Russ Malin

Over the last couple of days we have started to witness the arrival of one of our most enigmatic species, the House Martin. They are back! For information on the species and information on recording them in 2026 please pay us a visit www.housemartinconservation.com

Final call for any outstanding 2025 bird records. Please send to norfolkbirdrecs@gmail.com as soon as possible.

Not required if already submitted to Ebird/Birdtrack.

Thanks

Sharing the romance of birds | British Birds Valentine’s Day is a fitting reminder of partnerships formed in the natural world. In  birds, courtship behaviours play a critical role in breeding success.

With love in the air this month, we delve in to the stories of three species published in British Birds.

A young person is holding a bird in their hand. Wording below reads: young bird observatory visitors programme. bto.org/ybov.

Apply for our Young Bird Observatory Visitors Programme grant ➡️ www.bto.org/ybov

Each year the BTO provide a number of grants of up to £250, to support young people looking to visit one of the accredited British and Irish Bird Observatories.

Closing date: Sunday 1 March. #UKBirding

Brilliant…

Genuinely one of my favourite reports. Look forward to this every year James. A real testimony of the work put in by a dedicated patch worker. Whitlingham CP is a great little spot. Decent coffee in the flint barn as well from memory 🙂

🚨 Want to work with Little Terns?

We’re recruiting a Head Little Tern Warden and 2 Assistants to protect the Beacon Ponds colony at Spurn.

👉 spurnbirdobservatory.co.uk/news

Beyond excited to have joined the committee at @ukhousemartins.bsky.social A small, independent charity that is dedicated to the care and protection of this important species. Why not join? Membership is free but donations are welcome housemartinconservation.com/join-us

Great White Egret at the reservoir in the village first thing before flying east. Spotted what was presumably the same bird along the Rothley Brook at Kirby Muxloe an hour or so later. Magnificent birds…

Prepare for the cold-spell with the February issue of British Birds Journal!

In this month's issue:
- Ouse Washes and Whooper Swans
- Britain's first Western olivaceous warbler
- Do Eurasian Wrynecks drum?

Available in Print or online through our Digital Subscription.

Highlights from a long-term study of Tengmalm’s Owls: Steve McQueen Results from a 47-year study of Tengmalm’s Owls Aegolius funereus in western Finland show that abundance of their main...

Interesting in reading more about Tengmalm's Owls? Take a step back to the June 2020 article featuring highlights from a long-term study.

Read more: britishbirds.co.uk/journal/arti...

A very smart Little Egret was a surprise in Bouskell Park feeing in the swollen stream in the car park. Finally, two Mistle Thrush for 2026 with two birds flying overhead towards Hospital Lane. Was hoping to cash in the Siskin numbers that are being reported but not today sadly…

More of a dog walk than a patch visit this afternoon but the flooded fields along Mill Lane near the ford had a GW Egret and GBB Gull both new. Wonder what I had have seen if I had remembered my bins…

Producing breeding population estimates to monitor Little Egret trends Abstract Modelling of Little Egret Egretta garzetta data from the Heronries Census (HC) and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel (RBBP) has been...

Producing breeding population estimates to monitor Little Egret trends

The RBBP continues to monitor breeding abundance, with the latest figure being 1,614–1,696 pairs in 2023 (Eaton et al. 2025).

Read more: britishbirds.co.uk/journal/arti...
🥇Subscriber Content
📸David Tipling, Thomas Willoughby

No sign of the Mandarin or Stonechat today. Two Greenfinch were new for the year though…

This was the only Kingfisher on a frozen patch this morning. A confiding female Stonechat was new near Bush Lock sharing a horse paddock with a sunbathing male Red Fox…

A few more bits along Mill Lane and Crow Mills today, the most surprising of which was a Chiffchaff in the sunshine. Ended the walk with a brew. If you like your coffee and are passing Glen Parva / Blaby be sure to check out linktr.ee/ekojoeeveryt...

Quick dog walk around the reservoir in the village just now rewarded with a quite showy (for them!) Cetti’s Warbler. Don’t recall seeing one here previously?…

A credible 35 species on a 2-hour walk around Blaby Mill Lane, Bouskell Park, Crow Mills and the Grand Union Canal. Nuthatch, Raven and Cormorant were all good to get but Mandarin was a total shock…

Decent start to 2026 with a male Mandarin in Bouskell Park. Nuthatch as well. Lots of Redwing along Long Walk. Easily 100+ so far…

Great numbers. Hope you, Claire and the girls have a good new year mate. See you in 2026…

New Year, new job. Come and join the @ukceh.bsky.social team on the Isle of May
ceh.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/en-GB/CEH_Ca...

Grand Union Canal - Crow Mills to Glen Parva Manor. Sparrowhawk, Herring Gull and Mute Swans…

Mill Lane to Crow Mills. Raven, Green and GS Woodpecker, Rook, Common Gull and lots of Redwing but no Fieldfare…

Blaby - The Long Walk. Lots of tits including flocks of Long-tailed plus Coal Tits and several Goldcrest…

94 Greylag and 83 Canada at Saddington with more out of sight over the ridge in the field. No scarce interlopers yet sadly. Goosander and Green Woodpecker…

Fabulous! Have a good Xmas @markgolley.bsky.social and @linnetincley.bsky.social and thank you so much for posting all the CMO highlights. I wouldn’t have much other wildlife news for the newsletter without your posts…

Shameless plug but I have this scope on eBay at the moment ebay.us/m/u4sYTu

Very murky at Saddington this morning. Water levels high again and feeder channels bursting! 5 male and 3 female Goosander, 42 Common Gull, lots of Redwing, a few Fieldfare and a whopping 81 Greylag so far…