Julian Thomas

OTD 24 Nov 2001. A surreal but generally successful day's twitching round East Anglia: an oiled Snowy Owl in Felixstowe, what would become the 1st modern-day accepted Baikal Teal at Minsmere, dipping Ross's Goose by 30 mins in Norfolk, but seeing the v late 1st-winter Gull-billed Tern at Titchwell.

Desert Wheatear still by Bridging Camp 1.20pm favouring dung heaps by footpath and showing v well. Also Black Redstart. #dorsetbirding

2 of the 3 Snow Bunting seen at Bossington today #somersetbirds

Brilliant it was too, even though the rest of my carload stayed in the car out of the biting wind until I banged on the door and yelled 'I've got it!' Great artwork as ever, Stew.

I was a kid in Northern Ireland in the 70s - it was bloody miserable and went bang occasionally too.

5 Dec 2011, Los Glaciares NP, Argentina. I wondered what a Chaffinch was doing there, sat on a snag as we drove past. Then the penny dropped and I yelled 'Plantcutter'! Still there when we turned round and stopped - the only one of the trip!

No! Hope you're OK, Steph (or will be).

Indeed, but when asked the question in a referendum a little over a decade ago, the British public were scaremongered out of voting for it, by the very same press who drove them towards Brexit and would now drive them towards an authoritarian, pro-ultracapitalist govt, as was the original aim.

This may answer your question, Dawn @debalmer.bsky.social

Nice views of the Red-breasted Flycatcher behind Avalanche Road Hump c.4pm today, depite the foul weather.

Fabulous! #gothmoth

Wryneck, Firecrest, and Marsh Harrier the best of a relatively quiet few hours for me @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social today.

Great moths. Always now for me the 'Devil in a Black Dress' ((c) @jameslowenwild.bsky.social )

Thanks Steve. had a no sign message a short while ago, so that's prob Nick not finding it.

Any sign today, please, Steve?

Good to hear that European fans at the Ryder Cup have been giving the American fans (some of whom overstepped in their shouts on the course) a good taste of football chants, e.g. (according to BBC website):

'Stand up if you're seven up'
'Sacked in the morning'
'Can we play you every week?'
😀

Cracking artwork as usual, Stewart!

Little Owl calling just outside the garden just now - 1st I've heard here for at least 3 years.

Rn Phal views fairly distant this am but in direct comparison with Grey Phal, so differences obvious. My 4th in Somerset (Meare Heath 2006, Steart Marshes 2015, Holnicote 2020) with good views of the Rb Shrike at Portbury later too. Cheddar has been on fire recently. Somerset yearlist now up to 210.

Burnham seawatch not as varied as yday but 3 Grey Phals at 2.05pm and 2 more at 3pm, plus Manx. If all diff individuals I've seen 12 Grey Phals in Somerset in last 2 wks and found 8 of them! Would swap a few for @burnhambirder.bsky.social's "Sab's flushed by L-t Skua' at low tide this am though.

V enjoyable seawatch off Burnham, esp the hour up to HT: Leach's Petrel, juv Sab's Gull, Bonxie (flew off inland), Grey Phal, plus juv Marsh Harrier, Peregrine and at least 1 (poss 3+) Harbour Porpoise.

Cheddar Res this pm: Little Tern 2, Black Tern 1, Glossy Ibis 7, Curlew Sand 3, Little Stint 3, Ruff 4, Knot 1, Blackwit 2, Common Sand 3. Plus 15+ Ringed Plover, 7+ Dunlin, and 54 Great White Egrets.

A fantastic day out! Write-up published on my Birding Tales blog back in lockdown days: birdingtales.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-...

Fantastic trip from Falmouth with @ak_cruises.
Others have posted numbers and photos of birds. 1000’s of birds in changeable weather.
Wilson’s Storm-Petrol, Euro Stormie, Cory’s, Great Shearwater, Scopoli’s Shear, Sooty Sheat, Fulmar, Manx, Balearic and Sunfish.

Glad you scored, Andy. Looks like the directions worked OK!

So what's new? Labour have spent at least the last 4 decades indulging in periodic acts of self-sabotage due to internecine warfare (though usually when in opposition but ahead in the polls).

Execrable penalty shootout, but liked the commentary line on Lucy Bronze being like Stuart Pearce - total commitment to the cause, no messing about, great penalty. Phew!

No, and didn't for one moment expect it to, but an entertaining bird to see anyway.

Beast. 😍

V hot dragonfly transect at Ham Wall this am/early pm. Highlight 20 (!) Lesser Emperors, including 2 ovipositing pairs. 25+ Brown Hawkers, 12 Emperors, 3 Southern Hawkers and 1st Migrant Hawker of year. Temp in car on return to car park read 42 degrees!