08/07/2026 Crail in Fife, Scotland

Long-tailed Shrike: Is this the ultimate prize for UK twitchers? This fierce, predatory songbird is native to South and Central Asia, making it a legendary "mega" vagrant with just one official sightings in British history. 

When one of these rare visitors accidentally lands on our shores, it triggers a massive nationwide "twitch" as hundreds of enthusiasts rush to catch a glimpse of a true once-in-a-generation spectacle.

The first record of this species in the UK was in  November 2000, when a first-winter bird was discovered at Howmore on South Uist in the Outer Hebrides. It was officially accepted onto Category A of the British List by the British Ornithologists' Union Records Committee (BOURC) in 2004. 

Often nicknamed "butcherbirds," shrikes are fierce apex predators among small birds. They hunt from high, exposed perches like telephone wires or bushes, gliding down swiftly to catch insects, small mammals, lizards, and other birds on the ground. They are famous for their unique habit of impaling uneaten prey on thorns or barbed wire fences to store it for later consumption.

07/06/2026 Caernarfon Harbour, Gwynedd, Wales

Western Reef Heron: Twitching history was officially made this weekend. 

On Saturday, 6 June 2026, the British birding community was sent into an absolute frenzy. The UK’s first-ever Western reef heron was discovered on the coast of Gwynedd, North Wales.

For years, British birders have looked longingly at European records, wondering if or when this coastal specialist would ever cross the Channel.

 Now, the wait is over. 

This historic "mega-rarity" has already drawn hundreds of excited observers to the northwest Welsh coast, all eager to catch a glimpse of a true ornithological milestone.

To put this into perspective, the Western Reef Heron is traditionally native to the tropical coastlines of West Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Southern Asia.

While the species has been slowly expanding its footprint northward into Spain and Southern France over recent decades, a leap all the way to North Wales is unprecedented. Once the British Birds Rarities Committee (BBRC) officially reviews and accepts the documentation, this individual will officially secure its spot as a brand-new addition to the British List.

Having arrived back from birding in Cyprus at 4.30am and having Autumn wake me up at 8am I managed to fit in a mid-afternoon power nap. Only to wake up to my mega alerts on my phone going mad!

The dark morph is the most iconic and easily recognised version. The bird is wrapped in dark slate-grey or blue-grey plumage. The dead giveaway is a clean, bright white patch strictly confined to the chin and throat.

If you are heading out to Gwynedd to try and tick this monumental bird, timing is everything. Because both sites are highly tidal, the heron's behavior and proximity to the paths change dramatically depending on the water levels.

Keep your eyes glued to real-time tracking services like the BirdGuides App for up-to-the-minute coordinates before you set off!

Don't miss this! It's a first for Britain.

18/04/2026 Hardwick Hall Country Park, Durham

Iberian Chiffchaff: When Kris got in touch saying he was keen to life tick this rare annual vagrant I couldn't resist Only recently separated from common chiffchaff on the basis of DNA and its distinctive song. 

These birders birds resemble common chiffchaff, but generally appearing brighter yellow-olive, often with a longer-billed and longer-winged look similar to a willow warbler.

It's all about their song, its a primary indicator, differing significantly from the common chiffchaff, described as a faster, more musical, and multi-part song.

As we approched the area where the bird had been previously spotted we could hear the birds song. The Iberian Chiffchaff’s song is more complex and musical than the simple "chiff-chaff" of its common relative, typically following a distinct three-part structure. 

It begins with several slow, rhythmic notes that transition into a series of rising "swee-swee" sounds, before finishing with a characteristic fast-paced, dry trill on a single pitch. This hurried delivery is further distinguished by its call—a soft, downslurred tseeeu—which contrasts sharply with the rising huit call of the Common Chiffchaff.

 

08/03/2026 Blyth South Harbour, Blyth, Northumberland

White-billed Diver: My third white-billed diver (WBD), and the best one I've seen so far, the one that came the closest and showed the best!

WBD's are rare winter visitor to the UK, with around 20 to 30 birds recorded annually, primarily off the coast of northern Scotland, including Shetland, the Outer Hebrides, and Moray. 

WBD's are the largest of the UK divers, distinguished by a massive, pale, ivory coloured bill.  Breeding adults have black-and-white checkered backs; in winter, they are paler than great northern divers with a light, "fluffy" rear end 

There appears to be a bit of an influx of these bird this winter, with several in Scotland and along the East Coast in recent weeks.

 

28/01/2026 Newlyn Harbour, Cornwallhave not

Ross's Gull: A round trip to Cornwall, there and back in a day with Kris for company to see this gull. I know gulls evoke a wide spectrum of emotions and imagery, ranging from the nostalgia of coastal, seaside life to frustration regarding their difficulty to ID. But this gull is Top of the Pops.

These small gulls are a very rare Arctic winter visitor to the UK, with sporadic sightings mostly in northern Scotland, Shetland, and the east coast of England. 

These small, pink-tinged gulls are highly sought after by birders, often appearing between November and January. These are small, dove-like gull with a wedge-shaped tail, often with a pinkish breast (in breeding/sub-adult plumage), small black bill, and red legs.

Kris and I set off from Wigan at 2am arriving in Newlyn for around 9am were Kris saw the bird fly out of the harbour not long after we arrived. We had to wait another 2 hours for it to come back before getting better views. 

Formerly known as the Cuneate-tailed gull it is now known as the Ross's gull, is named after the British naval officer and Arctic explorer Sir James Clark Ross. He procured the first specimens of this species in June 1823 while exploring the Melville Peninsula.

The gull spent some time on the roof of the nearby Lidl, before feeding around the harbour entrance and in the harbour itself. This was one of my top targets on BUBO, but I have not had much chance of twitching one as they are becoming incredibly rare in recent years. 

13/02/2026 Lightshaw Flash, Abram, Wigan

Russian White-fronted Goose: A great local bird to catch up with, down the road from me and close rto where my old house is, these Russian whitefronts spent a few days on the banks of Lightshaw Flash SSSI. 

These are great birds, who doesn't love a rare goose? These small geese feature a white forehead (the "white-front"), pinkish-orange bills (distinguishing them from the orange-billed Greenland subspecies), and, when mature, bold black barring on the belly.

 

They come to the UK to flee the freezing Arctic tundra of Russia to spend the winter in the warmer British climate. And they favour wetland and farmland habitats, with major wintering populations often located in Norfolk, the Thames Estuary, and southern England.

Unlike the Greenland white-fronted goose (flavirostris), which winters mostly in the west and north, the Russian race is found in eastern and southern England. And this winter is shaping up to be a bit of an eruption yaer for white-fronted geese. 

There over 30n birds feeding on the grass in the feild along with 60 pink-footed and dozens of Canada and greylag geese. A real mix. 

15/02/2026 Mow Cop, Cheshire-Staffordshire Border

Shore Lark: This smart little beaut has been frequently spotted in a muddy field directly in front of the Old Man o' Mow rock face. This is an exceptional inland sighting

 

Shore lark are slightly smaller than a the more familiar skylark, with a bold yellow face, black eye mask, and a black breast band. Breeding males display prominent black feather tufts ("horns") on their heads and are one of my favourite British birds.

They are a scarce winter visitor to the UK and  most frequently spotted on the east coast, particularly in East Anglia and eastern Scotland, though they can appear elsewhere. Som to get one in on the edge of the Cheshire-Staffordshire border is a rare thing indeed. 

At the time of me writing this the bird is still being observed here so go, go tomorrow, go this weekend. If you do go, the area has been described as very muddy and exposed to wind and rain, so appropriate footwear and waterproof clothing are essential.

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.