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
An American Elegant Tern was discovered at the tern colony at Cemlyn Bay, Anglesey during early July 2021. I had seen Elegant Tern before, at Church Norton, Pagham Harbour, West Sussex, back in June 2017. Views were very distant and brief, as the bird kept disappearing into thick vegetation. However, this bird was much more
A few photos of local birds around Staunton Harold and Willington Gravel Pits. Common Sandpiper; Common Tern; female Mallard & Duckling; Great White Egret & Little Egret; Reed Warbler; Common Sandpiper; Common Tern; Grey Heron & Little Egret.
