What a day! The Rufous-tailed Robin finally gave itself up properly on our @biggesttwitch custom tour for two. Add Radde’s Warbler, Pallas’s Warbler, White-fronted Geese, Firecrests, Yellow-b Warbler, Short-eared Owl, Corn Buntings, Great N Diver and it’s been a great day! ☺️👍

Great start to @biggesttwitch tour of Yorkshire for two. Rufous-tailed Robin, Izzy Wheatear, Izzy Shrike, LEO + SEO, Bluethroat, Dusky, Hume’s + YB Warbler, Ouzel, Jack Snipe, GWF Geese, Woodcocks, Firecrests. 90 species so far btn @FlamboroughBird and @spurnbirdobs ☺️👍

Great to see a stunning Death’s Head Hawkmoth on Llandudno Promenade last night, despite the fact that it chose to settle on the Gents public toilet block at dusk. The funny looks we got were worth it though. Only my 2nd ever and 1st in North Wales of this scarce immigrant moth👍

Huge thanks to @AllanConlin for being a great host on the Isle of Scilly this week. 35K steps today - 3 Lapland Bunting. Isabelline Shrike, 2 Jack Snipe, 3 Yellow-browed Warblers, 6 Firecrest and 4 Convulvolus Hawkmoth around St Mary’s today @OwenPar91687609 @saturdaycatbird

St. Agnes + Gugh today on our Isle of Scilly tour. No Red-eyed Vireo but Black Redstart, 2 Yellow-browed Warbler, ‘Sibe’ Lesser Whitethroat, lots of waders, 2 new moths; Scar Bank Gem and Blair’s Mocha) and a new fish; Giant Goby. Got to Gugh too @OwenPar91687609 @saturdaycatbird

Another great day on the magical Isles of Scilly. 80+ Grey Phalaropes, Isabelline Shrike, Sooty Shearwaters, Caspian Gulls, Wilson’s Snipe, Two-spotted Cricket, Great Skua, Storm Petrel and Puffins. The place that keeps on giving with @OwenPar91687609 @saturdaycatbird

Craking day on Bryher, Iske of Scilly - came across a fem. Surf Scoter on the way over, Wryneck showed well in the sun, migrant Whinchat, visited the Blackburnian Warbler bush and met the finder on its 4th anniversary, lovely beaches and scenery @OwenPar91687609 @saturdaycatbird

An Isle of Scilly, St Mary’s epic walk today; Red-backed Shrike, 4 Firecrest, 3 Yellow-browed Warblers, 1CY Yellow-legged Gull and 2 Prickly Stick Insects. Through in a new species of Fungi (Red Cage) and 2 new moths (Olive-tree Pearl and Porter’s Rustic) not a bad day at all☺️👍

Great start to our week on the Isles of Scilly. Wilson’s Snipe, Sora Rail, Serin, YBWs, Grey Phalarope, Sooty Shearwater, Storm Petrels and shoals of Blue-fin Tuna! Great to be back here after many years with @OwenPar91687609 @AllanConlin @saturdaycatbird ☺️👍

Finally caught up with the Middleton Lakes RSPB Pectoral Sandpiper this evening. A lovely couple of hours all on my own watching this scarcity, 2 Ruff, 2 Dunlin, 150 Lapwing and a big increase of 58 Common Snipe. Great views of Green Woodpecker and Kingfisher too @Staffsbirdnews

An enjoyable walk around Middleton Lakes RSPB this afternoon @Staffsbirdnews - 5 Ruff (Ruff, 2 Reeves and 2 juvs), Juv Marsh Harrier, 5 Pintail, 3 Great White Egrets, 2 Kingfisher, 5 Chiffchaff, 8 Common Snipe and a Peregrine. Good numbers of Shoveler and Teal too ☺️👍

As it was @OwenPar91687609 ‘s birthday we had to do some birding on our way home from Unst to Wales. Big thanks to Dan Pointon who met us at Lunan Bay, Montrose and despite the wind got us great views of a cracking drake White-winged + Surf Scoter. It was a happy journey home☺️👍

What a week it has been! Our last day saw first 2 YBW of the year, 2 Pied Fly, 2 Brambling, Redpolls, Siskins, Redwing, Willow Warblers and a dog Otter that took and eat a Shag! Pictures too gory to show here 🫣 massive thanks to @AllanConlin 🙏 @bordanoostlodge @OwenPar91687609

That’s more like it! Unst was a proper birdy island today with Juv Pallid Harrier, 3 Buff-breasted Sandpipers, Quail, Pied Flycatcher + 500+ Pink footed Geese arriving. Risso’s putting on a show too. Good to share the day with old + new friends @bordanoostlodge @OwenPar91687609

Today was all about Mammals on Unst - stunning Otter views, Minke Whales, Risso’s + White-beaked Dolphins, Porpoise off Haroldswick in flat calm seas. Amazing! Bird highlights - Merlin, Redwing, Great-northern Diver, Snow Buntings and Wheatears👍@OwenPar91687609 @bordanoostlodge

An American Golden Plover calling + circling over Norwick before heading off north was today’s highlight. Great shout by the legendary Dave Cooper. L. Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Snow Bunts, Whooper Swans, Twite, Merlin + fun searching @bordanoostlodge @OwenPar91687609

Migrant searching was hard work today on Unst with @OwenPar91687609 However, what a place! Bonxies just yards away, Risso’s Dolphins leaping from the sea, Sanderlings chasing the tide, Warblers in nettle patches, Otters crushing crabs, A blizzard of Gannets! Wow @bordanoostlodge

Despite the raging N.W winds we had a great day exploring Unst. Highlight was a Barred Warbler at Valyie, Black Redstart, 3 Willow Warblers, Bonxies battering the Gannets, 9 Twite, 5 Brents + arrival of Snipe, Lapwing and Golden Plovers in-off. @bordanoostlodge @OwenPar91687609

Fantastic first Shetland day! The Queen Eider + American Black Tern showed well on mainland Shetland while Unst welcomed us with stunning views of Otter from our amazing home @bordanoostlodge for the week. Blue Fulmar, Redwing, Wheatears, Bonxies + Shetland Wren @OwenPar91687609

A brucie bonus Baird’s Sandpiper at Lossiemouth. A double yank wader day! Cool video by @OwenPar91687609 also lots of Eiders, Kittiwakes, Gannets, Sanderlings, Knot and gulls! Top first day of the holiday ☺️👍