Linacre First - Green Sandpiper!

 Before I write this blog, I need to clarify something about the title. I was at Linacre this morning, and saw MY first ever Green Sandpiper. It may not be the first ever record, as I was contacted last week by someone, who said they'd seen two there last week. Also, one of the volunteers (Pete) said he, and another volunteer (Antony) had, also seen a "sandpiper" on the top reservoir last week. Despite this, I was very pleased to get my first record.

Green Sandpiper

Other species seen were: Lapwing (8 flew in, and landed briefly - the first record since 2023, and the first to land since 2011!!!), Mallard (103), Tufted Duck (30), Mandarin Duck (20), Black-headed Gull (4 juvenile/1st winter birds), Lesser Black-backed Gull (2 adults), Moorhen (6; 5 adults and 1 juvenile), Coot (2 adults) and Cormorant (8).

Lapwings

7 of the 8 Cormorants

Three Ringed Gulls!

I know that the title of this post wouldn't come as a surprise to regular readers, as I often blog about ringed gulls here. The reason I've used it though, is because the three ringed Black-headed Gulls are all juvenile/1st winter birds, that have been ringed in three different countries!

The first gull, TCEP, is a bird that was ringed in Poland this summer. I've sent off the details, so I'll update, when I hear back.

TCEP

The second gull, this time a Danish ringed bird, had the metal ring number VA9644. Again, I'll update as soon as I hear back.

VA9644 (ringed on right leg)

The third bird, was a Lithuanian-ringed individual. Annoyingly, I didn't manage to get the full ring number, so, I'll have to try and see it again, and get the remaining letters/digits. I managed to see  _ _ _31.260!

Lithuanian-ringed Gull (ringed on left leg)

In addition to these three gulls, I also managed to spot just one (!) of "our" birds; 2V16, which is the second sighting this season.

2V16 (losing its hood)

The last gull I wanted to mention was an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, that was on the lake. Unfortunately, it appeared to have its left leg tangled in something (presumably fishing tackle). Very annoying!!! It appeared well, despite the entanglement, so, hopefully, it was cope.

Lesser Black-backed Gull

As well as the gulls, there were also 7 Mute Swans (all un-ringed), including one with a wobbly neck, who I've nicknamed Crinkle Neck ( very original I know!!!)

Mute Swan - Crinkle Neck

Red-necked Phalarope - 29th August 2026

 Hot on the heels of the terrible "record shot" of the Black-winged Kite, here are another awful, distant, heavily cropped photos of a juvenile Red-necked Phalarope (188) that I saw, on Saturday morning, on the top reservoir of Redmires Reservoirs, just over the border in South Yorkshire. It was first reported, whilst I was away in Suffolk, so I was very pleased that it kindly hung around, until we got back. I think it is my first British record!

Red-necked Phalarope

Black-winged Kite!

On 7th September 2025, a Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus), appeared in Hickling Broad, Norfolk. It then toured around other Norfolk sites, before relocating to Hempstead Marshes, Sea Palling on 7th May 2026, and has been reported pretty much every day since! It is just the 3rd British record in the UK, but this species is moving north, through mainland Europe, breeding in France, The Netherlands and Hungary recently, and has also attempted to breed in Denmark (see here). Surely, it won't be long before we get the first British breeding attempt?

Whilst driving back from our holiday in Suffolk, Jayne and I did a detour, and got some excellent (if somewhat distant!) views, as the bird flew around the fields and perched up in the bushes. This bird is my 187th species of the year, my 6th "lifer" of the year, my 309th British bird and my 525th World tick! Here's a very distant record shot! 

Black-winged Kite

Amazingly, on the drive across, we also spotted a Hooded Crow, feeding by the side of the road, just outside Great Yarmouth. Unfortunately, it is no longer deemed a separate species from Carrion Crow, so can't be officially added to the "Year List".

Herring Gull HE21J

 Yesterday (27th) was our last full day in Suffolk, so we had a walk down to Southwold Harbour. Whilst there, I spotted a ringed Herring Gull; HE21J.

HE21J

Checking on the European Colour Ringing website it appears that the bird, a juvenile, was ringed in Northern Germany this summer. I'll update, as soon as I hear back from the ringing group.

Four New Birds

Before we came away, a good friend shared an excellent place to see Stone Curlew, so yesterday afternoon, I set out to have a look at the spot for myself. 

I found the spot easily, and was very pleased that the site was easily accessible. Unfortunately, there was a very strong heat haze, so I didn't see any curlews on that occasion. I did, however, had great views of another Wheatear, and amazing 3 Hobbies (including 1 that was catching and eating dragonflies on the wing!). There were also 10+ Graylings, Red Admirals and a single Wall Brown butterfly. Afterwards, I drove across to Westleton Heath, where I managed to spot a single Dartford Warbler (183), a male Muntjac Deer and a family of Stonechats. 

I went back to the Stone Curlew (184) site (part of RSPB Minsmere), again this morning, with Jayne, and within a few minutes of arriving (at 5.30am!) we saw 3 birds, and managed a very distant, heavily cropped photograph.

Stone Curlew

Whilst there, we carried on around the site, spotting many of the same species as on 22nd, except for a single Little Stint (185), that was feeding with a small flock of Dunlin, and 4 Barnacle Geese (186). Other new species included a single Common Sandpiper, 2 Wheatears (in the dunes), 7 Bar-tailed Godwits, a single Knot and 5 juvenile Shelducks.

Wheatear

Shelduck (juvenile)

Whimbrel, Wheatear and Whitethroat!

 Over the last few days, down here in Suffolk, I've seen a few birds, including the three species listed in the title.

The first bird, Whimbrel (182), was found on Walberswick NNR , whilst "dipping" the Zitting Cisticola!

Whimbrel

The next bird, a Northern Wheatear, was seen today, on Aldeburgh beach. Its always great to see this species on migration. I even managed to spot it catch a grasshopper!

Wheatear

The last bird, Whitethroat, was a juvenile bird, that was spotted in the hedge of the garden where we're stopping. At first, it was quite skulking, but then it popped out and posed beautifully. This photo was taken through a glass window.

Whitethroat