Spurn Point - 25th October 2025

 On Saturday, Jayne and I went over to Spurn Point NNR to visit our nephew, who is volunteering there. Whilst there, we had an eight and a half mile walk from the Bird Observatory to The Point, and back, and managed to add 4 new species to the Year List.

The first new species was Whimbrel (200), that we saw feeding around the estuary and beach area.

Whimbrel

The next two species: Snow Bunting (201) and Black Redstart (202) were added on the walk down to The Point.

Black Redstart 

The final new species was a single Yellow-browed Warbler (203) that was feeding in willows around Sykes Field.

Other species seen were: Knot, Redshank, Dunlin, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Brent Goose, Whooper Swan, Chiffchaff,  Meadow Pipit, Stonechat, Skylark, Swallow, Buzzard and a female Bullfinch, that we tried, unsuccessfully, to turn into a "Northern" Bullfinch!

Bullfinch

Rufford - 12th October 2025

Last Sunday, I was down at Rufford for a couple of hours, and had the best session of the autumn so far with 18 ringed birds (16 of "ours", a metal-ringed bird and a brand new Dutch-ringed bird) spotted.

The 16 birds were: 2V10 (2nd sighting this autumn), 2V16 (2nd sighting this autumn), 258A (4th sighting this autumn), 273A (2nd sighting this autumn), 283B (2nd sighting this autumn), 207C (6th sighting this autumn), 245C (3rd sighting this autumn), 258C (7th sighting this autumn), 209F (1st sighting, since ringing, as a 1st winter bird, in October 2024), 214F (1st sighting this autumn), 215F (2nd sighting this autumn), 217F (2nd sighting this autumn), 221F (2nd sighting this autumn), 234F (4th sighting this autumn), 239F (2nd sighting this autumn) and 262F (1st sighting on the autumn. Last seen in December 2024). The metal ringed bird was EM21570 (2nd sighting this autumn). 

209F

214F

262F

The new, Dutch-ringed bird, was an adult, with a white darvic EV.V2. I haven't got the ringing details back yet, but I would guess it will have been ringed at the same place as EUM3, another gull seen at Rufford for several years (see label for details).

EVV2

Red-backed Shrike

This weekend, Jayne and I were don on Norfolk. We spent yesterday in Norwich, and then went up to the north coast for a spot of birding today.

Our first stop was Marston Quay/Marshes, where we had a quick walk along the coastal path to see a 1st year Red-backed Shrike (198) that had been present for a week or so. We were very lucky, and the bird showed well, along the hedgerow, as soon as we arrived (others had been there looking for it for up to an hour and a half!!). Despite being very windy, I managed to get a few decentish photos.

Red-backed Shrike

Our next stop was RSPB Titchwell. It was quite quiet, but se did get a "Year Tick", Bar-tailed Godwit (199).

Bar-tailed Godwit

Other birds seen were: Sanderling, Avocet, Redshank, Ruff, Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Knot, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Linnet, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Mute Swan, Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall, Marsh Harrier. Kestrel, Red Kite, Buzzard, Herring and Black-headed Gull.

Sanderling

It was quite sunny, and warm at times (17 degrees), and we also spotted 3 species of butterfly: Large White (1), Wall Brown (1 female) and Red Admiral (2).

Black-headed Gull 269A

 Back in December 2020 I ringed 4 Black-headed Gulls at The Carrs, Warsop, including an adult male, ringed with the darvic ring 269A.

269A (December 2020)

Unfortunately this bird hasn't (yet) been reported back in the UK. It was, however, reported today, in Denmark!! This is the 2nd record of this bird, both at the same site, by the same person. Hopefully, it'll be back in Warsop this winter.

Rufford Gulls - Old and New

I only had chance to spend half an hour at Rufford yesterday, but, in that short time, I manged to see 8 darvic-ringed Black-headed Gulls and a single metal-ringed bird. Along with this, I also managed to add a possible new breeding record for a damselfly species!

The birds seen were: 258A, 245C, 258C, 279C (a new, 1st-winter bird, ringed on Saturday), 215F (the first sighting since being ringed in October 2024),  217F ( my first sighting since February 2025), 239F (first sighting since January 2025) and 2V10 (my first sighting, since being ringed on 1st February 2025). The metal-ringed bird, a 1st winter, was seen, but not identified, as it flew off before I could read the ring! 

279C

215F

217F

239F

2V10

In addition to the gulls, there were also c100 Canada Geese, 4 Greylag Geese, 1 Kingfisher, 5 Mute Swans (Broken Beak, his partner and 3 cygnets), and 3 Willow Emerald Damselflies, including 1 pair egg laying - my first record here!!!

Willow Emerald Damselflies

Rufford - 20th September 2025

 Today's visit to Rufford was a little damp (!), but it did have lead to my highest ever count of Mute Swans, and records of 3 darvic-ringed Black-headed Gulls.

Overall, it was quite a quiet visit, but there were 13 Mute Swans, my highest ever count. There were the usual suspects (Broken Beak, his partner and their 3 cygnets), along with another 8 (all unringed) adults.

There were c70 Black-headed Gulls ( and 1 adult Lesser Black-backed), including 41 juveniles. The 3 ringed birds were all familiar birds: 207C, 258C and 234F.

207C

258C

234F

Other birds seen were: Canada Goose (50), Greylag Goose (22), Little Egret (1), Mallard, Moorhen and Kingfisher (1 heard).

Derbyshire Dotterel!

 This afternoon, I spotted a record of a Dotterel (197), that had been found on Burbage Moor (on the Derbyshire/South Yorkshire border).

Jayne and I drove across (less than half an hour from home!), and after a short, uphill jog (!!), we enjoyed fantastic views, at the bird ( a juvenile) sat on the moor, approximately 20m away!

Dotterel