21/12/2019 Prestwick Carr, Northumberland

Eastern Yellow Wagtail: This cold, grey looking bird has recently been involved in somewhat of a major taxonomic decision, one that has seen the complexities of the many sub species of yellow wagtail brought in to discussion.

This has resulted in the yellow wagtail Motacilla flava being split into two distinct species, the Eastern yellow wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis and Western yellow wagtail Motacilla flava.

This is pretty much an unassuming bird, but one with serious pulling power. This comparatively recently a taxonomic decision has contributed to what looks like a record year for Eastern yellow wags in Britain and elsewhere. And has given me the opportunity  to add a new bird to my British list.

Mark Payne and I set off pretty early in order to be back at home at a reasonable time, now that I'm a farther to little Autumn I needed to be back.

When we arrived on the muddy track the light was poor, flat and dull (hence the greym, falt images), but the bird was lively and showing incredibly well, almost in touching distance.


Well worth the trip and no better way to see such a bird.

15/12/2019 ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, Dunstable

Black-Throated Thrush: Toady I was lucky to get some jaw dropping views of a very smart looking male black-throated thrush. The bird has been frequenting Whipsnade Zoo near Dunstable for the past few days.

Patrick and I decided to try out luck and headed down the M6 early doors, but  having seen the 2016 St Asaph bird I didn't have the knot of anticipation we twitters get as we journey down to see a new bird. Patrick on the other hand was nervous.

The previous day the bird had been illusive and disappeared by lunch time so we had only slight optimism. When we arrived the bird had been spotted on a grassy area opposite the elephant enclosure, we heeded here only to be told the bird had flown off 15 minutes ago! Disappointed we searched the area before noticing a large group of birders rushing off in the same direction, we swiftly followed.

The bird was relocated outside the coffee shop near the pig enclosures, feeding on a cotoneaster tree. Here the bird put on a great show before flying off with a small flock of redwing.

Patrick and I were made up, especially as the bird sown so incredibly well.

I suggest if anyone reading this is planning on going that you pre-book your entrance tickets (usually worth £26 discounted price £21.60) which are considerably cheaper and park in the over spill car park, as they charge you £12 to park within the zoo grounds. The over-spill is free. I would also like to thank Patrick not only for driving us down but lending me the two middle photos to use on my blog, quality mate.

01/12/2019 Donna Nook, Lincolnshire

Grey Seal: Donna Nook is one of those places I've always wanted to visit, where each year in late October, November, and December, a colony of gray seals return to their salt marsh home, to give birth to their pups right next to the sand dunes. 

As soon as I got out of the car, and after avoiding the flooded areas of the car park I could hear the haunting sounds of moaning grey seal.

Just over the dunes lies the seal colony, a breath taking expanse of salt marsh littered with dozens of flabby, grunting grey seals.

Pomarine Skua: People from all over the United Kingdom flock to the beach’s purpose-built viewing platform to witness this annual wildlife spectacle, but in truth I was there really wanting to see something else, the pom skua.

When I arrived the bird had not been seen, and there wasn't many other birders looking, but with a bit of patience the bird came flying in low just behind the wardens beech hut.

The magnificent male pom suka landed in front of me and started to feed on a seals placenta. The bird showed obvious signs of injury to its leg, probably of f the reasons it stayed in the location for such a long time.

The bird didn't seen bothered by the onlookers and gathering birders who stood a few yards away on the opposite side of the barrier.

This is a bird I don't see that often and typically when I do its usually on a sea watch and the bird is pretty distant, so to get an adult male up close and personal was a real treat.

Grey Seal: The seals are great, full of character and personality and the white pups are adorable.

Every year, when the first pup is born, the Donna Nook warden makes an online announcement. An astonishing 2,066 grey seal pups were born at the reserve over approximately three months in 2018.

Regular updates with seal numbers are posted online each week until the last remaining seal has swum out into the North Sea.