Birding home from Fife :: 15-16 April 2026 We’d been invited to join family up in St Andrews, where my brothers were playing golf and staying at a particularly lovely hotel. The weath...

I've posted my latest blog. A trip home from a short break in St. Andrew's, and with a lifer along the way. Thanks for looking!
@birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social #UKbirding
jkhsmith.blogspot.com/2026/04/bird....

Two whimbrel from Clifford Hill CP on Saturday with Kev Heath - seem to be quite a few through locally @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social #UKbirding.

On the way home from Swineham, Dorset yesterday, Kev & Karen Heath & I stopped off at Pig Bush in Hants and saw several common redstarts, with bonus firecrest and Dartford warbler @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social.

Only seen the Slimbridge white-spot before. No not done 300 before - with work only birded on Saturdays and best is 274. Decided to leave work - seems to be a good start to the year and worth a shot. Still got to fit in some birding too and not just focus on a number - hopefully come in due course.

Joined the party and visited Swineham, Dorset for the red-spotted bluethroat with Kev and Karen Heath this morning - it didn't disappoint. Good to bump into Graham Jepson there for a catch-up @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social.

Off for the bluethroat tomorrow. Hoping for 300+ this year.

Hi Matt. Yes it was. Good to chat and I see you have been quite successful as you’ve ventured north. I also missed the scoters: too distant; strong winds; rough sea; perhaps not where I was at Methil or Lower Largo. Stay lucky.

A bit of a journey from Fife where I'd had a break with family. Was lucky to be able to catch up with a black-throated thrush at Mayshiel, then marsh sandpiper at Boldon Flats, and finishing with an Iberian chiffchaff at Hardwick Hill CP @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social.

Lots of willow warblers along the river path at Farmoor yesterday - also first sedge warblers, whitethroats, and cuckoo of the year for Kev Heath and I - @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social.

Some more photos of the great northern diver presently at Farmoor Reservoir. Flushed by paddle boarders until it flew from F1 to F2 - had then returned as the boarders left and dropped down onto the river - successfully feeding on crayfish @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social.

Titchfield Haven NNR & Hook-with-Warsharsh :: 04 April 2026 There seemed an obvious choice of destination for Saturday - the American golden plover at Hook-with-Warsash, Hampshire. This coastal reserv...

I've posted my latest blog. A trip with Kev Heath to Hook-with-Warshash, Hampshire, for the American golden plover. Thanks for looking!
@birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social
jkhsmith.blogspot.com/2026/04/titc....

Four glossy ibis at Posbrook Floods, Titchfield Haven NNR on Saturday, with Kev Heath - @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social.

Great northern diver at Farmoor Reservoir last Friday @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social.

Visit for American golden plover at Hook-with-Warsash, Hampshire y'day with Kev Heath - bumped into @oldcaley.bsky.social. Good scope views but only cropped record photos - luckily visited another site beforehand so dropped straight on bird on arrival @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social.

Thank you. Much appreciated.

A day in North Wales :: 30 March 2026 With the clocks having moved forward an hour on Sunday, we were able to enjoy a lie-in, until around 2.30–2.45am and still arriving in North...

I've posted my latest blog. A trip with Kev Heath to North Wales for grouse on the moors, and onwards to make a day of it. Thanks for looking!
@birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social #UKbirding
jkhsmith.blogspot.com/2026/04/a-da....

Hunting for woodlark :: 26-27 March 2026 Kev @kev07713 and I discussed possible options for a birding trip on Thursday, but with nothing particularly standing out, we settled on a ...

I've posted my latest blog. A couple of trips with Kev Heath on the lookout for woodlarks. Thanks for looking!
@birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social
jkhsmith.blogspot.com/2026/03/hunt....

Some black grouse action in North Wales yesterday with
Kev Heath & @alanbodd.bsky.social too @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @rspbcymru.bsky.social @northwaleswt.bsky.social .

A day around N Wales with Kev Heath - & unexpectedly with @alanbodd.bsky.social as he toured with Brandon Marsh friends - 5 new year ticks: black and red grouse, lesser yellowlegs, chough, and fulmar @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @rspbcymru.bsky.social @northwaleswt.bsky.social.

While my car was in the garage, I borrowed a courtesy car and headed to Acres Down for a walk, where I managed to see some of the local specialities - woodlark, crossbill, and firecrest @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social.

Wiltshire & Lutley, West Midlands :: 21 & 24 March 2026 Kev @kev07713 and I decided it was time for our annual pilgrimage to Wiltshire to see the stone curlews and great bustards - the stone curl...

I've posted my latest blog. A visit with Kev Heath to Wiltshire for stone curlews, and to catch up with the bustards - a bonus hen harrier made the day. Thanks for looking!
@birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social #UKbirding
jkhsmith.blogspot.com/2026/03/wilt....

Today's target birds were woodlark and wheatear. Kev Heath and I managed to see both at Greenham Common, along with common sandpiper over. Also three pairs of bullfinches - a species I'd so far missed this year @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social.

Didn't see a ring ouzel at all last year and so it was a real treat to get to Lutley, West Midlands for one today - two present but Kev and Karen Heath and I only managed to see one of them @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social.

Isombridge, Ryton Pools & Brandon Marsh :: 17 March 2026 The taiga bean goose has a relatively recent yet highly significant history at Slamannan in central Scotland, where it now represents one of...

I've posted my latest blog. A visit with Kev Heath to
Isombridge to see a lifer - the taiga bean goose - then back down through Warwickshire for smew, ferruginous duck, and garganey. Thanks for looking!
@birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social #UKbirding
jkhsmith.blogspot.com/2026/03/isom....

A large amount of heat haze around RSPB Winterborne Downs and Salisbury Plain y'day, and distance, meant views of stone curlews and hen harrier were good in the field but tricky to capture on camera for Kev Heath and I - @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social #UKbirding.

Cambridgeshire & Summer Leys :: 14 March 2026 On Friday evening, Kev @kev07713 and I put together a shortlist of potential destinations for Saturday, eventually settling on a trip into ...

I've posted my latest blog. A visit with Kev Heath to @rspb.bsky.social Ouse Fen, @wwtworldwide.bsky.social WWT Welney Washes and @wildlifebcn.org Summer Leys. Thanks for looking!
@birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social #UKbirding
jkhsmith.blogspot.com/2026/03/camb....

While enjoying a coffee at Ryton Pools CP, Kev Heath and I received news that a pair of garganey had returned less than 10mins away at Brandon Marsh. We quickly packed up and headed over, bumping into @alanbodd.bsky.social on the way in @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social #UKbirding.

Dropped into Ryton Pools CP yesterday to see the smew and ferruginous duck with Kev Heat. The smew showed amazingly well and fishing for newts. The duck stayed distant @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social.

Visited Isombridge, Shropshire this am with Kev Heath in search of the taiga bean goose. Soon found it with two pink-footed geese and enjoyed some great views, although the backlighting made photography challenging. Another lifer for us both @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social #UKbirding.

While scanning for the absent garganey at @wwtworldwide.bsky.social Welney on Saturday, Kev Heath spotted an otter in the water - which soon became three otters - great views.