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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Two of the six first winter Caspian Gulls in to roost at Cley on 24th September, plus three YLG. The pink glow from the setting sun washing across Simmonds Scrape. #NorfolkBirding

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Very few migrant birds so easily distracted by three Vestal moths flushed along some grassy field edges at Warham Greens this morning

A Vestal moth sitting on a blade of autumn grass showing its distinctive pink inverted V on creamy wings.

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

The juvenile Black Guillemot at Cley gave good views off the beach this morning. Seems to like the easternmost pink buoy best viewed off the entrance to north hide #NorfolkBirding

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

The eclipse drake American Wigeon at Cley on Wednesday was educational. Not seen one on this plumage before and hadn’t realised how rusty the flanks could appear. Great find. #NorfolkBirding

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

8 of the 10+ Caspian Gulls spread across Simmond’s and Pat’s Pools, Cley this evening. Large Gulls still pouring in after the light had gone. Only 3 Glossy ibis in to roost at 19:20. #NorfolkBirding

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Despite rapidly reducing water levels at Stiffkey Puddle (nee Fen) my persistence surprisingly paid off this morning when a very unexpected wader resolved into a lovely adult Pectoral Sandpiper. Not sure if this or yesterday’s juvenile Goosander was most surprising? #norfolkbirding

The shallow puddle of water remaining at Stiffkey Fen will soon be gone completely in the hot dry weather.

An AI sharpened and de-noised version of a phone scoped video screen grab taken at distance and in heat haze. Not sure if it recovers details or enhances based on reference material?

The original screen grab before being AI’d

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

My first ever real wild, pure (non feral) Rock Doves in the UK! Not an uncommon bird on North Uist, though surprisingly skittish. Pigeons are so underrated. #UKBirding

Wild, pure Rock Doves on North Uist feed in the crofts and some nest in dilapidated buildings.

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Driving to Uig for the North Uist ferry on Friday I glanced across a loch adjacent to the road & noticed a Diver close to the bank & thankfully a lay-by. A quick stop was rewarded with close views of a pair of immaculate Black-throated Divers. Is there a more impeccable bird in the UK? #UKBirding

The impeccable Black-throated Diver with its dapper monochrome plumage of pinstripes and spots played off against the gorgeous grey nape, black flanks and necklaced black throat. How do feathers form those patterns?

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

A 45-year itch finally scratched this weekend - Corn Crake! Somehow I’ve never seen a passage bird (very rare in Kent and Norfolk) and I missed them on 10+ Scilly visits. They weren’t coming to me so I had to go to them. Life isn’t getting any longer! Balranald delivered. #UKBirding

An unusually showy Corncrake performing at Balranald on North Uist. After calling from the top of some grass bunds in a garden it decided to cross the road in front of me, then continued its calling in full view on the other side of the road. Other than this one I saw another walking and calling across an area of short grass and saw one in flight across a field. All the others remained typically hidden in Irish beds and grass.

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

I wasn’t initially keen for the long journey to Caernarfon Saturday night, but on seeing this beauty of a Western Reef Heron was delighted I took the lift. Thanks to Paul Nobbs for electric travel, @jameslowenwild.bsky.social & @jimlaw.bsky.social for great company. Oh those head plumes! #UKbirding

Britain’s first Western Reef Heron, its gorgeous navy blue plumage contrasting with a white throat, and stunning thick double head plumes, struts around in the muddy river at Caernarfon in North Wales.

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

This stunning hybrid 1S Black-headed x Mediterranean Gull showed a real mix of species and age features, incl a full (Med-like) jet black (ad BHG shape) head, a BHG bill with a Med-like red tint, a bold (Med-type) white eye ring, a pale grey back, and Med-like reddish legs & tertials #NorfolkBirding

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

Nice to bump into this Lapland Bunting on Burnham Overy dunes on 22/04. The local Sky Larks were less enthusiastic, constantly chasing it away but it gave occasional good views. I think the black face, black shoulder patches and black flank streaks indicate a 1st summer male? #NorfolkBirding

Lapland Bunting is an increasingly rare winter visitor to the north Norfolk coast and consequently a very scarce spring sighting.

The black face, black shoulders and solid black flank stripes indicate this is a first summer male Lapland Bunting.

