The Dark-eyed Junco was an American sparrow I'd been wanting to see for a long time. The only one that had been "twitchable" (easily reachable for birdwatchers) in my time was in Devon in 2019, and unfortunately, I was away at a family funeral. When I saw one was reported as found in Dorset on Saturday, I figured it could be difficult without permission from the homeowner. Then, by the time I got home from Edgbaston, new information emerged: access would be available from 1 pm the next day. A plan was duly hatched with Squire. We would set out the following morning at around 9:30, ho ..read more

My third walk up Bredon Hill was definatly the most rewarding this spring with a wide selection of birds being observed. Mark joined me for turned out to be an outstanding morning including 19 Ring Ouzel (24 recorded in evening), 2/3 Common Redstarts, 2 Stonechat, 1 Tree Pipit, 3 Raven, Red Kite & Buzzard ..read more

It took me 45 years to finally visit the British racecourses, so when a Myrtle Warbler was spotted in Ayr, the only course I hadn't been to yet, a plan was quickly put into motion. The Squire was enthusiastic about the idea of heading up on Thursday to catch a glimpse of the warbler and a Black Guillemot (which he needed for his lifelist), then staying overnight for the races the following day. Any chance to see an American Warbler was not to be missed. I'm not certain we would have gone when it was first spotted, as it would have been challenging to arrange at ..read more

 Yellow-billed Spoonbill Straw-necked Ibis Australian Pelican Australian Darter Whistling Kite Fairy Martin Whiskered Tern White-fronted Chat Musk Duck Blue-billed Duck Great Egret Welcome Swallows Brown Falcon ..read more

 Waderfest on the shoreline Gray Teal, Silver Gull, Great Crested Turn Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Pied Cormorant Little Black Cormorant Brown Falcon White-faced Heron Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Brown Falcon Red-necked Avocet Royal Spoonbill Whiskered Tern (?) Hardhead Chesnut Teal ..read more

Just a few Shelduck  Red-necked Avocet Australian Shelduck Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Australian Crake Baillon's Crake White-faced Heron Masked Lapwing Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Australian White Ibis & Australia Shelduck Yellow-billed Spoonbill ..read more

Australian Magpie Welcome Swallow Common Myna Australia Swamphen Dusky Moorhen Chesnut Teal (drake) Dusty Moorhen Little Pied Cormorant Chesnut Teal (female) Maned Duck Black Swan Little Black Cormorant Black Swan Silver Gull Maned Duck Little Wattlebird Rainbow Lorikeet Rainbow Lorikeet Australian Grebe Willie Wagtail Australian Swamphen Wille Wagtail Bell Miner ..read more

Crested Pigeon Yellow-throated Miner White-plumed Honeyeater Budgerigar Budgerigar Magpie Lark Little Corella Galah Tree Martin Long-snouted Lashtail Willie Wagatail Grey-headed Honeyeater Uluru at sunset Spotted Harrier Budgerigar Tree Martin Tree Martin Sunset views Diamond Dove ..read more

 Drongo Yellow-vented Bulbul Yellow-vented Bulbul Collared Kingfishers Ornate Sunbird Javan Myna Spotted Dove Ornate Sunbird Collared Kingfisher Tree Sparrow Plain Tiger Collared Kingfisher ..read more

We recently spent three delightful weeks away during the Christmas and New Year period. Upon returning to the UK, I was surprised to learn that a Northern Waterthrush had been spotted in Essex. This marked the eighth record of its kind in Britain, making it a rare sighting. What started as a casual observation turned into an exciting adventure when the Squire messaged, proposing a big day on Saturday if the bird was still being reported on Friday. The next morning, I hit the road at 5 am, meeting up with the Squire before 5:30 am. Our journey to Essex was swift, and within ten mi ..read more