Adam Bassett

This one, tiny, came in with me from the garden last week. Araneus sp?

Thanks Esmond. At least yours has both its front legs! What distinguishes maculipes from angulatus?

This distinctive looking spider (small!) is sharing my study today. Obsi says Episinus sp @baltibillbucks.bsky.social @chalkspring.bsky.social ?

Fairly typical view of Water Rail at #LMGP this morning. Also a record shot of yesterday's first for year Oystercatcher #ukbirding

Spring migrants are beginning to push through at #LMGP despite the cold. A noticeable increase in Chiffchaffs from the 6th; yesterday a surprise 2cy Little Gull in the roost plus a Blackcap in subsong new for year; this morning a brief Little Ringed Plover before 7am #ukbirding

First chance to see the Brent Goose on Dorney Common. Slightly odd as it was completely on its own away from other geese, feeding fine, but fairly approachable, waddling away rather than flying. Wishing it well. #ukbirding

The sun actually shone for the Bucks Bird Club trip to #LMGP on Sunday. The melanistic Lapwing looking particularly resplendent. #ukbirding

This 2w Caspian Gull has been at the #LMGP roost for the last 3 nights - record in low light. Also an adult tonight as well.

A stunning melanistic Lapwing has been hanging out at #LMGP since mid January. Just record shots, but an amazing looking thing. A first for me and must be pretty unusual
@btobirds.bsky.social?

Not much time to visit the #LMGP patch with short Winter days. Some highlights this week are 1 of probably 2 GW Egrets and the nomadic pair of Stonechat. What I hadn't realised until looking at the photo is the male is colour ringed - need a closer look now #ukbirding

Made a visit to @marekwalford.bsky.social's patch at Henley Road/Sonning Eye - first in a few years - to catch up with Smew (once regular, now scarce in the region) and a GN Diver. Just record shots, but thanks for the info Marek #ukbirding

This presumed hybrid Goldfinch x Linnet has returned to my garden again today. This is its 5th Winter here, first seen in Dec 2020. Always with a few Goldfinches #ukbirding

First visit of 2025 to the #LMGP patch yesterday afternoon. 45 species seen, but mainly watching the gull roost where a 2w/3cy Caspian Gull and 1w/2cy Med Gull were the best (distant crops). Also 2000+ Common Gulls, 500+ Herring Gulls but just 40 GBB Gulls #ukbirding

2024 was another fun year patch birding at #LMGP, 140 species recorded for me, missing 5 seen by others. No new birds and a few gaps - some highlights captured in the video. Most memorable was probably the massive flock of 170+ Arctic Terns that flew through in late April #ukbirding

2024 gave me 2 new birds for Berks - a fantastic summer plumaged Spotted Sandpiper on a late evening in May followed by the amazing Booted Eagle in November (hopefully to be accepted on to the British list) #ukbirding

2024 delivered 2 completely unpredictable new county birds for me in Bucks - Alpine Accentor in May and Booted Eagle in November (hopefully will be accepted on to the British list). Following these 2, who knows what 2025 will bring #ukbirding

No prizes for my record shots, but a great way to end 2024 with the wintering Yellow Warbler in Kent. The year that started with a wintering Northern Waterthrush in Essex #ukbirding #RareBirdsUK

A sizeable gull roost at #LMGP yesterday. Best was this adult Med Gull, but 2500+ Common Gulls is building to their peak mid Winter numbers. Also a roosting redhead Goosander #ukbirding

I've been unable to drive or use/carry bins in the last few weeks due to a trapped nerve in my neck - thankfully that is now easing, so made a trip to the patch (wintering GW Egret the best) and slightly further to catch up with the wintering family of Whitefronts on Dorney Common #ukbirding

The garden mahonia is in flower, a favourite of wintering Blackcaps - 3 today, nectaring on the flowers. Other garden highlights were a Firecrest and a Marsh Tit #UKBirding

Who saw/found Kittiwake on their inland patch today? Chanced my arm on my lunch break at #LMGP and had packed up to leave when an adult and 1w flew in over my head, landed for a few minutes and then flew off west. Love it when a plan comes together #UKbirding

Brimstone and Red Admiral in the garden on Wednesday. Probably it for Brimstone until 2025 now.

The hybrid Tufted Duck x Pochard returned to #LMGP today for its 6th consecutive year. An interesting run of arrival dates, all November: 11th 2019; 21st 2020; 6th 2021; 14th 2022; 15th 2023; 15th 2024. The moulting drake Pintail remains #ukbirding #patchbirding

#LMGP has been disappointing this year on the wader front. So it was great news to hear news that @marlowbirder.bsky.social found a Knot yesterday amongst the gulls. Even better news was it held on today for my 🚲 list. This is my #160 2024 bird in Bucks on a bike (#171 in total). 😁

A record shot of patch year tick #137 at #LMGP this lunchtime, Grey Partridge. The first one I've seen this side of the road. First addition since Sept and hopefully still some more to come.

Day 4 of #Scilly2024. A juvenile Rose-coloured Starling was the best on a quieter day. It seemed to have a blocked throat it kept trying to clear, but was apparently feeding well late afternoon, so hopefully ok #ukbirding

Another shot of the Isabelline Wheatear on the Garrison this afternoon. Fantastic bird #Scilly2024 #ukbirding #ukrarebirds

Day 3 of #Scilly2024. A trip to St Agnes for two confiding Olive-backed Pipits, a very distant Black Kite over Mary’s, male Marsh Harrier over Annet, Snow Bunting, SEO, YB Warbler, Firecrest and more. Back to St Mary’s for a showy Isabelline Wheatear by Star Castle. Fab! #UKBirding

Day 2 of #Scilly2024 on St Mary’s. Another look at the ST Lark, a showy Wryneck, a distant flock of Greenland Barnacle Geese on Annet, 3 calling YB Warblers, 4 Jack Snipe, a fly over flock of 5 Whooper Swans and PF Goose the best of the day. #UKBirding

Kicked off #Scilly2024 with more Cory’s and Great Shears than you could shake a stick at, plus groups of up to 5 Stormies. On Mary’s, caught up with the ST Lark, RB Shrike, Dotterel, Spoonbill, Jack Snipes plus others. More of a birding day planned for tomorrow.