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Terry Brown @terrytwitcher.bsky.social · 2d

Don't wish to belittle seeing a Peregrine scything through a Goldfinch flock but Cliffe RSPB was hugely disappointing today A scattering of duck included 310 Wigeon 155 Shoveller & 160 Shelllduck Waders were largely absent with just 5 Greenshank 71 Redshank & 155 Lapwing due to little water

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Terry Brown @terrytwitcher.bsky.social · 4d

Would be wrong to say Goldeneye are pouring in at PaxtonNR but at least a slight increase noted today with 5 (up from 3) A cracking female Marsh Harrier was on the deck on an exposed island on heronry lake 7 flighty Siskin in the tree tops & 7 Redwing went over 2 Kingfisher worthy of a mention too

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Terry Brown @terrytwitcher.bsky.social · 7d

My 7 hours at PaxtonNR was very productive today A late Hobby 8 Siskin 13 Redpoll 15 Skylark 6 Chaffinch a Grey Wagtail a Marsh Harrier & 160 Lapwing were the vismig birds overhead My first Goldeneye of the season was noted with 29 Pochard 110 Shoveller 135 Teal 150 Gadwall & 110 Wigeon on the lakes

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Terry Brown @terrytwitcher.bsky.social · 11d

Some days I like a rest from driving Today was one such day so I gave attention to local farmland immediately south of Baldock It was a pleasant amble and quite busy albeit with routine fair See below for bird list

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Terry Brown @terrytwitcher.bsky.social · 13d

Good to see a flock of 30 Redpoll at PaxtonNR this morning & with 15 Redwing & 3 Siskin overhead it's a reminder that winter is fast approaching Duck numbers on the heronry lakes included 155 Wigeon 80 Gadwall 135 Teal & 120 Shoveller Green Sand Water Rail & Kingfisher joined 'em in the notebook

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Terry Brown @terrytwitcher.bsky.social · 20d

Not a lot happening at Fen Drayton this afternoon A leisurely walk round Ferry Lagoon and the only birds of interest are 120 Lapwing 3 Snipe and 10 Whooper Swans Not sure if I've seen Whoopers here before Will have to check when I get home

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Terry Brown @terrytwitcher.bsky.social · 21d

Back at PaxtonNR today after my UK adventure where many water birds have moved in during my absence including 70 Shoveller 90 Teal 80 Tufted Duck 165 Gadwall & 160 Wigeon Also Green Sandpiper 66 Lapwing Water Rail & 2 Kingfisher Redpoll were noted with 8 feeding in the tree tops before moving on

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Terry Brown @terrytwitcher.bsky.social · 29d

29 days after leaving Hertfordshire the journey home begins The drive home from Aberdeen tomorrow being split over two days with a stop over in Hexham Northumberland to come Very much looking forward to sleeping in my own bed again!

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Terry Brown @terrytwitcher.bsky.social · Sep 27

Not a pleasant start to the weekend here in Shetland Strong winds and/or rain predicted next couple of days I can hear the beer and TV screens calling me in to The Douglas Arms Might just watch some football today

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Terry Brown @terrytwitcher.bsky.social · Sep 26

Confess to not doing much birding on my 4th Shetland day Getting battered by strong winds is not my idea of fun so returned to hotel mid afternoon and tended to the needs of my sick wife And another confession - upon returning I had an afternoon nap

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Terry Brown @terrytwitcher.bsky.social · Sep 25

Yellow browed Warbler still at Sumburgh Head Shetland in hedge by visitors centre @shetlandwildlife.bsky.social

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Terry Brown @terrytwitcher.bsky.social · Sep 24

Disappointing That's the only word that can describe my 3rd day in Shetland Given the run around by a Citrine Wagtail and a Rosefinch it ended with no year ticks of trip newbies On top of that no Otters were seen in a place we've seen them before On a good note a large bar of chocolate was eaten

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Terry Brown @terrytwitcher.bsky.social · Sep 23

Second day in Shetland and day 23 of 30 day UK trip One of the Mainlands (4?) Barred Warblers made it in to the notebook along with a Pied Flycatcher at Quendale Otherwise the usual stuff was on show including Eider Wheatear Red Throated Diver Common Scoter and Black Guiilimot

