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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Well, the rarities dried up well before the weekend (except one), but I stayed in East Anglia and at least saw Buff-breasted and Baird's Sandpiper (W Yorks), and some nice other "padders". 3-4/10/26 Photos are Shore Lark, Common Snipe, Curlew Sandpiper and Osprey. #birds 🐦🪶

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh RSPB, Lincolnshire, 27/9/26. My fourth in the UK, three of which have been at this magnificent reserve. @rspb.bsky.social @rspbframptonmarsh.bsky.social . #birds 🐦🪶

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Limited birding opportunities today but a nice trio of Black Redstarts at Waterbeach today 26/9/26, including this handsome male. #birds @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social 🪶🐦

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Lesser Yellowlegs at Broom, Bedfordshire, 22/9/26. Decent views in the gloom. #birds 🪶🐦

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

North Norfolk proved a great destination, 12/9/26: Spotted Crakes and 80 other species at Titchwell RSPB, and then we lucked into the release of 2 Manx Shearwater at Holme Dunes: they flew off out to sea, ok, I hope! #birds 🪶🐦

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

A two shrike day, 6/9/26, plus a SIXth Red-necked Phalarope for me of 2026! All these birds showed beautifully; am grateful to the guys at Broom GPs for the directions to the Red-backed Shrike. Impossible without you! #birds 🪶🐦

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

V tame Red-footed Falcon in a v suburban environment, Lowestoft, 3/9/26. The incongruity makes you wonder (a) if it's going to be ok and (b) if it's wild, but it's survived a while and I think it's just young and very naïve about humans and its location. #birds 🐦🪶 @jahanlon.bsky.social

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

My 20th Wryneck, and one of the best... 2/9/26 at RSPB Freiston Shore, Lincolnshire. #birds 🐦🪶

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

I have seen 5 Red-necked Phalaropes this year (so far) but this one in Warwickshire 31/8/26 was by (almost literally) miles the closest. Never seen one this well. #birds 🐦 🪶

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Two highlights of the August 2026 BH weekend: Wryneck (my 19th!) at Kessingland and Temminck's Stints at Dernford Reservoir (Cambs) my first for the patch and my first Cambs ones since 2014! #birds 🐦 🪶

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Reposted by Matthew Mellor

BirdGuides @birdguides.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

First for Britain? This Yellow-throated Warbler at Liverpool Docks on 13 August may become the first UK record of this North American songbird. Feeding beside a ship from New Orleans, the bird seems to be the resident Louisiana-breeding albilora form. Will the BOURC accept it?

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

1400 miles and two UK lifers: Blue-cheeked Bee-eater in Orkney and Scotch Argus in Boat of Garten, 6-7/8/26. Home, happy and exhausted... #birds #butterflies 🐦🪶

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Last weekend, we celebrated my mum's birthday in the Eastleach area of Glos. This weekend (19/7/26), I was back for the extraordinary Long-tailed Shrike that had been there for 11 days at least...! A 14-hour round-trip for my first UK one earlier in the month, and a 4-hour one for this! #birds 🪶🐦

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

June is not exactly flaming with rare birds, but @rspbframptonmarsh.bsky.social rarely disappoints and it was good to see cuckoo, spoonbill and a smart, near-pristine Spotted Redshank there on 21/6/26. Saw a Wood Sandpiper in flight too. Nuthatch in Diddington, Cambs. #birds 🐦🪶

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Slow birding day today, 13/6/26. But a couple of local highlights, including these brilliant Turtle Doves, a species struggling against the twin enemies of intensive farming and Mediterranean hunting. #birds 🐦🪶

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

Double rare heron weekend! First-for-Britain Western Reef Heron at Foryd Bay, Caernarfon, 6/6/26 and rare Squacco Heron, Crowland, Lincolnshire, 7/6/26. #birds 🪶🐦

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Birthday Ptarmigan! An absolute stunner, one of two or three which I watched with Ring Ouzel and Snow Bunting song as soundtrack towards Ben Macdui. Magic! #birds 🐦🪶

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Very impressed by this Capercaillie's tolerance of half a dozen dogs off the lead at Boat of Garten forest this morning. If you're going to be proud that Capercaillie live there (see notice at the entrance), why not act like it matters? #birds 🪶

