24/09/2022 St Mary's Island, Northumberland

Lapland Bunting: After last weeks Bank Holiday weekend which was comprised of back to back weddings and photoshoots, swiftly followed by a busy working week surveying water voles and birds I was keen to get out and see something cool. 

So teaming up with Kristian we headed over to the beautiful St Mary's Island in Whitley Bay to togg the long staying lap bunt. 

And we weren't disappointed. 

These cool little birds are not commonly sighted in the UK, only ever appearing in low numbers typically along the on the East coast. They overwinter in the here doing so from September and October until May, after which time they leave to breed in those colder Northern European regions across Scandinavia. 

Lapland buntings have quite a long hind claw which gives rise to their other common name of 'Lapland Longspur'.

These stocky visitors from the North are ever so slightly larger then reed buntings and are covered with a beautiful chestnut sort of colour accompanied by a distinctive pattern on the head.

Most of the time, these birds can be found on the ground and sometimes in small flocks, this bird was on it's own.

To say this bird was not shy would be an understatement, at one point I could have reached out and picked it up as it walked towards me. 

I didn't even need to use my 'army crawl' manoeuvre' when I get on my belly and use my field craft to encroach a little further and allow the bird to walk towards me. This bird trotted right up to us. 

I've only ever seen lap bunts perform like this on the Great Orme, but even then they were not as bold as this individual, it wasn't even phased by ignorant dog walkers who decided to ignore the small group of birders and let their dogs run right past us when they could have simply taken he nearby path to avoid us, and the bird.

After seeing the lap bunt we headed over to Widdrington Moor Lake and picked out the Slav grebe but failed to find the red-necked grebe which was reported retailer. 

09/10/2020 The Isles of Scilly

Swainson's Thrush: A Swainson’s thrush, classed as “mega rare” in the UK, landed on St mary's last week, having taken a wrong turn. Instead of being in jungle it found itself several thousand miles off course in a autumnal Scilly field.

Scilly's was not only playing host to this mega rare bird, but the day before Patrick and I decided to change our plans for Shetland a black a white warbler was found on Trecso. A few phone calls later and a and we had rearranged to travel down to the Scilly's instead. 

Unfortunately our luck didn't hold out as the black and white warbler didn't buck the trend and was a one day bird. Still the helicopter ride ver was pretty cool. 

Lapland Bunting: Although we missed the black and white warbler we struck lucky, very lucky incat with the Swainson's as previously while one was found on St Marys its was elusive and very few people connected with it. 

On our second day there was a report of a very showy Swainson's on Bryher. After missing the fisrt boat acreos we were on the next one and rewarded with some crippling views. of the bird. 

Patrick and I were made up, connecting with this bird reinforced pour last minute decision to change plans. 

Snow Bunting: There were a few migrants on the islands and I was pleased to find a snow bunting in the same area as the American golden plover on Tresco. 

I've been to the Scilly's a few times but this was my fisrt time I had a chance to travel to some of its other islands other than St marys. I really enjoyed getting a feel for the place from St Martins, to Tresco and getting to know them a little better. 

Red-eyed Vireo: Another bird that was responsible for our last minute change of plans was this REV, another American scarcity that I have yet to have caught up with, despite missing the Spurn bird the bay it left.   

Here again Patrick and I struick lucky. The REV was on St Martins and during its time here it had been a extremely difficult bid to pin down. The frustrating thing was after I took this image I was accused of tape lurng the bird, not a big issue in my mind, but still something that I did not do and there was no evidence from the bloke who was throwing about the accusations.  

Yellow-browed Warbler: I think he was just bitter, that he was unable to use his own field craft skills and common sense to see the bird.  

The following day there was a big fall of YBW, with reports from across the islands. We found six birds ranging from Telegraph road, Lower Moors and the area near the dump clump.    

Although there were many YBW all over the place they still proved difficult to photograph. I wanted better then these images, but I guess that's the way it goes sometimes. 

This was a great trip overall with two new ticks and a solid supporting cast, plenty of beers and good company. 

22/03/2012 The Great Orme

Lapland Bunting: Today I went bunting hunting up on the Great Orme. I started along Marine Drive there where loads of the regular gulls and a few stone chat with a few grey seal bobbing around the rocks like corks. My aims was to head over the visitor centre and then make my way around the lime stone paths, it was here I bumped in to two nice birders from who were on the same hunt.

They advised me the Lapland bunting where last seen yesterday on the lime stone paths so I made a beeline for that part of the Orme.

Snow Bunting: I was aimlessly wondering around when I was lucky enough to again bump in to theses two birders who were with a gaggle of other birders, they told me the bunting just flew in my direction, but is missed them. We then turned to see both Lapland bunting forging amongst some rocks at our feet, brilliant.

Stonechat: (male) After filling our SD cards with pictures we then turned to see a snow bunting on the path behind us, what a super bird. After taking my fill of pictures I said good bye and headed home spotting a couple of raven and a peregrine.