Mike Morse

It didn’t look like that when we saw it! 🌚

... sorry, just seen Brett's reply but for future birds, the short pencil line in the supercilium above the eye is almost diagnostic... rarely seen in Yell

Hi Andy, that is a Cirl Bunting...

I hope you think it was time well invested Gav and thank you for sorting that Greenland Repoll out... we completely fluffed it. 👍

Great stuff...

Given its size (50-60cm) and location (top of a fairly mature tree) we're assuming this is a Asian Hornet nest at West Bex. It's been reported and if confirmed is likely to be of significant concern to the local bee keepers...

Looks just like the sketch in my notebook!

A glorious morning with a Short-eared Owl out to sea at dawn the highlight. Other good birds included 5/6 Cirl Buntings, Firecrest and Black Redstart.

One of two Black Redstarts around West Bex village this morning.... our first of the autumn. More importantly, we have water in the Mere at long last with Gulls & wildfowl to search through. Happy days...

That's good, I was worried the 'fags' might have got him... please pass on my regards when you see him next..

I seem to remember we travelled up with Dick Reader... is he still with us?

Seen this Dave... @westcoastbirds.bsky.social

It wouldn't surprise me... you're on a roll over there.

We've seen this Merlin at West Bex every day since Friday, but this morning was the first time we found it settled... a little cracker.

Well in those days we were both working and we had to wait until the weekend... I think we travelled up on the Saturday and the bird showed rather well!!

Not everywhere... the Swannery birds seem to stay local or fly east... we see very few and have none so far this year!

Hi Mark, bird on the left is the CR Baltic Gull I had at West Bexington two years ago. Bird on the right I saw here this spring. If anything with tiny white tips to primaries and small mirror on P10 it looks a better bird.. just no ring!

Ours was late morning Martin, just after 11.00am but still there when we left 30 minutes later.

A Red-necked Grebe was a bit of a surprise off West Bex this morning. A little distant and crap light but still a smart bird...

Team Saga score again... 👍💪

An Arctic Skua west was the best of this morning's birds....

Whooper Swans 🙄

Cropped and cleaned up pic of this morning's Whooper's Swans as they headed west past West Bex just after 8.00am. The birds are currently at Colyford, Devon.

Six probable Whooper Swans just flown west past West Bex...

Might be of interest... European Storm Petrel carcass at West Bex this morning... very desiccated, so probably from last winter.

Earlish Red-throated Diver off West Bexington this morning...

Indeed....

A peach of 1w Casp at West Bex this morning along with Ring Ouzel, Spot Fly, 7 Wheatears and an exceptional flock of 120 Cormorants flying west at dawn... easily the highest single count we've witnessed here.. 99 in the picture

Sorry, I'm afraid not, the bird top left is a Reed Bunting two of the other three are Yellowhammers, the third very small image is probably too. Females Cirls are pretty tricky so don't be discouraged... Cirl Bunting pic attached. The rump colours is diagnostic, it would be rufus on a Yellowhammer.

👌