Mark Hawkes

Two terrible record shots of distant species at Grafham Water today. Whooper Swan & Rock Pipit. The former being a site year tick for me (#164) @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding

A couple of hours at Grafham Water this afternoon result in zero seabirds, but seeing and hearing this Battle of Britain Memorial Flight was great. They actually passed over twice!

Fem/imm Scaup at Grafham Water this evening (1st of the year here), 8 species of wader and 2 Caspian Gulls (adult and 2nd-winter) @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding

Beautiful, foggy, sunrise at Grafham Water today. 3 Caspian Gulls the highlight from a quick visit. On Saturday I counted 113 Little Grebes - a new county record count @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding

Thanks for sharing, Richard. One I’m sure @jonheath.bsky.social @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social will be interested to know about. Sounds like it coincided with the large national influx at that time.

Juvenile Grey Plover on Grafham Water Dam for 10mins this AM, then flew high NE @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social #ukbirding

It’s tricky! It has a wing pattern which is atlantis-like (no mirror on p9) but doesn’t have black on p4. Mantle prob isn’t dark enough. Head streaking not esp. dark. Adult atlantis away from Azores likely to be hard to confirm 100%. Could it be from a clinal zone (western Iberia/Canaries maybe)?

Thanks

Non-atlantis hooded Yellow-legged Gull at Grafham Water this AM (been around a few weeks), also drk Common Scoter plus 3 Redwing & Rock Pipit over @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #ukbirding #gulls

When seawatching at Hunstanton do you base yourself on the cliff top, or somewhere lower down?

Pleased to find this juv Little Stint at Maxey Pits, Cambs this evening. Been very few in the county this autumn. Lesser Yellowlegs still present too @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding

Juv Bonxie off Mander car park 07.00-07.35 at least, but mobile. The northerly winds produce again @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #ukbirding #ukrarebirds

Given the distance, that’s a good photo 👍🏼 Glad you got there in time.

Juv Gannet at Grafham Water, Camb 4-5pm, then flew off towards the dam. Been a few years since the last time I found one here (and this one’s my 6th ever here) @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social #ukbirding #ukrarebirds

I’ve been sent another video. I’ll DM it to you.

On initial viewing of your video, this appears to be a different bird to the one at Isleham Washes a week ago. Which is a little surprising, as I thought they’d likely be the same birds.

Personal totals from Pendeen 06.50-10.00; 9 Sabine’s Gulls (I missed 4 others), 6+ Grey Phals, 11 Balearic’s, Black Tern, 10 Bonxie, 21 Arctic Skuas, 20+ Arctic Tern, 3 Sooty Shears @cbwps.org.uk @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social #ukbirding

All birds are created equal. Apart from Sabine’s Gull. Obvs!!

These are my personal totals. There were plenty of birds I didn’t get on/or try to get on today. The counts for some species far exceed my counts 🙂

That was some 13hours of seawatching!! By far my best ever. My brain in frazzled!! 🤪

Totals can be seen here;

ebird.org/checklist/S2...

@birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social @cbwps.org.uk #ukbirding #ukrarebird #seawatch

Barolo’s Shearwater west past Pendeen at 5.45pm, just beyond rocks @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social @cbwps.org.uk #ukbirding #ukrarebird

7am-5.15pm at Porthgwarra; personal counts 156+ Great Shears, 17 Cory’s, 63 Balearic’s, 18 Sooties, adult Pom, Black Tern, 4 Arctic Terns, 2+ Stormies, 2 Bonxie, 7 Arctic Skua @cbwps.org.uk @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social

Bit of a clear out of waders at Grafham Water overnight. Just 4 Curlew Sands early AM and one Black Tern. 15 Ringed Plover thru west. Pink-foot still around
@cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social #ukbirding

3 Whinchats hanging out together below the dam at Grafham Water this afternoon. Also 3 Black Terns, Spot Fly and usual cast of waders @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #ukbirding

Grafham Water this AM; juv Black Tern, 10 Curlew Sands (largest site count since 1990), Spotshank, 5 Black-wits, 2 Spot Flys, 9 Dunlin, 8 Greenshanks, 3 Ruff, Caspian Gull @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social #ukbirding

Yes, that’s a good description of it. Sounds like you probably did.

Impressive blood moon as I headed back to the car at dusk at Grafham Water.

Indeed. Presumably came up on the same weather system. Still waiting for an Ibis on the patch!

Most unexpected, given the lack of classic Squacco habitat (away from the lagoons). Made it on to the site list before Night Heron (and only just after Glossy Ibis)!

Grafham Water Squacco Heron (prob a juvenile) flew into Willows at Gaynes creek at 6.55pm and no further sign by dusk. Car parks open around 8am @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social #ukbirding #cambirds