Rufford Gulls - 12th August 2026

 Yesterday, on the way back from Blacktoft Sands, Jayne and I had a quick, half an hour stop, at Rufford. It was very sunny and 32 degrees, so we didn't hang around too long. There were c.70 gulls present, and we managed to see 6 "darviced" Black-headed Gulls, 3 of which were new for the season.

The three "new" gulls were: 273C,(last seen on 17th February 2026), 225H (last seen on 8th March 2026) and 2V16 (last seen on 17th January 2026).

273C (born in 2023)

225H (ringed in December 2025, as an adult)

2V16 (ringed in February 2025, as an adult)

The other gulls seen were: 258A, 273A and 255F. These sightings were the second of the season. 

Other birds recorded were: Kingfisher (1 heard), Mute Swan (5 birds) and Greylag and Canada Geese.

RSPB Blacktoft Sands - 12th August 2026

Jayne and I had a couple of hours at RSPB Blacktoft Sands yesterday morning. The reserve was quite dry, but that did mean the birds were concentrated onto the wetter areas. We got 1 "year tick"; Green Sandpiper (179), with at least 4 on the reserve. 

Green Sandpiper

Other birds seen included: Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff, Lapwing, Spotted Redshank (1 winter plumaged bird),  Redshank, Snipe, Bearded Tit (showing very well on the mud at the bottom of the reeds), Teal, Mallard, Canada and Greylag Geese, Pied Wagtail, and, best of all, 10+ Yellow Wagtails, which showed very well, in front of Marshland Hide.

Yellow Wagtails

The Konik Ponies, which live on the reserve, to help with "conservation grazing", were also seen.

Konik Ponies

Linacre - 11th August 2026

 Today was my first visit to Linacre since the end of July (!). I was very pleased to meet a reader of this blog, in the car park. Hello to you. In all, I was on site for 2 and a half hours, and saw a few nice insects and birds.

First the waterbirds. Despite the low water levels on the bottom, and top reservoir, there were decent numbers of birds around. Mallard (81 - the highest count of the year, so far), Mandarin Duck (30), Tufted Duck (34), Great-crested Grebe (2 adults - no young this year), Grey Wagtail (1), Pied Wagtail (2), Lesser Black-backed Gull (10; 7 adults and 3 juveniles), Black-headed Gull (1 - a nice, early record), Coot (2 adults - no juveniles), Moorhen (3 adults - no juveniles), Cormorant (1), Grey Heron (2; 1 adult and 1 juvenile) and a single Common Sandpiper (2nd record of the year).

Common Sandpiper (heavily cropped)

Grey Heron (juvenile)

 Smaller birds seen were: Swallow (6), House Martin (5), Chiffchaff (1 singing, and others "wheeting", Song Thrush (1 juvenile), Stock Dove and 2 Common Buzzards.

Insects seen were: Painted Lady (3), Meadow Brown (2), Holly Blue (1), Common Blue Butterfly (1 male and 1 female, the first records of 2026), Red Admiral (1), Speckled Wood (1), Large White (2), Migrant Hawker (1), Brown Hawker (1), a Yellow Shell moth and a Grasshopper sp.

Holly Blue

Common Blue Butterfly (female)

Painted Lady

Field Grasshopper?

Long-tailed Shrike!!

 I've been very lucky to have seen many species of shrike over the years, but the one I saw today; Long-tailed Shrike (178) wasn't, to be honest, one that I was even aware of until this year! It is a proper 5-star, mega rarity in Great Britain, with just 1 record here before this year. The second record for Britain, an adult type, was found earlier this year (5th July) in Crail, Fife, and stayed for just three days. Amazingly,  "my" bird, this time a 1st summer male, was found in Eastleach Martin, Gloucestershire on 18th July, and is still there at the time of writing.

I went down this morning, and couldn't believe either the tameness of this bird (down to 10m away) and the amazing colours of this bird's plumage. A real stunner!! Here are a few photos (!) and a video.

Whilst I was there, just over two hours, the bird was feeding very well on a variety of small insects. Some of the pictures show how the bird is in full moult (note the tail), thought to be the reason why it has hung around for so long, and the brown fringing on the wings (black in a full adult, I believe). One, if not the best, bird that I've ever seen in Britain!

Long-tailed Shrike

A few other birds seen whilst there were: Wheatear, Red Kite (2) and a couple of Red-legged Partridge.

Southern Migrant Hawker!

 I've had a few attempts over the last few years to try and spot a Southern Migrant Hawker, without any luck, so today's trip to RSPB Frampton Marsh finally put this species to bed! As you'll see, however, my photos leave a lot to be desired!! Unfortunately, it didn't perch whilst I was there, but the intense blue of the abdomen and eyes were very clear to see "in the field". 

Southern Migrant Hawker (honestly!!)

Whilst on site, I had a walk around the the Reedbed Trail and saw plenty of Yellow Wagtails (mainly juveniles), Spoonbills (7),  Black-tailed Godwits (200+), Dunlin (30+), Ringed Plover (a great flock of c.30 flying over!), Ruff (10+), Avocet (3 adults), Redshank (20+), Spotted Redshank (4, including a Norwegian-ringed bird, flag CEW), Knot (year tick 176) and heard a Greenshank (year tick 177). I also heard Bearded Tits, Goldfinch, Linnets and Meadow Pipits. Birds of Prey were represented with a male Marsh Harrier, a Kestrel and two sightings of a Hobby (my first sighting of this species here).

Whilst on site, I also recorded a few insects, including included Painted Ladies, Green-veined Whites, Ruddy Darter, my first Willow Emerald Damselflies of the year, and a pair of mating Migrant Hawkers.

Willow Emerald Damselfly

Migrant Hawkers

Little Barbrook Reservoir

 On Sunday, I had a couple of hours at Little Barbrook Reservoir. I went looking for Whinchat (no luck), Stonechat (1 family party seen) and dragon/damselflies.

Juvenile Stonechat ( 1 of 3 seen)

Odanata seen were: Emerald Damselfly (20+, including pairs in tandem), Black Darter (1 male) and Golden-ringed Dragonfly (2, 1 male).

Golden-ringed Dragonfly

Rufford Gulls - 2nd August 2026

 Yesterday, I had a quick 45 minute visit to Rufford. Gull numbers had increased to c.40 Black-headed Gulls, and included the first juveniles of the year (4).6 ringed gulls were seen, including some that I've not had there for quite some time.

258A was one such bird. First ringed in February 2020, this bird has been a regular visitor to Rufford, but yesterday's sighting was my first since January 2026. So far, there haven't been any summer sightings.

258A

273A was ringed, as a juvenile bird in November 2021, and , again, has been a regular winter visitor to Rufford. This sighting was my first since 3rd January 2026. Again, no summer sightings.

273A

207C was ringed on 22nd December 2022, as an adult, and has been reported an amazing 47 times at Rufford. This was my second sighting this season.

207C

258C was ringed on 3rd December 2023, as a juvenile, and has been seen 30 times at Rufford. This is my first sighting since 17th January 2026. Again, no summer sightings.

258C

255F was ringed 30th November 2024, as a juvenile. Yesterday's sighting was only my 5th sighting since ringing, and my first since September 2025. Presumably, it pops into Rufford when it first arrives back, and then overwinters elsewhere. No summer sightings.

255F

2V03 was ringed on 18th January 2025, as an age 5, i.e. born on 2024. Yesterday's sighting was my first of the season, and only the fourth since ringing. I last saw this bird on 2nd September 2025. Again, presumably a bird that overwinters elsewhere. No summer sightings yet. 

2V03