That’s correct it’s the species I see in a year within a 10k circle of my house to encourage me to undertake #lowcarbonbirding & the majority of my regular haunts are walkable from home

Having added Reed & Willow Warbler, Whitethroat & House Martin to the 10k over the last week I’d hit the 100 mark for the year. A trip to Highgate Common this am added 3 more; 2 duelling male Cuckoo, Garden Warbler & Bullfinch at last! 103 for the 10k year is already a record for April #ukbirding

Took a trip out of the 10k yday evening for the fem Hooded Merganser at Alvecote Pools NR found by @archieraven.bsky.social on Sunday. Having not been for any other potentially acceptable birds, I’m hoping this one makes the cut. A drake Garganey on the same pool was an added bonus #ukbirding

Early am trip out to the SW edge of the 10k to Highgate Common & nearby area produced 3 additions (96sp now): 4+ Brambling (2+m), Oystercatcher & 2 Curlew thankfully back in situ at their last remaining local haunt. Also fem Wheatear, male Stonechat, 3+ Redpoll, 5 Lapwing, ad Peregrine #ukbirding

First quarter of 2026 done & 93sp in the 10k circle, 7 ahead of my previous best at this date. Some real bonuses inc the goose-fest of White-fronts, Barnacles & Pink-footed but some worrying omissions not at their usual haunts inc Curlew, Little Owl & Marsh Tit. 90 of the 93 self-found #ukbirding

Failed with the now near mythical Lesser Spott Wood in the 10k early am (1 seen on 22/3) but 2 drake Mandarin & 3 drumming Gt Spott Wood kept me entertained while I waited in vain to hear their smaller cousin. A singing Cetti’s Warbler on my run yday evening did take the 10k year to 93sp #ukbirding

Caught up with my first hirundines of the year this afternoon at Pool Hall Fishery in the light rain, surprisingly for March here the balance was in favour of Swallow with 4 v a single Sand Martin. Always a pleasure to see the first of the Spring skimming the water. 92sp for 10k year #ukbirding

A morning walk on Highgate Common yday produced little bird wise except a Red Kite but 2 Slow Worm & 3 Common Lizard impressed the family. Nearby no sign of any Curlew at the only previously reliable local spot. So sad for a species I took for granted on the local farmland as a youngster #ukbirding

The 10k year hit the 90 mark this evening with my first Wheatear, a cracking male, on the north side of Wombourne, found earlier by @jamesthorpe1.bsky.social . The 21/3 produced two additions; a chance fem Merlin by road between Orton & Lower Penn and finally a Reed Bunting at Pool Hall #ukbirding

Slow start to March in 10k but still 2 additions (87 now). Woodcock flying in front of car at Wergs Hall Road in daylight on 4/3, over main A41 and off over houses! Tried to get in on the Scoter action yday at Himley Pool but no joy just Goosander, 4 Gt C Grebe & 1st Chiffchaff of year #ukbirding

A productive weekend for the 10k year reaching 85 with 4 additions. A Water Rail at Compton Wetlands on 21/2 plus 2 Green Wood yaffling. A walk around the Trescott area farmland yday am produced a pair of Grey Partridge & 3+ Corn Bunting. 3 Yellowhammer, 13+ Skylark & 1 RL Partridge too #ukbirding

Another venture to the 10k border at Mere Farm near Highgate today, this time for a flock of 12 Barnacle Geese inc two yellow (R) & red (L) colour-ringed birds that joined the 3 Russian Whitefronts & c200 Greylags yday. 81 now for 10k year, as they did a fly around into circle airspace #ukbirding

Thanks Kane - much appreciated. There will be better shots / video grabs by others but this is the best I could get of the yellow rings on each today. It looked like same number on other side of ring too i.e. 00 & 55

Yep that’s correct. It looks like a pair with an unringed bird in tow. Both ringed birds have yellow ring / black number on right leg & red ring / white number on left leg. The one bird looks like 5 (yellow) and 9 (red), the other bird has 0 (yellow) and we’ve not managed to get the red yet

