Gary Pickles

On patch. Crisp morning. Plenty of passerines and heard my first winter thrush - redwing in flight, but couldn't get a definitive sighting so still no winter thrush 😢 #birding

Full day at RSPB Saltholme on Teeside. Lots to see including the resident Barnacle Geese. Tried to find the Jack Snipe with the loan of thermal imaging binoculars but dipped. But found this 👇Golden Plover. Went with Nick, a friend who's a photographer/birder hence the quality of the photo! #birding

Out early on my patch...back and getting stuck in to my new book with a coffee. I highly recommend this book to all patch birders out there.. #birding

Just done my first morning volunteering as part of a working party on Sun Lane Nature Reserve. Only a small reserve but brings so much pleasure so good to give a bit back. 👍🏼

On a twitch to my local RSPB Fairburn Ings to see the Baird's Sandpiper. Got it!!! ...but at distance 😁 #birding

Patch birding. Dead chuffed - saw my first Kingfisher of the year. Why did it take so long! Little Egret and Goosander showing nicely on this shot. #birding

Back to Spurn. Visible Migration is a joy and here's a Wheater preparing to fly. Ended the day at Beacon Ponds... pleased to see Bar-tailed Godwit and Sanderling; two more to add to my year list. Had to leave at 8pm to escape the midges 🦟 #birding

Day at RSPB Old Moor. It's not often you see 4. Snipe together. Also good to catch the Spotted Redshank again #birding

Out on patch again. The highlight was watching a flock of juvenile Goldfinch feeding on seeds. #birding

Out on patch. Pleased to hear, but not see 😕, a Spotted Flycatcher out on Sun Lane Nature Reserve. #birding

Last day at Spurn. Spent most of day Sea-Watching - inc. Manx Sheerwater, Sandwich Tern, Red-throated Diver, Pink-footed Geese, Common Scoter. Other stuff inc.- flock of Lapland Bunting, ringing demo, hundreds of birds migrating on day with good conditions and a Wryneck twitch! #birding #Migfest2026

Morning at Beacon Ponds - Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit, Yellow-legged Gull. Afternoon Sea-Watching from Warren - Arctic Skua, Red-throated Diver, Shag, numerous Shelduck and Gannets. And an impressive flock of Meadow Pipits. Back for more tomorrow! #birding #Migfest2026

Called in at North Cave Wetlands on my way to Spurn #Migfest2026 Good to see the long staying Ruddy Shelduck. #birding

Ruff at Old Moor yesterday. #birding

Today was a day for waders. RSPB Old Moor. Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Black tailed Godwit, Ruff. Excellent day but dipped on Stint!

RSPB Fairburn Ings. Black Swan on Main Bay - presume escapee.

Ruff on New Flash at RSPB Fairburn Ings ang with Curlew Sandpipers, Wood Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Common Ringed Plovers and Black tailed Godwits. Currently holed up in main reserve hiding from rain in hide overlooking Main Bay.

Weatherwatch: Climate crisis fuelling steep fall in migratory bird numbers www.theguardian.com/news/2026/au...

My happy place ☺️ #birding

Very early start to twitch a bird that's escaped me twice this year. The splendid Glossy Ibis. Three at RSPB Fairburn Ings #birding

Out at RSPB Old Moor. These 15 Black Tailed Godwit, Hobby, Spoonbill, Hobby and Marsh Harrier to name the highlights of many. Lovely day.

Size of 140 football fields now Hundreds evacuated. Large areas of heathland habitat destroyed. Dartford Warblers, Woodlark, Nightjars etc. News reporter described Nightjars flying over the area. Climate change is rapidly outpacing conservation. It will only get worse. 🤷‍♂️🙄 #ukbirding

Up to Bolton-on-Swale YWT to catch the Black-crowned Night Heron. Fabulous birds - 3 in total at 8.30. Going down to roost. Nest visible. Called in to Nosterfield N R on way home. #birding

Brilliant morning birding at Blacktoft Sands..only just realised I'm starving and need my lunch. Bearded Reedling, Water Rail, Spotted Redshank, first Snipe of year plus these amazing Spoonbill. Great place for some serious birding. #birding

Cinnabar moth caterpillar at Sun Lane Nature Reserve #patch #birding

Roe Deer on Sun Lane Nature Reserve this evening. Good being out in nature. #birding

Up at Sun Lane Nature Reserve again. Buzzards and a Marsh Harrier - an exciting rarity for this location. #birding

Late night - 21.00 - at Sun Lane Nature Reserve on my #patch. Wood pigeon, Carrion Crow and Swift tonight. Will explore this small reserve again. #birding

A trip to Cumbria to see the Osprey at Foulshaw Moss. Excellent birding and good to see these fabulous raptors and their young #birding

And an afternoon at North Cave Wetlands. Med Gull, Little Ringed Plover and pleasing to see so many Avocet chicks.

Back visiting my patch tonight. Barney the Barn Owl #birding

Full morning at Lin Dike hide, RSPB Fairburn Ings. Target bird was Green Sandpiper and spotted 2 of them albeit at distance. Scope needed!

Called in at Noth Cave Wetlands on the way home and eventually saw my first Wood Sandpiper of the year 😎

And finally from RSPB Bempton Cliffs.... nesting swallows.

Guillemots nesting. RSPB Bempton Cliffs

Fabulous day at a sweltering RSPB Bempton Cliffs. Saw usual sea birds but also lots of farmland species. Back tomorrow for hopefully a Corn Bunting and the Quail that's knocking about. This Puffin's mate is in the adjacent hole.. 😎

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Birding on my patch looking for my first Kingfisher to add to my year list. Hunting that flash of azure blue. Dipped!! #birding

Full day birding at RSPB Fairburn Ings. 1st year Arctic Tern and the Avocet below a few metres away from the hide. What splendid birds they are! 😁 #birding

'Leap of faith' made on our final day here! #Yellow-leggedGull #sneakybirding #Portugal

Hatched!!! 🐣 #Yellow-leggedGull #sneakybirding #Portugal

Hopefully we are still here when the Yellow-legged Gull hatches her eggs. #sneakybirding #Portugal

Excellent day at @nosterfieldnr.bsky.social Lovely people. Fabulous birds. You can just make out the Pectoral Sandpiper on this photo and my first Ringed Plover of the year. #birding

Fairburn Ings. Four hours in Lin Dike hand scanning the habitat in front of me. Good to see my first 3 Whimbrel and Yellow Wagtail of the year. Dipped on a Hobby seen by others.. #birding

Back to RSPB St Aidan's. Huge estate and well worth a visit. Dipped on the Wood Sandpiper again but so much reedbed to scan. My first Whitethroat of the year and the Swifts are back up north! And of course the Little Owl 🦉 #birding

Out on my patch again. Willow Warbler, Redshank, Grey Wagtail and this splendid Mandarin Drake. #PWC2026 #birding