Not to forget the pizza 😉

Paul you are always welcome back at my beach hut. The only man to ever turn up with scones with jam and offer cappuccinos all round.

And here’s some Black-throated Diver to go with it. A grand day indeed.

I love my rake which I inherited from my father and it’s been donkeys years since I last trod on it…

Friday 10th October An exciting day! Around 10.15am Jim Middleton found a WHITE-THROATED NEEDLETAIL feeding on the south side of Castle Hill. It remained to fe...

Thank you Ben! This is what Jim Addey says. What time did Ben pick it up? www.scarboroughbirding.co.uk/2025/10/frid...

Any evidence prey specialisation is learned behaviour based on prey fed in the nest? Please explain your Italy point…

It would be a bit more convincing if they were sourcing chicks solely from nests in European cities. Preferably from pairs specialising in Grey Squirrels…

The Last of the Bollocks…that’ll be the day.

I am much obliged. Were you there for seconds from Filey Thursday evening or is there a story to tell?

Birdtrack graph of year list by year

I have very few regrets in life but the trough in the middle of this graph is one of them. I’ve put my old notebooks into Birdtrack but the trough represents a period when I worked too hard and didn’t keep detailed records. The last BTO Atlas cured me of that! Listen to Steve!

Beautiful view over Scarborough N bay from the castle this lunchtime. Arrived to see the Needletail starting to drift north and disappeared off to the north west. Not a crippling view but saw the distinctive shape and white undertail. Thank you @markthebirder.bsky.social for getting me on to it.

Interesting paper but missed a trick in not providing the detailed timelines of extinctions of the various groups and linking them to known geological/geophysical events which might have shed more balanced overall light on the causes of extinctions beyond the already known human impacts.

The Lincs population sits as an important link between the uplands, Derwent Valley NNR and E Anglia. To save our lowland Curlews it needs to be strengthened. @CurlewAction @curlewcalls @curlewrecovery @Natures_Voice @_BTO @NaturalEngland @TonyJuniper @LincsWildlife

Our Curlew population has persisted despite licensed egg collection on active RAF airfields over many years. These eggs have been productively used for head starting for 5 years now. Time for some of these birds to be released at suitable sites in Lincs?

In 2024 LBC organised a breeding Curlew survey on airfields in the west of Lincs. The report has just been published. 29 pairs found and two pairs with 6 young. Up to 10% of the lowland English population.
lincsbirdclub.co.uk/site/images/re…

On 4 July I did a curlew breeding success survey on the moors south of Holmfirth W Yorks. Not a single curlew was recorded. There were 11 pairs present in April. Anyone else had similar outcomes in U.K. this year? @curlewaction.bsky.social @curlewrecovery.bsky.social @curlewslakes.bsky.social

Curlew surveying up in the Pennines on Friday. After 4 miles across Heather moorland took my scope off my back pack to use it and found a leg and fastener had fallen off my Benro Stealth BICLT204 tripod. Don’t understand why. Perhaps the plastic failed? Anyone else had this?

Me too, especially if I wear trainers. Mine are Les Chameau. Excellent for hill walking and not as heavy as Muckboots. John Clarkson had a pair of Aigles that lasted him about 12 years but they obviously don’t make them like they used to.

I’m with you on Bat out of hell. Kept me awake on many overnight twitches.

I would say you’re looking after your feet. A useful asset for bird surveyors! Muckboots are comfy but my last 3 pairs lasted about 18 months each. Now on some fancy French ones even comfier than Muckboots and a 2 year guarantee. Lucky because the first pair lasted 18mths! Current pair now 12 mths.

@WeBS at Manby today. Though it’s the best site for Green Sand in Lincs I was still surprised when I heard the call and a bird dropped in. Last I had here was 16 April and it’s the earliest autumn returner I can remember. Wonder if it’s the same bird as April? Failed breeder?

So when do you take your vows?

Interesting work on impact of copses. Are you aware if it has influenced management practices anywhere ie any copses taken out, if so any positive results?

But only because Labour and Tories not delivering what people want leaves them nowhere else to go.

Sadly more likely Reform in Lincs. What if they come up with decent rural and wildlife policies? They will lie to get elected, as Labour did.

Not heard of this young lady but her name sounds like a phonetic rendition of an excellent Islay malt whisky.

Tristram’s Warbler, Middle Atlas, Morocco May 2025 by Andrew Chick

Enjoyed Tristram’s Warbler so much I invented a cocktail. The Tristram’s Tingler: shots of Bombay Sapphire gin and Cointreau with juniper berries, sprig of rosemary and a slice of orange evoking the habitat and Morocco. Drink while admiring this fine shot from @APCbirding

So what are the top 50 potential British firsts?

Yes a reverse list is a lot of fun. Started doing it in 2002 and it’s been my favourite spreadsheet and the one I work my British list off. Also record when I have last seen each BOU species abroad and where. A good spur to seeing everything on it. That Gib YbB is a memory I treasure the most.

Thank you, a great trip down memory lane. Guess you were too young for the Cheddar Wallcreeper in 78? the 2nd oldest bird on my last seen in UK list after the Gib spring male Yellow-breasted Bunting of May 77. Wonder how many sad old gits keep a last seen list? One of my favourites…