Simon King

Mainly birds, some orchids, some mammals. UK and overseas.

[Simon King @UKTwitcher]

Walrus! Calshot Castle Hampshire. Swam out into Southampton water c. 1205. Amazing!

[Simon King @UKTwitcher]

Common Rosefinch Martin Down (Sat 23 May).
Perfect timing of my return from overseas on Friday to connect with the first twitchable Rosefinch in Hampshire.
I am glad it returned early evening allowing some photos as I had arrived only to hear it sing and see it fly off south.

[Simon King @UKTwitcher]

A busy bank holiday weekend back in the UK - I couldn’t resist the Ross’s Gull in Essex (my 10th in UK although I have not seen two in the same year before 2026) and Lesser Kestrel in Cornwall (my last one in the UK was in 2002 although I was watching them in Spain last week…..

[Simon King @UKTwitcher]

@GaryWatton1 @LandguardObs @RareBirdAlertUK @BirdGuides @SuffolkBirdGrp Nice one!

[Simon King @UKTwitcher]

@cranky1456 @ajac0712 @HantsIWWildlife @HOSbirding Thanks

[Simon King @UKTwitcher]

A very showy and confiding Hoopoe in Basingstoke, Hampshire yesterday (19/04/26).

@HantsIWWildlife @HOSbirding

[Simon King @UKTwitcher]

@Photos2Print @HOSbirding @HantsIWWildlife Thanks Mark. I feel very lucky to have got these.

[Simon King @UKTwitcher]

American Golden Plover, Hook-with-Warsash LNR, Hampshire (06/04/26).
I went back to try for better photos today and got lucky with a flyby as the tide came in causing it to relocate.
@HOSbirding @HantsIWWildlife

[Simon King @UKTwitcher]

@denmor77 @HOSbirding @HantsIWWildlife Thanks Dennis. Certainly the best I have ever had opportunity to take. A very lucky encounter considering this bird mostly gives distant views.

[Simon King @UKTwitcher]

@scoopwibbler @HOSbirding @HantsIWWildlife Thanks

[Simon King @UKTwitcher]

@Sibe4me @HOSbirding @HantsIWWildlife Thanks

[Simon King @UKTwitcher]

@Carlssonphotos @HOSbirding @HantsIWWildlife Thanks Dave

[Simon King @UKTwitcher]

@Matthef18 @HOSbirding @HantsIWWildlife Thanks!

[Simon King @UKTwitcher]

American Golden Plover, Hook-with-Warsash LNR, Hampshire (01/04/26).
We have been lucky with species in Hampshire for the last two years - I have seen one in both April 2025 & 2026. Although this years bird is more distant & the photo below is heavily cropped. My 6th in Hants.

[Simon King @UKTwitcher]

Forster’s Tern, Poole Park, Dorset. Tues 10 March 2026.

A few more photos attached.
It finally showed mid afternoon and was worth the wait giving the best views I have had of this annually returning bird over the last 4 years.
@DorsetWildlife @DorsetBirdClub

[Simon King @UKTwitcher]

Forster’s Tern, Poole Park, Dorset Tues 10 Mar 2026.

Having seen it on 3 Mar 2026 but mostly distant out in the harbour I decided to return since the bird had been ‘reliably’ visiting Poole Park at closer range.

An 8 hour vigil was finally rewarded at c. 3pm.
@DorsetWildlife

[Simon King @UKTwitcher]

@dartfordtrapper Nice photos James. Great to catch up yesterday and I am glad you guys got back quickly and connected with the Forster’s Tern. It flew off again just as you were driving away…..

[Simon King @UKTwitcher]

@mikebarthbirdin @aquilabirding @CBWPS1 @BirdGuides @RareBirdAlertUK @ArthriticPeak Thanks! Yes luckily it was relatively close in.

[Simon King @UKTwitcher]

Pacific Diver giving good scope views off Penlee Point, Newlyn, Cornwall yesterday Fri 27 Feb 2026.

Even though relatively close in, it was a little far out for photos however it was great to see this bird after failing to locate it earlier in the week.

@CBWPS1

[Simon King @UKTwitcher]

@hobbylovinglife @CBWPS1 @BirdGuides @RareBirdAlertUK Thanks Karen, a great bird.

[Simon King @UKTwitcher]

The rather stunning 1w Ross’s Gull performed well in Newlyn, Cornwall on Tuesday (24 Feb 2026).

I love seeing these dainty gulls - My 2nd in Cornwall and 9th in the UK.

@CBWPS1 @BirdGuides @RareBirdAlertUK

[Simon King @UKTwitcher]

A few more photos of the superb 1w Ross’s Gull at Newlyn Harbour, Cornwall.
These were taken during a return visit on Fri 27 Feb 2026 although raining at times.
The trip also yielded Pacific Diver, Iceland, Bonaparte’s & Ring-billed Gulls which I did not see earlier in the week.

[Simon King @UKTwitcher]

@dogdoughty @CBWPS1 @BirdGuides @RareBirdAlertUK 😎🤣 @01000011S