Wow

The very bright indigo bunting at Whitburn yesterday big thanks to the home owners for allowing access. Later on the American black tern showed very well, shame the sun went away by the time we got there. Then finished the day with 2 spotted crakes at bank island Durham Bird Club

Some of my photos of the stunning bridled tern (slightly higher quality than my last post) which performed well for Sunday evenings boat trip to Coquet island. Massive thanks to Wayne Glossop for organising it. Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club

The unringed white stork from Burghwallis showed well this morning, flying between the park and an adjacent field until it circled off high North East. Life ✅ 360 if accepted as wild.

Life ✅ 363, Hudsonian godwit from RSPB Burton mere yesterday afternoon. Really stood out from the blackwits as it was much smaller and darker.

Life ✅ 364, semi-palmated sandpiper from the ferry pool yesterday evening. Curlew and wood sandpipers also present. No sign of the Oare Bonaparte’s from first light to early afternoon though.

Migfest ‘24 was incredible, made better with Oscar Puls Georgie W-S Cornelius Jones Sam Glennie. Only lifer was greenish warbler but picking up pallid harrier with Barry Byatt Friday morning was definitely a highlight along with the honey buzzard this afternoon.

Prof Dr Kevin Fong giving the most devastating and moving testimony to the Covid Inquiry of visiting hospital intensive care units at the height of the second wave in late Dec 2020. The unimaginable scale of death, the trauma, the loss of hope. Please watch this 2min clip.

Great to see the leaf warbler at Bempton yesterday, shame James was away. It really wasn’t a pleasant experience though. Struggling to stand up holding my chair and people jostling in front of me. No chance even seeing a tree sat in my wheelchair when the bird came near!

mega afternoon Flamborough Bird Observatory after college today. Glad the pllw did the decent thing and stuck around for me ✅. Then saw icterine warbler ✅and red breasted flycatcher. The olive backed pipit showed ridiculously well too. Also great to finally meet Robs Birding. 365 for life

Took a little while but the black redstart eventually gave decent views on the Minster this afternoon. York Birding ✅

Great to have a new hip and pain free. Mobility improving all the time, back at work tomorrow🙁. Six weeks has flown by. Hopefully able to drive again Tuesday. Managed some trips by lift, electric bike and train. But looking forward to birding again!

Perhaps the best photos you’ll ever see of yellow warbler and firecrest, taken at New Hythe GPs this morning. Phone binned since I foolishly left my camera at home. Warbler is life ✅ 367! Great to see Wayne Glossop and so many other familiar faces.

Amazing day in Northumberland despite dipping the ross’ gull. 2 life ✅ included the white billed diver and the buff bellied pipit, both showed very well! Other highlights were ring-necked and 40+ long tailed ducks. Great to see Juvenile Birder and Simon Pearce

Mega weekend down south with 2 lifers. First was booted eagle at Marazion yesterday morning ✅. Nice to find a yellow browed warbler whilst dipping pacific diver afterwards. Today least sandpiper at Steart was life ✅ 371. Then incredible views of Kentish plover to finish!

Just back from a trip to the Netherlands with Barry Byatt Obvious highlight was the Texel Spectacled eider which stayed annoyingly distant. Other highlights were the bluethroats and Lelystads Pygmy cormorant + storks. Big thanks to David Walsh and Noah Bailey for the info!

Incredible three lifer day down south yesterday. Bonapartes gull life ✅ 377 at oare, then life ✅ 378 black stork at boyton then life ✅ 379 the very vocal zitting cisticola to finish. Great to see Juvenile Birder and Brook perrins