Cycled to Perthshire today. Had green woodpecker nr Bracklin Falls. At Carsebreck added linnet, shelduck, gadwall & great crested grebe to the yearlist; plus SLAVONIAN GREBE still on Lower Rhynd Rsvr. Also had golden eagle during ride.

So that’s 100 on the self-powered yearlist.

#cyclingbybike

Had my first chiffchaff for year this afternoon, calling in the garden #Dunblane

Fitted in a cycle twitch today to Loch Venachar for the white-billed diver. I’ve now seen 4 species on the lochs near Callander.
#cyclingbybike

Yesterday’s walk up the Allanwater added wigeon and lapwing to my self-powered list for the year; I had missed both on #footit in January. List now up to 92.

The weekly check of the garden trail camera: fox, red squirrel, and mallard!

Walked along the Allanwater today. 2 common snipe but no jack snipe at Ashfield pools. The greylags are still around Kinbuck, and joined by this domestic goose

The weekly check of the garden trail cam: still no hawfinches, but there was a jackdaw party during the week.

Walked to Holmehill this morning: at least one hawfinch present - there was one calling from the yews but I couldn’t see it.

Was out on the bike yesterday and in a cafe in Stirling when I got a call about a Slavonian grebe on the river in Stirling. After quickly finishing my roll I was soon watching the bird with Ross the finder. An unusual record for this far up the Forth!

90 to 2026 self-powered list #birdingbybike

Your #FootIt summary pod is live. Only eleven months till we go again 🙌

@footit.bsky.social @jonnybirder.bsky.social @uforthbirder.bsky.social

www.podbean.com/ew/pb-uyxkg-...

Fantastic, well done!

However. You have @suffolkseawatcher.bsky.social going nuts. He’s checked his list and he needs Lucky Shelduck!

102?????

Have you forgotten how to do sums?

Also been checking the garden trail camera. Highlight was a return of the fox plus a pigeon party!

Cycled up to Braes of Doune windfarm this morning. Struck gold with a SNOW BUNTING up there. Meadow pipit was also new for the year bringing self-powered yearlist to 89. #birdingbybike

Nothing new for #footit so I have finished on 80.

Do I get points for finding the pintail?

I have faith in you. Don’t return home till you find one. #nosleeptill100

So what are you hoping for?

Gos
Woodlark?

What else was there?

Oystercatcher 😂

Yellow-rumped warbler
Red-flanked bluetail

The tip of the birding spear! #TheTwoJonnies podcast brings you a @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social exclusive!
♠️

Thanks to Rob Hunton for joining us this evening 🔱

The Two Jonnies is like other birding media outlets - except better. Am I right? @jonnybirder.bsky.social

www.podbean.com/ei/pb-g9u2e-...

I’ve got my camera back after failing in the burn on Unst in October.

I’m now ready if I find an American warbler 😂

Brilliant effort!

I think I could have got 5 more if we’d not had the frozen spell.

Missed linnet too.

Popped to Holmehill at lunchtime where 2 hawfinch were being watched. Not the easiest to photograph when they are high in trees! #dunblane #footit

The 5 most gettable for me:
- red-legged partridge
- grey partridge
- wigeon
- gadwall
- jack snipe

Species that are sometimes around that haven’t been (or weather not helped)
- whooper swan
- lapwing
- peregrine
- gos

Probably too far to walk:
- green pecker
- leo
- seo

Too dark
- barn owl 😂

So after the discussion yesterday on the difficulty of me getting up to 80 for #footit, I am there this morning with an oystercatcher calling over the house.

Your #FootIt '26 update pod is live!
♠️

One more week to drop miles / seek out any remaining targets...

@uforthbirder.bsky.social @jonnybirder.bsky.social @footit.bsky.social

www.podbean.com/eas/pb-qsjcp...

6 hawfinch were found at Homehill, Dunblane this morning - the first record for the winter. I tried at lunchtime for an hour without success. I then walked back this afternoon, to find one bird sat up in a tree and ithers calling nearby. I’ll be hoping for them in the garden! 79 for #footit.

I will run through the highlights from the past week with @suffolkseawatcher.bsky.social and @jonnybirder.bsky.social on their Two Jonnies (autocorrect - you can’t get me!) podcast this evening.

Cycled home from the office in Stirling via Blairdrummond GPs, adding the redhead smew and barnacle goose that have been present for a couple of days. Self-powered list up to 84 for the year. #birdingbybike

Yeah, @uforthbirder.bsky.social and @jonnybirder.bsky.social are pretty #Wildfowl #elite 💯🦆 nowadays.

You've only gotta listen to the latest pod to onow that...

www.podbean.com/ew/pb-qmd7m-...

My only walk today was to Ochlochy pond, to which 2 mute swans have arrived after being absent since December (and usually just one bird) #Dunblane #footit