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

Between 12th & 20th Feb I was part of a UK/SA team competing in the Kruger Challenge 2026, a fund raising event for the endangered White-winged Flufftail. Our objective was to see the most species of birds/mammals in Kruger NP. I’ve written up our experience in my blog: travellingbirder.blogspot.com

African Fish Eagles displaying in the Kruger National Park.

The 'Kruger Challenge 2026', is a unique, non-profit, conservation fundraising race, with teams competing to record the most species of bird and mammal across the full extent of South Africa's flagship Kruger National Park between 12th and 21st February 2026.

The International event, organised by BirdLife South Africa and Rockjumper Birding Tours specifically raised funds and awareness for one of Africa's rarest waterbirds; the small, critically rare and very elusive, White-winged Flufftail. The event was sponsored by Zeiss, together with SANParks, Painted Wolf Wines, Firefinch App, and the Santa Nature Reserve.

The Kruger Challenge is staged entirely within the Kruger National Park, one of Africa’s oldest, largest, and most celebrated protected areas. Six teams comprising more than fifty participants from around the world competed in a friendly and exciting contest over an eight-day period. Each team of nine members travelled in its own open safari vehicle, accompanied by a professional safari driver-guide and an experienced volunteer Rockjumper Birding Tours leader. Teams earned one point for every species of bird or mammal recorded, with the top-scoring team crowned the Birding and Wildlife Champions of Kruger during a festive final evening at Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp.

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

The unpredictability of UK birding is so much part of the fun. Who would have predicted a Ross’s Gull in mid April walking around behind a tractor in a potato field in North Norfolk? Great find by Trev Girling who got the news out immediately and superb relocate by Matt Lonsdale. #NorfolkBirding

A first-summer Ross’s Gull, a bird of the high and remote Arctic, spent the day following tractors around newly sown potato fields south of Thornham in North Norfolk after an initial brief sighting at RSPB Titchwell. For much of the day it was distant in heat haze but occasionally better views if you happened to be in the right place, but later on gave itself up close to a road feeding with summer plumaged Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls.

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Thought the chance of seeing Twite in Norfolk this winter had gone so delighted to see this flock of 16 at Cley this evening. Also the first time I’ve seen Twite in the UK feeding on Salix buds (a behaviour I have seen only in Armenia with ssp brevirostris Caucasian Twite). #NorfolkBirding

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

Definitely weather to stay indoors, broken by a brief dash to nearby Morston when an adult Red-breasted Goose was found by some intrepid souls. It is unringed, associating with 7 unringed Barnacle Geese within a flock of c500 Dark-bellied Brents #NorfolkBirding

An adult Red-breasted Goose with Barnacle and Dark-bellied Brent Geese in a field at Morston in Norfolk. The bird is unringed and associates with the 7 Barnacle Geese. Perhaps not the ideal host species for a wild Red-breasted Goose? Typically they turn up here with Dark-bellied Brents which do have overlapping breeding ranges.

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

After yesterday’s lovely slinky Todd’s it was a surprising contrast to (re)find this big, presumably canadensis Atlantic Canada Goose in a flock of harvested-beet feeding Pink-footed Geese today. Big lump of a long-necked bird, behaving naturally and probably a genuine wild vagrant #NorfolkBirding

A very contrasting bird to yesterday’s Todd’s Canada this large, bulky and long-necked Canada Goose is likely a wild canadensis Atlantic Canada Goose. Feeding naturally on harvested beet among a huge flock of Pink-footed Geese it has been seen occasionally in different areas of North Norfolk this winter. Thankfully the few feral Canada’s here don’t generally associate with Pink-feet and haven’t developed a fondness for sugar beet.

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

Also at Burnham Overy today was this satellite-collared, white ringed Pink-footed Goose (White 95). Possibly the bird seen a few days ago at Cley by @markgolley.bsky.social? Details sent to @kanebrides.bsky.social via email. #NorfolkBirding

A Pink-footed Goose with satellite collar and white darvic numbered 95 seen at Burnham Overy Marshes today

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

Todd’s Canada Goose today on the freshmarsh at Burnham Overy, Norfolk. A nice textbook bird, similar size to a Pink-foot, though longer in the body, nice and dark brown including the chest, snaky little slim neck, etc. Hopefully it stays in an easily viewable non disturbable location #NorfolkBirding

Todd’s Canada Goose grazing on Burnham Overy Freshes with host Pink-footed Geese, Dark-bellied Brent’s, Russian White-fronts, Greylags and Barnacles. A smart, small, dark brown bodied individual with slim, thin and relatively short black neck and narrow white face extending under chin.

