Drew Lyness

Volunteers needed to help map Britain's winter birds The BTO has launched a UK-wide Winter Bird Survey to improve understanding of wintering bird populations in habitats such as farmland and woodland. Building on earlier work, the project aims to assess population changes and the impact of agri-environment schemes, reports BirdGuides. Birders across the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man are invited to take part in this important citizen-science initiative.

Birders across the UK are being encouraged to take part in the BTO's new Winter Bird Survey, designed to provide a clearer picture of how the nation's birds are faring outside the breeding season:

Carrying on my streak of Shrikes in East Anglia, today I dropped in on the Red-tailed Shrike at Dunwich Heath. Showed fantastically in the morning sun, well worth the trip.

Argh! The one that got away? Saw a ringtail Harrier sp. over the @btobirds.bsky.social HQ this lunchtime which whipped low over my head and out of view over the treeline. Looked small, slim, long-tailed and very plain buff underneath but little more to go on. All too brief. 😵‍💫 #NorfolkBirding

Unexpected surprise encountering a Ruddy Duck distantly at Abberton Reservoir yesterday during a work team away day! I wonder whether this is the same bird that was in Lowestoft a couple of weeks ago? Was hard to pick out in the masses of wildfowl and Coot. #EssexBirding

The first-winter Isabelline / Red-tailed Shrike at Happisburgh showed very nicely for me and @sophgoesbirding.bsky.social late afternoon in the gardens behind the beach car park. Hides well in the buddliea at times. #NorfolkBirding

A wholesome day at RSPB Strumpshaw Fen that included attending the annual volunteer thank you event. A pleasure to be part of the team of such wonderful and dedicated people! #NorfolkBirding #Nature #Wildlife

RSPB Events Come along to one of our events to enjoy quality time in the natural world and see conservation in action. Nature is in crisis. Together we can save it.

A brand NEW event I'm trialing at RSPB Strumpshaw Fen this autumn. If you'd like to discover a different side of this awesome reserve, why not come along. #NorfolkBirding #Birds

events.rspb.org.uk/events/13167...

A group of volunteers and staff are gathered around three tables chatting.

A large artwork on a wall featuring a Kingfisher and Otter with the words 'Reserve this way'.

We had a great Regional Network meeting at Brandon Marsh Nature Reserve at the weekend, discussing upcoming BTO projects and of course we slotted in some time for birding. 🐦

A huge thanks to our brilliant volunteers for joining us and for all the incredible work they do to support BTO! 😀

We have made some changes to the list of species requiring descriptions.

From immediate effect Leach’s Petrel and Rough-legged Buzzard has been added

Limosa Black-tailed Godwit removed

A few shots from patch yesterday. Swallowtail still on the wing at Strumpshaw Fen, and lots of waders passing through Buckenham too. #NorfolkBirding

A top lunchtime bonus courtesy of the @btobirds.bsky.social Nunnery Lakes Reserve - a juv Purple Heron! It's a skittish bird but gave some quality flight views at times. A great excuse to take a break from the desk. #NorfolkBirding

A lovely sunny day at Winterton Dunes with @sophgoesbirding.bsky.social where there may have been a shortage of migrant birds (an understatement) but still a couple of smart Lesser Emperor Dragonfly and a juv Caspian Gull to see. Bring on autumn! #NorfolkBirding 😎

Thank you Chris! Was very exciting to see - my first this year!

Patching has been relatively quiet in the mid-Yare Valley recently (aside from finding a small flock of Wood Sandpiper a couple of weeks ago) but the insects have been brilliant! So many Swallowtail at Strumpshaw today and a fantastic Hummingbird Hawkmoth too. #NorfolkBirding

Great to see this with @sophgoesbirding.bsky.social on Sunday afternoon. Congratulations to the finder! 😁👏

þrjú hundruð Just one week ago the Boyton Marshes Black Stork took me to 299 for Suffolk and teetering on the edge of County greatness. I hoped the autum...

Blog post to mark today's achievements.
♠️

#SuffolkBirding #ThreeTonBadLad #Glory #Monumental

thewrongtimebirding.blogspot.com/2025/08/rju-...

Aha, I did mention that the last time I'd been to Whipsnade before this was to see that thrush. Awesome bird!

I'm meant to be flying to India today for a birding holiday, but sadly fell victim to their awful e-visa system (😔). To cheer me up, I'll reflect on a great experience last weekend with @sophgoesbirding.bsky.social when we spent a night at the wonderful yet stormy Whipsnade Zoo! Lucky to have her! 😊

Today!!! 👇😄

Going to #GlobalBirdfair?
➡️ Sat 12 July (10am) - Plover Lecture Stage - 'Scarcities & Swallowtails: Celebrating 50 years of RSPB Strumpshaw Fen'.
✅ Learn about this amazing reserve, now in its 50th year, from the perspective of its most addicted patch-birder... me! #birds #NorfolkBirding 😎

Wildlife-revival plan for Cambridgeshire goes to public A draft Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Cambridgeshire will go to public consultation in July. With some of the lowest nature coverage in the UK, the county faces mounting ecological pressure. The plan outlines ways to restore habitats, tackle invasive species and encourage local action to boost biodiversity.

A major strategy to revive Cambridgeshire's struggling natural habitats is set to go before the public:

Purple emperor sitting on the front of a bird hide.

Not too sure what this purple emperor is feeding on but it was there for about 45 minutes.

Today’s distraction while bittern watching. Purple emperor is a rare butterfly in Norfolk and this one actually in the hide at Strumpshaw fen.
#norfolkbutterflies
#butterflies

Very nice, seen via BirdGuides there's still 10 at Minsmere this morning so different birds but great to have them back.

As always, RSPB Minsmere was quality for @sophgoesbirding.bsky.social and I yesterday where we were treated to not one, not two, but three (!) Roseate Tern, a couple of which displayed high over our heads and out to sea. Also 9 Spotshank and an adorable Green-eyed Flower Bee! #SuffolkBirding 😎

Swallowtail Butterfly feeding on pink flowers.

Honey Buzzard gliding through blue skies.

Fen Raft Spider stood on small lily pads while holding an egg sac.

A landscape view of Strumpshaw Fen with lush green reeds, blue shimmering water and blue skies with fluffy clouds.

Going to #GlobalBirdfair?
➡️ Sat 12 July (10am) - Plover Lecture Stage - 'Scarcities & Swallowtails: Celebrating 50 years of RSPB Strumpshaw Fen'.
✅ Learn about this amazing reserve, now in its 50th year, from the perspective of its most addicted patch-birder... me! #birds #NorfolkBirding 😎

It's been aged as a first-summer giving it some additional credibility. It's going on my patch list for sure.

No way!!! Interestingly my bird was attached at the hip to two Teal while at Strumpshaw too.

Very bizarre but it is a first-summer bird (cleverly worked out by @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social) so that goes in its favour too. Also seemed to cling to two drake Teal for company when at Strumpshaw this evening.

I'm sure it's widely known to be fair. 😆

Well then, what do we think of this? Very exciting to find my first ever mid-Yare Valley Smew this afternoon which (being unringed, fully winged and wary) looks the part, aside from the fact it's June!!! Stranger things have happened though a brilliant bird all the same. #NorfolkBirding 😄