Bless…he deserves all he can get

A grasshopper warbler has been reeling away at Croxley Common. Hopes are high it might breed as a second female bird has been seen. The call is unique, described as being like a fishing line, hence "reeling". It is a classic LBJ but if you see it well is a very smart bird.

The grasshopper warbler showed well this morning at Croxley Common. With a bit of patience it climbed up to the top of its favourite bush reeling as it went. There seems to have been a lot of work done there and the habitat looks good for potential breeding this year. #hertbirds #ukbirds

That is gorgeous

Can I have one please

Paid a trip to Willow Fen to see the resident and breeding cranes. Really good views and lots of bugling action. Amazing to see almost 30 fly back in from the fields. #ukbirding #birds #lincsbirding

Juvenile white-tailed sea eagle taken in Norway. We were driving and it was perched up only yards off the roadside. Seemed to be very tolerant so I suspect it was waiting for me to throw it a herring!!!!

Cat with catitude!

Larrr you are an inspiration

Tawny owl hiding in its favourite roosting tree at titchwell

The three glossy ibis at Stiffkey. Easy tick but a b***er to find anywhere to park!!!

Hundreds of lapwings at Cley. Seemed very nervous probably due to the constant marsh harriers overflying them!

Grey plover - a year tick - at Titchwell.

Day trip to Norfolk for some year ticks. Titchwell yielded tawny owl, lt duck and two woodcock. Three glossy ibis at Stiffkey showed well. Water pipit at Cley was elusive. Few other bits and pieces got me 14 year ticks and up to 127 for the year. Not a day for photos! #ukbirding #norfolk #yearlist

There is!

Male greater scaup

Greater scaup pair

Great northern diver

Little owl

Went to Staines reservoir on a dull day. Greater scaup pair were close in. Great northern diver and black-necked grebes were middle distance and the lesser scaup drake was in another galaxy! Stopped at Woodoaks farm on the way back where the little owl was perched in its usual tree. #ukbirding

The actual view across the lake towards the killdeer

A cropped as far as I can take it version of it!

Turnstone at Titchfield Haven

One of a dozen or so eider off the coast

Filthy twitching for the killdeer (very rare US wader) in Hants today. Showed well but at a distance on a horrible grey day (excuse for poor photos!). Lifer taking me (back) to 417 on the UK list. Pottered down the coast year-ticking afterwards before rain stopped play #ukbirding #birds

Clearly ship assisted😂😂😂😂

Many happy returns Larry

Good trip today - tundra bean goose, yellow-browed warbler and firecrest all seen. Good crowd at the YBW/ firecrest twitch with lots of non-birders now educated on rare birds! Geese were easy but the YBW and firecrest were tricky to photo. Year has got off to a good start #ukbirding #hertsbirds

black-winged kite perched distantly in a tree

black-winged kite in flight

black-winged kite in flight

common cranes in flight

Last trip out this year and it was a good one. Black-winged kite (lifer) in Norfolk. Took three hours to give itself up properly and then was pretty distant but well worth it. Loads of cranes around as well. May well be back in a few days for the 2026 list! #ukbirding

Absolutely

Great to see him in good form

Was a bit quiet at @maplelodgereserve.bsky.social yesterday. This female sparrowhawk might be the reason! #ukbirding #hertsbirds

We are on applecross in west Scotland All day skeins of pink-footed geese have been flying over. They are migrating from Greenland and Iceland to their wintering grounds in the U.K. - perhaps north Norfolk! Winter is coming!!!

F definitely

Fan-tailed warbler/ zitting cisticola showed well at Walberswick this morning. Called frequently with song flights. Always very distant but good scope views. #418 on my UK list. I at least managed to get a photo where you can see it's a bird!!! #ukbirding.

I so recognise this!

A wasp spider finishing off its meal at @maplelodgereserve.bsky.social this afternoon. #spider #wildlife #waspspider

We paid a visit to Rye Harbour in Sussex. Lots of terns around but only a few chicks. One in front of the hide was particularly sweet ,exploring the shingle and the water. Amazing to see it flattening itself onto the pebbles when spooked - it disappeared! #ukbirding #rye #birds #terns #sussex

Super shot

A juvenile kingfisher learning its trade at Maple Lodge NR this morning. Hopefully it carries on being as successful as it was and can get its own territory. #ukbirding #hertsbirds #kingfisher #wildlife #birds

Cracking

Amazing what goes on at night.