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

The Taiga Bean Goose at North Point, Norfolk is a female, based on size and its passive behaviour. Birdguides continue to report as ‘Probable’ despite acknowledging “For all intents and purposes, the bird resembles a female Taiga Bean Goose.” in their weekly round-up. #NorfolkBirding

Female Taiga Bean Goose (left) beside a feral, some might say ‘oven ready’ Greylag Goose. The wedge shaped head, high and forward eye and long, relatively narrow bill all point to an ID of Taiga.

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 30/12/2025

Was amazing to watch the Eastern Black Redstart at Sheringham trying to kill, swallow and digest a large Sea Slater Ligia oceanica on Sunday am #NorfolkBirding

A brightly plumaged Eastern Black Redstart at Sheringham, Norfolk catches a Sea Slater, a large, woodlouse-like crustacean found on rocky shores. It spent more than five minutes passifying and dispatching its meal before trying to swallow it. Clearly a difficult snack it sat with its bill pointing skyward and wide open as it tried to force down the bug before sitting uncomfortably on the groyne for several more minutes trying to digest it. If it can deal with the discomfort there is an endless supply of Sea Slaters along the sea defences.

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 30/12/2025

After being away from Norfolk for perhaps the most bird productive five December days ever I was relieved to catch up on some great seasonal birding on an amazing Sunday. Black-bellied Dipper, Eastern Black Redstart, 35+ Common Cranes, Glossy Ibis and Black-shouldered Kite #NorfolkBirding

Common Cranes, Glossy Ibis and Black-shouldered Kite at Ludham Bridge and St Benets Abbey, Black-bellied Dipper at Bintree and Eastern Black Redstart at Sheringham. Norfolk is rocking this Christmas!

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

A comparison of Hume’s Leaf Warbler (Wells Woods), left, and Yellow-browed Warbler (Holkham), right, from the last two days. Subtle but distinctive differences between these two similar Phylloscopus species supported by their quite different calls. #NorfolkBirding

Hume’s Leaf Warbler (left two) and Yellow-browed Warbler (right two) showing the subtle but distinctive differences between plumage tones and patterns.

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

Some great views of Divers at Wells-next-the-Sea over high tide this morning included a juvenile Great-northern and a couple of Red-throated nearby. #NorfolkBirding

Juvenile Red-throated Diver shows a typically white face and gently upturned bill

Juvenile Great-northern Diver, big, dark with a bulbous forehead and dagger-like bill. The square block on the side of its neck also distinctive

Divers spend a lot of time under salt water and therefore frequently flap their wings to dry off

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

Hume’s Leaf Warbler is a variable bird. The 3 currently inhabiting Holkham NNR all look different. The two I found on 16th: a grey/greenish rather scruffy bird (top left), & a buff/cream clean bird (top right) & Ash Saunders’ Wells bird is grey with contrasting green secondary edges #NorfolkBirding

Three Hume’s Leaf Warblers are currently inhabiting the Holkham NNR and unlike the consistent looking Yellow-browed Warbler show a variety of plumage tones, which seem to change tone in different lights and at different angles. Of the two in Holkham Pines one is grey/greenish above and a bit scruffy (top left), one is buff/cream and clean (top right), and the bird at Wells (bottom) is grey above with lovely contrasting yellow/greenish secondary edges and a pale central crown. Such lovely birds well worth putting in effort to see.

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 16/11/2025

Yesterday with Sibe Phylloscs all around the best I could find was a late Willow Warbler. Today at Holkham I made up for it: first up a Hume’s was soon followed by a Pallas’s and concluded when they were joined in a flock by a Yellow-browed, a Sibe Chiff, a Firecrest & 3 Chiffchaff! #NorfolkBirding

A Hume’s Leaf Warbler showing its distinctive muted shades, buffy supercilium and wing bars was joined in a flock at Holkham Pines in Norfolk by a Pallas’s Warbler, a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Siberian Chiffchaff, 3 Common Chiffchaffs and a Firecrest! Norfolk November birding at its best.

