Kyle Smith 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Pilning Wetlands (Northwick Warth) :: 10 March 2026 The reappearance of the female hooded merganser at Pilning Wetlands (Northwick Warth) was one of those moments that ignites excitement. Havi...

I've posted my latest blog. A visit with Kev & Karen Heath to see the hooded merganser at Northwick Warth - redemption and a second bite at the cherry after missing it a few weeks earlier. Thanks for looking!
@birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social
jkhsmith.blogspot.com/2026/03/piln....

A couple more of the female hooded merganser yesterday at Pilning Wetlands (Northwick Warth) - with Kev and Karen Heath - @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social.

Yesterday's hooded merganser at Pilning Wetlands (Northwick Warth), with Kev and Karen Heath - the bird did motor across the water! @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social.

Thank you.

Headed over to Pilning Wetlands today after Kev Heath shared that the female hooded merganser was back - a second opportunity after missing it a few weeks ago @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social.

Poole Park, and around :: 07 March 2026 A long-staying Forster’s tern has become something of a local celebrity along the Dorset coast in recent years. First discovered in Poole Ha...

I've posted my latest blog. A visit with Kev Heath to Poole Park for the returning Forster's tern, and then a bit of birding on the way home. Thanks for looking!
@birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social #UKbirding
jkhsmith.blogspot.com/2026/03/pool....

Ferruginous duck ay Ryton Pools County Park, Warks this morning @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social.

Also at Poole Park, Kev Heath and I added sandwich tern and mandarin to our year lists @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social.

Visited Poole Park with Kev Heath y'day morning to see the Forster's tern. Our timing was perfect - the bird appeared just as we arrived and joined the others already waiting. A great bird in the gloomy conditions @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social.

Newlyn / Hayle, Cornwall & Clifton Pits :: 28 February & 02 March 2026 News of a Ross's gull turning up at Newlyn, Cornwall has produced excitement across the birding community. With just under 100 accepted reco...

I've posted my latest blog. A long twitch for Ross's gull in Cornwall with Kev Heath, and a closer one for Richardson's cackling goose in Worcestershire. Thanks for looking!
@birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social
jkhsmith.blogspot.com/2026/03/newl....

Around the West Midlands, Rushy Common, & Somerset :: 23-25 February 2026 We hadn’t done any birding over the weekend, as I’d spent Saturday driving back to Banbury from the Highlands and was in need of a rest on S...

I've posted my latest blog. A trip around several sites in the West Midlands, Rushy Common in Oxon, and finally a trip down to darkest Somerset. Thanks for looking!
@birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social
jkhsmith.blogspot.com/2026/03/arou....

A little trip out after lunch to see the Richardson's cackling goose at Clifton Pits, Worcestershire - noticeably smaller than the Canada geese when you get your eye in - shorter neck, stubby bill, compact body @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @worcswt.bsky.social.

Not usually all about gulls for me but another lifer with distant ring-billed gull at Hayle - with Kev Heath @hobbylovinglife.bsky.social @worlebirder.bsky.social @shaunevans.bsky.social @pittasoma.bsky.social @0100011s.bsky.social - @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @cbwps.org.uk.

I must have built my Ross's gull kit incorrectly - the head’s on back to front 🤣 with Kev Heath @hobbylovinglife.bsky.social @worlebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @cbwps.org.uk.

Visit to Newlyn Harbour with Kev Heath @hobbylovinglife.bsky.social @worlebirder.bsky.social to see Ross's gull - prolonged views. Great to catch up with @shaunevans.bsky.social @pittasoma.bsky.social @0100011s.bsky.social, and others @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @cbwps.org.uk.

Ayrshire coast & RSPB Loch Garten :: 16-20 February 2026 It was long overdue, but finally the time had come to visit family in Ayrshire, Scotland following the festive break - yes, I really do mean...

I've posted my latest blog. A trip to visit family in Ayrshire, and then an unplanned couple of days in the Highlands. Thanks for looking!
@birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @rspbscotland.bsky.social
jkhsmith.blogspot.com/2026/02/ayrs....

