August 2026

Sunday 2nd August - Frampton Marsh

August is upon us, a month where the thrill of the migration season starts to build. Waders especially are well on the move from their Arctic breeding grounds. Frampton Marsh is an exceptional reserve to witness the steady increase of wader movements through the season. This site had attracted some interesting waders over the last week or so. 

Much of the reserve was relatively dry but the pools between the visitor centre and the northern track were the most productive. No fewer than 24 spoonbill were roosting within the centre of the floods, and a single wood sandpiper foraged along the near shore. From the Reedbed Hide, the two black-winged stilt were still present along with a selection of common wading birds that also included a (foy) winter plumage spotted redshank. 

The reserve was relatively quiet but walking west toward the reedbed revealed two green sandpiper, a dozen flyover yellow wagtail and a distant singing quail beyond the reserve to the north.

Saturday 8th August - Fowlmere

I seldom visit the RSPB reserve at Fowlmere. It's only 20 minutes from home but when I do, I'm never disappointed. Today with my dear friend Craig, we headed over, more for a nice walk around this pleasant reserve. In doing so, we were treated to a fantastic array of UK wildlife. One particular feature of Fowlmere is a chalk stream that flows through the centre, a nationally rare priority habitat regularly exposed to external pressures such as human induced pollution. The reedbed is also an impressive feature.

Heading clockwise round, we encountered two spotted flycatcher diagnostically feeding from the top of a mature hawthorn. A single marsh harrier sat quietly within a large tree as viewed from the reedbed hide where four yellow wagtail flew through.

Then along the chalk-stream, two water vole appeared providing great views as they foraged and swam along the watercourse. This was followed by the sighting of two grass snake, an adult and a juvenile slinking their way along the edge of the stream. A signal crayfish was seen creeping along the shingle substrate.

Saturday 14th - Sunday 15th August - Northumberland

Admittedly, for the most part, this trip was triggered by the two fleeting observations of the sooty tern that had dropped in a week apart at Coquet Island in Northumberland during early-August. The smaller part of this was a continuing curiosity of simply visiting a site that I hadn't visited but had seen countless records from, usually of rare tern species; breeding terns, vagrant terns. It's just a great site for terns, particularly boasting the site of the largest roseate tern colony in the UK, and the bizarre record of the returning female American black tern successfully pairing up with one of the local breeding Arctic tern. Rare terns continue to visit this small offshore island, so it was my tern to pay a visit.

The trip out was very pleasant, jumping on one of the tourist boats operated by Puffin Cruises. The tour circumnavigates the island supported by a running commentary of the islands history including its natural history. The boat pauses for around ten minutes at the tern colony where at least 20 roseate tern were still hanging on prior to their imminent departure south. No rare terns were present but it was great seeing the island and it's environs - a really lovely part of the UK.

Staying in Blyth, but not another sorry seaside town. Yes it did feel a little impoverished but it definitely had charm, particularly the quayside where I sat dining on local fish and chips while watching the locals casting off into the deep waters hoping for their own evening catch.

The next day I headed south past Middlesbrough to Scaling Dam Reservoir where from the hide, the buff-breasted sandpiper was still present, feeding along the margins on the far side of the reservoir. Migrant waders also included three dunlin, two greenshank and two ringed plover. A single barnacle goose was associating with the large group of feral greylag goose that unfortunately seem to be a common feature at large reservoirs.

A short drive away was Danby Beacon that provided great views across the wider landscape dominated by heather moorland and where a family group of red grouse were unsuccessfully attempting to hide from view.

Sunday 16th - Monday 17th August - Baldock

Locally, an adult hobby flew low over fields on the south side of Weston Hills NR. The next day, my first whinchat of the year flew onto a tree in proximity the Bygrave footpath just off the Wallington Road. It's encouraging that this species is remaining faithful to this area during autumn migration.

Tuesday 25th August - North Point Pools, Norfolk 

Always feels a bit cheeky but I couldn't resist a post-work trip to North Point Pools in Norfolk where after a long search, the juvenile red-necked phalarope was located on one of the smaller pools within a complex of waterbodies that look great for migrant birds. Unfortunately viewing is relatively tricky here due to the distance of the viewing area so a scope is most definitely required. Three glossy ibis flew by, circled, then landed close to the phal. A wood sandpiper was on the larger pool along with 25 dunlin and approximately 40 black-tailed godwit amongst a selection of gulls and wildfowl that also included a couple of pintail. A snipe flew past and a marsh harrier was causing havoc amongst the assembled waterbirds.

Wednesday 26th August - Hempstead Marshes, Norfolk

The following day, and another equally cheeky trip this time to Hempstead Marshes that was rewarded with good but distant views of the black-winged kite. It spent most of the time along telephone wires but flew, hovered and attempted an unsuccessful dive for prey. Such an amazing bird to observe and a real treat that it has remained faithful to the same area for so long. A green sandpiper and barn owl were also present there.