Good to remember that it's not all doom and gloom for nature - I went all the way to west Wales to see my first!

Cetti's singing too - now so widespread I forgot to mention - but another that would have been unthinkable previously!

Went to Bransholme Sewage Works hoping for a Common Scoter. Signs were good with only my second Red Kite for Hull over, then delighted to find a drake Garganey there @richardkbroughton.bsky.social

Park on the corner (ample space) and there is a path in front of you. If you walk down that the field to your right is the one shrike favours - scan the hedge on the far side of the field

Absolutely zilch when we were there on saturday too! They must have some fields where they hide out of sight

Me and Ruby had 3 at Wykeham viewpoint between 10 and 1045 - were yours from there too?

Guessing it is the bird that has frequented Hogganfield in previous winters?

Assuming the high eske drake is a different bird, that's a nice tally of 3 drakes in the area

Love my nl pure 10x32 - so light it barely feels like they're on my neck

I birded Islay by foot on new years eve and new years day. 81000 steps for Cackling goose (31st Dec) the standout, plus both eagles, two green winged teal, ring necked duck etc

Turns out it was!

And water too! 🥳

Wouldn't say no to Eastern Black Redstart too!

Feels like they've had all the mega passerines in the past couple of years - must be our turn!

Excellent clocking Mr Branch!

Think only the 4th mainland Britain east coast record?

Same with the geos and west cliffs of foula - the American passerines that must have arrived there!

Did you check the berries for black throated thrush?

www.raptoridentification.com/a-focus-on-j... I have been glacially slow at pulling these thoughts together on the vagrancy/ID of these Nearctic Hare-footed Stunners. I hope it’s of use to some very lucky person one day somewhere in Europe. thanks for your time.

Any sight or sound of LSW Marc?

#flightshot elite level

Brimstone and small tortoiseshell on the wing in kingswood too

Cheers!

Did you park in Weel and walk south, Mark, or park in Wawne and walk north?

Definitely. Ditto Siskins. Noted more song thrushes though.

I think they still add birds every year to keep the population going

Don't qualify for Cat C5 in UK as not deemed self sustaining. Dutch birders and Swedish birders tick them.

If one is around, RSPB staff normally have pretty up to date information on where they've been seen that day

I saw the yellow warbler today on train from Birmingham. Can recommend!

Plenty of shoveler in evidence today, but didn't see any gadwall. When I visited frequently on lock down walks I'd see 2-3 pairs of gadwall reliably and clocked a single pochard once.