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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Fortunately we changed focus to the sea and in 4hrs: 9 Little Gull, 6 Shoveler and 19 Grey Heron south, RB Merganser & Pintail north plus a Hobby in off the sea. It was never busy but 135 Gannet, 38 Common Scoter & continual trickle of southbound Black-headed & Med Gulls kept us going

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

On land, Happisburgh was very quiet this morning with single GW Egret, Jay and Rock Pipit all north plus a welcome increase in Meadow Pipits finally and a migrant Vestal moth on the cliff top

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

A week on, huge thanks to @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social for another great MIGFEST. Birding highlight was the incredible hirundine passage early Sat morning but for me MIGFEST is about so much more: socialising, catching up with friends, the warm Spurn welcome (& of course us winning the quiz! 😉) ❤️

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

The Lowestoft juv Red-footed Falcon still showing incredibly well this evening 😍

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

In the doldrums of mid-summer, it’s nice to take the occasional break from the patch and the Hickling Caspian Tern proved such a distraction this morning. True, I’ve probably seen the bird in previous years (goodness knows how many or few I’ve seen! 🤷🏼‍♂️) but lovely nonetheless. 1st/s Little Gull too

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

A tiring day at Happisburgh but a few bits: ad Yellow-legged Gull on the beach, Cuckoo north along cliffs, offshore 3 Barnacle Geese, ad Med Gull, Kittiwake and Fulmar north, 4 Sanderling & 1 Common Scoter south. At least 600 Painted Lady, Silver Ys & 2 Hummingbird Hawkmoths

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Fri am was super at Happisburgh: male Black Redstart, an exhausted GS Woodpecker in off (!) and southerly vis mig with 2 Barnacle Geese, 9 Common Sand, 2 Siskin, 325 Swallow, 3 House Martin, 6 Yellow Wag, Knot, Whimbrels & Barwits plus lots of finches. Magic! ❤️

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

Happisburgh hard work today: Wheatear, singing Reed Warbler (in a privet hedge), 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 11 Yellow Wag, trickle of Swallows, 1 House Martin, 2 Red Kite, 2 Whimbrel & 1 Knot north, Fulmar (+ c50 Painted Lady) and of course one of the best views in Norfolk 😍

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Reposted by Justin Lansdell

Nick Acheson @themarshtit.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Precious little getting through the Straits of Houmous

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

Another cracking if blowy day at Happisburgh from dawn: vis mig low key but todays highlights: male Ring Ouzel, 3 Yellow Wag, 15 Wheatear, 2 House Martin & c40 Swallow north, Whimbrel & Green Sand south, 1 Golden Plover (+ Painted Lady). Best of all PATCH GOLD with a sp Little Grebe on the sea!!

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

Apart from the Storks, Happisburgh was hard work: vis mig from dawn was restricted to 300 Common Gulls & 150 BH Gulls. Later 1 Swallow, 25 Sand Martin, 1 Redpoll, 2 Med Gulls, 1 Red Kite & 2 Peregrines. For those who laugh at me for these things - it was 15,000 steps and 7hrs after a 4.50am alarm!!

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

Cracking find today with 2 White Storks high south over Happisburgh at 10.10. Got the news out quickly and they were tracked through at least 12 sites in east Norfolk and north east Suffolk showing the value of local WhatsApp groups (sorry @russmalin.bsky.social was about 30 mins after I saw you ☹️)

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

Drake Mallard x Eider at Seahouses Harbour, Northumberland this evening 😍. I’ve wanted to see this bird for far too long (& even dipped it back 2023). A superb beast, completely overshadowing Leach’s Petrel, Great Grey Shrike, Tundra Bean Geese and an Osprey that flew over me on the A1 seen today

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

Over the years I’ve recorded some c80 ringed Black-headed Gulls in Thorpe/Whitlingham area but this bird is different in that almost all our birds summer in Eastern Europe along the ‘Baltic corridor’ whereas this bird was ringed in the summer near Bangor, North Wales 250miles west of us!

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

This single laurel tree in Eastbourne Place, Norwich might not look much but tonight it’s hosting a roost of c285 Pied Wagtails (I’m told Sall’s Gourmet Burgers are excellent too!)

