Don’t give up Dave a big push seemingly this spring new sites

Is that a bit of a tongue in cheek statement only the 9th! Try Lincs 0!!!

On another grey and dismal day watching a flock of 12 glowing Yellowhammers when an unfamiliar song drifted from the adjacent scrub: bubbly and piping it went on and initially had me wondering until the penny dropped full song of the Bullfinch but how often do you hear it particularly in February

February 13th –the rise and rise of the Cetti’s Warbler on my local patch and more historical ramblings: — Graham Catley Photography Wandering around my local patch nowadays you tend to almost ignore the strident explosions from male Cetti’s Warblers but twas not long ago that such renditions would have been a source of serious exc...

What is the connection between an electric fire, Franklin's Gull, some mole hills and Cetti's Warbler? Another ramble down memory lane www.grahamcatley.com/blog-1/february-13th-the-rise-and-rise-of-the-cettis-warbler-on-my-local-patch-and-more-historical-ramblings

If seems the pertinent word: short distance return presumably but 53 Skylarks back on my survey site this week after a winter with less than ten and lots of territorial activity/ song on a less wet day

Well maybe an idea not to drive up and down in your tractor flailing the hedges then ?

Finally managed to get 14 White-fronts on my patch at Barton today after a few close calls - Greylags can be useful after all @lincsbirding.bsky.social

Thanks Richard interesting

Lice not live

Is that dark patch on the underside staining or maybe live? Have seen it on disappearing groups of Tree Sparrows that have disappeared in the following spring

No audience for facts and likelihood just sensationalism: MET Office seem to still be over reacting to Michael Fish

At least I can keep dry in the cafe while looking for the Black Duck

come to the conclusion it is just not worth bothering; protected areas by the Humber, right managed by Lincs Trust; track to a sailing pit, apparently hedge prevents wind and stops sailing; also harbours insects that used to feed 1000 Swifts and hirundines in spring - disconnect with natural world

Closed off January with 99 species on my patch list this adult Med Gull - have walked in excess of 130 miles in the month so not many rewards but 99 is still the highest January total for over 25 years

A Mute swan wandering round the fences trapped by wires and fencing

What happens when a gang of nature haters own a SSSI and turn it into a fish torturing pond? Legislation useless without enforcement: all fish eaters excluded GCG bred on here for 50 years : Barton on Humber Lincs

Keep checking all my ancient local churches in passing

“72% of satellite-tagged Hen Harriers were confirmed or considered likely to have been illegally killed, and this was ten times more likely to occur over areas of land managed for grouse shooting relative to other land uses.”

A Goldcrest perches on a plant showing its small size, olive plumage and yellow stripe on the top of its head.

Goldcrests might be tiny, but they can certainly travel a long way. A male Goldcrest ringed in Lincolnshire was caught alive 1,665 km away in northern Sweden 11 months later! #Winterwatch

The Fillingham Great Grey Shrike and other large grey shrike conundrums including Steppe Grey Shrike a taxonomic bafflement — Graham Catley Photography From my first retrospective bird at Klondike in Goxhill Marsh on April 2nd 1970 confirmed after vastly improved views of one along the same hedgerow on October 31st 1970, a bird that subsequently wint...

More musings www.grahamcatley.com/blog-1/great-grey-shrikes

The current Lincs Great Grey Shrike - its set me off working on a past Great Grey encounters blog - sadly seem to be fewer and fewer every winter - in 1974-75 from UEA base we had a minimum of 11 different individuals and may I say none of them actually twitched

Don’t play with dictators

Thanks Steve

Thanks

2026 what to do birding wise and reflections on bird finding — Graham Catley Photography More of the same I guess is what springs to mind immediately but as we all are very much aware birding is not what it was 50 years ago or even 30 years ago for so many diverse reasons. My addiction to...

You have to do something on wet days www.grahamcatley.com/blog-1/2026-...

In the Bearded also inaccurate? Moustachioed Reedling ?

Local male Marsh Harrier in low winter sun: that eye

But downward trend reflected in all aspects of species abundance and variety

Brilliant