A walk along the canal yday morning from Dimmingsdale to Bratch Locks revealed the drake Mandarin from Dec’25 was still present & became no.79 for the 10k year. Quiet otherwise but a good total of 9 singing Song Thrush added their uplifting vocals along the way #ukbirding

Ended Jan on 75 for the 10k, my best start since started keeping a total in 2022. 1st Feb added another 3 to the total inc 5 Pochard (2m,3f) on Himley Great Pool, a scarce bird in my 10k now (didn’t see any in 2025!). 3 Gt C Grebe & c60 Siskin other 2 additions, roosting Tawny Owl too #ukbirding

Thought they might have been same. We don’t get many Pochard these days do we, didn’t see any in my 10k last year, and the five is the most I’ve seen in 10k for many years 🫣 Get decent no. of Tufties in West Park but the regular wintering drake Pochard is long gone now

Were the 5 Pochard yday 2 drake & 3 fem? Same number of birds at Himley Great Pool this afternoon

It’s so hard to know with these 1-2 Pinks in with Greylags as to whether they are local feral or wild birds. Sat was the first day the ad Pink has been reported in this flock. Would be nice if some Beans decided to join the party

Interestingly there was a classic adult Pink-foot there on Saturday. That bird could be a ‘feral’ local bird wandering around with the Greylags & may be one of the parents of these two birds 🤔 I’m pretty sure I saw that right hand bird on Sat too but dismissed it as an ‘odd Greylag’

A venture to the very edge of my 10k this anoon for the 3 Russian White-fronted Geese (2ad+1w) at Mere Farm, near Highgate was successful plus picked out an ad Pink-footed & 1 Egyptian amongst 300+ Greylags. 3 Stonechat (2m,1f) around too. 75 for the 10k year @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social #ukbirding

Last few photos processed for end of Dec’25. Although much more regular in Staffs now, any encounter with a Goshawk (the avian terminator) is still a pleasure…although I’m not sure the Sparrowhawk keeping a watchful eye would agree! Male Stonechat & drake Mandarin the supporting cast #ukbirding

2w Caspian Gull in West Park, Wolverhampton on 27/12/25 (also present 1/1/26). A fairly small bird & likely the same bird that has been regularly seen at Belvide this winter & was also present at both sites last winter, compare 1w photos from 4/1/25 #caspiangull #gulls #ukbirding

4/1/26 a quiet last day off b4 work until last hr walk to Pool Hall fishery: Jack & 2 Common Snipe in tiny patch of unfrozen ditch, Great Egret, 3 Teal, Shoveler & 7 Goosander on ice / small area of unfrozen pool. 2 Tawny Owl dueting at dusk & in flight. 68 for 10k in 2026 in 4 days #ukbirding

A quiet day yday but still added Red Kite to the 10k year with one SW over Finchfield. Back out walking today and added a lovely ad male Goshawk cruising above a woodland in the cold winter sun. Fem Stonechat, male Kestrel, Treecreeper & a few other common bits took the 2026 10k up to 61 #ukbirding

A respectable 50 species in & around Wolverhampton for day 1 of 2026: 2w Caspian Gull again in West Park at 14:15 @rarebirder.bsky.social also 7 Shoveler & 2 RN Parakeet plus male Peregrine nearby. Pool Hall fishery in am held: Great & 6 L Egret, 26+ Goosander, Lapwing & male Kingfisher #ukbirding

Same to you mate! My 10k year total would have been a lot lower without the finds of you & your dad 👍

Cheers mate 👍
It’s very hard work at times for sure but then the rewards feel sweeter when you’ve put in the hard graft first

Ended 2025 with 118 for the 10k circle, down on 122 (2024) & record 126 (2023) but plenty of quality: Marsh Warbler & Whimbrel were 10k ✅’s. Firecrest, Dipper, Caspian Gull, Black Redstart, Hawfinch, Goshawk, Grey Partridge & Corn Bunting all noteworthy for in & around Wolverhampton #ukbirding

Last attempt of 2025 this am to add to the 10k year list failed but did find two 2nd records - 2 adult Goshawk inc this perched bird with was joined by a brave Sprawk! A distant Great Egret was the other. Peregrine, Kestrel, male Stonechat & remains of an unfortunate Barn Owl also found #ukbirding