23/01/2026 Ripley Farm Reservoir, Hampshire

Killdeer: When the report of this latest killdeer first came on Wednesday the 21st of January it caused some excitement amongst us birders. I took an emergency holiday on the Friday and drove down at 3am in order to make sure I gave myself the best possible chance to catch up with the bird.

These are considered very rare, accidental visitor to the UK from North America, generally considered a "mega" rarity by birdwatchers. These shorebirds are occasionally spotted in open areas like coastal fields or marshes, often identified by their distinctive double black breast band, loud cries,

When I arrived and parked up the sun had already risen and news didn't come out until I was walking down the track towards the bird, after a sigh of relief I soon saw the bird forging on a distant bank above the Reservoir. 

09/01/2026 Southport Marine Lake, Merseyside

Smew: At Southport Marine Lake when I caught up with the first winter drake smew, which was showing well on the North East side. This long staying bird has been since December and well worth a trip to see it. 

These are great birds, a small species of diving duck, often referred to as a "sawbill" due to its serrated bill, and is the only living member of the genus Mergellus. 

Smews are known for their distinctive plumage, with males appearing mostly white with black facial markings and females showing a reddish-brown headThe name "smew" is thought to have originated from Middle High German smiehe. 

Shetland 2025

Siberian Thrush: My annual visit to Shetland in October is one of the highlights of the year, this time I was in the company of Kris Wade, Patrick Earith and Rob Black. However, the trip didn't get off to the best start, with Loganair cancelling our flight from Inverness to Sumburgh and then catching a train to Aberdeen which broke down on the way! 

We eventually caught the over night ferry to Lerwick and after a tense night or worrying, with talk about the start bird, the Siberian thrush doing a bunk over night and disappearing just before we arrived.

This small, blue grey thrush is a very rare vagrant in the UK, meaning it is an accidental visitor from its native habitat in Eastern Asia. 

It has been recorded only a handful of times, with most sightings occurring in remote locations like the Northern Isles (especially Shetland) and the Isles of Scilly. 

Its s tricking bird, with dark slate-grey upperparts with a white lower belly and flanks. They have broad black and white bands on their underwings and white tips on their tail feathers, as well as a prominent white eyebrow. 

Blackpoll Warbler: We stayed up near Brae in a really nice holiday lodge. Really plush, with underfloor heating and a big American style fridge! Too plush for us lot. 

Shetland in Autumn is one of the birding highlights of the year, its a place where you can find something rare yourself and a place where anything could turn up.

A bird not even on my radar was this blackpoll warbler. This is a a rare North American vagrant and was a major birding highlight on the island of Unst, Shetland drawing birdwatchers for excellent views as it fed in gardens and along the shore, marking only the sixth Shetland record for this species. 

The bird showed incredibly well as it fed in a circuit up and down the strand line, feeding on the washed up seaweed belts that has ben washed to shore.

We enjoyed observing its distinct yellow Autumn plumage and orange. the bird was showing great behaviour despite being a long way from its usual boreal forest breeding grounds in North America.  

News of the bird first broke around October 8th or 9th, and it remained in the area for at least a week, offering good viewing opportunities for birders who travelled to see it.

Eastern Sub-alpine Warbler: This bird was first  ID'ed as an Western species, apparently the Id was clinched on call, but a few weeks later the DNA sample take from its droppings came back as the Eastern race.  

Gutting really as this would have been a new bird for me, so in the year when multiple birds have been recategorised and I've automatically lost a few bird heres another one gone. 

Little Bunting: Primarily a rare autumn passage migrant, often appearing after easterly winds, with records extending into winter. Similar to a female Reed Bunting but smaller, with a finer bill, distinct blackish crown stripes, and a prominent, often white-bordered, rufous-brown cheek patch.

Rustic Bunting: Small with chestnut cheeks, a white stripe behind the eye, white underparts with dark streaking, and a pale pink base to the bill. This bird gave us the run around and was a tricky bird to pin down as it remained grounded for long periods. 

