Mark Hawkes

The data was being gathered some time ago. I assume the analysis is what’s taking the time…..

Changes to the British List (12 Aug 2025) - British Ornithologists' Union The British Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee (BOURC) has made the following changes to the British List. View the British List The following species has been moved from Category D to Category...

Armchair tick in-coming….

(Was only a matter of time)

bou.org.uk/british-list...

Juv Wood Sand with 3 Green’s at Gaynes creek, Grafham Water 07.45 (patch mega - just my 3rd here in 27+ years!) @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

😳 how can it be that long ago!!

Crazy!!

I’ve only seen one in the UK. A long time ago in @simonpatient1.bsky.social garden.

1CY Med Gull on Grafham Water dam early this morning. Also adult Caspian Gull still at east end, but little else of note
@cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #ukbirding #cambirds

Less LWHG’s at Grafham this year than in 2022. Water levels similar but notably less dead fish around (which is likely significant). Single figure counts of YLG’s and only a couple of Caspian’s (30+ and 10+ respectively in Aug 2022). It’s likely still in NW Europe somewhere….

*every

We’ve been checking ever black-back for the last few months. It last reappeared on today’s date last year….

Gulls lined up on the railings of Grafham Water’s dam tower this morning included 3 GBBG, 3 Yellow-legged (Inc 1CY), adult Caspian and adult Caspian x Herring (ringed X90A, for its 6th year running) @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social

Juv Kittiwake off Grafham Water dam this morning (my 9th gull species here this month) probably blown inland by #stormfloris still hoping for a 10th species this month…. 🤞🏼 #ukbirding @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social

This is why I have anxiety! To my ear it sounded like a calling Nightingale. @MerlinbirdID app thought the same. I compared to calls on @xeno-canto.bsky.social which supported the ID. But when it popped out into view it was a calling Chiffchaff! All bets are off on heard-only’s! #ukbirding #cambirds

Adult Sandwich Tern off Grafham Water dam 08.20-09.05 at least. And Adult Caspian Gull still @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social

Returning X90A Caspian x Herring hybrid at Grafham Water dam this morning, plus adult Caspian Gull and several YLG’s @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding #gulls #cambirds

Adult Turnstone on Grafham Water Dam this evening, plus 11 Ringed Plover and 2 Dunlin. Near-Adult Caspian Gull again at Plummer point. 8 Great Egrets & 7+ Yellow-l Gulls around. Highlight was 5 Crossbill over south c5pm @birdguides.bsky.social @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social

Adult Caspian Gull (or hybrid) at Grafham Water this morning (present several days but only seen close for first time today). 3 Greenshank & 5 Green Sands, 3+ Y-l Gulls @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social

Storm clouds and steaming woods at Grafham Water this evening. Sadly, the rain didn’t push down any thing new.

11 Black-tailed Godwits at Grafham Water this evening (a single & a flock of 10). 4+ Yellow-legged Gulls. Most surprising though was a pair a Siskin (maybe my first ever July record here) @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #ukbirding

Even the wildlife are lazing in the sun this afternoon! A Hare was a species I see rarely at Grafham Water. Birds inc. adult Caspian Gull, 7 Yellow-legged Gulls, 2 Greenshank, 6 Great Egrets, 8 Ringed Plover, 6 Common Sands @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

German-ringed Black-headed Gull (Black XA4L) at Grafham Water this evening (life history to follow). Number
of Yellow-legged Gulls is starting to build now @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social

Better photos of Frampton bird show that it too had the same extra black stripe across the cheek @birdergirl.bsky.social @mcbuckland.bsky.social

At least 73 Little Egrets at Grafham Water this evening (plus 8 of their Great cousins). Numbers building quickly and I expect a new site record will be set sometime soon @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social

Looks like the Cley bird was not the Frampton bird. Not sure where that leaves the Ouse Fen bird (probably the Frampton individual?) @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdergirl.bsky.social @laziobirder.bsky.social

The last Collared Pratincole in Cambs was in 2009; a year when (a)Collared Pratincole(s)* was seen Swillington (now St Aidan’s), Frampton and Cley. Sound familiar?

I managed to see the 2009 & 2025 Cambs birds, but both at dusk only.

*Although BBRC accepted four different birds in 2009

It will get worse yet….. we’ve got Rod Brexit Stewart to look forward to yet!

Norfolk birding y’day. Highlights; Silver-studded Blue at Kelling. Wood Sand & ringed limosa Blackwit at Titchwell. 6 Spotshanks & 230+ Med Gulls at Snettisham. Good fortune to be at a site just as this Nightjar had been mist-netted @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social

An evening stroll in the #greatfen Nice to confirm the local Stonechats have successfully bred again this year @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social #cambirds

Hi Richard. You posted this on May 4th. Was this the day you saw it? (I didn’t know it was seen again after May 1st)

eBird Checklist - 14 Jun 2025 - Grafham Water - 37 species (+1 other taxa) Submitted by Richard Patient.

It’s not like the hybrids we’ve had previously, that are obviously a mix of both species. I wondered afterwards might it be a Tufted x Rosybill. More photos in link below.

ebird.org/checklist/S2...

Yes. It’s a hybrid. We’ve had them before at Grafham Water.