With the sun out, and confirmation that the long-tailed duck was still at Rushy Common Nature Reserve, I decided to visit and hopefully catch up with it this time, having missed it a couple of weeks ago. Lovely views (eventually) @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social.

Oxfordshire :: 14 February 2026 Saturday came around and meant another outing with Kev @kev07713 , though this time we opted to stay local. The decision was prompted in par...

I've posted my latest blog. A trip around Oxfordshire with Kev Heath, dipping a long-tailed duck but having great views of a bittern. Thanks for looking!
@birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social #UKbirding
jkhsmith.blogspot.com/2026/02/oxfo....

A couple of year ticks today for Kev Heath & I - good views of both lesser spotted woodpecker and Hume's warbler - better than photos suggest. Hume's refused to stay still or emerge fully from denser areas of twigs - at @RSPB Middleton and Lea Marston - @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social.

Finally connected with a long-wanted species at RSPB Loch Garten on Thursday, the superb crested tit. Two birds showed beautifully among the tit and finch flock. A real highlight.
@rspb.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social.

Good time with family in Ayrshire last week and a few opportunities to do some birding on the coast @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social.

Around Staffordshire :: 11 February 2026 Kev @kev07713 was still working hard on his last job before he retires, and was probably ready for a day off and could also have a rest fro...

I've posted my latest blog. A trip around Staffordshire with Kev Heath, to see willow tit and shore lark. Thanks for looking!
@birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social
jkhsmith.blogspot.com/2026/02/arou...

On Saturday, after travelling for views of several goshawks, Kev Heath and I then lucked out with great views of a bittern at @rspb.bsky.social RSPB Otmoor - @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social.

Linch Hill Pit 18 & Farmoor Reservoir :: 09 February 2026 With Charlotte away playing pickleball and Kev still busy fitting windows for family, I found myself with some free time and decided to expl...

I've posted my latest blog. A sneaky outing to visit Linch Hill (Pit 18) to see the smew pair and red-crested pochard, plus a stop off on the way home at Farmoor for common scoter. Thanks for looking!
@birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social
jkhsmith.blogspot.com/2026/02/linc....

Good day out again with Kev Heath, despite the rain and poor light - managed to connect with two willow tits in Staffordshire and then the shore lark at Mow Cop @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social.

RSPB Frampton Marsh & Fillingham :: 07 February 2026 After looking around, we were unsure where to go on Saturday. Kev @kev07713 and I hadn’t been out all week - Kev had been busy fitting wind...

I've posted my latest blog. A great day out in Lincolnshire with Kev Heath, seeing snow buntings and a great grey shrike. Thanks for looking!
@birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @lincsbirding.bsky.social
jkhsmith.blogspot.com/2026/02/rspb....

Dropped back into Farmoor Reservoir to try and locate the immature male common scoter being reported on F1 - better luck this time, and good views of the greater scaup again @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social.

Two smew (drake & redhead) have been present on Linch Hill Pit 18 (also known as Stoneacres Lake) since 2 Feb. Sightings are made from outside the site perimeter fence and through tree cover - but were cracking birds. Bonus red-crested pochards @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social.

Great day around Lincolnshire yesterday with Kev Heath - highlights were 4 snow buntings, 6 grey partridge, and the Fillingham great grey shrike. Nice to see Wayne Glossop and later @tcartz.bsky.social - @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @lincsbirding.bsky.social.

Into Somerset and South Gloucestershire :: 31 January 2026 Kev @kev07713 and I were weighing up our options for Saturday when we decided on another trip down into Somerset, hoping to finally catch u...

I've posted my latest blog. A great day out in Somerset and South Gloucestershire with Kev Heath, and early with @hobbylovinglife.bsky.social @worlebirder.bsky.social. Thanks for looking! @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @somersetbirds.bsky.social.
jkhsmith.blogspot.com/2026/02/into....