For general info there has been a drake Pochard x Tufted Duck hybrid at Budworth Mere @marburypatch for a couple of months now. It is NOT a Lesser Scaup. @CAWOSBirding
The @marburypatch bird report for 2025 is now available as a free pdf. It has individual reviews for 144 species recorded, a monthly highlights overview and tables covering migrant arrival and departure dates. Thanks t all sightings and image contributors. @CAWOSBirding
Budworth Mere @marburypatch remains one of the best places to see Common Kingfishers in Cheshire. This male was on a favourite perch in front of the bird hide this morning. @CAWOSBirding
Best show of the year so far for the Bittern @marburypatch in the Coward Reedbed at Budworth Mere this morning. Also an early Swallow (per @ArmittBa), pair Med Gulls and a passage Dunlin at the mere. @CAWOSBirding
Following my first sighting on Jan 24th, the Bittern at Budworth Mere @marburypatch has been extremely elusive and only showing after sunset until y'day when it put on a reasonable appearance in the evening sun. Usually a sign it's getting ready to leave. @CAWOSBirding
After a good start to the year it's been hard work @marburypatch recently, so discovery of 3 Grey Partridges at Higher Marston was extra special. Full fat patch tick it seems, although I recall seeing them somewhere near the flashes in the 80s. @CAWOSBirding
Best afternoon at Budworth Mere @marburypatch for some time with a new in 1st w drake Scaup, 1st w Little Gull and Gt Egret still plus L Egret, 113 Wigeon, 3 Goldeneye, 31 Goosander and 59 Curlew. No sign of Bittern yet though.
These two White-rumped Sandpipers at Sruhill Lough on Achill Island were part of an influx on the west coast of Ireland during Oct. Both were at different stages of moult out of juvenile plumage.
Had a fairly successful week on the west coast of Ireland looking for stuff back in Oct and found this egret foraging on a shoreline at Renvyle. Extensive yellow on the rear tarsus reminiscent of Snowy but blue-grey lores show it to be just a well marked Little.
Couldn't resist a sneaky twitch over to Woolston Eyes for the 1st w Grey Phalarope found on Mon by @outwivcamera. Completes the phalarope set for me there. Always fairly distant but often out in the open. @CAWOSBirding
A juvenile Black Tern arrived in the wake of Storm Amy at Budworth Mere @marburypatch on Mon (along with a juv Arctic Tern) and was still present today, finally showing better near the slipway mid morning. @CAWOSBirding
In 2023 I had an odd Dusky Thrush in Hokkaido. Got video and thought nothing more at time, but finally got round to some editing and realised it's a hybrid with Naumann's. Head, wings, tail of former and rufous blotching & rump of latter. Interesting in a UK autumn context.
Thought we'd missed out on Black Terns att @marburypatch this year, so a couple of juveniles found on Budworth Mere this morning were well received. As usual highly active in flight but managed a few images, although video proved too hard.
Rather than wait years to produce a full video, I've put together a 'best of" compilation of birding highlights from my recent trip to Bali. With no commentary and only intro music, it covers 86 species all shot in 4K. On YouTube now at https://t.co/C2eD0Z3HSF
The 3rd & final run of our award winning book. Order now from https://t.co/vBVbG7mLFj for Xmas delivery or available Dec 17th from @RSPB_BurtonMere@Ness_Gardens@ClaremontFarm. RTs appreciated
Along with the pitta, another species easiest to see from hides in Bali is the exquisite Rufous-backed Dwarf Kingfisher. This one was at Bali Barat NP. The extreme colours of these forest kingfishers are amazing.
Javan Banded Pitta is one of the most sought after birds on the island of Bali. It's fair to say it's usually tough to see, however a few convenient bird hides in the forests have made this quest relatively easy for birders and photographers alike.
Just back from an excellent 2 week trip to Bali with some top notch species on show and where this Javan Forktail was the 3,350th species I've managed to capture on video.