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

After hearing the American Golden Plover was showing well I popped in to Titchwell but it had gone missing. Managed to find it distantly showing just its head above a bank before the flock flushed and it landed close to the path. Four hurried phone scoped shots later it was gone. #NorfolkBirding

The juvenile American Golden Plover at Titchwell RSPB briefly lands beside a roosting Northern Lapwing on the saltmarsh beside the main path. The darker, greyer plumage, small size, long wings and bright white supercilium contrast with the more golden European Golden Plovers it is associating with.

A distant, cropped and out of focus phone scope shot which captures the dark grey underwings of the juvenile American Golden Plover, contrasting with the bright white underwings of its European cousins.

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 09/11/2025

Two Isabelline Wheatears today and a Desert Wheatear yesterday. So just how lucky were @jameslowenwild.bsky.social and me when late this afternoon we found a Northern Wheatear beside the golf course at Brancaster 😢 #NorfolkBirding

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 08/11/2025

A nice end to what had been a fairly quiet walk around Warham Greens when I got back to North Point and in very quick succession a Yellow-browed Warbler was quickly upstaged by a calling Dusky Warbler #NorfolkBirding #UKBirding

A Yellow-browed Warbler quickly moving along a coastal hedge at Warham Greens showing a double wing bar and long supercilium

A very elusive Dusky Warbler eventually gives a brief view. Mainly heard ‘tacking’ and ‘tucking’ from a dense Ivy and Bramble hedgerow behind North Point Pools

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 27/10/2025

Has anyone got or seen a photo of the 5x reported adult female Pallid Harrier around Warham Greens and North Point over the last 10 days? #NorfolkBirding #UKBirding

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 26/10/2025

This gorgeous Jack Snipe was hunkered down out of the wind while trying to warm up in the morning sunshine outside Bishop’s Hide at Cley NWT. #NorfolkBirding

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 26/10/2025

This beast of a juvenile Glaucous Gull was patrolling the Cley beach this morning, giving several close fly pasts as it searched the tideline for food. #NorfolkBirding

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 26/10/2025

The cruelty of bird migration laid bare at Cley this morning as a tired Woodcock reached the end of its sea crossing to be met by a hungry Peregrine. Knocked into the water the Woodcock ultimately succumbed to the rough breakers while the Peregrine left with just a tail feather. #NorfolkBirding

A Eurasian Woodcock, intricately marked in hues of brown, reaches the beach at Cley after a lengthy sea crossing in rough winds only to be met by a hunting Peregrine.

The Peregrine knocked the Woodcock into the sea where it initially floated while the Falcon tried to pick off its prize, but ultimately lost its life in the surf

The juvenile Peregirne Falcon gives up on the hapless Woodcock and leaves with just a tail feather as a reminder of its efforts.

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

Still (sadly) at least that annoying Sparrowhawk won’t be chasing any more migrant passerines that arrive here exhausted. Looks like it lost a scrap with the local Peregrine! #norfolkbirding

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

It was like AI birding today. I got exactly what I asked for, but not quite what I had in mind… an offtrack oddity blown of course and sheltering under a coastal bush 😫 #norfolkbirding

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

While clearing rubbish I happened upon an interesting looking, camouflaged, fast and tiny spider. I was surprised to learn I’d seen a Sand Running-Spider, Rhysodromus fallax, a Nationally Rare and Threatened Arachnid, found only at a few sites in coastal Norfolk and Wales @norfolknats.bsky.social

The tiny and highly camouflaged Sand Running-Spider Rhysodromus fallax is almost invisible when stationary. It moves very quickly running briefly before pausing and its markings blend incredibly with the sand.

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

Today was largely spent clearing rubbish from East Hills. Some was the inevitable flotsam from fishing boats, but so much left by inconsiderate visitors - I don’t understand why people go to enjoy the beauty of a place only to leave all their rubbish for others to ‘enjoy’ (and clear up!).

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

Lovely views of the juvenile Red-backed Shrike between Stiffkey and Morston yesterday afternoon. A very confiding individual with patience. #NorfolkBirding

A juvenile Red-backed Shrike sat in an Elder in the sunshine

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

An evening walk at Holkham produced my first flock of Pink-footed Geese for the autumn, but the surprising highlight was this stunning ‘Silver’ Hare near Meals House!

