No optics and no camera, unfortunately, so a terrible phone photo, but a leucistic swallow on roadside wires near Wedmore this afternoon. Chris Griffin

When we bought our house in August 2022 there was a lawn, bordered by Laylandii and box hedging. August 2023 we have a mini meadow, pond, productive veg patch and young native hedges. It is full of insects and better than expected for a year - looking forward to seeing it mature!

I rarely see Cattle Egret, so really enjoyed watching 40+ on Tealham Moor, Somerset this afternoon. But this number couldn’t prepare me for the quite overwhelming spectacle of the roost at Noah’s Lake, Shapwick Heath, where I estimated 500-600 roosted! Vid is front edge of roost.

This is what days on Shetland are all about 👇👇👇👇Jon Holt Dave carter Matt Slaymaker - thank you and respect Gareth Clements and Kevin Clements #zoothera #whitesthrush

A few images from Shetland this month

New paper in Dutch Birding: taxonomy, phylogenetic history and identification of sand plover complex Free download here: researchgate.net/publication/37…

A minimum count of 660 Cattle Egret roosting at Westhay Moor this evening.

Richards Pipit still Hunspill sea wall this morning, on saltmarsh with skylarks. Also 3 spoonbill on the Fenning

Pair of hybrid Mallard x Pintail from RSPB Ham Wall VP 2 recently. Somerset Birds Bird Hybrids

Three adult Bewicks swan still between Burrowbridge and Moorland, viewed from the north end of Long Drove Somerset Birds