A shopping trip for rice saw me instead return having seen Merlin, 8 Waxwing & 45 Greenfinch all in/over central Cambridge. Waxwing also recently became my 169th sound recorded species in the UK, with the goal being 180sp by the end of the year. Cambs Bird Club The Sound Approach

Had a quality little day in Essex y'day, in both birds & company. Northern Waterthrush (🔊⬇️,) Black-throated Diver, m Hen Harriers, Merlin, Water Pipits, 00s of waders/Pintails were trumped by the Red-breasted Goose, which kindly landed on the sea in front of us. EBwS Bird News

A low quality recording but considering it's from WhatsApp, not awful - Great White Egret sound rec thanks to Henry Wyn-Jones who I was sending a voice message to, and Zach Pannifer & Samuel Levy for walking past the bird to get to me. Teamwork makes the dream work 🙌🏽

After two decades of restoration delays at Beddington Farmlands, a new planning application has been submitted that seeks to exploit the BNG framework and legitimise past ecocide including the loss of the Tree Sparrow population. Please object via the link in the comments.

After a quiet & typically miserable end to February, March has actually seen some sun & warmth. Patch birding has peaked with Merlin, Jack Snipe & regular Barn Owls. Live nocmig has been highlighted by Dunlin, Water Rail then Common Scoter last night in college. Spring?!?!

3 male Wheatear, as ever, topped off a little fall of spring migrants this morning Beddington Farmlands. 69sp total, other highlights being 6 Reed Warbler, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Willow Warbler, LRPs, 5 raptors etc. The best time of year #londonbirds SurreyBirdClubNews

Welcomed back to my final term of uni with 9sp of warbler on the local patches, the best being Grasshopper Warbler & Lesser Whitethroat. Also Water Voles, Noctules, Yellow Wag etc. And yes, I do not want to hear any combination of the words 'Woodchat,' 'Shrike' & 'Beddington'...

Some more patch gold today at Grantchester, when this smart pair of Garganey dropped onto the River Cam. Thought I'd listened to one too many recordings when I first heard the brushing-a-comb calls downriver - unexpected 109th species for the site for me Cambs Bird Club

Enjoyed listening to the Great Reed Warbler at Ouse Fen RSPB yesterday, as it crashed its way around the reeds. Though only seen well on a handful of occasions, it rarely stopped singing for long. Worthwhile revision break 🔊⬇️ Cambs Bird Club BirdGuides The Sound Approach

There was a certain irony to my final ever exam question being about wildlife migration. Fittingly, having talked about Wood Warblers, we then saw this lone male on the way to Bempton <24h later. A beautiful song & bird, which we spent an hour admiring. My 🔊 + Alain Chen's 📹

Struggling to believe that after 3 years, my time Cambridge University is now over; this also means a move away from the local patches I've grown to love, especially Grantchester Meadows. 277 visits, 110 species of bird & many memories. Back soon I'm sure...

Top little morning Beddington Farmlands today, 68sp in total headlined by patch tick Wood Sandpiper - significant for also being my 180th sound recorded species in the UK. Otherwise Wheatears, plenty of warblers & 37 Buzzard North, quite the sight for South London skies! #londonbirds

We've had a good few weeks at Beddington, with Sandwich Terns, fall days (8+Whinchat, 49+ Chiff, 29+ Wthroat), Tripits, Spotfly etc. And of course today's fantastic Long-tailed Skua, nearly trod on by Jack Pettit. Glad to see the bird fly & disappear after two restless hours!

Still can't find a Beddington rare but no complaints after a 74sp, 2 patch tick day a few ago - Short-eared Owl, 4 Ring Ouzel, 6 GWE east, 95+ Swallow, Whinchat, Wheatear, Stonechats & the first bit of decent finch/thrush migration. #londonbirds SurreyBirdClubNews

Rare optimism from myself & Ian yesterday led to us finding 8 imm Spoonbills Beddington Farmlands, after they passed RSPB Rainham Marshes hours prior. Topped off a 3 tick am. 2 Cattle Egret, 3015 Redwing, 101 Chaffinch, 4 Brambling, 2 Water Pipit, Tawny Owl, m Fcrest etc. Migration👌

Looking to be a Hawfinchy winter - today saw the 6th from my garden in the last 10 days, 2 seen 'live' the rest being recorded. A compiled recording below of the distinctive 'tss-ss' calls + 'tck' calls. #londonbirds xeno-canto The Sound Approach BirdGuides SurreyBirdClubNews