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 18/08/2025

My last collage from Japan. Yellow Bunting in the forests at Karuizawa, Japanese Green Pheasant at Narita, Japanese Accentor on Mount Fuji and Ryukyu Green Pigeon on Amami. Read more at travellingbirder.blogspot.com

A male Yellow Bunting singing in the wonderful forests at Karuizawa when we eventually located him, a surprisingly showy Japanese Green Pheasant, the subtly attractive Japanese Accentor on the slopes of the iconic Mount Fuji and a Ryukyu Green Pigeon enjoying a light shower on Amami.

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 18/08/2025

Locustella Warblers in Japan, easily heard but a particularly challenging group to see: Middendorf’s Grasshopper Warbler, Sakhalin Grasshopper Warbler and Styan’s Grasshopper Warbler. We also heard many Lanceolated Warblers but never saw even a feather! Read more at travellingbirder.blogspot.com

Middendorf’s, Sakhalin and Styan’s Grasshopper Warblers were all seen eventually on the Spring tour of Japan. A skulky, challenging group of birds by any standard.

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 18/08/2025

Some interesting Phylloscopus Warblers on the Japan spring tour: Ijima’s Leaf Warbler, Sakhalin Leaf Warbler, Japanese Leaf Warbler (x2 images) and Eastern Crowned Warbler all seen and more importantly heard very well. Read more at travellingbirder.blogspot.com

Phylloscopus Leaf Warblers seen and heard around Japan in Spring 2025 were Ijima’s Leaf Warbler, Sakhalin Leaf Warbler, Japanese Leaf Warbler and Eastern Crowner Warbler.

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 17/08/2025

A night drive on Amami produced some unexpected birds roosting along the overhead cables: Lidth’s Jays, Amami Thrush and Ruddy Kingfisher while we searched the road for Amami Woodcocks. Read more at travellingbirder.blogspot.com

Lidth’s Jay glows purple and blue in the torchlight, Amami Theusb high up on cables and a dazzling Ruddy Kingfisher showing a purple sheen across its back, with the target Amami Woodcock finally giving great views on the road.

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 17/08/2025

Japanese Scops Owl, Ryukyu Scops Owl and the imposing Blakiston’s Fish Owl from a late Spring tour of Japan. Read more at travellingbirder.blogspot.com

The bright orange eyes of the Japanese Scops Owl shine in the torchlight, a very relaxed Ryukyu Scops Owl sitting calmly at its day roost and the huge and imposing Blakiston’s Fish Owl catching fish in a small stream.

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

The rarely seen and very local Iriomote Tit, a couple of very confiding Ryukyu Serpent Eagles and the gorgeous Ryukyu Flycatcher from Japan this Spring. Read more at travellingbirder.blogspot.com

The very local Iriomote Tit tantalises over the path on Iriomote Island, two confiding Ryukyu Serpent Eagles show no fear and a delightful Ryukyu Flycatcher shows off his sulphur yellow throat as he sings in the forest.

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 15/08/2025

The Robins are one of the avian highlights of birding in Japan, though can be challenging to see well. I managed to see Japanese, the stunning Ryukyu, Okinawa and Izu on my spring tour. Read more at travellingbirder.blogspot.com

Four species of Robin seen in Japan - Japanese, Ryukyu, Okinawa and Izu

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

Some highlights from a late spring Japan tour, the iconic Okinawa Rail and Amami Woodcock and an amazing encounter with an Amami Thrush incubating on its nest! Read more and see more images on my blog travellingbirder.blogspot.com

Okinawa Rail, Amami Woodcock and Amami Thrush on its best

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 13/08/2025

For any local Suffolk birders / Boyton watchers a flock of c30 European Goldies drifted north over the Black Stork with a ‘Lesser’ Golden Plover among them, c09:15. They dropped not far away but can’t relocate.

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

Funky leucistic Northern Lapwing at Cley NWT this evening. Also a Wood Sandpiper and ‘Anouk’ the resident limosa Black-tailed Godwit #norfolkbirding

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Mike Buckland @mcbuckland.bsky.social · 16/07/2025

Stupidly left my camera in the car and forgot my phone adapter so forced to hand hold my iPhone15 on my amazing Kowa TSN55, so a bit lucky to get the Pacific Golden Plover in flight as it departed Warham Greens within 35 mins of finding it! Lost to view just north of Wells #NorfolkBirding #UKBirding

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