We spent a few days in Cornwall during early September, staying in a nice hotel located at Housel Bay on the Lizard peninsular. The weather was very mixed, some foggy days, some sunny days and some rain now and again. It was good to get away and we had a thoroughly enjoyable time. I had […]
On the 9th of September an adult Green Warbler was trapped and ringed at Buckton, Yorkshire. This bird represented the 9th record for Britain and the first twitchable one on the British mainland. We were driving back from our weeks holiday in Cornwall on the 10th and so the 11th would be my first opportunity
Before the latter half of the eighteenth century, the Great Crested Grebe was fairly well distributed over Britain. However, by 1860, a total of 42 pairs were counted, the demise was due to its plumage becoming fashionable in the trimmings of clothes and hats. By 1867 only one pair of Great Crested Grebes was recorded
Over the years I’ve missed numerous Spoonbills in Derbyshire. This spring I missed one at Ogston by minutes, so I was hopeful that I would catch up with one soon enough, especially as their numbers are increasing in the UK year on year. Sure enough, an immature bird was discovered during mid-morning at Willington Gravel
A Glossy Ibis had been frequenting Rutland Water for some days before I managed to get to see it on the 29th August. It took some finding and I eventually re-located it in front of the visitors centre, as it took to the air from behind reed beds across the far side. I also found
On Thursday 26th August 2021 an adult White-tailed Lapwing (Plover) was discovered by the assistant warden at the RSPB reserve at Blacktoft Sands in Yorkshire. This was the 8th record for Britain and a first record for Yorkshire of this species which breeds in southern Russia and west to Iraq and Iran. The Iraq and
During late June 2021, the RSPB reserve at Bempton Cliffs in Yorkshire was graced by the arrival of an adult Black-browed Albatross. Most likely to be the bird that very briefly visited the same site, around the same time last year (2020). I had never seen this species in Britain before and managed to see
The RSPB reserve at Bempton Cliffs on the Yorkshire coast is a real sea bird city. However, by late July, Early August the majority of the auks (Puffins, Razorbills and Guillemots) have left their colonies, leaving just Gannets, Kittiwakes and a few Fulmars behind. This year has seen a new visitor to the sea bird
