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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

Reflecting on a fab full day out in the field yesterday in Northumberland. Started well with an unexpected Glossy Ibis south at Beal, plus GN Diver and Todd’s Canada Goose in the area. A twitch was also required for the Buff-breast. Full highlights and some poor shots attached! #NEBirding #UKBirding

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Straight back into local birding after getting home and the juv Spotted Redshank at St. Mary’s Wetland was the priority. Amazing that it’s stayed for over a week and waited for me to get back from holiday… full patch tick for me, a seriously tough bird to catch up with here! ☑️ #NEBirding #UKBirding

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Our Scotland trip is at an end for another year - another fantastic visit to the Hebrides, with plenty of new island birds for us along the way. A final overnight stop in Aviemore on the journey home rounded things off perfectly, with some fantastic views of Crested Tit…

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Yesterday was tough going with torrential rain and gales all day, but what a difference today! South Uist was superb this morning with no fewer than 4 Buff-breasted Sandpipers, showing incredibly well down to 10ft! The theme continued with two drake American Wigeon close by too. #UKBirding

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

First full day of the trip, and off to a brilliant start! The crossing to Stornoway produced a juv Sabine’s Gull and a Euro Storm-Petrel, followed by hundreds of Sooty Shearwaters off Butt of Lewis. Finished the day by finding two Glossy Ibis at Port Nis… good to be back!! #UKBirding #OuterHebrides

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Here we go! We’ve arrived in Ullapool ahead of a week on the Outer Hebs - the forecast remains pretty juicy for some arrivals… Project Prothonotary Warbler is underway!! #UKBirding

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Lapland Bunting showing well at Longhoughton Steel last night, a very welcome yeartick - not an easy bird to catch up with in the county these days. #NEBirding #UKBirding

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Fab morning around Cresswell Pond! Started well connecting with the regular Hobby for a nice county yeartick, which became even better when the limosa Black-tailed Godwit dropped in with 3 Little Stints & a Curlew Sand. Finished at Snab Point with an incredible 476 Med Gulls!! #NEBirding #UKBirding

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Classic late-August drift migration conditions on the east coast this afternoon, headlined by this smashing Red-backed Shrike at Newbiggin. Hopefully a few more goodies to go at this weekend following this weather system… #NEBirding #UKBirding

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

A magical evening staring at Coquet Island with a full lifer at last – SOOTY TERN! After missing this bird in 2018, 2019 and 2020, it had ultimate bogey bird status. To finally connect feels fantastic, and finally lays to rest the hurt of those summers dipping! Get in!! #NEBirding #UKBirding

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Fabulous shots Gary, what a cracker!

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

After two dips in a matter of days, it was third time lucky with the Rosy Starling at Low Newton tonight... welcome addition to the yearlist! #NEBirding #UKBirding

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Reposted by Jack Bucknall

Chris Knox @budlebirder.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

226-pages with colour photos maps graphs & info from one of Northumbs most impt birding areas. 💷 Special price for NTBC/NNBC members: £15 + £3 postage 📩 Non-member price avail on enquiry. PLS REPOST To order send a Direct message to @budlebirder.bsky.social #NEbirding #BirdingScotland #UKbirding

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

A few more pics of the fab Dotterel at Lynemouth yesterday, under constant pressure from the local Meadow Pipit pair, who were suitably unimpressed! #NEBirding #UKBirding

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Delighted to catch up with the Dotterel at Lynemouth this morning, a smashing find by Alan Priest. Thought the chance of adding a spring bird to the yearlist had gone, so this was a very welcome surprise indeed! #NEBirding #UKBirding

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Full day session across Northumberland yesterday, which turned into a memorable one. American Black Tern, Quail and Osprey were new for the year, as was this Curlew Sandpiper that appeared amongst the northbound waders on Holy Island. My 200th species in the county this year… #NEBirding #UKBirding

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Interestingly, I had a group of 7 Whooper Swans flying north on Holy Island this morning… same group?

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

A check of the all important spreadsheet had me rooting through some literature. One record prior to 2000 - a single bird at SMI on 17th September 1960!

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Still buzzing to have connected with the Nightjar at SMI on Friday afternoon, an absolute patch mega! Only the 5th record for the site, and a long-awaited patch tick for me too, having missed the 2017 bird. #NEBirding #UKBirding

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

The bank holiday weekend was spent searching for spring migrants in Northumberland, and this lovely male Whinchat belting out his song at the roadside was one of the highlights. #NEBirding #UKBirding

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

Northumberland yearlist still ticking along… awesome views of the Black Guillemot on Holy Island this evening. Not an easy bird to see in the county, been years since I’ve seen one - worth the drive up after work! #NEBirding #UKBirding

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Couldn’t believe what I was seeing!

