Adder @rspbminsmere.bsky.social dunes today

A busy nest-building Treecreeper @rspbminsmere.bsky.social a couple of days ago

Third & final post of the @naturetrek.bsky.social trip to Taiwan, brilliantly led by Richard Foster; lovely country, safe with great scenery & food. Eastern Spot-billed Duck, Black-faced Spoonbills (honest), Maroon Oriole & Black Eagle.

More highlights from @naturetrek.bsky.social Taiwan trip: White-bellied Green Pigeon, Collared Bush Robin, White-whiskered Whistling Thrush and the multi-coloured Taiwan Barbet.

Some highlights from my recent @naturetrek.bsky.social trip: Taiwan Blue Magpie; Swinhoe's and Mikado Pheasants & to brighten up a wet & miserable day a very obliging White's Thrush

A quick trip to the badlands of NE Norfolk for the juvenile Iceland Gull which was showing close-in at Sea Palling with a Little Gull further along the shoreline. A few Sanderling and Turnstones too but didn't go looking for the Purple Sandpipers.

Day out with Reg in NE Suffolk started well with part of the Snow Bunting flock at K'land trapped and ringed + 4 Shore Lark further North; no sign of the Cisticola at W'wick but adult Med Gull along shoreline and 8+ Crossbills nr Westleton Heath car park

An up and down day in N. Norfolk yesterday with Reg Land. Great views of the male Eastern Black Redstart at Sheringham, reasonably close views of 2 Velvets off Kelling, dipped on the Laplands and Stiffkey Glossy Ibises but a close, immature male Hen Harrier at the roost was a great end to the day.

Funny looking female Pheasant wandered into the garden this morning; anybody any ideas of species?

No Twite in 25 but 1 today nr Hen Reedbed, it had been on the plant below but flew just before I took it! A one-legged Dunlin and several Rock Pipits other birds there.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza caused a mass die-off in Eurasian cranes during their autumn migration through Germany, France and Spain. More than 18,000 dead cranes were reported dead in Germany alone. The full demographic impact of this mortality on the crane population needs to be assessed.

When will we ever learn? Cameron's tories vowed to be the greenest government and look where that went!

Temminck's Stint very flighty @rspb.bsky.social Minsmere today between East & West Scrapes. Hopefully RSPB will be compensated by EDF for the continuous annoying noise that will put people off visiting and also disturb birds

Three Long-eared Owls at Deeping Lakes on Monday. One spotted by a very observant lady birder and the other 2 by thermal imager. Not the best view of one I accept but even part of one is great!

Some positive bird news for a change!

Wish this had been available before Dad died in 2000 but published in 2018. Could have asked him about the march from Dunkirk to Germany, camp life & the Death March at end of the war. A truly remarkable account of life in Stalag VIIIB. Nothing left of the camp now as has reverted to peaceful woods.

Went back to Titchwell again yesterday @rspb.bsky.social for another look at the Am. GP, not playing ball in the am but 5 Firecrest behind VC a highlight. Back in the pm & the plover was in the GP flock right near the path in beautiful sunlight.

A lengthy trip up to @rspbtitchwellsnett.bsky.social yesterday, with a lane closure on the A47, turn-off to the Fakenham Road closed and slow traffic rewarded by excellent views of the immature American Golden Plover on the Fresh Marsh. Really did stand out against the yellower, larger Goldies.

The Umayyad Palace and dome in Amman Citadel; The Royal Tombs in Patra; and the Obelisk Tomb along the track towards Petra.

A few more birds and sites from our recent non-birding trip to Jordan: Hadrian's Arch, entrance to Jerash; The Monastery up 900 steps from Petra valley floor; Laughing Dove, vivid colours in the desert light; and White-crowned Wheatear; both birds in Wadi Rum

As well as stunning natural and man-made sights

And some mystery birds which I think are Masked and Red-backed Shrikes and an Indian Silverbill

Managed a few birds on our recent history/landscape trip to Jordan including Sinai Rosefinch, Mourning Wheatear, Sand Partridge and a family of Sooty Falcons

Arrested on charges of "Malicious communications", for projecting a picture of 2 fully clothed men onto a building?

Seriously, are we still pretending we're free to peacefully protest, cos it increasingly doesn't look like that.

After a 2 hour wait at Landguard today the Wryneck showed very well!

Windy walk round Aldeburgh Marshes today with few waders on the main scrape area although low tide on the river so godwits there. Then Wheatear & Yellow Wagtails, latter with cattle. At the allotment pools 4 Curlew Sandpipers and more Yellow Wagtails; further on 3Whinchat & another Wheatear.

A rather birdless start to the day in the garden this morning

Massive impacts of UK pig and poultry farming revealed for first time A new independent report, commissioned by The Wildlife Trusts, has for the first time investigated the cumulative impact of the UK pig and poultry sector on the wider countryside. The findings reveal the deep impacts of these increasingly intensive industries on water quality and pollution levels.

A new report has for the first time investigated the cumulative impact of the UK pig and poultry sector on the wider countryside:

Vast areas of peatland destroyed since peat ban announced exactly 3 years ago | The Wildlife Trusts It has been three years since the UK Government announced that it would ban the sale of peat for use in the amateur gardening sector, yet there is still no sign of legislation to enact the ban.

Every day the government delays banning the sale of peat compost means more carbon lost to the atmosphere from this appalling practice

www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/vast-ar...

Remember it well; looking for a Sandplover (unsuccessful) with a fellow birder when almost knocked over in the rush of twitchers along the seawall. Just occasionally I'm in the right place at exactly the right time.