A sad end for another White-billed Diver, this one at the Eden Estuary #birdingFife #rarebirdsUK

I had a bit more time off in Jan so decided to see how quickly I could get to 100 bird species in Clyde. I achieved that goal by the 21st and finished the month on 112 species for Clyde only. One highlight this Green Woodpecker. A scarce bird for us but maybe expanding?

A great start to 2026 with the successful twitch of a superb find in Lothian of a Woodlark. I didn’t go for the 2008 Lothian bird as just couldn’t find the time. A new Scottish bird for me! 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿❤️ Thanks to the finder and all the reports!

A nail biting 2+ days to connect properly with the brilliant find of this local mega Common Crane! A new Clyde tick in a tricky place! Thanks to the finder and all those putting news out! A new Clyde bird for me!👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

photograph pf Slavonian Grebe in sunshine and calm water

New on the website today - tinyurl.com/clyde-nov-list
read Donald's @clydebirder1.bsky.social
review of November's sightings in Clyde and check the total and species on this year's Clyde List bit.ly/4q4y2Dz Chronological summary available too tinyurl.com/grapevine-nov #clydebirding

Baron’s haugh is a semi urban wetland about 2 miles from Motherwell town centre. So far it’s had 16 species of wader and at least 20 sp over the past 15 years. Lately 8 sp been present simultaneously. This Greenshank showed very well yesterday. More to come this autumn?

Apart from the superb Spoonbill over the past two days, Baron’s Haugh is one of the top sites in Scotland for wintering Green Sand. Six have now been seen at once at the site lately and last year the peak count was 20+, with 6/7 over wintering. Nice close one yday.

And to round up today some cracking local Osprey action! Clyde birding at its best! Osprey just seem to be everywhere and going from strength to strength! 👍

Also today I came across two pairs of Little Ringed Plover (LRP). Once a mega rarity in Clyde but now our county seems to hold a high % of the Scottish breeding pairs? Obviously very recently fledged, is this not very late?

Some cracking local Clyde birding today with a Spoonbill being found several hours (not by me) after my early morning wader count! 🙄 This being my 3rd Clyde encounter with this species.

First #Chough chick fledglings of the 2025 season arrived in my garden this morning.
Here's Mr & Mrs Pen-las Rock South with their 3 noisy chicks constantly begging for food.
@cofnod.org.uk
@rspb.bsky.social

What a day in urban Clyde. 114 Black Tailed Godwits today over 3 sites all in semi urban/urban environments. Also a superb 8 wader species afternoon at Barons Haugh inc 2 Wood Sand, 4 Common, 5 Green, 1RP, 1 Curlew, 56 Lapwing & 1 Redshank. These Blackwits were no more than 50m away! 👍

These striking Black Tailed Godwits were at Musselburgh Lagoons yesterday. After looking in the books I’m considering these are the sub species Limosa limosa ie the continental race? Comments welcome & happy to be wrong. 👍

Dipped the WW Scoter at Musselburgh this afternoon. It seems a 7am visit produces the goods currently? However thanks to Dennis Morrison for point HH out this Small Skipper, a S Ostoja first for me!

My second singing Scottish Blyth’s Reed Warbler today. My first being the Nigg bird over 20 years ago (I think). This bird singing constantly and extremely obliging! 👍

Along with the Wood Sand, 2 Greenshank also dropped in overnight. A scarce bird in Clyde this year especially during the spring. Both birds failed breeding adults probably.

Delighted to find this Wood Sandpiper yesterday at Barons Haugh, Motherwell. The third for this site this year & the first return passage bird.

Knepp White Storks migrate to Morocco and back White Storks born at the Knepp Castle Estate in West Sussex last year have returned to the site this spring having wintered as far south as Morocco. At least six storks born at Knepp in 2024 returned to nest in the colony, including a female has set up home in the same tree as her parents, according to White Stork Project officer Laura Vaughan-Hirsch. Knepp Castle Estate owner Isabella Tree said the site's storks were

White Storks born at the Knepp Castle Estate in West Sussex last year have returned to the site this spring having wintered as far south as Morocco:

New nature reserve to restore rainforest in Yorkshire Dales A new Yorkshire Dales nature reserve will help restore rare temperate rainforest, supporting species such as Red Squirrels, Pine Martens and Black Grouse. The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust says the site will boost biodiversity with native trees and shrubs, offering a vital refuge for threatened wildlife and a place for public enjoyment.

A new nature reserve in the Yorkshire Dales is set to restore temperate rainforest and provide a haven for wildlife in the process:

A wee wader fest at RSPB Baron’s Haugh Motherwell mid morning. 2 Green Sand, 3 RP, 1 LRP, 2 Juv Common Sand & 11 Lapwings. Lanarkshire urban birding. 👍

Solway coast secures £1.4m nature-restoration grant The Solway Coast in south-west Scotland has secured £1.4 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to kick-start a major restoration project. The SCAMP initiative aims to unlock a further £6.4 million to restore key habitats, create 200 km of coastal trail and boost local economies. It's the first project funded under the UK-wide Landscape Connections scheme.

The Solway coastline has received a major £1.4 million funding boost as the first recipient of the National Lottery Heritage Fund's £150-million Landscape Connections programme:

Poland Bird Festival, May 2025 - Wild Poland

wildpoland.com/poland-bird-...
A superb 9 days in Poland in May. A mix of finding my own birds and guided outings. Brilliant value for money & thoroughly recommend Wild Pollad! 👍

After twitching the Tentsmuir Iberian Chiff for a welcome Scottish tick it was off to the Ythan to try for the BB Sand. 5 mins from the destination this mega was found over the tern colony. Another very unexpected & welcome Scottish tick! Always take the luck when you can! Bridled Tern!

What a superb week in NE Poland based in the ❤️ of the Bialowieza Forrest with Wild Poland during their birding festival. A mix of some short guided trips & birding on my own.159 species recorded with only 4 heard & finding many of my own.Here a 3 Toed Woodpecker as part of one of the guided trips.

My first Scottish tick of the year & much better views than my Norfolk one in 2011, despite the horrendous weather. This was the 26th May, the day after it was re-identified.

Delighted to connect with a pair of Avocet at one of my local haunts, Barron’s Haugh. I was in Croatia when they turned up last Fri. Only the 4th record for Clyde and a county 1st for Lanarkshire. It amazes me how they find food with that sweeping action!

Social media posts reveal the alarming extent of illegal wildlife hunting in Lebanon

www.oryxthejournal.org/blog/social-...

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Scottish seabirds continue to decline Scotland's seabird populations have halved since 1986, with all monitored species showing declines, according to new NatureScot data. While some species show signs of short-term recovery, threats such as food shortages, climate change and avian flu continue to put pressure on these internationally i...

Scotland's seabird populations are continuing to decline, according to new figures released by NatureScot:

Bootcamp birding in Northumberland with @clydebirder1.bsky.social - read all about the species seen and hotspots visited on our latest outing bit.ly/northumberla... #clydebirding

An inland breeding? RP in Clyde today. A joy to observe!