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Went to Shotton Pools for the Wood Sandpiper this eve, and witnessed something fascinating - a female Merlin failed to catch a Skylark, then landed in the car park and began walking around under the cars! Amazing behaviour, never seen anything like it. Sensational views! #NEBirding #UKBirding

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

Well, this one wasn't on the agenda! Whilst failing to find any Black Terns this afternoon, a White-fronted Goose appeared in front of me at Killingworth Lake. Very much out of context in late April, and appears to be a site first. Talk about expecting the unexpected! #NEBirding #UKBirding

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Yeah amazing wasn’t it! I saw three + a SEO, I presume all that overnight rain stopped them hunting so they all came out once it cleared…

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

The highlight of Saturday morning around Druridge Bay was seeing the Owls coming out to hunt when the rain finally stopped. Especially this Barn Owl which was hunting right beside the road, often coming within 6ft of the car - such a majestic species to watch in action. #NEBirding #UKBirding

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

Fab day across the county today, starting at Druridge Bay with a stunning male Marsh Harrier giving amazing views, along with three Barn Owls and a Short-eared Owl plus an arrival of warblers. Finished at Hawsen Burn with an impressive group of ten recently arrived Ring Ouzels. #NEBirding #UKBirding

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

Cracking evening at Grindon Lough, getting superb scope views of this Black-necked Grebe in summer plumage, my first in the county for years. Credit to John Jackson for an excellent find of a top bird! @johnjackson87.bsky.social #NEBirding #UKBirding

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

Seems a good match for this bird photographed at SMI in September last year… bsky.app/profile/yell...

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

The wintering Spotted Redshank at Bothal Pond was showing very nicely at the south end yesterday afternoon, and starting to show signs of summer plumage. My first LRP of the year was the best of the rest. #NEBirding #UKBirding

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Productive couple of hours up at Druridge Bay over lunch yesterday twitching the tricky peep at Cresswell, subsequently concluded as Little Stint. Topped off nicely by finally catching up with the juv Glaucous Gull at Newbiggin that I had dipped several times this year already! #NEBirding #UKBirding

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

Yeah I surprised they weren’t seen more places, was beginning to think they’d dropped down somewhere!

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

Thanks Duncan, I’m holding out hope of making the front cover of BiN 26! 😂 I’m surprised they’ve not been seen again mind, unless they’ve pitched down somewhere…

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

Incredible moment this afternoon whilst having a cuppa with my mum in her garden in Whitley Bay - this group of four Common Crane drifted straight overhead circling briefly, before moving slowly north! Completely caught my off guard, so iPhone record shot only! #NEBirding #UKBirding

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

The local Pinkfeet rarely use the fields around SMI, so despite the mega influx of Russian White-fronts this winter, I hadn’t seen any on the patch. So finding 12+ in the standing stone field today with c1000 Pinkfeet was fab, and only my second ever record of the species here #UKBirding #NEBirding

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

Amazing day of winter birding in Northumberland, some valuable yearticks in Egyptian Goose & Spotted Redshank but the highlight was chancing upon a 2W Caspian Gull at Cresswell. Also had drake Scaup, Red-necked Grebe, 8 species of goose incl. 10 Tundra Bean & 250+ White-fronts! #NEBirding #UKBirding

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

Reflecting on a remarkable day of winter birding around the county yesterday, starting with the unprecedented flock of 29 Common Cranes at Denwick, followed by an unsuccessful wild eagle chase at Druridge Bay. Made up for though by 50+ WF Geese, RN Grebe, Smew, SEO etc. #NEBirding

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

With the weather finally giving way, an afternoon at Druridge Bay was much appreciated. New birds in Cetti’s Warbler, Little Gull and Short-eared Owl resumed the yearlist, plus c20 White-fronted Geese, 4 Ruff and several Med Gull as bonuses. Best rarity of the day - sunshine! #UKBirding #NEBirding

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

Dave got 260 in 2020, a record not to be broken any time soon I would think! I’ll give it my best, an American wader or two at Boulmer would be most welcome 😁

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

Yep I sure am Mark, I’m aiming for 250 in the county this year. It’s been a canny start, but as always it will come down to whether we get a spring and autumn!

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

The returning drake Black Scoter off Bamburgh Castle yesterday, a cracking addition to my county yearlist and a bird that’s been very hard to pin down - well played @timsbirding.bsky.social! Hard to tell from the pic in challenging weather conditions, but it showed brilliantly! #NEBirding #UKBirding

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

Hi Mike, it’s a Greylag Goose.

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 17/01/2026

Fab viewing conditions at Ross Back Sands this afternoon over high tide (1pm-4pm) - Red-necked Grebe on the sea near Wide Open, at least 12 Slavonian Grebes including a group of five feeding with a flock of Common Scoter + the usual suspects. #NEBirding #UKBirding

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

Yesterday, I went back for second looks at the much discussed Bean Geese at Whittle Dene, and this time they were showing nicely from the road. A fab opportunity to see both species together up close, and I’m sold on the conclusion of two Taiga and one Tundra. #NEBirding #UKBirding

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

The Snow Bunting flock is back at Whitley Bay! Despite being regular here before Christmas, I've not seen them since, so it was great to stumble upon a tight group of 13 again this morning. As always, they showed brilliantly... #NEBirding #UKBirding

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

It’s handy having some quality species within ten minutes of work, and yesterday lunchtime was productive for the county yearlist. Green Sandpiper and Iceland Gull were added, plus some great views of the American Wigeon on the ice at Big Waters. #NEBirding #UKBirding

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Jack Bucknall @whitleybirder.bsky.social · 04/01/2026

Reflecting on a full day in the field yesterday for the Northumberland winter bird race - these were the scenes at Holy Island at 8am! Despite the weather causing chaos, we managed 114 species and took back the trophy 🏆 big well done to all who battled through and completed! #NEBirding #UKBirding

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