Paddyfield Warbler feeding happily in the seedy weedy crop field at Norwick today. Shetland needs more of these fields.

Myself, Andy Millar and Martin Davis found this PG Tips at Garth, Mainland Shetland late morning. Pics courtesy of Andy Millar 🇬🇧 . OBP found by us at Kergord yesterday. Still got 5 days to go! What's next?

Never a dull day on Shetland! We found a Pallas’ Grasshopper Warbler at Garth in the morning, had a look at the Purple Sands in Lerwick and finished up twitching a showy Arctic Warbler at some unpronounceable place! With Andrew Lawson and Martin Davis.

Despite the cold NE wind, some good bits about on Shetland today. RB Fly from our garden, Nightjar from Yell and Pallas’ Warbler (and rainbow shot indicating bird’s location) at Sweening last knockings. With Andrew Lawson and Martin Davis.

Day 6, Shetland. RB Fly remained in the garden all day again. Twitched a Bluethroat at Channerwick then bashed around S mainland. LT Ducks, Scaup, Goldeneye, GN Diver, Twite etc. Another few football pitches of Iris beds thrashed for no reward. Andrew Lawson and Martin Davis.

Otter feeding at North Roe, Shetland today. With Andrew Lawson and Martin Davis.

Day 7 on Shetland. YBW and 2 Snow Bunts (MD) at Isbister, Barred Warbler (AL) at North Roe. Cracking Otter nearby. Then AL found his 2nd OBP of the week at Sullom. With Andrew Lawson and Martin Davis.

Some of the many highlights from our Shetland trip 5th to 12th October. Self-found PG Tips, 2x OBP, 2x RB Fly and 2 Barred Warbler plus twitched Lancy, Paddyfield Warbler etc. PG Tips image by Andy Millar 🇬🇧 enabled us to ID the bird.

Not being at the coast means my urban garden (Rainham, Kent) isn’t exactly a migrant trap, so pleased last night with Delicate* and P. xylostella on that front. Also a lovely fresh Feathered Thorn* and a Brick*. Migrant Lepidoptera KentMoths

Behind such intricate beauty lies death (but only if you eat it!). Amanita phalloides - Deathcap from today at Darland Banks/Amberly Wood.

Popped over to New Hythe this afternoon and caught up with the American Yellow Warbler present since Christmas Eve. Almost flowed in the dull afternoon light.

What amazing couple of days in December in Kent for birding. First the Yellow Warbler and then this Scops Owl this evening in Broadstairs. A few hundred people connected after a short wait and to me, all were well behaved. Once everyone had seen it, torches were switched off.

2024 birding: 13 lifers! 4 Kent ticks. Self-found White-rumped Sandpiper* at Dunge. Part of Andrew Lawson PG Tips* find on Shetland + Whiskered Tern at Dunge. Waterthrush, Canvasback, Ross’ Goose, P’field Warbler, WW Scoter top birds + Christmas flurry with Yellow W and Scops*

Here’s a short clip of a Spotted Redshank alongside a Redshank at Oare Marshes Kent Wildlife Trust site. The differences are clear.

Continuing the video Wader theme, here is a shaky clip of the Least Sandpiper from Medmerry RSPB today.

Some people ignore micro moths because they are too small or too boring. These two would disagree! Ethmia quadrillella and Dasycera oliviella from Rainham, Kent over the last couple of nights.

Decent night for my urban garden in Rainham, Kent: Four-spotted Footman Delicate Plenty of P. xylostella Migrant Lepidoptera

Decent night here in Medway, Kent. P. vitrealis and P. xylostella plus Oak Processionary (NFG) and a couple each of Gypsy Moth and Box-tree Moth. Migrant Lepidoptera KentMoths

Decent day Dungeness Bird Observatory. 2 hrs seawatching - 13 Arctic Skua, 2 Black Tern. On the land the clear vismig of Hirundines was spectacular. 1000s of Sand Martin and Swallow with 10s of House Martin. Very confiding Spot Fly* and D. ramburalis. RSPB Dungeness two Pintail on ARC.

Finally caught Dewick’s Plusia in the garden trap (Rainham, Kent) last night.