Brian Stretch

Male Namaqua Dove at Nalsarovar, Gujarat a few days ago.

A rare winter visitor to #India with numbers slowly increasing since the first record in 2017.

#IndiAves #BirdsSeenIn2026

😂

And all because the lady loves Milk Tray 😆

Some decent January birding in the lower Severn valley this morning.

The juvenile Great Northern Diver still at Ripple along with two Great Egrets. Golden Plovers at a couple of sites along the A38, plus the drake Ring-necked Duck, Pink-footed Goose and Black-tailed Godwit at Clifton.

#WorcsBirds

The Slavonian Grebe still on floodwater at Upton-upon-Severn late afternoon viewed through the trees behind Lancaster Close.

Been a few years since my last scarce grebe here - the Black-necked in April 1998.

#WorcsBirds

The remarkably elusive juvenile Great Northern Diver still at Ripple Pits early afternoon.

Captured a rare moment here when its stealth mode wasn't fully engaged!

Best of the rest included two Stonechats, Great Egret and an unseasonal Common Sandpiper.

#WorcsBirds

Another great early morning to be out on the #MalvernHills with spectacular views across a fogbound #Worcestershire.

Icing on the cake was finding this female Snow Bunting at the summit of Worcestershire Beacon although it didn't appear to hang around for long.

#WorcsBirds

Received details today on this colour-ringed Whimbrel I observed at Playa del Janubio, Lanzarote last month.

Ringed in Iceland on 16.6.20 it was seen again there in summer '23 & wintered on Lanzarote in the winters of 23/24, 24/25 & now again for at least its third winter.

@waderquest.bsky.social

Checked Clifton this afternoon. No sign amongst the 281 Teal present.

OK, thanks Andy. Not seen any news for today.

Hi Andy, I haven't seen this bird, so only going by your video, but from around half way through the clip, this bird clearly shows a horizontal white line on both sides of the body.

Hi Jack, it can start as early as late Sept, but usually late Oct through to early December. Rarely they overwinter which extends the season into the new year.

Great to see that Snow Bunting season has finally arrived on the #MalvernHills!

Pleased to find this stunning male at the summit of Worcestershire Beacon early this morning.

#WorcsBirds #UKBirding

It was new to me too, Phil. It's just south of Costa Teguise GC.

Yes, Paul. And now a Brown Booby! Slightly more productive than the Malverns 😉

The Brown Booby again offshore at Salinas de Janubio, Lanzarote early this morning.

Frequently hassled by the local Yellow-legged Gulls.

#CanaryIslands #BirdsSeenIn2025 #Spain

Not by me but it did take some finding even knowing it was there!

The Citrine Wagtail still present at Depuradora Tahiche, Lanzarote earlier today.

A fairly mobile and elusive individual, it's the first one I've seen outside India.

#CanaryIslands #BirdsSeenIn2025 #Spain

A leisurely stroll around Marina Rubicón, Playa Blanca on Lanzarote this evening resulted in finding this Spotted Sandpiper feeding along the stream by the Oasis restaurant.

Also a Common Sandpiper and Greenshank present.

#CanaryIslands #BirdsSeenIn2025 #Spain

The views from the #MalvernHills were spectacular early this morning, unlike the birding.

In fact, the whole of October has been extremely quiet.

Despite multiple visits each week, the best bird was a Wheatear. Yes, just one.

#WorcsBirds

They have an extensive 'menu'!
www.smithsnurseries.com/waterfowl/or...

Caspian Gull at Lake Chiemsee, Germany.

Yellow-legged Gull at Lake Chiemsee, Germany.

Alpine Chough in the Alps, Germany.

Tyrol, Austria.

A short work visit to southern Germany and western Austria a couple of weeks ago allowed some time for birding.

Highlights included Nutcracker, Alpine Choughs & 3 Black Grouse in the Alps along with Caspian Gull, Water Pipits, plenty of Hawfinches and Black Redstarts in Lake Chiemsee/Übersee area.

Given the weather conditions, this morning had Rock Pipit written all over it.

A light north-easterly with persistent drizzle produced at least two birds at Grimley Camp Lane Pits.

Other birds of note included Golden Plover south-west, Common Gull briefly & Green Sandpiper.

#WorcsBirds #UKBirding

This Wheatear was clinging to the summit of Worcestershire Beacon #MalvernHills in the strong winds early this morning.

#WorcsBirds

Well done on getting pics. Saw it very briefly early doors but then disappeared. Also heard a few Crossbills but little else of note.

My last September visit. Been a poor month. Huge effort but very little to show for it!

Yes, Lee. That's a juvenile Little Bittern.

Juvenile Squacco Heron, Lee 👍

An image of the optical phenomenon known as 'Brocken Spectre' where a person's shadow is cast onto a mist or cloud layer, appearing as a giant figure with a rainbow halo.

Challenging conditions on North Hill #MalvernsHills early morning.

With poor visibility, a couple of Crossbills calling in flight was the best of it.

On the plus side, perfect conditions for witnessing the optical phenomenon known as 'Brocken Spectre'.

#WorcsBirds

Thanks Paul.
One of the most amazing things on that trip was how @andywarr.bsky.social managed to find a Sainsbury's 4000m up a mountain between Tibet and Bhutan 🤣

Thanks Ed. Makes it a whole lot easier, especially if you have multiple contributors.

Bugun Liocichla at Eaglenest WS, Arunachal Pradesh.

Male Temminck's Tragopan at Mandala, Arunachal Pradesh.

Trip report now fully updated with pictures of the incredibly successful spring #birding tour of north-east India with @andywarr.bsky.social and @paulrhodes.bsky.social.

Many amazing memories and thanks for your great company, Andy and Paul.

ebird.org/tripreport/3...

#Assam #ArunachalPradesh