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

This may look nothing like decent bird habitat but this abandoned building plot with buddleia and brambles adjacent to Norwich Bus Station is currently the roost site for 600 Pied Wagtails

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

If you see both wild Swans it’s always a good day in the Yare Valley - 2 Whoopers have been on Limpenhoe Marshes most of the winter but 3 Bewick’s Swans on Norton Marshes were seemingly new in to the area and gave the opportunity to enjoy the wonderful Reedham Ferry

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

I must admit my initial reaction when I realise the ring on a Black-headed Gull is local is disappointment but a timely reminder they too have fascinating stories and today’s reduced throng contained locally ringed birds that have summered in Finland and stopped over in the Netherlands in spring

The Gull throng at Thorpe Green, Thorpe St Andrew 08/01/26

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

A video of one of the redhead Goosanders where you can actually see why they’re called redheads before the light made everything monochrome…..

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

Well the cold weather did its job and delivered treacherous ice to Whitlingham but also 5 Goosander (2m 3f). Also today counts of 40 Pochard, 249 Tufted Duck, 52 Shoveler, 254 Gadwall, 60 Teal, 290 Coot, 2 GW Egret, 85+ Siskin, c3 Redpoll & 2 RN Parakeet

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

At Buckenham Marshes on 31st Dec I recorded 2 colour-ringed Black-tailed Godwits including this one. Ringed near Bergen, Norway in Sept 2025, this is the first sighting since and it’s only the second Norwegian ringed Blackwit to be recorded in the UK @wadertales.bsky.social

Norwegian ringed Black-tailed Godwit - Buckenham 31/12/25 (shame about the blur caused by swaying reeds!)

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

This photo and weather of -3 degrees, a biting NE wind & 5cm of snow, just screams Magpie roost count time right? The madness of patch birding! The Thorpe Marshes/Whitlingham roost held c259 Magpies on 3rd Jan, which turns out to be a record Norfolk count (prev 204 here in Nov 2016)

The roost is in willow scrub on the right side of the photo

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

The return of my occasional series ‘photos of featureless urban concrete’ can only mean one thing….c1100 Pied Wagtails roosted at Sainsburys, Longwater Lane, Costessey tonight

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

Whitlingham Country Park this am: 28 Pochard, 14 Shoveler, drake Wigeon, 45+ Teal, 2 GW Egret, 3 Little Egret, c30 Siskin & 1 full carpark by late morning. My friend says happy new year!

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

Buckenham Marshes beautiful today and full of birds: drake Green-winged Teal showing well amongst c1200 Teal, 66 Blackwits (including 2 colour-rings), 12 Ruff, 70 Golden Plover, c1470 Lapwing

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Reposted by Justin Lansdell

Rob Smith @robertsjsmith.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

Spread the word!

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 20/12/2025

An early start for a morning of seawatching and stubble fields at Happisburgh they said……standing for 90mins in thick fog before giving up was the reality! (even a Snow Bunting overhead was invisible)

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 07/12/2025

Lovely Saturday at RSPB Minsmere with the wintering Temminck’s Stint showing all morning at range, 3+ Water Pipit, 3 Bewicks Swans and c137 Pintail all from North Hide and a Firecrest by the hide itself. A3 prints of Temmincks photos available, the (im)perfect Christmas present for loved ones 😉

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 07/12/2025

Whitlingham CP: 27 Pochard, 205 Tufties, 13 Shoveler, 21 Little Grebe, 2 GWE, Chiffchaff, c30 Siskin, Welsh-ringed BH Gull the best.

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

I appreciate this isn’t everyone’s idea of winter birding but it keeps me sane(-ish!) and can yield surprises - we’ve had ringed Black-headed Gulls from 9 countries east of us but birds from the west are proper rare in Norwich and this flock contained a bird ringed in Bangor, Gwynedd in 2024!

