I was really excited when I found the adult Bonaparte's on a chilly Saturday at Swanpool. It's still really clear in the mind & I remember that, with a less than extensive grapevine in my notebook at the time (I was pretty new on the scene as a rabid teenager out as often as school work and parents would allow!) it was a struggle to spread news. After speaking to Richard Crossley (who was a couple of years above me at Okehampton Comprehensive) I ended up calling a local "Corn" ~ an arch suppressor of the time & very much one of the notorious old guard of Cornish birders who *really* didn't like sharing anything much ~ who gruffly thanked me for the information and ended by saying "we don't spread news here"... A few months after submitting, I got the Mike Rogers handwritten postcode advising me of the acceptance with a nice note from Peter Grant complimenting me on my notes. I never forgot that... Very happy times.

The last Bonaparte's Gull I saw as an official rarity was last September when one of our regular trips to Sandwich took in the superb long-returning adult at Oare Marshes. Just like that moulting adult in 1983, I really enjoyed this quality Nearctic vagrant.

There's been a fair bit of chat about BBRC removing Bonaparte's Gull from the official rarity list. I guess the time had come...I've got a real soft spot for them, the 2nd BB rare I found, 43 years ago when I was a proper kid birder😱 - shame they spelt my name wrong!
#ukbirding
#rarebirdsuk

Winning combination of Wheatears and Ring Ouzels at Burnham Overy this afternoon #UKBirding #norfolkbirding #birds

Teeming with Wheatears at Burnham Overy this afternoon #UKBirding #norfolkbirding #birds

No time to stagnate: Marsh Sandpiper and upland birds Any day that includes a noticeable change in habitats is a day I enjoy.  I love the way that moving from lowland to upland changes the bird ...

A great day of varying habitat, birds and experiences - my blog about Marsh Sandpiper, Red Grouse and Ring Ouzel. #ukbirding #birds

The little fella is still around. Brandon today.

#Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife

Male Marsh Harrier hunting at Adwick Washlands this afternoon #yorkshirebirding #ukbirding

Great visit to RSPB Adwick Washlands. Highlights - 5 Wheatear, 20+ Yellow Wagtail, my 1st Reed Warbler of the year, LRP, Black-tailed Godwit, Marsh Harrier and this Cattle Egret being chased by an inquisitive cow. Thanks to the Adwick regulars for letting me tag along #yorkshirebirding #ukbirding

TBOSG: APRIL 11th 2026 🔎

A Lesser Whitethroat and Common Tern on Severnside today takes the S. Glos 2026 Year List to 173! 😊

Many thanks to @severnsidebirds.bsky.social

📸 Library

www.thebirdsofsouthgloucestershire.co.uk

#UKbirding
#Southglosbirds

European Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) Goyt Valley, Derbyshire, UK, 11/04/2026 ebird.org/checklist/S3... An early returner, freshly arrived from sub-Saharan Africa #ukbirding #birding #birds @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social

Brilliant! A Lincs Ring Ouzel this evening! (on a private farm with no access). #lincsbirding #birds #ukbirding #ringouzel #birdsseenin2026

Some movement this morning, but nothing too heady!!! Nice to have a few Whimbrel through, S/Terns, Gannets and Scoter. Lucky to have two Caspian Gulls drop down on the beach in front of me.#sussexbirds #UkBirding

Fab day across the county today, starting at Druridge Bay with a stunning male Marsh Harrier giving amazing views, along with three Barn Owls and a Short-eared Owl plus an arrival of warblers. Finished at Hawsen Burn with an impressive group of ten recently arrived Ring Ouzels. #NEBirding #UKBirding

My fourth time trying to see the Bluethroat at Swineham at least gave me this nice shot of a Song Thrush. (P.S. I'll be back looking for the Bluethroat!)
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
#DorsetBirds
#UKbirding

2 of the Abberton Res. Spoonbills showed nicely at Layer Breton causeway today. Makes a nice change to actually see them doing something as opposed to sleeping
#essexbirding
#birds
#ukbirding

A pair of Cranes (Grus grus) take flight from a fenland reedbed

Different day, slightly different patch. The local pair, without the interloping third. It's possible that after three attempts at hatching eggs, the female has sought another suitor to father her offspring...but who knows? #UKBirding

Hope's Nose, Devon. 14.25-16.30. 60+ Sandwich Terns past the Point and beyond were quite a spectacle. 200+ Manx Shears offshore and a vocal and showy Whimbrel over the Point made the walk down worthwhile. 65+ Gans, 30+ Kitts. #DevonBirds #UKBirding #birds

A dark bird with a long decurved bill is flying left against a white background. It is a Glossy Ibis.