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Terry Brown @terrytwitcher.bsky.social · Sep 22

Day 20 spent travelling to Aberdeen The ferry left on time on day 21 but arrived in Lerwick a bit late on day 22 Not surprising given the rough crossing First job on arrival was breakfast The second was a gander at the Ring Necked Duck at Tingwall The Scalloway Hotel is my home for the next 7 days

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Terry Brown @terrytwitcher.bsky.social · Sep 19

Day 19 was spent on the Northumberland coast Trip newbies included Treecreeper & Eider The star birds of the day was up to 500 Pink Footed Geese high over Hauxley and Druridge Bay on a day when many were reported elsewhere too A cracking sight and sound even if it is a sign of the approaching winter

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Terry Brown @terrytwitcher.bsky.social · Sep 18

Moved further north on day 18 Now in Warkworth alongside the River Coquet and just north of Amble Gave the wife a choice for tomorrow Bamburgh Castle or Hauxley NR Glad to say she chose the latter

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Terry Brown @terrytwitcher.bsky.social · Sep 17

Day 17 started with strong winds and rain and made morning birding difficult It got a little better after midday but still didn't see a great deal Spotted Flycatcher and Hobby the best birds after the rain stopped Today was the last day at Spurn I move further north tomorrow

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Terry Brown @terrytwitcher.bsky.social · Sep 16

Even though the winds abated a tad not much birding was done on day 16 Partly due to heavy showers and partly due to a long lunch break in the Crown & Anchor During a brief late morning seawatch Arctic Skua & Manx Shearwater was noted Meadow Pipits Swallow and House Martins were still moving through

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Terry Brown @terrytwitcher.bsky.social · Sep 15

As birding in gale force winds is not my cup of tea most of day 15 of my UK trip was spent indoors It was hard to escape the wind other than seawatching in the hut along beacon lane

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Terry Brown @terrytwitcher.bsky.social · Sep 14

The morning of day 14 of my UK 30day wild September trip was the best birding so far Several trip newbies including Red Necked Phalarope Common Crane Arctic Skua Red Throated Diver Grey Wagtail & Common Scoter Trip list now well over 100 Got 3 days left at Spurn and Shetland very much getting nearer

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Terry Brown @terrytwitcher.bsky.social · Sep 13

Day 13 and other than an early morning visit to Sammys Point birding took a back seat for the football A few trip newbies though including Caspian Gull Med Gull and Swift A Whimbrel posed nicely on the shoreline while getting battered by strong winds

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Terry Brown @terrytwitcher.bsky.social · Sep 12

Left the Wader roost at Freiston Shore in the sunshine and arrived at Sammys Point in a thunder storm on day 12 Trip list already increased by one with a Whimbrel on the mud of the Humber Weather unsettled over next 5 days but hoping for enough breaks in the rain for some decent birding

Terry Brown @terrytwitcher.bsky.social · Sep 11

It took too long to get my UK Birding trip list over the 100 but it finally happened today on day 11 with Winchat at Gibralter Point The most memorable interaction of the day was going eye to eye with a stoat on the edge of east dunes Cracking it was Off to Yorkshire tomorrow for 6 days at Spurn

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Terry Brown @terrytwitcher.bsky.social · Sep 10

Returned to Freiston Shore on day 10 for the early morning Wader roost There were thousands - 2000 Oystercatcher 1000 Redshank 600 Curlew 300 BlackTG 10 BarTG 55 Greenshank 10 Knot 20 Grey Plover 800 Ringed Plover 800 Dunlin 25 Spoonbill 50 Little Egret 10 Turnstone & 2 Little Stint

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Terry Brown @terrytwitcher.bsky.social · Sep 9

Changed counties yesterday (day 8) so today day 9/30 was spent at the RSPB Reserves Frampton Marsh and Freiston Shore in Lincolnshire Frampton very dry but with patience Geeen Sand Spot Shank Greenshank & Little Stints can be seen Waders were elsewhere at Freiston but 3 Little Stints were noted

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