Wally

Common Chiffchaff

Male Siskin hanging upside down eating seeds from an Alder tree seed head

Male Siskin hanging upside down eating seeds from an Alder tree seed head

Eurasian Spoonbill flyby in glorious early evening sunshine against a perfect blue sky

Some sunlight eventually, and spring looks to have finally sprung. Lots of Chiffchaff and Siskin, very active in the trees, and the first Spoonbill of the year, giving a very Mediterranean feel to south Wirral yesterday

Willow Tit, hanging from plant, with light shining from the left, striking it's head and generating a nice catch light in it's eye

Willow Tit sat on a branch in great light. Slightly fluffed up.

Finally manager to get a decent(-ish) picture of the Burton Mere Wetlands Willow Tit

Great Tit perched on a branch

Blue Tit perched on a branch

Nuthatch perched on a branch

Don't usually bother with photography at the @rspbburtonmere.bsky.social feeders as the path is narrow and usually busy, but there was plenty of activity yesterday and the sun shone, lots of Blue and Great Tit's visiting, along with at least 2 Nuthatch, Coal Tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Greenfinch

Willow Tit perched on a lichen covered branch.

Willow Tit perched on a spindly branch

Not done much birding or photography lately.
Resisted the urge of a 90 minute drive to see the Bufflehead, not sure I can if it's still there next week.
Tried in vain to get a decent picture of the @rspbburtonmere.bsky.social Willow Tit instead. Two days, and nothing special.

Willow Emerald Damselfly on a reed stem

Ruddy Turnstone perched on a rock

Been a while since i've been out with the camera, so a walk around RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands was very welcome, then on to West Kirby for the Slav Grebe, that was always a little too distant.
Willow Emerald Damselfly at BMW and a rather handsome Turnstone from WKML

One goal which could have fairly been ruled out for offside (or whatever the law is now) and a wicked deflection. Surely an argument Atletico were the lucky ones

Pied flycatchers have fledged from our Coed Cilygroeslwyd Nature Reserve, having come all the way from Africa!

Thank you to Alan of the Merseyside Ringing Group and our volunteers for their work to monitor their breeding success! It makes such a difference. 💚

📷 Alan Hitchmough

One of the three Grey Phalaropes at Lisvane/Llanhishen reservoirs this morning. The Phalropes were seen to be occasionally taking to the air and picking off flying insects. #birdingwales

Official Premier League app going down a storm on the Google play store.
iOS app works fine, Android . . . basically a link to the website that doesn't keep you logged in. Richest league in the world, can't produce an app that works
#premierleague #fantasyfootball

Most people would describe half of my back garden as a jungle. In the middle of a housing estate, surrounded by plastic lawns and paving that costs more than a small car, I have great finds like this guy.

Nice walk around Llanelidan, Denbighshire. Spotted Flycatcher was a really unexpected surprise, followed less than 100 yards later by a family of Common Redstart, adults feeding at least 2 fledged young.
#birdingwales

Pied Flycatchers, Ruthin Almost  three years ago Al invited me to a woodland reserve near Ruthin to help ring Pied Flycatchers breeding in nest boxes - see  here . T...

New blog post:
#ukbirding #birdringing

wirralbirders.blogspot.com/2025/06/pied...

Corn Bunting on Salisbury Plain, nice to have so many here! #birds #ukbirding

This evenings setting sun
Pretty spectacular

Castell Dinas Bran, Llangollen
Canon 90d, 55mm, iso100, f16, 1/50

Couldn't quite get low enough for the structure to break the skyline

Spotted Flycatcher perched on a brach, singing

Spotted Flycatcher @RSPB Arne this morning. One of three, plus Cuckoo, Tree Pipit and Dartford warbler

Summer plumage Spoobill with large stick in its spoon shaped bill

Summer plumage Spoobill with large stick in its spoon shaped bill taking off

Summer plumage Spoobill with large stick in its spoon shaped bill, in flight, with a background of trees and reeds

Spoonbill collecting nesting material.

Fantasy football team, called 'Not 19 forever'. After Liverpool have just win their 20th top division championship

Got to change my fantasy football team name now, took a few more seasons than I hoped 🤣

Back on our perch! ⚽️🏆🦅

When I went to my first match in 1993 I couldn't see when we'd win it again. Well and truly ended that 30 year nightmare!

ARNE SLOT, NAH NAH, NAH NAH NAH!!!!!!!!!

Wow. Football just hits the mark sometimes. That United game was mad

New Fen at Lakenheath Fen - blue water and skies sandwiching the golden reedbed

One of those perfect spring days at #RSPBLakenheathFen with not a breath of wind and birds calling all over the place including my first Yellow Wagtail of spring #UKBirding 🪶

Eurofighter Typhoon showing a full topside as it passes through the Mach loop, in clear blue sky. The grey jet sports 29 squadron markings of 3 red x on a white background, surrounded in red, either side of the RAF roundel

Eurofighter Typhoon 'Low' level through the Mach loop today
Great pass, although not landlocked

Going into my 3rd spring with a Swift box, no joy the previous 2, despite playing calls the first year. Might try a Swift caller . . . .

Common greenshank, banking during landing with right wing extended high, landing over water.

Spotted Redshank in a shallow lagoon, neck extended looking to the right

Spotted Resdhank walking left in shallow water behind a Common Redshank, which is walking right, showing the difference between these two species.

Spotted Redshank and Common Greenshank, walking in shallow water, side by side

Spotted Redshank, Common Greenshank and Common Redshank on the Dee this afternoon
#walesbirding

Male Black Redstart perched on a footpath marker post

Male Black Redstart perched on a footpath marker post

Male Black Redstart perched on the ground

Male Black Redstart about to take flight from a grassy area

Black Redstart at the copper mines, Gt Orme, Llandudno.
Another visit for this very confiding male Black Redstart. It must be the most photographed bird in Wales this year.
He came looking for meal worms a few times, when he realised I didn't have any, he stopped posing for pictures!
#birdingwales

Red-necked Grebe, with head down, looking into water.

Red-necked Grebe, head up, showing summer plumage starting to appear on the neck.

Red-necked Grebe, head up, showing summer plumage starting to appear on the neck.

The long staying Red-necked Grebe at RSPB Valley Wetlands, Ynys Mon.
Lovely day, with some long awaited weekend sunshine.
After an hour or so it did the decent thing and passed a bit closer than sticking to the far bank.
Only my second ever, and both at Valley Wetlands!
#birdingwales

Common Crane in the foreground, Goshawk in the back

Displaying Common Crane

Common Crane with additional bird behind

Lastly I finished the day watching a pair of Crane displaying. At one point I had both Crane Goshawk in the same view together. Can't imagine many people have had that privilege!

Truly an incredible days birding and what is likely the best I've ever had in the brecks outside of summer.
#ukbirding

First Red Kite of the year, from the sofa! Reckon I can get a Hawfinch flyby if I'm lucky #birdingwales

Adult Female Peregrine Falcon yesterday, Isle of Man #birds

Female kingfisher, perched on Reed stem, with background of winter reeds. Kingfisher is flapping its wings to stay steady

Kingfisher, one of three, at RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands today

Cornish Booted Eagle (2024/25 bird) sketchbook style. Prints available as always🙂