A medium size brown wader is partly hidden by vegetation in the middle of the photo. It has a thin black bill and a white eye stripe over a dark eye. It is a 1w American Golden Plover.

A nice jaunt over to Hampshire for the Chichester RSPB Group today. Water Vole, several showy Cetti’s, and 3 Glossy Ibis along Titchfield Canal. Then we couldn’t resist the short hop to Warsash for the AMGP, a tough watch in the strong winds! A pleasing lifer for several people. #birds #ukbirding

While *we've* all been out training for races/parkrunning etc., the local wildlife has ALSO been down the "track" for a sprint session!

#run #running #parkrun #wildlife #nature #bird #photography #ukbirding

Male Red Grouse with rich browns and reds across its plumage, showing the detail of the "combs" above the eyes, bright red fleshy shapes that stand out amongst the heather.

Red Grouse, Ring Ouzel, Wheatear, Golden Plover, Curlew, Dipper, Siskin, Merlin, Sand Martin in the Dales on the way home from Boldon Flats. Brilliant to see five thrush species across one hillside (Fieldfare, Mistle and Song Thrushes, Blackbird and a pair of flighty Ring Ouzels). #ukbirding #birds

Male Ring Ouzel on grass with twigs behind

Male Ring Ouzel on Chesterton Fen horse paddocks this afternoon. A long hoped for find, just over a mile from home. #UKBirding @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social

One of the Sanderling

Male Ruff

ebird.org/checklist/S3... Superb visit to the local patch today, with 8 NFY species: 6 Arc.Tern, Adult Kittiwake, 2 Willow W, Wh.throat, Reed W, G.shank, 5 House Mart and 2 Sanderling. Other bits included 2 Ruff(1 cracking sum plum bird), 3 Com. Scoter, 4 Pintail, Wheatear & 12 Swallow. #UKbirding

The #BirdOfTheDay theme today is #Woodland, birds you might find in woodlands near you set by @alan678.bsky.social, picked out this Tawny Owl ~ photo taken at Forest Farm NR - Cardiff - South Wales 😍🤩🪶🦉 #birdingWales #ukbirding #birdphotography #ECK #ukwildlife #naturephotography #naturetherapy

1w Bonaparte’s Gull.

Northern Wheatear.

Western Yellow Wagtail.

Bonaparte’s Gull, Wheatear, and Yellow Wagtail from Billets Farm, Abberton, yesterday! #Birding #EssexBirding #UKBirding

View toward Wales from Brown Clee, Shropshire

Snow and hail storm at the summit of Brown Clee, Shropshire

My partner and best friend Ruth in a bracing wind looking west. near the summit of Brown Clee,Shropshire

Small lake surrounded by scrub, sedge and woodland where we eat lunch. Near the summit of Brown Clee, Shropshire

Brown Clee circular walk, Shropshire
15km of sunshine, snow, hail & strong wind! 😵‍💫
Brilliant day & beautiful as always

8+ Redstart
2 Tree Pipit
7+ Crossbill
Siskin aplenty
Red Kite, Buzzards, Kestrel & Ravens
Stonechat
Reed bunting m&f
Willow warb, Swallow, Greenfinch

#shropshirebirding
#UKbirding

Male Redstart on a large tree branch, singing

First Redstart of the season, Attingham Park #photography #birds #Nature #wildlife #ukwildlife #shropshirebirds #birdphotography #UKBirding #NationalTrust

Couple more shots from today, Emsworthy is such a fun place for photography #ukbirding

Called in at a few local birding spots whilst out and about today.
(AM) KWP - c300 Sand Martin, a few Swallow and House Martin
Shustoke Res - same as KWP + 2x Common Tern
(PM) Alvecote Pools - Hooded Merganser, Garganey
Mancetter Hills - 2x Wheatear #ukbirding #PWC2026

Nice to find a Blue-headed Wagtail at Wykeham Lakes this morning. Distant record shot attached. Common Scoter still present also. #UKbirding @northyorksbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social

Not classic Ring Ouzel habitat but this one seemed happy enough and feeding in the Northstowe Secondary College car park! Great find by Ed King this lunchtime 😃👍 @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding

Red-rumped Swallow

Red-rumped Swallow

Red-rumped Swallow

Red-rumped Swallow

Red-rumped Swallow - Sewardstone Marsh/KGV (Essex/London) 11/4/26 #londonbirds #ukbirds #ukbirding #birds #bocshot @btoengland.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social