Reports of the two classic autumn waders paying their annual visit to the local mudflats drew me out, and it didn’t take me long to find them. The tide was out, but I noticed the large Dunlin flock swirling around at the water’s edge in the distance and set off on a mission. Gradually, the flock got used to my presence, and I was able to approach to within shooting range. There were a good few hundred waders in all, mostly Dunlin, and very soon I was quick to spot a few juven

Still smarting from the potential-Tern-lifer disaster, I was keen to add to my life list while I still had time on my side in the summer holidays. I’d queued this one up for a while but kept having second thoughts given the fickle nature of the bird in question. It was also on the Isle of May, which involved another long drive and a costly boat ticket and was the subject of intermittent bird reports which only filtered out via the usual social media and Birdguides grapevines

The star birds in Norfolk were a juvenile dark-morph Long-tailed Skua off Holme (sadly too fast and distant to photograph), Red-necked Phalarope at North Point Pools (NPP), just east of Wells, accessed via a dirt track (distant, heat-haze-affected views only), Red-backed Shrike (nice close views of a juvenile at West Runton – but again, heat haze ruined many of my shots), Glossy Ibis (briefly and distantly at NPP), Spoonbill (a remarkable 18 at NPP), another at Titchwell and

A quick dash down to a familiar haunt (Walberswick) paid off this time - at last - and I managed to connect with the family of Zitting Cisticola in the reeds behind the beach. The relief was immense, despite the fact that these birds (8 in total, I believe, the result of a couple of successful broods) were probably here for the long haul. Views weren't great, but I got plenty of distant but clear views of juveniles mainly and the odd adult. I had to settle for poor record sho

I didn't start well, dipping on the Hoopoe in Worcestershire in the morning (I missed it by an hour), and then also promptly dipping on the major rarity in Gloucestershire that evening. I stupidly left the main viewing point and then turned round 10 minutes later to watch others in the distance waving in my direction. But it was too late. By the time I got back there, the bird had gone to roost. I was livid. The next morning, Thursday, I woke early and shot off back to the ra

Late April birding back in the UK was nothing special, but I did come across a flock of Whimbrel and also got some nice (but distant) shots of Osprey and Marsh Harrier near their nest sites. Round on the loop trail boardwalk, I also got good view of Cuckoo, which showed well in the evening light. Indeed, I got one of my best flight shots here one evening. Early May began well with more Whimbrel around at the usual places, and I enjoyed photographing common stuff, including su

Close to 40 degree C and 90+ % humidity (and only one hotel with a pool) weren’t exactly the greatest of selling points and add to this the many hours spent sitting in mosquito hotspots waiting for hours for a bird to appear, and you can see why I had my reservations! The long-haul flight was a real drag, too, one compounded by the last-minute diversion to Istanbul following the latest attacks on Qatar, the original stopover location. Anyway, the prospect of seeing and snappi

31 st January 2026 produced plenty of geese (but of the ‘wrong’ kind) and two very nice Grey Partridge which posed for the camera close to the road. (It’s not often I find a confiding bird like these ones, so I felt I needed to make the most of the chance.) February and March were spent chasing round after scarce geese and a female Smew, and checking up on the status of Willow Tit. Russian White-fronted Geese continued to hit the headlines across the county with a late-win

There was nothing spectacular around in January in the local area other than a rarity with dodgy credentials, more of which later. On the 10th, I paid a visit to the local saltmarsh and accidentally flush a couple of Jack Snipe , one of which I caught on camera – no mean feat. I've recorded this species a number of times here , and it seems to be a regular haunt for them. Anyway, my main focus was geese in January, understandably, and I have to remind myself sometimes that I’

The lure of two mega rarities drew me south. I began well: arriving at Ludham Bridge on the 30 th December an hour before dusk would enable me at least to check out the main site even if the bird wasn’t showing. Initially, I prepared myself for disappointment as the mega had gone AWOL, but only 15 minutes later, one of my fellow twitchers (this time, I reluctantly counted myself amongst them!) casually pointed out to the small gathering that the bird had just landed in a tr