Ad. Bonaparte’s Gull today at Copperhouse, Cornwall (8th March ‘26). One of at least three birds in the county, plus same or another 1w at R. Plym yesterday.
#cornwallbirding #birding #ukbirding
The wintering Dusky Warbler at Boscathnoe Res, nr Penzance. Found on 17th Dec and still present 7th March 2026. Quite amazing considering this species normally winters in South East Asia.
35 sec video courtesy of Pete Walsh taken 5th March.
#cornwallbirding #ukbirding
1w Ross’s Gull at Newlyn Harbour - 23 sec video by Pete Walsh.
Its now departed but graced the area for ten days.
#cornwallbirding #ukbirding
Hi Brian
The wintering pair of Lesser Scaup were not at Helston today (2nd March).
Ross’s Gull in Newlyn Harbour
I couldn’t resist another look at this rare gull today (Sun 1st March). Present for its 9th day. I’m sure it has developed more pink in its body plumage? Or maybe it’s just the grey background. Either way, it’s a real stunner and certainly created national interest.
Really smart images there Tom. 👍
Will you be painting a picture of the Ross’s?
Yes Andy. Just couldn’t fit them all in to the allowed text! Quite an incredible list of rare birds.
The Ross’s Gull in Newlyn Harbour today (23rd Feb). Present for third day and seems settled in the harbour and Wherrytown area.
Well worth a visit, along with the Pacific Diver, 2 Lesser Scaup, R N Duck, Kumlien’s Gull, Bonaparte’s, 2 Dusky’s and a Little Bunting😉
#cornwallbirding #ukbirding
Ross’s Gull at Newlyn, Cornwall this morning (22nd Feb 2026). Found on the 21st in Newlyn harbour by Shaun Grose.
This is the 9th for Cornwall and my fourth. The last record was in 2020 when an adult was found at Gerrans Bay on 1st Jan.
#cornwallbirding #ukbirding
Lesser Scaup at Helston boating lake today (17th Feb. 26). Present since 5th Nov 2025 when I found this bird alongside the male. Both have been loyal to this site all winter, with just the occasional visit to nearby College Res.
#cornwallbirding
I remember it well Mark. A great find sir.
We spent several days in the Mannar coastal area (NW Sri Lanka) end of Jan. We found uncountable hundreds of mixed terns at several sites. Unviewable offshore sand bars held thousands more. Lesser Crested Tern was default tern plus a few Greater Crested, Little, Caspian and a vagrant Sandwich.
Lesser Adjutant at Puttalam, NW Sri Lanka. We found five on 21 st Jan, the only sightings of the trip. You can’t fail to be impressed with this giant of a bird.
#srilankabirding #srilanka
Slaty-legged Crake found today at Kitulgala, Sri Lanka. We have scored well on herons and ibis’ etc. but this is the only crake we’ve found.
Day 21: 245 species incl 26 endemics.
#srilankabirding
Pallas’s Gull (or Great Black-headed Gull) at Mannar, NW Sri Lanka. We saw about 20, mostly roosting birds a couple miles inland.
I’m no lariphile, but this is a seriously impressive gull.
#srilankabirding #srilanka
Blue-tailed Bee-eater. The most common bee-eater found mostly in the lowlands of Sri Lanka.
#srilankabirding
Spot-winged Thrush today at Kitigala mid hills forest. Our fifth for the trip. A striking and fairly secretive thrush which skulks around in the leaf litter. It’s endemic to Sri Lanka.
Day 20 #245 species inc 26 endemics.
#srilankabirding #srilanka
Sri Lanka Drongo. An endemic species to Sri Lanka. We found plenty in the Sinaraja rain forest area.
Day 19. #244 sp and 24 endemics, many of the latter in the rain forest. Highlights today included Red-faced Malkoah, Serendib Scop’s Owl and Scaly Thrush.
#srilanjabirding #srilanka
Sri Lanka Frogmouth. A pair seen today at Singhiraja rain forest. A species I never thought I’d see. This is the best I could get given the amount of deep foliage obscuring the view. How the local rangers find these birds is beyond me.
Day 17 #237 total.
#srilankabirding #srilanka
Brown Shrike of the form L. c. lucionensis. A very smart male with grey head and nape. Found at Kalamatia, south Sri Lanka. (1st Feb).
#srilankabirding
♂ Yellow Bittern at Yoda marshes, Tissa, south east Sri Lanka. (31st Jan). We found four today at this outstanding wetland area. Also found 118 species, our highest day total so far. We declined the Yala safari circus and the 800 jeeps entering the park. Not for us.
#srilankabirding
Scimitar Babbler at Horton Plain. An endemic species to Sri Lanka. A scarce bird and only seen in the high hills. Whoever named it describes this species perfectly.
Day 14. #221 species so far inc 12 endemics.
#srilankabirding #srilanka
Imperial Green Pigeon this morning at Tissamaharamma, south east Sri Lanka (31st Jan).
Widespread in small numbers. Despite its large size, this species is wary and shy.
#srilankabirding
Thanks Julian. It is a real stunner. The picture doesn’t really do it justice. We also saw four today (30th Jan). 👍
Oriental Magpie-Robin at Victoria Park, Nuwara Eliya. A regular sight across all habitats in Sri Lanka.
A feisty, charismatic bird which allows fairly close approach.
#srilankabirding
Male Pied Thrush at Nuwara Eliya (Victoria Gardens) 29th Jan. A spectacular and striking thrush.
Described as an uncommon migrant to the hills of Sri Lanka. We saw four today.
#srilankabirding
Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot feeding on an avocado. This endemic species to Sri Lanka feeds and even roosts by hanging upside down!
#srilankabirding
Black Eagle. An uncommon breeding resident in the high hills. Nr. Kandy, Sri Lanka (27th Jan). It’s a spectacular raptor with a name to match.
Sri Lanka day 10 #189
#srilankabirding
Blue-tailed Bee-eater at Mannar, NW Sri Lanka (24th Jan). A common sight in all habitats. Getting close though is a challenge.
#srilankabirding
