The Wirral

The sun came out and I made an early start on the Wirral. I was hoping to see my first Wheatear of the year, but that didn't prove to be successful. However, as always in this area, there was plenty to see and I went home happy. 

Starting at Burton Marsh, there were plenty of Egrets (Great White and Little) to see. A Marsh Harrier flew over and Chiffchaffs, Song Thrush, Meadow Pipits and Reed Buntings provided a nice background chorus as I walked the path. There were still hundreds, if not thousands, of Pink-footed Geese out on the Marsh. Moving on to RSPB Burton Mere, I heard and then saw my first Willow Warbler of the year. Other firsts for 2026 included Spotted Redshanks and Med Gulls. All in all a very nice morning out in some very nice weather for a change.

Come with me on my walk here: 

Avocet

Black-tailed Godwit

Lapwing

Long-tailed Tit

Marsh Harrier

Mediterranean Gull (bottom centre) Common Gull to its left

Ruff

Water Vole

Willow Warbler

Norfolk Coast

We had a good weekend in Norfolk with my parents recently. There were plenty of birds to see and lots to add to the 2026 year list. Cley is always where I gravitate towards and there is always something to see at all times of the year. From the thousands of geese overhead and in the fields to wintering wildfowl and waders. This trip was no different, and we even had the pleasure of the sun joining us, although it was bitterly cold.

Highlights on day one were really good views of a Common Snipe and Redshank from Bishop's hide. Avocets had returned from their wintering grounds and were resting up. Hundreds if not thousands of Lapwings were across the marsh, and Marsh Harriers were doing their usual fly-bys to put everything up in the air. It was a great start to the weekend, and day 2 was just as fruitful. Part 2 to follow.

Click here to see my vlog of day 1 of my trip:

Avocets in a line, with a Lapwing in flight (left) and also a Black-tailed Godwit in the group.

Brent Geese

Common Redshank

Common Snipe keeping a look out before dozing off again.

The delights of Cley

A bird that you will often hear rather than see, is the Cetti's Warbler. Notoriously tricky to pick out of the undergrowth where they like to skulk and hide, they will tease you with a unusually loud song. Just when you think you may have nailed down where it was last calling, it sings from deep within a different bush. Seemingly it can teleport. On this particular day I got lucky as it raised it's whole self up into the reeds to give me a brief glimpse. Don't be fooled by the picture. It wasn't there long at all.

Cetti's Warbler

Curlew 

A flock of Black-tailed Godwits, and if you can pick out the smaller bird that is left of centre, a Long-billed Dowitcher, with an Avocet two birds below it.

Long-billed Dowitcher just above the highest Avocet on the left.

Salthouse - Norfolk

There is a pool of water at the bottom of Beach Road, Salthouse, that I always stop at to have a look. It can appear to many at first glance as quite insignificant, but I've had some good birds here over the years, so I am always happy to spend a good half an hour or more watching and waiting. This visit was also productive as it added two more to the year list, in the form of Ringed Plover and Bar-tailed Godwit. A pair of Avocet were working the water, and a Little Egret dropped in too.

In the fields around the pool were Lapwings, Oystercatcher, Linnets and the Yellow Wagtail that I found on my way back to the car. It may not look like much to most people, but it's always worth a stop and look to see what's around and on the pool. As always, the early morning is the best time. The Early Birder catches the bird 😉

Bar-tailed Godwit

Little Egret

One of two Ringed Plover at the pool.

Some Waders

Waders are my favourite genre of bird. You know where to find them, they are nearly always there, and they give you time to sit and watch them. A good hide where you can sit, have your lunch and just wait to see what drops in are my favourite places to be. There's always something to see and you can go away with a very different list to those an hour before you or after you. Spring and Autumn are the best times, but you can find me looking at waders any time of the year.

Here are just a couple of species, the Avocet and the Whimbrel. The lovely contrasting black and white of the Avocet in the sunlight, and the Whimbrel a little on the dull side in comparison. A great bird to see though, and one that makes my heart race a little more than the Avocet these days. It's always a bonus when your second look confirms it's not a Curlew.

Avocet

Whimbrel, with its eye stripe and slightly shorter bill (compared to a Curlew)

Lunt Meadows Nature Reserve

A super early alarm set for last weekend, had me out in the car by 5am. In these times of social distancing it makes good sense to beat the dog walkers, joggers, and generally others. Not that this has ever been a problem for me in the past, as I always like to go out early when the Spring and Summer is here. I've been social distancing for many years now😄

It's a great reserve with a good mix of wetland habitat, reedbeds, scrapes and grassland. Next to the reserve there is a lot of farmland, so it attracts many different species. Plenty of waders in the form of Black-tailed Godwit, Little Ringed Plover and Ringed Plover.

There was a Corn Bunting singing from the power lines as I got out of the car. Not a bird I see very often, so this was a good start.

Corn Bunting

There were a few pairs of Avocet on the scrapes, with a couple of freshly hatched chicks being closely monitored.

Avocet

Probably one of the most numerous birds around the reserve was the Sedge Warbler. I had not seen one so far this year, so it was good to get it ticked and great to hear them singing again. Things I usually take for granted as the summer roles on, it was nice to just stand and watch these birds going for it full throttle.

Sedge Warbler

Lapwing

Little Egret

Shelduck

Shoveler

Avocet

The Avocet is an iconic bird. The symbol of the RSPB and a sign of all good things to do with conservation and what can be achieved if everyone pulls in the same direction. The Avocet was almost extinct in the UK, but has had a remarkable increase in numbers in recent decades. A real success story and one I hope can be replicated with the Hen Harrier. Maybe the RSPB emblem should be changed to help it.

Enjoying the mud at Titchwell.