Andy Mackay

I did see the Little Whimbrel. 🙂 Actually, thinking about it, it must have been 84 I was at Snettisham. A long time ago, anyway!

I saw my first at Titchwell too, in 1985. I was supposed to be doing voluntary wardening at Snettisham, but spent more time birding and twitching elsewhere, much to the annoyance of the warden, Pete Gotham! 😂

Common Quakers alone topped 100 last night for the first time this year (109). 143/10 in total, but nothing NFY. A spotty rather than stripy Oak Nycteoline this time. #TeamMoth #VC55Moths

At least 3 records within about 4 miles of me, so it's definitely on the cards here with the amount of other Orthosias I get. 🤞

Yes, has to be done though - the one I want is Blossom Underwing and you have to look through a lot of beige to get that, in VC55 anyway!

First 100+ trap of the year last night despite a low of 6.3°C, 136/12. 2 Yellow-horned NFY including this unusually marked one, 2 Brindled Pugs NFY, 4 Oak Beauty I think is a record, usually only get one or two, 83 Common Quaker and 26 Small. #TeamMoth #VC55Moths

I get a few each year. They are incredibly variable, and I don't recall seeing one like this before.

Yes, but only once, last year (4th April).

59/9 last night including Shoulder Stripe (3) and this rather smart Oak Nycteoline NFY. Otherwise just the usual Orthosias. #TeamMoth #VC55Moths

Yes, Martinshaw Wood (c100 ha, including some ancient woodland) is about 170m away to the SW, and another smaller block of mixed woodland even closer to the north. This house was deliberately chosen with moths and birds in mind! 😄

I always think that, based on previous gardens, but this one does seem to be better than most early season. It's still very predictable though, with just the occasional interesting species amongst the Orthosia hordes.

Milder last night, but fewer moths, 69/9, and all the same species as the previous night but minus Satellite, Clouded Drab & alternella. Common Quakers down to 56. Shan't bother tonight as it's forecast to rain most of the night. #TeamMoth #VC55Moths

Tortricodes alternella, a reddish-brown Tortrix moth, photographed where it sat on the slats of the ancient green plastic garden chair that the moth trap sits on.

I'm always surprised how many early spring moths I get in this garden compared to previous ones, but I still rarely bother at this time of year - old habits die hard! 87/12 in the MV last night (70 Common Quakers). March Moth, Twin-spotted Quaker and Tortricodes alternella NFY. #teammoth #VC55Moths

42/9 in the MV last night despite early rain, but 32 of those were Common Quakers. Grey Shoulder-knot, Oak Beauty and Pale Brindled Beauty the best of the rest. Single Ypsolopha ustella and Beautiful Plume the only micros. #teammoth #VC55moths

I've had CBA with moths since early November, but the MV is out tonight...

Seems to be a lame attempt at comedy. 🥱

I saw a small bat, presumably a Pip sp feeding around an oak tree at 12.30 in Derbyshire today.

Not forgetting Rutland Water of course! Think the record is 9 roosting together off the dam a few years ago. Only one so far this winter though.

Never knew him. Several faces look familiar but can't come up with any more names.

Maybe Colin Towe at far left? Face looks right but I really can't remember what his hair was like in those days! I wonder if it's earlier than that as well - 1988 Needletail perhaps? They all look very happy to have seen whatever it was anyway.

Found this picture on my phone photo roll. Think Steve Webb and Franco but who else do you recognise and any idea where they are?

I was there all day today (as usual on a Sunday!) and there was no sign of the American Wigeon even late on when the sun had moved round. Brent Goose was the star bird for me as I missed the one earlier in the year, taking me to 146 for the year there.

Yes, that's the least problematic part of those photos. The feet and bills are definitely very odd though!

The one I really want is Lesser Scaup. Didn't see the only Eyebrook record (2006ish I think?) and never found one.

Certainly seems like it this autumn! 😄

Thanks Mark. Another one, like the American GP, where I must have looked through 100s of 1000s of the common species over the years before finding a Yank! Doesn't seem to be anything amongst the huge Aythya flock yet apart from one Scaup, but we'll hopefully get something over the winter.

Drake American Wigeon with 2 Eurasian Wigeon and a Mallard

Drake American Wigeon with Eurasian Wigeons and a Coot

Eyebrook Reservoir's run of good birds continues with this smart male American Wigeon I found at the island this afternoon. The 5th site record, and the first since 2002. Loads of wildfowl there at the moment including c1300 Tufted Ducks & 400 Pochard. #VC55Birds #UKBirding

Classic example of Betteridge's Law of Headlines - any headline that ends in a question mark can be answered by the word "no".

Jack snipe have been showing well from Bishop’s hide at Cley NWT this autumn. Great to eventually catch up with one today and spent an enjoyable morning sketching it along with 6 water pipits that dropped in. Quality!

Lesser Scaup. Probably a 1st-winter female I think - I would have thought a male would have more patches of lighter grey on the mantle and flanks by now.

Female Lesser Scaup.

Female Lesser Scaup, showing the bill pattern nicely, with the black restricted to the nail.

Went back to Swithland Res this morning and there was the Lesser Scaup, back where it was originally found by @tcartz.bsky.social on Tuesday. Excellent views from the causeway. The 6th one I've seen in the county, but the first away from Rutland Water. #VC55Birds #UKBirding