Safe to say the Semipalmated Sandpiper showed very nicely on Fishtail Lagoon at Keyhaven, this morning.

It has been 15 years since I last saw a Lapland Bunting in Hampshire - and despite flyovers by individual people, this has been the first gettable one in the county since then too! This smart bird showed admirably along the footpath but regularly flushed by dogs in particular.

A small selection of highlights from the Colombian Amazon back in July; Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock, White-browed Purpletuft (without the tufts), Orinoco Piculet and a Blackish Nightjar found in the day time doing an injured bird impression.

One of my favourites from the last visit I made to the (now departed) long staying Long-tailed Shrike in Gloucestershire. Quite a contrast compared to my first at the beginning of August when it was all scruffy.

A selection of the regulars from recent trips to Scilly with @Scillypelagics

There are birds on the British List that are mythical. For me, Egyptian Nightjar has always been in that category; feared never to repeat again. What a totally insane record and how amazing it roosted out in the open for a second day to allow us to travel up from the South.

Heath Fritillary between rain showers yesterday in North Kent - fantastic underwing pattern!

This Grey Phalarope duo off the Eastern Isles were amongst the highlights from Saturday's pelagic with @Scillypelagics

Another enjoyable weekend with @Scillypelagics this August. An easterly is not my preferred wind direction but Wilson's Storm Petrels and large Shearwaters were still seen in abundance.

Pleased to sneak in another visit to the Long-tailed Shrike between work commitments earlier this week - it's tail is really coming along now and it continues to look smarter each day. If the Turkestan was anything to go by, it probably has a week before its ready to move on.

I recently spent a short time in the Amazonian Rainforest in Colombia, bookended by days out around Bogota where I was able to catch up with the very range restricted Cundinamarca Antpitta.

...and an enjoyable few hours spent in the company of these Queen of Spain Fritillaries in my home county. Their underwing pattern the best of all butterflies, in my opinion.

Some rarer butterflies seen over the weekend included this Long-tailed Blue at Portsdown Hill.

Fortunate to watch the Long-tailed Shrike catch a vole too, but it appeared to drop it whilst attempting to cache it in the nearby brambles.

First opportunity I've had to visit the Gloucs/Oxon Long-tailed Shrike since being away. July is the new October. Hopefully it'll do similar to the Bempton Turkestan Shrike and and grow back a tail before it departs! I may have to go back again.

Having not moved for it Monday evening, I thought I had arranged a one day option to visit Papa Westray on Wednesday. A logistical nightmare ensued and we ended up stuck on Orkney overnight. Doh! Brief but great views of the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater - photo by @probableroller

A "site visit" in Norfolk conveniently broke up the journey home from yesterday's visit to Scotland. Splendid scope views of the Kelling Squacco Heron, but abhorrent heat haze views were had of the Black-winged Kite at Hempstead Marshes this afternoon.

Stood next to Adrian Webb whose infamous twitch to see Britain’s first Long-tailed Shrike on the Hebrides almost cost him his life. To say he’s over the moon to have got this one back (without the need of a boat) is an under statement.

The returning female American Black Tern put on a decent performance whilst switching positions on the nest with the male Arctic Tern at Long Nanny. At time of visiting only one of the three eggs had hatched. The chick appeared noticeably different and seemingly dark all over.

Avoided the really sticky weather last weekend by heading up to Cumbria where I was pleased to finally catch up with my last two British Butterflies; Large Heath & Mountain Ringlet. Reacquainted with Northern Brown Argus after 10+ years and a begging Tawny from outside our digs.