Pacific Diver in summer plumage! Nome, Alaska … with ⁦Virginia Fairchild⁩

We watched an American Bald Eagle bathing in a river this afternoon.. quite a sight! With ⁦Virginia Fairchild⁩

Today we had the best views of Black Bear on our trip so far.. 8 in total including a mother and two cubs. With ⁦Virginia Fairchild⁩

This NORTHERN HAWK OWL was a nice surprise today in the forests north of Seward, Alaska. With ⁦Virginia Fairchild⁩

This is KITTLITZ’S MURRELET! one of my main targets on our boat trip out of Seward Alaska. It likes to feed near the glacial melt waters close to the ice. We had some great views along with Rhinoceros Auklets and Ancient Murrelets! with ⁦Virginia Fairchild⁩

A final day out in Alaska and we took a Sea Plane out to Redoubt Bay to look for GRIZZLY BEARS and Salmon! It was something I’ve always wanted to do and it was incredible! We saw a mother and 2 cubs so close! Plus below the plane, 25 Beluga Whales!! With ⁦Virginia Fairchild⁩

Oare Marshes this morning - the obliging adult BONAPARTE’S GULL returning for its 13th Year. Also a fine CASPIAN TERN in Faversham Creek. Nice to see lots of old faces!! 😉 with ⁦Virginia Fairchild⁩

The Ruddy Shelduck is still present at Sevenoaks Wildfowl Reserve today. A bit of a walk as the car park and reserve centre is still closed. A nice detour though after my Heathrow Airport journey!

Volunteers needed! The role of our shop team is very important for welcoming visitors, offering resfreshments, and promoting the work of the Observatory. We are looking for several additional volunteers to extend our opening hours and to ensure cover for absences.

Bird Migration is definitely underway at Sandwich Bay! Around the estate & fields this am, we found 4 Spotted Flycatchers, 3 Whinchats, 2+ Redstarts, 10 Wheatears, Garden & Reed Warblers, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 10 WW & 2 Whimbrel with ⁦Virginia Fairchild⁩ ⁦SBBOT⁩

Walmer Beach 6.30-9am today WRYNECK found in the hedgerow of the main Wheat field - along with Common Redstart, Whinchat, 18 Willow Warbler and 5 Lesser Whitethroats. Wryneck stayed c25 mins and then melted away into the hedgerow! With Virginia Fairchild

Pics of swimming alongside WHALE SHARKS this morning off Mexican coast… an incredible experience and something I’ve wanted to do for many years ✅! Seeing these giants glide past you only a few feet away is unique experience. With ⁦Virginia Fairchild⁩

One of the three confiding Dotterel at St Margaret’s Kent over the weekend! A great find by Phil Chantler. Very nice to see them in the evening light. With ⁦Virginia Fairchild⁩

Having crossed “The Bridge” to Sweden and arrived in Falsterbo, our 1st full day did not disappoint! Stunning BLACK WOODPECKER, 114 Honey Buzzards, 52 Sparrowhawks, 3 Osprey, 2 WT Eagle, pied and spotted flys, redstarts, 235 Tree Pipit and 1037 Siskin! With ⁦Virginia Fairchild⁩

An awesome day for raptor migration at Falsterbo with a LESSER SPOTTED EAGLE, 157 Sparrowhawks, 14 White-tailed Eagles, 145 C Buzzard, 48 Honey Buzzard, 53 Red Kite, 3 Black Kite, 8 Marsh Harrier, 2 Osprey, 3 Hobby and 3 Peregrine with ⁦Virginia Fairchild⁩ ⁦Gary Stewart⁩

Today we enjoyed the wonderful sight of Common Cranes migrating south over open Swedish farmland. We watched with three local Swedish birders as 269 Cranes honked as they flew over our heads! With ⁦Virginia Fairchild⁩ ⁦Gary Stewart⁩

An excellent morning (and afternoon) of seawatching at Dungeness ..day totals of 11 Sooty Shearwaters, 9 Balearic and 1 Manx Shearwater, LT Skua, Pom Skua, 49 Arctic Skua, Black Tern and Osprey flying out to sea! One of the Arctic Skuas below. With ⁦Virginia Fairchild⁩

A walk around the Long Pits at Dungeness and then the RSPB reserve enabled us to see 2 RED-BACKED SHRIKES and then a Dozen Glossy Ibis! Also a Merlin and good numbers of grounded migrants. With ⁦Virginia Fairchild⁩

Reculver Towers 8-11.30 am after a quiet start - 8 MANX SHEARWATER (some v close like this one!) 1w SABINE’S GULL w, 16 Black Tern, 29 Little Gull, 1 Arctic Tern 5, Little Tern 600 Common Tern,1 Bonxie (11.23am), 64 Arctic Skua W, 2 RT Diver, 1 Guillemot with ⁦Virginia Fairchild⁩

An excellent afternoon’s birding at Margate Cemetery- 1-2 Yellow-browed Warblers, WHITE-TAILED EAGLE, 2 Common Redstarts, 2 Pied Flycatchers, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, Firecrest and a Brambling! With ⁦Virginia Fairchild⁩ ⁦martyn wilson⁩