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

My earliest ever Northern Wheatear, 8/3/26, beating the previous record of 19/3/2012! And in my home village too! Great find, Guy M. It was even singing a bit! @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #birds 🐦🪶

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

Best self-find of the year for me, this Red-necked Grebe at Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire, 1/3/26, while dipping the reported Kittiwake. Very nice consolation! #birds 🪶🐦 the bird swam pleasingly close to the dam @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

Glaucous Gull, Waxham, Norfolk, 28/2/26: I tracked this bird down and it let me get closer and closer (down to about 30-40 metres in the end) and so gave great views. #birds 🪶🐦

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

I'm 6th in the UK eBird list last time I checked! 170 species so far and 145 in February alone, 22/2/26. Yorks and S East Anglia provided a good few species these past few days, though I dipped on Dipper. Staggering views of Iceland Gull in Leeds and a cheeky Scaup twitch in Sheffield. #birds 🪶🐦

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

After finishing the week in Yorkshire, I was "out east" today in Essex and Suffolk. Stunning views of singing Dartford Warblers in warmish sunshine at Westleton Heath, and I made someone's day by pointing out a bittern - a lifer for them. 22/2/26 #birds 🪶🐦

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 08/02/2026

A good Norfolk Sunday in decent weather: highlights were the E Black Redstart (again!!!), Slavonian Grebe, Scaup and Fulmar. 8/2/26 #birds 🪶🐦

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 07/02/2026

A good afternoon in E Anglia, with top views of the Hume's Warbler, a Woodcock, Treecreeper, Purple Sandpiper, a "self-found" Little Gull (I didn't know it was there) and Sanderling. No Iceland Gull for me though, 7/2/26. #birds 🪶🐦

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

Up to 150 species for 2026, and my quest to get my record # of species per month every month this year doing ok. 145 species in Jan beats prev recd of 136 and 70 on day 1 of February, including, at Carsington Water, my first Willow Tits since 2020. Target for Feb: 139... #birds 🪶🐦

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

Overcame a staggering headache to get to the mega-rare-for-the-UK Killdeer in Hampshire, which also gave a chance to see a Little Gull and to revisit the Great-tailed Grackle nearby. Nice to see Fieldfare in the garden today. 24/1/26 #birds 🐦🪶

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 17/01/2026

A slow start to the bird photography year so far, but I've seen a lot of species by today (17/1/26): 125 which is my best start to a year ever. Highlights so far in 2026: Snow Goose, Tawny Owl, Greater Scaup, Black-winged Kite. #birds 🐦🪶

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

Top birds of 2025 for me... overseas: Greater Painted Snipe, Long Valley, Hong Kong 6/4/25; UK: Pechora Pipit, South Shields, 21/9/25. #birds 🪶🐦ok so the pipit might be a bit prosaic, but, like the Song Sparrow, these are birds I only expected to turn up on the "islands" so great to get to them.

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

Top birds 2025 also-rans. Nice views... Snow Bunting in Leics; Bonelli's Eagle in Oman; E Black Redstart in Norfolk; Alpine Accentor in the Pyrenees. #birds 🪶🐦

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

Top birds 2025 also-rans. Nice surprises: self-found Wryneck in the Pyrenees, Gtr Painted Snipe in HK, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in HK; Wire-tailed Swallow in Oman. #birds 🪶🐦

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

Top birds also-rans: grip backs Arabian Warbler, Black-crowned Tchagra, Black-faced Bunting, Pallas's Gull #birds 🪶🐦

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

Top 2025 birds 2 & 3. UK 3: Lesser Crested Tern; UK 2: Song Sparrow; Overseas 3: Corsican Finch; Overseas 2: Citril Finch (would have been first if in better plumage) after sooo many attempts! #birds 🐦🪶

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

2025 was a year of "grip backs" (starred), so such birds feature a lot in this list and in the also-rans. Top 5 birds of 2025: 5 and 4 (UK and overseas). UK 5: Purple Sandpiper (photogenic!); UK 4: Booted Eagle*; Overseas 5: Powerful Owl*, Sydney suburbs; Overseas 4: Tawny Frogmouth*. #birds 🐦🪶

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

Last bird of 2025 was the first Barn Owl I had seen in months by the road into my village (and I come home in the dark often). A welcome sight. #birds 🪶🐦had thought it would be the 2 woodcock I saw on the outskirts of Brandon after a lovely walk at Lynford Arboretum seeing crossbills et al.

