Where is the Herring Gull?

beautiful autumn morning at Besthorpe Trent Vale, but quiet for birds. This Grey Heron held this pose for an impressive 10 minutes.

Besthorpe this morning. 2 Cattle Egret, 2 Spoonbill, plus Great Egrets, Green Sandpiper and Greenshank. Also 2 Hares and 3 Roe Deer from the access track.

I believe they are nesting at Besthorpe, could have come from there.

I just turn off now when he comes on. Leave it 90 minutes or so and he's gone and nothing important has happened (hopefully).

Various Egrets at Besthorpe this morning. Spoonbill and Common Tern also present, with Grayling and Skipper sp butterflies.

Bempton cliffs is always spectacular, particularly at this time of year. Gannets and Auks in their thousands. We even saw a puffin or two.

Then on for a week in Hunmanby. That is Filey in the distance. There are gannets and Auks and Terns in the bay, and it is going to be too hot later. Fantastic.

Back to Blacktoft. Midsummer not the liveliest in the reedbed birdwise, but a lovely atmosphere of calm worked it's magic.

Not Constantinople specific, but.

River Kings by Cat Jarman relates the story of the interaction between the Vikings and Byzantium.

Theodoric The Goth by Thomas Hodgkin is the life story of the king of the ostrogoths who was Viceroy of the Eastern Roman Empire.

Back to Lincoln for a lovely short stay, visiting Fiskerton and Besthorpe (pictured). Lots of warblers, but Yellow Wagtail, Cuckoo, and Great Egret the standouts.

Visited a new (to us) reserve at the weekend, North Cave Wetlands. Looked good in the sunshine, but there was a keen cold wind and the birds were keeping their heads down. First Sand Martins of the year.

Called in at RSPB Blacktoft Sands yesterday. Lovely day meant reserve busy with people, but good to hear a Bittern booming, also a couple of late Snipe.

First visit of the year to Fiskerton Fen. The Willow Warblers have arrived plus Swallow and Speckled Wood. Also a male Marsh Harrier with a large red tag on each wing.

Absolutely. I scared someone a fortnight ago by remembering their full name and hometown from a brief conversation four years previous.

Or fighting it's own reflection.

Chiffchaff at our living room window this morning. Has been there off and on for over an hour. I believe it is collecting cobwebs for nesting material.

First Blackcap of the year heard from our Suffolk garden this morning.

Today we ventured (just) into Nottinghamshire, to visit Besthorpe where they have a new grazing regime. Also 2 Avocet on the lagoons and a few Pinkfeet among the Greylags.

First visit of the year to ex-RAF Woodhall. Plenty to see but nothing exciting found, always nice to see Marsh Harrier displaying.

5 Goosander low East over Holton Road Halesworth at 09:45 today.