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 30/11/2025

Happisburgh Cliffs 08.25-12.25: c982 large Auks, 144 Gannet, 111 RT Diver, 4 Eider, 16 Teal, 5 Kittiwake, 2 Bonxie. Snow Bunting south, Chiffchaff at Coastwatch. Freezing cold, I couldn’t stop shaking for the last hour so a visit to the pub was entirely on health grounds 🥶

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 30/11/2025

This week I finally made the pilgrimage to Hampshire for the ship assisted Boat-tailed Grackle. A little cracker and full of character, hopefully it will entertain people through the winter

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

Sunday at Happisburgh was fun if unspectacular. Seawatch 07.50-10.50: best 96 Little Gull and 303 Kittis S, 3 Arctic Skua, Bonxie, 3 Goldeneye, RB Merg, 29 Eider & Sandwich Tern On land: yesterday's Pallas's, 1 Firecrest, 4 Goldcrest, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 37 Golden Plover & Peregrine

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

Lovely to be back amongst the local Gulls for another winter - 8 ringed Black-headed Gulls at Thorpe St Andrew today - 6 locally ringed & regular returning Finnish & Polish birds. This feisty yellow-ringed Polish bird is a personal friend back 9 winters since I first saw it here

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 08/11/2025

Happisburgh Cliffs vis.mig. 07.00-09.00 quiet: 78 Meadow Pipit, 56 Chaffinches & 30 Linnet the bulk plus 3 Brambling, Grey Wag and a crazy 17 LT Tits (v.high) south and c200 Starling & 1 Raven north. Zero movement offshore but at least the dawn light was worth the 05.30 alarm 😍

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 01/11/2025

Just back from Birdquest tour of Namibia/Botswana led by Janos Olah. Superb with highlights Pel’s, 2 Slaty Egrets, Herero Chat, Souza’s Shrike, Arnot’s Chat, White-tailed Shrikes etc and good mammals too including Honey Badger, Aardwolf, Bat-eared Foxes, Cheetah, 10 Black Rhino & African Wildcat

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 14/09/2025

Just back after Migfest 2025: brilliant vis mig, super tame Red-necked Phal, Bottle-nosed Dolphins, Osprey and more, engaging lectures and socialising 🍺, but above all a friendly, welcoming event superbly run. Thankyou so much to the team at @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social (next year we’ll win the quiz 😉)

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

2 Cattle Egrets flew in to roost on east side of island at Whitlingham CP tonight (with 3 Little Egrets). A Whitlingham tick for me, only taken 30 years! Usual excuses for the photography - distant, light poor, digi-scoping ability worse etc

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

Well, autumns here. Time of Yellow-brows, rarities, checking the forecast hourly and…..the start of Pied Wagtail roost counts. To start an occasional series of photos of random concrete abominations here’s Tesco’s, Harford Bridges, Norwich where 24 Pied Wagtail roosted on Sunday. You’re welcome! 😉

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 30/08/2025

Happisburgh Obs: migrant Sedge Warbler, 6 Whitethroat, 6 Stonechat & GS Woodpecker (dispersing bird). Most notable sighting 11 Mute Swans north offshore. Also Painted Lady, Small Copper and sev Willow Emerald Damselflies in cop. Scant reward for 17,000 steps and no hoped for hirundine passage

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 09/08/2025

Happisburgh today in the sunshine: first Pied Fly of the autumn (Blacksmiths Lane), Whimbrel, juv Marsh Harrier and trickle of Swallows north, Yellow Wag south, Lesser Whitethroat, 200+ Med Gulls, Hummingbird Hawkmoth. Lovely to be back!

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

For looks, the Caspian Tern was over-shadowed by this gorgeous adult Med Gull however!

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

A gentle trundle up to Cley on Sunday afternoon was well timed for the Caspian Tern that’s seemingly commuting to the Wensum Valley to fish

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Reposted by Justin Lansdell

Tony Rinaud | Stand Up For Science | @tonyrinaud.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

A fresh version of the Rare birds in Western Palearctic is live on tony-rinaud.shinyapps.io/WP_rare_birds/! New sightings are coming from Syria, Poland and Luxemburg. Many thanks for the respective members for their help! #Rstats #Shiny #RareBirds #WPBirding #MEGA @bio-data.bsky.social

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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 21/06/2025

Crazy scenes between Walcott and Happisburgh this week when the Sand Martin colony survey yielded c605 AONs. Last year we counted ‘just’ c265 AONs although birds move depending on the suitability of the dynamic cliffs

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Reposted by Justin Lansdell

Flamborough Bird Observatory @flamboroughbird.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

John Crossland, the owner of the carpark at Thornwick Cafe opened it free of charge yesterday for the Song Sparrow twitch when there is normally a fee. For everyone who came, please consider donating to John's JustGiving page supporting Alzheimer's Research UK. www.justgiving.com/fundraising/...