Brian Small

I went for 2nd looks at the Isabelline Shrike at Kessingland. Enjoying the wasps, its warm Dijon mustard-coloured upperparts, subtly rufescent crown with retained juv feathers; pale ear coverts are features that would fit neatly in the trays of isabellinus at Tring... #suffolkbirding #ukbirding

Cracking views of a Shore Lark on the beach at Easton Bavents, north of Southwold, yesterday afternoon - my 201st sp on the patch this year #suffolkbirding #ukbirding

Over the moon (to put it mildly) to find this first year male SIBERIAN BLUE ROBIN in our garden at Hillwell, Shetland this morning. The fifth record for Britain and a first for Shetland. #BirdingScotland #UKbirding #RareBirdsUK #Birds #UKWildlife

Nailed it! Beautiful views of the juvenile Red-footed Falcon that has taken up residence by the Norfolk Hawker wall in Lowestoft #suffolkbirding #ukbirding

I was really pleased to see the White-rumped Sandpiper at Benacre Broad, thanks to @cach22.bsky.social Whilst it was never close the light and lack of shimmer allowed reasonable views. Plus it was great to 'get my eye in,' with the species again.

The juvenile Caspian Gull 'fix' is also underway, with my 3rd of the autumn at Southwold Harbour this afternoon - I am hoping for more and closer views soon... #ukbirding #suffolkbirding

This afternoon I was able to enjoy my annual juvenile limosa 'fix' with 3 from west hide at Minsmere - one colour-ringed. Such superb birds #ukbirding #suffolkbirding

Yesterday we completed the @mariposanature.bsky.social Butterflies of the French Alps trip, adding Silky Ringlet, extending the record species count to 151. I'm leading the trip in 2027 & there's just 8 spaces left. If you're interested you can book here www.mariposanature.com/tours/butter...

Dusky Grizzled Skipper! Species 150 on Day 7 of the @mariposanature.bsky.social French Alps holiday. With one day left, that's 13 more species than any 8 day trip, anywhere in Europe, ever, by any wildlife holiday company. Proud to be part of the amazing Mariposa team! 🦋

Having seen a stunning 93 species the day before, yesterday on the Mariposa Butterflies of French Alps tour proved equally amazing. Titania's Fritillary, Silvery Argus, Eros Blue and last but not least Small Apollo, largely thanks to Paul Selby's brilliant knowledge @mariposanature.bsky.social

The first 2 days co-guiding with Paul Selby the Mariposa Butterflies of the French Alps have already been amazing: Foulquier's Grizzled Skipper and several Balkan Fritillary, plus oodles of others. Totally stunning landscape and a few birds thrown in - Rock Thrush today @mariposanature.bsky.social

Just arrived home after a late morning appointment and news of the Hudsonian Godwit at Minsmere broke. Managed to see it on west scrape before it flew to south - the first time we saw the underwing... 2 limosa Black-taileds too #ukbirding #suffolkbirding

Six limosa Black-tailed Godwits at Minsmere yesterday, but they never came close for nice photos. A selection here; a couple 'beasts' plus a small nicely barred and white-browed bird #ukbirding #suffolkbirding

The landscapes of Tarbet and Handa change rapidly with the weather, but always spectacular

Tour update 🚨 Next year's Fabulous Fuerteventura took some more bookings today, meaning it's already over half-full. It's a wonderful destination with special butterflies and birds, and led by the popular, dynamic duo of Dave Fairhurst & @cach22.bsky.social. www.mariposanature.com/tours/wildli...

I was surprised the Lesser Yellowlegs at Aldeburgh stuck around long enough for me to go and see it this morning; lovely light and I had it all to myself, plus a little bit of bonus singing when antagonised by a Redshank #ukbirding #suffolkbirding

A royal day out...! Greenland Wheatear taking the coastal path on its way northwest. Most of the late April wheatears we get are likely to be leucorhoa and the length of the wing on this one - almost reaching tail tip - suggests a long-distance migrant #ukbirding #suffolkbirding

A nice surprise along the beach south of Walberswick this morning: a Wryneck singing three times from a bramble. I am not sure I have ever heard one sing in the UK... #ukbirding #suffolkbirding

Postcard from the field, from tour leaders Dave Fairhurst & Brian Small in southern France: Our A Spring in Provence tour is under way, and we've spent a wonderful day in the wetlands of the Camargue, with masses of birds on show. More birds, butterflies, wildflowers to follow in the coming days...

Zitting Cisticola at Walberswick showed 6 times in 70 minutes this morning viewing from beach; please do not walk out into marsh along raised bank (like this person), there is no guarantee you will see it (like this person)... #ukbirding #suffolkbirding

The highlight of a @naturetrek.bsky.social weekend in Suffolk was this juv White-tailed Eagle that appeared over the group at Minsmere sluice - the 10 Adders were pushed to a close second. Ringed on both legs, but where as it is not a tracked IOW bird apparently...#ukbirding #suffolkbirding

The Hume's Warbler at Flycatcher Alley, Lowestoft was very mobile this morning, but showed well at times. Quite washed out khaki in colour compared to autumn, but with a brown wash across breast typical of winter birds

Finally, closer photos of the hybrid goose on Southwold town marshes that has been regularly put out as 'Ridgway's Cackling Goose'. Happy to read comments from others. The grass on bill gives an impression of a narrow white forehead

Another morning enjoying birding on my local patch produced my first looks at Dartford Warbler this year - a nice male that popped out the heather and sang, though my attention was drawn away by a pair of Crossbill #ukbirding #suffolkbirding

Finding a confiding first-winter Twite on Reydon Marshes yesterday, just 2 km from home, was pleasing and at an area where large numbers used to winter in Suffolk - I have old video of a flock of over 80. Nowadays, birders twitch them in Suffolk... #ukbirding #suffolkbirding

Three Zitting Cisticola were active at weekend with 2 birds (males?) chasing each other about. Both pictured here, one with a lost second tertial on right wing #ukbirding #suffolkbirding

I am grateful to Dan at Sunday Times magazine for choosing me to illustrate Mr Clarkson's piece on his farmland birds. We certainly do need to do more to protect them... #ukbirding

At least one Zitting Cisticola still about south of Walberswick - no others seen in a couple of hours. Silent and elusive but now fully moulted at least and plumage looking quite dark and richly hued #ukbirding #suffolkbirding

Hume's Warbler in Southwold churchyard brought up 220 for my patch this year, then almost immediately went to 221 with a Richard's Pipit that flew south calling - a scarce bird nowadays #ukbirding #suffolkbirding