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 30/12/2025

Good visit to Norfolk today, 30/12/25, for the Black-winged Kite with @jonheath.bsky.social and a nameless friend, good views, then a bit of a seawatch at Sheringham with the E Black Redstart as an incentive, finishing with some nice wild swans. #birds 🪶🐦

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 29/12/2025

Unexpected bonus of being near Ellesmere for the past few days was to see this female Lesser Scaup at the Mere, 29/12/25. My third of the year, first for the county. #birds 🪶🐦

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 27/12/2025

Christmas birds have been pretty good: two good year ticks (Tundra Bean Goose and Snow Goose) and a charming Eastern Black Redstart, 25 and 26/12/25. #birds 🪶🐦

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 20/12/2025

Reidentification news: the not countable Boat-tailed Grackle in Holbury, Hants has been reidentified through DNA as a not countable Great-tailed Grackle. My American friends: could we have worked this out without DNA? #birds 🪶🐦

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

A day out at the seaside, 19/12/25. Bracing and beautiful, the long shingle Suffolk beaches produced numerous great species, but none better than my favourite wader, the Purple Sandpiper; supporting cast included 40+ Snow Buntings, Med Gulls, Kittiwakes and Turnstones. #birds 🪶🐦

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 14/12/2025

Not much birding this weekend, meaning that the Red-necked Grebe, seen briefly and fairly distantly at Fen Drayton RSPB, Cambridgeshire, was the so-called highlight! A bit of video is the best I can do... 14/12/25. @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #birds 🪶🐦 www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRgE...

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Red-necked Grebe, Fen Drayton RSPB, Cambridgeshire, 14/12/25

YouTube video by Matthew Mellor

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 07/12/2025

Weather in Norfolk was poor today, meaning that birding was pretty limited and pretty gloomy. The highlight was this Siberian Chiffchaff, among a number of flocks of numerous species, at Titchwell RSPB, Norfolk, 7/12/25. #birds 🪶🐦

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

6/12/25 - a great day for me in terms of UK ticks: 2020 (Ring-billed Gull and Sociable Plover) and now, in 2025, this Lesser Crested Tern, at Dawlish Warren, Devon. #birds 🪶🐦

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 29/11/2025

A quiet couple of weeks but managed to get 90 minutes of birding at Cley today, 29/11/25 and so nabbled my best UK views of Water Pipit, plus close-up of Jack and Common Snipe. #birds 🪶🐦

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 16/11/2025

Stand-out bird today was the Hume's Leaf Warbler at Holme NOA, Norfolk, 16/11/25. Great views, in view most of the time, calling occasionally. Managed a video and some decent pics. #birds 🪶🐦https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZbp4JioG74

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 16/11/2025

Friend @jonnycaribou69.bsky.social and I caught up with this untickable but amazingly bold Boat-tailed Grackle at Holbury, Hampshire today, 15/11/25. Yes, I know I'm just adding to the zillions of pics but I want you to know that I saw it too #FOMO #birds 🪶🐦

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

90 minutes at Ferry Meadows, Cambs, 9/11/25, gave @jonnycaribou69.bsky.social and me good views of YB Warbler, Whooper Swan and a very confident Great White Egret. Then to Titchwell RSPB for a good afternoon that brought us 79 species. #birds 🪶

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 08/11/2025

decent views but no photos of the Dusky Warbler at Aylestone today, but the Lesser Scaup at Ditchford showed consistently well, while the American Golden Plover at Eyebrook finally gave itself up to @jonnycaribou69.bsky.social and me, hearing its distinctive call, 7/11/25. #birds 🪶

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 06/11/2025

Very nice photo but I’m pretty sure this is a Red-tailed Hawk.

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Matthew Mellor @mrm27.bsky.social · 04/11/2025

Views of the Pallas's Warbler at the Naze, Essex on 1/11/25 were predictably brief, though my circa 2 seconds of footage was turned into a series of smart stills by @darkus-markus.bsky.social (ta!). @birdguides.bsky.social #birds 🪶

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