Owen Beaumont

An inadvertently well-timed trip to Cumbria over the weekend meant we were there bang on for High Brown Fritillary. After a failed search in the heat of the day on Saturday, an earlier visit on Sunday led to some excellent views #ukbutterflies

This Osprey has been lingering around Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR for just over a week, but yesterday morning gave some brilliant views as I checked the beach. Shortly after, a White-winged Black Tern flew north!! A very enjoyable start to the day! #lincsbirding #ukbirding

After a message from birders down the coast of a Bee-eater flying north, it was time for a waiting game... after 40 minutes I was just about to give up, but then a familiar call started and shortly after it cruised straight over me before continuing its way north #lincsbirding #ukbirding

Cheers! Just read your blog... sounds like a fairly mixed visit, but I'm glad you got it!

This very unseasonal Whooper Swan has been lingering at Rimac recently. It appears healthy, so must now be eagerly awaiting the return of its mates in a few months! #lincsbirding #ukbirding

One week in and the Savi's Warbler is still present at Rimac, Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR. A heard only fly-over Bee-eater on Tuesday afternoon made it an even better week for patch birding! #lincsbirding #ukbirding

Collared Pratincole at a windy Frampton Marsh this afternoon #lincsbirding #ukbirding

This stunning Glossy Ibis spent the day on Sea View washlands, Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR, having been found by a local birder this morning. What a treat!

Temminck's Stint still present by the car park at Rimac, Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR, today having been found yesterday. Great little waders! #lincsbirding #ukbirding

At Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR once the dragonflies have gone to roost a new quarry appears for this Eurasian Hobby Fox Moths! @lincswildlife.bsky.social @lincsbirding.bsky.social @pintailpictures.bsky.social @bimblingbirder.bsky.social @owenbeaumont.bsky.social #Lincsbirding #Birds

Brilliant pics mate!

American Golden Plover still at Frampton Marsh this evening. Smart looking bird and a somewhat overdue lifer for me #lincsbirding #ukbirding

The river mouths around Lesvos were alive with birds. On the final evening we had a memorable encounter with this brilliant Little Crake

Most mornings were quite still on Lesvos before afternoon winds gained strength, but our final morning was absolutely still. The route from Skala Kallonis to the salt pans rewarded us with a group of Glossy Ibis and some of the 'usual' waders in some magnificent dawn light

Marsh terns came and went throughout our week on Lesvos. Flocks of Whiskered and White-winged Black were great to watch over the meadows, but having a tight flock spiralling over our heads as we swam in the sea was particularly special

Seeing Black-headed Buntings lining the track and river edges around Lesvos was a brilliant sight and an equally good sound

Thank you 😁

Many thanks, Josh! Yeah fingers crossed 😀

After a few years of training, I'm officially a C-permit licensed bird ringer! Some highlights below from my time as a trainee

Town parks in Lesvos are a little bit different to the UK! This family of Long-eared Owls were roosting in a busy area without a care in the world

The rolling calls of European Bee-Eaters seemed to fill the skies of Lesvos wherever we went. At various sites, we were treated to some truly exceptional views

We did well for shrikes throughout the week on Lesvos, with varying numbers of the main species. The stunning Masked Shrike was surely the best looking, though! A new bird for me

Cretzchmar's Bunting was a species I was looking forward to seeing on Lesvos, and they certainly lived up to expectation. Watching these beside the picturesque roads up to Ipsilou Monastery was a special experience

Another bird which shocked me with its (lack of) size was Scops Owl. We visited one of the best known sites on Lesvos a few times to catch a glimpse of these brilliant little birds roosting in large Eucalyptus trees

My 'bird of the week' from the Lesvos trip has to be Little Bittern. This was my first time seeing them anywhere, and I was caught well off guard by just how little they are! Most rivers had multiple birds lurking in the reedy edges, but occasionally they'd step into the open

Squacco Heron

Spur-winged Plover

I returned home yesterday after a week on Lesvos with the gang 🇬🇷 Some brilliant birding and arguably even better scenery. A collective 188 species recorded throughout the week and around 25 lifers personally. Bring on the next one!

A final walk at Rimac, Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR, this morning before a week on Lesvos! Nothing too unusual seen, and a bit of a mishmash of seasons, but another lovely morning and some nice birds seen #lincsbirding #ukbirding

It's been great to hear Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR come to life over the last week with a spring arrival of warblers, including a few brilliant Grasshopper Warblers #ukbirding #lincsbirding

It was nice to get my first orchids of the year today with a trip to see these stunning Green-winged orchids at a site between bird surveys. Always a treat!

Yes feel free, sounds good 👌