Barred Warbler: These large grey winter warblers are regular, annual autumn migrants to Shetland, particularly during late August through October, with sightings often reported around coastal bushes, gardens, and urban areas.

Common Rosefinch: The barred warbler and this grotfinch was found in the same area, not far from the large lake in the centre of Lerwick. We visited this area a few times, especially towards the end of the trip when things started to quiet down.

Ortolan Bunting:  Another good bird we saw was this Ortolan, again this was a tricky bird to see, not only was the crowd large and viewing area small, but the bird remained grounded deep in the vegetation. 

Orca: We also got the chance to see my first ever orca.  These brilliant killer whales are regularly seen in Shetland, particularly along the northern and western coasts, with sightings possible at any time of year, though they are more commonly spotted during certain seasons.

06/12/2025 Dawlish, Devon

Lesser Crested Tern: This mega rare bird was seen and reported mid week, but with such a busy work schedule and lots of site work I had to wait until the weekend to make the nine hour journey south. 

We made good time and connected with the bird almost immediately, viewing from Starcross Railway Station platform overlooking the River Exe. Although, here the bird was miles away, a dot on a distance sandbank.

Not before long the bird moved to an area of the estuary off Cockwood, and here the incoming tide pushed the bird much closer. Fantastic. 

Lesser crested tern records in the UK are extremely rare, with this individual being only the 10th ever confirmed UK sighting.

20/10/205 Spurn, East Riding of Yorkshire

Black-faced Bunting: A quick trip to Spurn where I embarked upon the hard slog across the energy sapping sands of the breach to get to Middle Camp. Here I waited with large group of twitchers and had a long wait before the bird slowly emerged out of the buckthron. 

There has been about three records this Autumn so far of black-faced bunting in the UK and several records across Europe, so this Autumn is fast becoming the the black-faced bunting Autumn.  

They breed in southern Siberia across to northern China. It is migratory, wintering in north-east India, southern China and northern South-East Asia. It is a very rare vagrant to Western Europe.

The black-faced bunting is a difficult bird to connect with in the UK, there have only been nine accepted records in the UK with the first in 1994. I guess many get overlooked as they are difficult birds to pin down. 

These small birds are known for often being very skulky often in deep in shrubbery but emerges to forage in the open more than some buntings. And this is precisely what this bird was doing.  

18/10/2025 Rutland Water Reservoir, Oakham

Baird's Sandpiper: Today I finally caught up with a bird that should already be on my life list, and one I have dipped several times. 

In a way I am glad I had dipped all the past birds, as it gave me a chance to see this individual which showed incredibly well.

Baird's Sandpiper is a rare vagrant in the UK, originating from North America, which arrives in the UK due to strong winds and weather patterns, not its natural migration route. The low water levels continue at Rutland exposing brilliant foraging habitat for small waders.

Baird's sandpipers can be tricky to distinguish from other small waders. Key features include its long wings that extend beyond the tail, a dark brown back and head with streaking, white underparts with a dark breast band, black legs, and a dark bill. 

They are slightly smaller than a dunlin, with long wings that project beyond the tail, giving a horizontal impression when it feeds. 

This was one of the best birding experiences of the year, watching this small, rare wader stroll right past me, just a few feet away was incredible. 

I could have picked  it up, it was that close!

06/09/2025 Rutland Water Reservoir, Oakham

Grey Phalarope: A juvenile Baird's Sandpiper was sighted at Eyebrook Reservoir this is not only an uncommon visitor from North America, but a lifer for me, after dipping a few in the past. 

So, I decided to drive down on Saturday, leaving very early to get there for first light. However my bad luck with Baird's continued and the bird did a bunk over night.

As a consolation I went across to to Rutland water to see the long staying grey phal. Low water levels at Rutland Water caused by recent hot weather have exposed previously submerged parts of the old landscape, which has been a real draw for waders. 

They are a rare inland sighting, grey phalaropes are usually seen along the coast, so their appearance at Rutland Water is considered a rare and exciting event.  Like other birds that appear inland, this individual was likely blown off course by strong winds during migration. 

The bird was observed swimming and feeding fearlessly, even close to people, and was seen eating bloodworms and zebra mussels. 

