Welcome back P519!

 Last weekend (7th November) I went across to Rufford for a couple of hours, and was very pleased to see the retuning Lithuanian-ringed Black-headed Gull, P519, back for its 9th winter!!

P519

The bird was first record in January 2018, but had been ringed, as an adult, in 2010 (i.e. born in at least 2008), so it's a long-lived bird. It usually hangs around at Rufford until January or February, before, presumably, heading back to Lithuania to breed.

Other new birds, i.e. not seen this winter, were: 272B (last seen in January 2026), 270C (1st sighting since March 2026), 2V05 ( 1st sighting since January 2026), 202L ( age 4, a 1st sighting, ringed by me, on 31st October 2026), 277A (1st sighting since November 2024!), 284A (1st sighting since January 2026), 298C (1st sighting since March 2026), 224H (1st sighting since February 2026), 206L and 209L (1st sighting of both birds, after ringing earlier that morning).

272B

270C

202L (ringed by me on 31st October 2026)

206L (age 3, born this year)

209L (age 3)

277A

Other birds seen were: 206A, 272B, 207C, 258C, 270C, 239F, 2V10, 2V16, 200H, 225H and 208H.

Spotted Sandpiper - 1st November 2026

 The last time I saw a Spotted Sandpiper (199) was in 2018, so, when news of one at Nostell Priory came up on Birdguides last week (20th October) I thought I'd pop along to see it.

When I arrived on site, the bird was found straight away, just 200m away from the car park, on a small pond. At first, it was on the far side of the lake, but, after a short while, it worked its way around, and ended up about 3m away from me!!

Spotted Sandpiper (showing a few spots?)

Here's a short video of the bird.

Snow Bunting

 Yesterday, on the way back from a week in Scotland, Jayne and I stopped off in Warkworth, Northumberland. Whilst there, Jayne found me a lovely Snow Bunting (198) hopping about on the beach.

Snow Bunting

Rufford Gulls - 17th October 2026

Yesterday afternoon, I managed a couple of hours at Rufford. It was the busiest session yet, with 18 of "our" Black-headed Gulls seen, along with a new, British-ringed bird as well!

Regular birds were: 206A (3rd sighting), 258A (5th sighting), 207C (6th sighting), 258C (3rd sighting), 207F (2nd sighting), 223F (2nd sighting), 239F (2nd sighting), 2V10 (2nd sighting), 2V16 (5th sighting), 200H (4th sighting), 208H (2nd sighting) and 225H (4th sighting).

Birds seen for the first time this season were: 202C (first sighting since February 2026), 215F (first sighting since December 2025), 230F (first sighting since January 2026), 209H (first sighting since March 2026), EM51827 and EM51828 (ringed last week - unfortunately without darvic rings).

202C

215F

230F

209H

The final gull of note was another darvic-ringed bird; green 2PJB. At first glance, this1st winter bird looked like one of our green ringed birds, but then I noticed the different inscription. After a quick internet search I found out that it was from Herefordshire. Full details will be added when I receive them.

2PJB

Other wildlife seen were: Common Gull (1 adult, the first of the season), Lesser Black-backed Gull (1 adult), Hornet (1), Canada Goose (c.40), Greylag Goose ( 8 over), Goosander (1 male, 1st of the season), Grey Heron (1), Grey Wagtail (2), Pied Wagtail (1) and the first Redwings (5 over) of the season.

Common Gull

Linacre WeBS - 11th October 2026

 Last weekend was this month's WeBS count, so I went down to Linacre for a couple of hours on Sunday morning. Numbers were quite low again, as  the top and bottom reservoirs are still very low, due to the ongoing works.

Top reservoir

Birds seen were: Mallard (42), Tufted Duck (40), Mandarin Duck (20), Teal (5: 4 females and 1 male), Coot (2), Moorhen (5), Pied Wagtail (3), Grey Wagtail (1), Great-crested Grebe (1), Cormorant (2), Canada Goose (1 flew over) and Grey Heron (1). Pink-footed Geese were also heard, but not seen, flying over.

Teal (male and female)

Other birds seen/heard were: Skylark (overhead), Sparrowhawk (1 male flew over the top reservoir), Jay, Crow, Robin, Wren, Nuthatch, Blue, Long-tailed, Great Tit and Chaffinch.

Rufford Gulls - 4th October 2026

On Sunday, Jayne and I had a couple of hours at Rufford. Whilst there, we had the highest number of ringed Black-headed Gulls so far this autumn (13), re-found the Danish-ringed bird and recorded a new, Lithuanian-ringed bird.

Birds seen were: 206A (2nd sighting), 258A (4th sighting), 207C (5th sighting), 215C (1st sighting since January 2026), 258C (2nd sighting), 223F (1st sighting since October 2025), 239F (1st sighting since October 2025), 262F (1st sighting since October 2025), 2V10 (1st sighting since December 2025), 2V16 (4th sighting), 200H (3rd sighting), 208H (1st sighting since February 2026), 225H (4th sighting), VA9644 (2nd sighting) and the Lithuanian-ringed bird, HA65.146. 

215C

223F

239F

262F

2V10

208H

Lithuanian HA65.146

Also seen were: 1 Willow Emerald Damselfly and a single Red Admiral butterfly.

Linacre - Two Visits

 Over the last week, I've had a couple of visits to Linacre (last Sunday and this morning). 

Last week's visit was in the afternoon, when it was 20 degrees, with sunny spells. I managed to see a few insects, including one Small White, which may be the last one of the year, two Tachinid flies, Syrphus sp hoverflies and a few Common Carder Bees. Other highlights included 10+ Pied Wagtails by the main entrance, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (2 adults and 1 juvenile), 7 Cormorants, 3 Coots, 2 Teal, 2 Great-crested Grebes and, best of all, a breeding plumaged Little Grebe (the first since March).

Little Grebe

Today's visit (7.30am to 9.30am) was also sunny, but just 13 degrees, and felt very autumn-like, with my first Linacre Pink-footed Geese of 2026. Two skeins were heard, but just 1 (of 68 birds) seen, heading east.

Pink-footed Geese

Other birds seen were: Buzzard (1 on the fence posts, by the main entrance), Raven (1 over the Top Reservoir), Skylark (heard going over), Chiffchaff (at least two, in the willows, by the Top Reservoir), Woodpigeon (c.100 flew out of the trees),  Mallard (70), Tufted Duck (14), Mandarin Duck (8), Teal (3; 1 male and 2 females), Coot (3), Moorhen (6), Cormorant (9), Grey Wagtail (3), Pied Wagtail (c6, by the main entrance), Great-crested Grebe (2 on the Middle Reservoir) and, best of all, a flock of 14 Canada Geese on the Middle Reservoir- the highest count since August 2024!)

Canada Geese

Mandarin Duck

Buzzard