Well, the first Scilly teachers week in a decade was the quietest I’ve ever known, but it was still a lot of fun,good food, craic, company and the few birds there. Islands were as pretty as I remember them.

#birding #scillybirding #scillyseason
#birds #islesofscilly

Great first day on the Scillies, despite a rough crossing. Managed to catch up with the long staying Hoopoe and bluethroat amongst a plethora of other nice birds, and we even avoided the worst of the wind. St Agnes tomorrow!

Now that’s a September total! Great work well rewarded.

It’s the colourful season at #longpointbirdobservatory

Summer tanager, blue jay, yellow warbler and indigo bunting just the pick of the birding delights on offer.

#idratherbeatbreakwater
#birds #birdbanding

A long awaited return to Long Point Bird Observatory has not disappointed. It’s almost like I never left 6 years ago, though the habitat restoration has been amazing. Could do with the temp raising a little however 🥶

#longpointbirdobservatory
#ontariobirding
#birdsofcanada

A couple of shots of the 8 cattle egrets I’ve just found on my Southease Webs site. Despite doing this stretch for almost a decade+ these are the first I’ve found in this particular stretch. Was worth coming out in the wind after all!

Back in Sussex, it was nice to find a new species for my Webs list at Hampden Park, a med gull.

Also nice to see that people if they have to feed birds are using food that isn’t BREAD.

#birding #WeBS #birdsurvey

And that’s a wrap. Last bird ringed of the season, last flock of cormorants over my head here at Landguard.

Been a great season, plenty of highlights, good birds, great company and good craic.

The eastern type stonechat was showing very well earlier. This was the second common darter it had eaten today. Where is it putting them?! #birds #birding

Nice to finally catch up with some Eurasian woodcocks (timberdoodles to Canadians!) at the observatory today. Fantastically pretty birds and very educational. #birds #birdmigration

Nice to find this young quail today. First for the Observatory and a very educational bird for all. #birds #birding

October is the start of Fungi times here. These Fairy Inkcaps the most obvious of many to come.

Could be wrong about the species, the hazards of using ObsIdentify 😂

Quiet week at Landguard, with a couple of highlights. Only second firecrest ringed this autumn and the first (only?) YBW so far this autumn.

#birds #ukbirding

Image of a Northern Wheatear alongside the wording: Ringing Study. Differential changes in the morphology and fuel loads of obligatory and partial migrant passerines over half a century in Britain. www.bto.org #BTOScience

A study using BTO ringing data asked whether we could observe, from measurements taken when birds were being ringed, if there have been changes in wing length or body mass in the last 60 years as climates have changed. See what was discovered ➡️ bit.ly/4efs5gz #BTOScience #Ornithology

We’ve done very poorly for young woodpigeon here this year, the first year since I started here that we’ve only had two confirmed broods so far. It’s a shame, as we do quite well for them usually. Anyone else experiencing this?

#birds #woodpigeon #birdobservatory

Even on days with little migration, it’s still a joy to be here.

It’s been longer than my tenure at Landguard that the notice board has been this full!

Yeah, I’d be happy with that thanks.

Been a good couple of weeks at the Obs, here’s a few of the highlights.

Willow emerald damselfly, barred warbler, red-breasted flycatcher and tree pipit.