These smart little birds never fail to fulfil the hopes or expectations of a having a good birding experience. Confiding, bold and photogenic they are great, definitely a nice consolation after dipping the  Baird's.

Trip Report - Morocco, April, 2025

Crimson-winged Finch: I've finally got around to writing up the Morocco birding trip. I had a ton of images to pour over and sort through, had to even buy an external hard drive to help organise my photos.

Moussier's Redstart: This was my second trip to Morocco after my trip with Dawn back in January 2014, this time I had the great company of Gary Edwards, Patrick Earith and Kristian Wade. And unlike my 2014 trip, this time I booked a tour guide.

Thick-billed Lark: We booked Hamid Mezane who run Bird Watching Morocco Tours, he's an exceptional birder and lives with his family in Erg Chebbi of the Sahara Desert. 

Pharaoh Eagle Owl: Bird Watching Morocco Tours have several tour programs, and believed in two simple premises: they want all of their clients to share in the excitement and fun of a top-notch birding adventure, and they want to provide the best service possible to both our tour participants and their independent travel clients.

Levaillant's Woodpecker: Morocco offers fantastic birdwatching opportunities, with diverse habitats ranging from the Atlas Mountains to the Sahara Desert and the Atlantic coast. Popular birding destinations include Merja Zerga, the Souss and Massa estuaries, and the Tagdilt track.

Desert Lark: This trip repot covers our way from the high Atlas to the Sahara Desert. From driving around an hour  from Marrakesh heading up in to the High Atlas Mountains and visiting Oukaimeden at 2600m altitude to the dunes of the Sahara.

Hoopoe lark: Exploring the Merzouga region where you can find desert specialties such as Egyptian nightjar, African desert warbler, desert sparrow, blue-cheeked bee-eater, spotted and crowned sandgrouse. 

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater: Morocco is generally considered a fantastic birding destination, particularly for those interested in Western Palearctic and desert specialties. And I couldn't agree more, I loved it, it was such a great trip and one I have always wanted to do 'properly' since I visited with Dawn. 

Spotted Sandgrouse: We ended up with 124 birds for the trip list, including 10 larks, 8 wheatears and 15 warblers. Check out the trip report at the footer of my blog or click here. 

https://austinmorley.blogspot.com/p/morocco-april-2025.html

 

09/08/2025 Walberswick, Southwold, Suffolk

Zitting Cisticola: These small, brown birds with a distinctive streaked back and a broad, white-tipped tail that it frequently flicks are also known as the fan-tailed warbler are are visitors to the UK with fewer than ten records recorded in the UK. They primarily breed in southern Europe and are largely sedentary and classed as resident in their range.

Having been mad busy with work I was unable to go mid-week, so had the nervy wait until Saturday when Kris and I embarked on the 10 hour round trip to Southwold, Suffolk.  

Black Stork: Zitting Cisticola are known for their characteristic "zitting" song that erupts into a series of sharp, repetitive calls given during an erratic, undulating display flight. 

When we arrived the bird was singing from the buckthorn which by all accounts it had been doing most of the early morning. But, not long after we arrived the bird changed its behaviour and widened its ranged, moving over the marshy grassland  and taking regular display flights.

Walberswick is a tourist hotspot for crabbing, birdwatching and those who enjoy a serene seaside holiday, the village of Walberswick is one of Suffolk's gems and was not only home to the very rare Zitting Cisticola, but a juvenile black stork too.

We soon made our way to Boyton Marsh and Slaters Pit near Lowestoft and relocated the large bird sleeping on the side of a small dyke. The Black Stork is a large bird, with a glossy black body and white underparts. It is a rare but regular visitor to Britain, breeding in eastern Europe and migrating to Africa. 

This was my 2nd black stork that I've seen the the UK with the first being at Spurn, although at the time it was miles way and obscured in the tall grass, this one however was could not have been any more different. 

It was too close at times I had to back off in order to it in in my camera lens. An amazing experience seeing one like this, I've only ever been this close to black stork in Lesvos. I could have picked it up and taken it home!