After a good start to the year it's been hard work @marburypatch recently, so discovery of 3 Grey Partridges at Higher Marston was extra special. Full fat patch tick it seems, although I recall seeing them somewhere near the flashes in the 80s. @CAWOSBirding

Best afternoon at Budworth Mere @marburypatch for some time with a new in 1st w drake Scaup, 1st w Little Gull and Gt Egret still plus L Egret, 113 Wigeon, 3 Goldeneye, 31 Goosander and 59 Curlew. No sign of Bittern yet though.

These two White-rumped Sandpipers at Sruhill Lough on Achill Island were part of an influx on the west coast of Ireland during Oct. Both were at different stages of moult out of juvenile plumage.

Had a fairly successful week on the west coast of Ireland looking for stuff back in Oct and found this egret foraging on a shoreline at Renvyle. Extensive yellow on the rear tarsus reminiscent of Snowy but blue-grey lores show it to be just a well marked Little.

Couldn't resist a sneaky twitch over to Woolston Eyes for the 1st w Grey Phalarope found on Mon by @outwivcamera. Completes the phalarope set for me there. Always fairly distant but often out in the open. @CAWOSBirding

A juvenile Black Tern arrived in the wake of Storm Amy at Budworth Mere @marburypatch on Mon (along with a juv Arctic Tern) and was still present today, finally showing better near the slipway mid morning. @CAWOSBirding

In 2023 I had an odd Dusky Thrush in Hokkaido. Got video and thought nothing more at time, but finally got round to some editing and realised it's a hybrid with Naumann's. Head, wings, tail of former and rufous blotching & rump of latter. Interesting in a UK autumn context.

Thought we'd missed out on Black Terns att @marburypatch this year, so a couple of juveniles found on Budworth Mere this morning were well received. As usual highly active in flight but managed a few images, although video proved too hard.

Rather than wait years to produce a full video, I've put together a 'best of" compilation of birding highlights from my recent trip to Bali. With no commentary and only intro music, it covers 86 species all shot in 4K. On YouTube now at https://t.co/C2eD0Z3HSF

The 3rd & final run of our award winning book. Order now from https://t.co/vBVbG7mLFj for Xmas delivery or available Dec 17th from @RSPB_BurtonMere @Ness_Gardens @ClaremontFarm. RTs appreciated

Along with the pitta, another species easiest to see from hides in Bali is the exquisite Rufous-backed Dwarf Kingfisher. This one was at Bali Barat NP. The extreme colours of these forest kingfishers are amazing.

Javan Banded Pitta is one of the most sought after birds on the island of Bali. It's fair to say it's usually tough to see, however a few convenient bird hides in the forests have made this quest relatively easy for birders and photographers alike.

Just back from an excellent 2 week trip to Bali with some top notch species on show and where this Javan Forktail was the 3,350th species I've managed to capture on video.

Some still images of the Spotted Flycatchers @marburypatch, including one of the juveniles.

Spotted Flycatchers used to be a spring and summer attraction in the woodlands @marburypatch but seemed to have gone as a breeding species. A great find y'day though by Lizzie Hynes showed all is not lost. Proved to be not just 1 but a pair feeding 2 fledged juvs.

Last year a female Mandarin appeared at Witton Mill Bridge @marburypatch with 2 well grown youngsters. They were mobile so not clear they had nested within the patch boundaries but this year a female has appeared with 6 much younger ducklings. Seems they are patch breeders.

Woodcut? … Woodchat!

It seemed churlish not to go and look for the male Woodcut Shrike at Daresbury this morning given I've not seen one in Cheshire since 1996. I videoed that one too! After a bit of a wait it showed well by the railway line and on and next to the pylon. @CAWOSBirding

After a few failed attempts in recent years, Avocets have finally hatched young for the first time ever @marburypatch. 4 were first seen on Sat and still there this morning with recent rain thankfully providing a larger puddle to paddle in (for now ...).

Lots of Black-tailed Skimmers around this morning at the rapidly drying margins of Neumann's Flash @marburypatch. An obvious attraction to a welcome Hobby, my first of the year on patch.