July 2026 - Long-tailed shrike

Friday 31st July - Baldock

Some early autumn local interest with two marsh harrier (1 juv, 1 second-summer) seen while on a bike ride in the countryside. The juvenile was seen from the Wallington Road, while the second-year bird was seen from the model airfield. 

Saturday 25th July - Buckenham Marshes

A nice weekend in Norfolk visiting Sea Palling and a couple of trips to Buckenham Marshes where some early autumn waders were present including three avocet, one black-tailed godwit, five ruff, and green sandpiper. A single cattle egret was also present on the marsh.

Sunday 19th July - Eastleach Martin, Glos

An unprecedented period for the long-tailed shrike coming off the back of a 1st-winter bird in Fife. Its swift disappearance followed the appearance of an individual on the Gloucestershire / Oxfordshire county border. Initial suggestions was that it was the same bird relocating but it was quickly confirmed that this was an adult bird and therefore different to the one that stayed briefly further north. Quite incredible really.

This time (and after a little convincing), a relatively prompt visit was rewarded with decent scope views as the bird foraged along a hedgerow / tree-line. It was in obvious moult, but still very active and an exceptional bird considering this was the 3rd for Britain (after the 2nd bird in Fife). The crowds had assembled but on a glorious summers day, it was great to see such a lovely bird that should have been picking off large invertebrates in south-east Asia. This was remarkably my ninth shrike species in the UK of a taxa that rightly draws a lot of attention.

Tuesday 14th July - Cattawade, Suffolk

A work trip to coastal Essex provided an opportunity to connect with the Hudsonian godwit at Cattawade on the Suffolk / Essex border. The site was thankfully walking distance from Manningtree Station which was a connection stop anyway. Dragging my colleague with me, the walk to the viewing point proved to be a little challenging but we got there in one piece. A decent group of black-tailed godwit in various stages of moult were present roosting on a grassy island with a few actively feeding.

After a reasonable wait, a few birds flew across the outflow where the 'Hudwit' was picked up feeding along the shoreline. Appearing slightly paler with a pinkish flash on its flanks, this moulting individual then took off and flew overhead showing off its dark under-wing coverts. My second for the UK after the Titchfield bird in 2025.

Sunday 12th July - Rutland Water

A trip to Rutland Water but with a slight twist. The weather has been glorious recently which has encouraged me be to grab the bike for some rides round the local area. It has often been on my mind to do the circuit at Rutland Water and today was a great opportunity for that. What I did fail to realise was that it was BirdFair weekend so on arrival, I was surprised to see the large car park (albeit half full) of punters enjoying the final day of the fair. Having been once before, I've had no particular appetite to revisit it - for those with money and time, well there's plenty of opportunity to part with their wealth - a market that is beyond my means anyway.

So back to the cycle, and needless to say that it was glorious, gently meandering round this huge reservoir, making a few wrong turns, but successfully completing the loop a lot quicker than I had anticipated. As I'd parked close to the Lyndon Car Park, I took the opportunity to head down to the Osprey Watchpoint where five osprey (two adults and three juvenile) were active across the far side of the waterbody. Inexplicably forgetting my binoculars, I was grateful that the wardens had scopes set up within the hide. A great day all round. Must visit again.... with the bike.