datascience project

Working as interdisciplinary teams, supported by our friendly student mentors😊

🗓️Virtual 23 Jun-11 Jul🗓️

Register today👉https://shorturl.at/IxKn6

This photograph captures Sir David Attenborough seated outdoors on the rugged terrain of Skomer Island. Behind him, the ocean and coastal cliffs form a scenic backdrop under a clear sky. Sir David, dressed in a khaki jacket and light trousers, looks towards the camera with a gentle expression, exuding a sense of warmth, calm, and wisdom. Around him, puffins can be seen flying and perched on the rocky ground, illuminated in rays of golden sunlight as the sun sets behind the cliffs.

Happy 99th birthday to the man who gave voice to the wild. 🎉

Sir David Attenborough, thank you for a lifetime dedicated to the natural world, and for sharing its story with wisdom, wonder, and grace.

You've inspired generations to fall in love with nature.

10th April Bar another flurry of Hoopoe sightings today didn't have tremendously much going for it; the unbroken sunshine was again nice but an unwelco...

www.portlandbirdobs.com/2025/04/10th-april.html

Ring-necked Duck, NE corner of Noah's Lake

Brilliant views of the very dapper Ring-necked Duck just past the Ham Wall railway bridge still, down to 30m

11+ hawfinches feeding in yews by west entrance of Fountains Abbey 12.50pm @nybirdnews.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

2 f Long tailed duck, 2 f Common Scoter, 2Blacknecked Grebe 3GNDiver, Ferrybridge

Black Restart at Chesil Beach by Cove House Inn @birdguides.bsky.social @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social