New Forest again.......

26 July - A visit to the New Forest primarily for insects during the current hot spell. Birdwise, Acres Down mid-morning gve views of a Honey Buzzard and a Peregrine, as well as flyover Crossbills and Siskins, and a female Redstart. At Slufter's Pond, the male Dartford Warbler behind the pond was still singing, and another walker flushed a Nightjar off the path which gave good flight views. Overall bird activity fairly low due to the heat.

Ptarmigan in close up......

25 July - I managed a trip to Scotland during the current exceptional weather, and climbed the 2 Munros at the west end of Glen Lyon - during the ascent I walked into a confiding family party of Ptarmigan. Other birds lying very low due to the heat, but 2 Ravens flew over. Photos JM.

The Ross's Gull summering at Bowling Green.....

21 July - This excellent photo of the Ross's Gull at Bowling Green, Devon, was taken by and copyright of @WansteadBirder - I saw the bird in early June, and it's still turning up reliably on the high tide.....a charismatic Arctic Gull, distinctive with its small size and bill, stocky shape, and diamond-shaped tail.

The Breydon Great Knot........

18 July - This superb image of the Great Knot at Breydon Water was captured by Joshua Burch, photo copyright. My views were satisfactory but more distant.....the bird's shape and black necklace were distinctive on the mudflats at quite long range, and also when scoped in flight.

Midsummer Swifts.......

15 July - The last few evenings, especially when it is clear and calm, the village Swifts have been very prominent, screaming round and round the eaves in a compact group - tonight I counted 22 birds - have the young fledged? Sad to think they'll depart for Africa in about 3 weeks time, and autumn will be around the corner.........

Great Knot or Great Dot?

15 July - It's a couple of years since I've been to Norfolk, but Great Knot is one of my favourite East Asian waders, its a striking and declining bird with an amazing migration to and from Australia - so the adult at Breydon Water, only the 4th record for Britain, was too good an opportunity to miss on a day off work - even though I saw the "Great Dot" in Cleveland back in 1996. Great Yarmouth is not an easy place to get to, especially with roadworks en route, so I arrived after the bird had joined other waders in going to roost prior to high tide. We then spent several hours waiting for the tide to turn, during which time I had 3 good views of the bird in flight, as it showed its striking black neck/upper chest band and its dumpy shape. It then appeared on the falling tide and we had good but distant views of it on a mudbank - chestnut back, black neck, slightly decurved bill and fairly short-legged dumpy shape all seen. It then flew out to the estuary and fed, still identifiable distantly due to its size and shape. Really satisfactory views of a very rare and iconic wader, and well worth the trip. Other birds seen over the high tide period - Black- and Bar-tailed Godwits, Dunlin, 3-400 Avocets, Curlew, Whimbrel, Redshank, 5 Greenshanks and 1 Spotted Redshank. Also 6 Little Egrets - and 4-5 Mediterranean Gulls, in plumages ranging from ad - 2 year - juvenile. My first 2-3 Sandwich Terns of the year were with more numerous Common Terns. Photos JM, including v distant record shot of the Great Knot (more of a Dot, 5).

A memorable Raptor day.......

14 July - A very successful trip down to the New Forest on a sunny warm morning, and my best ever views of Honey Buzzards at Acres Down, with 1, then 3 birds in the air for 40 mins - probably more active as the young have hatched? Very good views of the flat-winged, fairly compact profile and languid flight (3,4) - 2 birds were interacting with 2 soaring Goshawks at times. One had greyer plumage, presumably a male, another obviously a brown female type. Dark carpal patches on the underwing obvious at times. Common Buzzards also seen for comparison. Crossbill, Siskin and Hawfinch also in the area. At Slufter's Pond (5), a cooperative Dartford Warbler (6) was singing although mid-July. On the way home, I checked an area in Wiltshire with a pair of Montagu's Harriers breeding and the male (7) flew across the road in front of me as it hunted the fields - excellent view of the narrow-winged profile and buoyant flight and smart plumage pattern. A six-raptor day - Honey Buzzard, Buzzard, Red Kite, Montagu's Harrier, Goshawk and Kestrel. Photos JM - Monty's print, RSPB.

Round House Farm........

9 July - An evening visit to Round House Farm, pit 306, in the eastern CWP but still in Wilts. I haven't been to this pit for a while but it has low water levels and exposed mud, perfect for waders, and the elegant Wood Sandpiper still present, along with 2 Green Sandpipers, 4 LRPS (a family party of 2 ads and 2 juvs) and 4 Little Egrets. Definitely a pit worth watching during the autumn migration.

Bridled Tern reappears.......

8 July - This superb photo by Paul Hackett shows the Bridled Tern which has returned to the Farne Islands for a second year. Just as photogenic as it was when I saw it last year.

Pre-breakfast Night Heron........

8 July - An early morning trip up to Cheltenham, and the adult Night Heron still on Pittville Park lake, I watched it catch several fish over a half hour period, though it remained partially concealed in cover. It then moved into thick vegetation to roost. Photos JM in rather dull light.

New Forest Raptors.....

4 July - A morning in the New Forest for raptors (and insects)....at Acres Down, fine but breezy, and a probable Honey Buzzard appeared amongst 20+ Buzzard sightings. Also - an amazing overhead encounter between a Goshawk (1-3) an a mobbing Carrion Crow - and Peregrine and Hobby also seen. En route, 7 Red Kites and a Sparrowhawk added to the list. Another Hobby flew over at Slufters Pond. Also seen/heard in the Forest - a flyover Hawfinch, Siskin, Redpoll, Crossbill and Tree Pipit. 2 more Red Kites flew over the garden at home at 5.30pm.

The Short-toed Eagle.......

2 July - This amazing shot of the Short-toed Eagle was taken on 30 June in the New Forest by Alan Lewis........superb