Shetland Wren

I’ve been visiting Shetland for eight years now, but until this trip, I’d never tried photographing the island’s distinctive Wrens. They’re noticeably larger and darker than their mainland counterparts—an incredible example of how wildlife can adapt to its environment.

Rutland Baird's Sandpiper

This tiny wader has been at Rutland Water for the past week at least so I paid it a visit over the weekend. I think it's the closest I have ever been to a wader, with it approaching me to under two metres. It was worth laying in goose droppings, rotting zebra mussels and smelly mud for hours on end!

More to follow.

Bittern

We've been witnessing some intriguing Bittern activity at Deeping Lakes over the past month — including frequent calling, which is unusual for this mostly silent species at this time of year.

Yesterday, we confirmed that two Bitterns are present on site, which likely explains the unexpected vocalisations.

Shetland Short-toed Lark

This Short-toed Lark on Yell showed well if a little briefly. Remarkably only my third in Britain and was a lifer for Dad, which was fantastic. Whilst we were watching this, news of the Siberian Thrush on mainland Shetland broke the first time...

Scaup VS Amy

Saturday on Shetland was pretty amazing for weather and pushed the Scaup close inshore on Loch Spiggie. 
 

Lapland Bunting

I haven't seen a Lapland Bunting in years. I don't do much coastal birding these days and I think Lapland Buntings on the east coast have declined in numbers anyway, so I was thrilled to find this one on Eshanesss Lighthouse car park today.

Shetland Siberian Thrush

A true Shetland specialty, with over half of all British records originating from these magical islands, the Siberian Thrush has been high on my birding wish list during our autumn trips for years.

We were incredibly lucky to be just 20 minutes away when news broke of a relocated first-winter male Siberian Thrush just north of Scalloway. We initially enjoyed a few good but brief views. However, after patiently standing in the shallows of Loch Asta for nearly three hours, we were finally rewarded with prolonged and close views – enough to capture these photographs.

A typically elusive species, this striking thrush didn’t disappoint. It’s without doubt my bird of the year so far and a moment I’ll remember for a long time.

Muckle Roe Yellow-browed Warbler

We have had a mixed four days in Shetland, so far. The weather from tomorrow onwards, looks.... interesting. Yellow-browed Warblers have been good value though, with plenty about. We have located birds at pretty much every site we have been to, today. Hard to get tired of these fab warblers, especially in my favourite place in the world.
 

Typical Long-eared Owl

Each year, I take this photo. It’s usually of the male Long-eared Owl (looking grumpy!), and it’s usually in mid-May. For some reason, just before the young start branching, the male from one of the pairs I watch sits on this log pile. When the young begin flying around but are still being fed, they’re often fed here — presumably because there’s enough room for both the adult and the fully grown youngsters. Can't wait till next spring!

 

Lots More Legs

 Bit of a Lesser Yellowlegs overload, of this juvenile at Etton Pits in north Cambridgeshire. 

More Grey Phalarope

 

Some more of the superb Grey Phalarope at Rutland, from earlier in the month. I took thousands of photos of this bird so excuse me for yet more photos!

More Long-eared Owl

 More from back in June.

Lesser fella

 

Here are just a few photos of the Lesser Yellowlegs found earlier this week by my friend Hugh Wright. This elegant North American wader made a brief but memorable appearance at Etton Pits, flying off shortly after Hugh first spotted it on Tuesday morning.

Thankfully, after a nerve-wracking day of uncertainty, Hugh managed to relocate the bird yesterday evening, much to everyone's huge relief. It was a joy to see — not only for the rarity of the sighting, but for the superb views it eventually gave.

This may well be just the second local record of a Lesser Yellowlegs, making it an incredibly exciting moment for local birders and a brilliant reward for all the hours Hugh has put into his patch this year. 

More photos to follow.

From Denmark to Frampton and beyond

 

Earlier this summer, while watching Spoonbills at Frampton Marsh RSPB, I noticed one with a distinctive green leg ring. A closer look through the scope revealed a unique code — and thanks to the magic of bird ringing schemes and some online research, I was able to trace this bird’s fascinating journey.

This Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) was ringed in Denmark as a chick unable to fly, on June 10, 2023, in the Ringkøbing Fjord area, along Denmark’s west coast. It was part of a monitoring scheme run by Nordvestjysk Ringmærkergruppe, with ringing data managed by Copenhagen Zoological Museum.

Fast forward to June 2025, and I recorded this bird at Frampton Marsh, Lincolnshire — 747 days and over 630 km away from its birthplace.

From the ringing report and subsequent records, here’s what we now know about this individual:

• 2023: Ringed in Høje Sande, Denmark, as a chick

• 2023/2024: Wintered in Cornwall, a known wintering site for Spoonbills in the UK

• 2024: Spotted at Cowbit Washes, a location that was flooded following unprecedented rainfall — providing temporary, ideal habitat for wetland birds

• 2024 Summer: Seen at Frampton Marsh RSPB

• 2025 Summer: Back at Frampton, still in good health

Summer Long-eared Owl

 A female Long-eared Owl, taken back in June. One of two pairs I found this summer, with young. 

Golden Grey Phalarope

 

Earlier this week, I teased a photo of a mystery bird — all feet, splash, and a swirl of water. The big reveal? It was, of course, a Grey Phalarope!

These pelagic Arctic-breeding waders are always a joy to see, and this one was no exception. This typically fearless individual spent a few days on the shallow margins of Rutland Water, and I couldn’t resist heading over for a closer look.

Over a couple of evenings, I found myself flat on my belly, in the cold mud, doing what wildlife photographers do best — getting uncomfortable for the sake of the shot! But it was so worth it. The phalarope was completely unbothered by my presence, spinning and pecking in the shallows just a few metres away, feeding happily on bloodworms and zebra mussels.

Mystery bird photo

 The 'coot's feet' are the big clue...