David Walsh

I’ve enjoyed the last two mornings at @landguardbo.bsky.social catching up with @landguardbirder.bsky.social and @birderbill.bsky.social. Lots to see including Grayling (noteworthy), juv Black Redstart, Wasp Spider (photos), Pied Flycatcher (glimpsed), Willow Warblers … + a very pink container ship!

This Common Darter perched briefly on the viburnum in my garden yesterday, just my fourth record. A little earlier a male Banded Demoiselle had appeared, a first ever and major surprise, but too quick for the camera. Both whilst having a coffee with a university friend I hadn’t seen for ages!

Great to see you and your parents for a catch up - first time in ages!

The Landguard Striped Hawkmoth and an Eyed Hawkmoth

Most unexpected #NocMig recording over the garden at 02:00hr this morning (7.8.25) in the form of Night Heron ##SuffolkBirding

Excellent day in Suffolk: started at Walberswick with @DavidWalsh22 for the Zitting Cisticola which obligingly perched, briefly, between song flights, but long enough to allow scope views and a photo. Then went to Hollesley to see the Black Stork which was very confiding.

The highlight of an eagerly anticipated catch up with James and Thomas Porter on the local patch this afternoon was spotting three Wasp Spiders, my first of the summer.

First visit to @landguardbo.bsky.social for a while this morning. Nice to catch up with the crew. Saw an obliging Clouded Yellow, my first Wheatear of the autumn, the celebrity Striped Hawkmoth plus a distant Common Scoter offshore.

Fun to witness part of the Jersey Tiger Moth invasion today, with one (first ever) in my garden, as well as a bonus Hummingbird Hawkmoth.

Wallcreeper from the Pyrenees recently.

A new image of the Zitting Cisticola at Walberswick - still a little distant but did sit out this morning before the wind

After yesterday’s SBG walk I was planning on a quiet day at home today …then news of the Zitting Cisticola broke. I had good flight views soon after arrival. My first Suffolk tick for two years! Good to see so many friends there.

Another enjoyable @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social meeting today, at Minsmere. 70+ species including Arctic Skua (for some), a pair of Stone Curlews & 11 Little Gulls. One of the best moments was in ‘extra time’ when we saw a Curlew Sandpiper then three juvenile Spotted Redshanks, my first of the year.

An epic day up the coast with @joshuapev.bsky.social y’day. Unreal views of the Black Stork feeding, but also Dartford Warbler, Crossbill, Fulmar, Ruddy Shelduck, Curlew Sandpiper (all lifers for Josh) + Cuckoo, Wood Sandpiper, Ruff, Yellow Wagtail, Spoonbill. Great to bump into so many friends too.

A Migrant Hawker made a surprise visit to my garden this morning. Later in the day at Minsmere I found my first Great Green Bush Cricket of the year, always a nice moment!

I saw my first Black Stork at Ellough, Suffolk way back in 1990. This one at Boyton Marshes was my fifth in the county. Enjoyed fantastic flight views of it soaring overhead this morning.

What a pic! You were in the right place at the right time, reward for your vigil on the river wall. Many thanks for your call - much appreciated.

Two of ten Spoonbills right next to the path at a very wet Aldeburgh Marshes this afternoon. The main lagoon was teeming with waders. Scanning through 360 Black-tailed Godwit & 120 Dunlin produced Knot and Curlew Sandpiper in summer plumage + Wood Sandpiper. Will a rarity appear there this week?!?

Spent a couple of hours on a lovely circular walk around Hollesley marshes early this morning, then headed to Boyton where I got lucky & saw the Black Stork in flight. It was quite distant but in view for fully 15 minutes. It certainly helped that there were lots of people looking #suffolkbirding

Spent the second part of today helping my parents having decided to get up early and nip to Aldeburgh for some morning birding beforehand. Watched the four Ruddy Shelducks in lovely light, then the unseasonal Goldeneye, then a couple of juvenile Bearded Tits, all alongside a keen young local birder.

A gloomy and unpromising day, but I walked along the Deben at Felixstowe Ferry with @joshuapev.bsky.social this morning before the rain set in; it proved thoroughly worthwhile. A summer plumage Golden Plover was our highlight but we also found Sandwich Terns, Black-tailed Godwits, Whimbrel, Dunlin.

A truly brilliant day at Minsmere yesterday with two of Suffolk’s keenest young birders. Roseate Tern, Stone Curlew, Garganey, Little Ringed Plover (pics) plus Little Tern, Spotted Redshank, Wood Sandpiper, Ruff, Bittern, Hobby, Silver-washed Fritillary, White Admiral, Grayling, Emerald Damselfly.

Definitely the most rain I can ever remember in a single day today: I haven’t left the house, lots of admin done. An absolute bonus was spotting a Purple Hairstreak from an upstairs window whilst chatting on the phone to a friend. A first ever, most unexpected. Managed a phone pic through the scope.

Saw 16 species of wader up the Suffolk coast yesterday including four Wood Sandpipers and three Greenshanks, which prompts me to say that spaces are still available on the next guided walk from The Froize at Chillesford on Saturday week - see froize.co.uk/product/guid...

Brilliant catching up with Sam and his family at the weekend. 20 species of butterfly as well as some cracking birds.

Silver-washed Fritillary

White Admiral

Little Tern

Arctic Tern

Good day out at @rspbminsmere.bsky.social yesterday with @david-walsh.bsky.social. Little, Arctic, and hundreds of Sandwich Terns were nice to see! Also White Admirals, SW Fritillaries, Purple Hairstreaks, Waders, Bittern, Bearded Tit, and more!

Last Friday I had a superb day guiding a Naturetrek group at Dunwich & Westleton. We saw Spoonbills, Avocets, Stone Curlews & Dartford Warblers. A Red-veined Darter was our best find. 20 species of butterfly included a fab White-letter Hairstreak plus Silver-studded Blue, Grayling & White Admiral.

On Monday I had a long-awaited catch up with friends from Bedford at RSPB Lakenheath. The Glossy Ibis had departed overnight but Gary’s Pool held 23 Little & 3 Great Egrets. A family of Cranes flew over Joist Fen. Later we enjoyed Chalkhill Blues along the Devil’s Dyke (Newmarket), some on Marjoram.