Tradition dictates that on my first visit to the patch of the year, I'll find a species that I hadn't seen on the patch in the previ...

Tradition dictates that on the 1st January each year (or my first visit to the patch) I see a species that I didn't see in the previous ...

Well that's 2020 over and done with. Whilst it's been a awful year for most people due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic it's ...

Five Scaup flew south during my afternoon seawatch today - nothing unusual there, but these Scaup were a year-tick, 175 for the year and a ...

Two things are usually guaranteed on New Years Day on the patch: 1) I will see a species that I didn't see in the previous year. Over ...

The sun sets on the last day of the decade at Druridge Pools The end of the year, the end of the decade... Despite being out of action...

Well, I'll not make it back to the patch again this year, so it's time to reflect on a very average 2018 at Druridge. On the birdi...

I was in a meeting up at Lindisfarne this morning when I got a message to say that there was a red-necked phalarope at Druridge Pools. With...

Another new year, another year list begins on the patch. I sometimes wonder what is the point of a 'year list' - a date in the calen...

I've been down to the patch a couple of times post. No photos though, it's just been too dull. I had a nice dusk visit on 20th, it...

Ages ago I volunteered to do NEWS - or the BTO's Non Estuarine Waterbird Survey   and my section is the Hemscotthill Burn to Chibburn Mo...

As regular readers of this drivel/quality writing will know, I rarely get out birding on New years Day, in fact I don't normally surface...

I left it a bit late to squeeze another patch tick in this year but a long-billed dowitcher flying around the patch before heading back to i...

The weather forecasters got their predictions wrong for this weekend. Heavy rain from yesterday lunchtime (it rained at 4pm) which would las...

I was back on the patch today after a three-week birding trip to Costa Rica. Not the most colourful of species, but clay-coloured thrush...

So, I'm now now on 171 species for the patch this year, matching last years total and there are still some species that I have a reasona...

With the wind howling and light mizzle falling at home this morning, it would have been very easy to say "Sod it", not go down to ...

January 1st I very rarely do any birding on New Years Day. Usually because of a severe hang-over or football or both. This New Years Day w...

Back on the patch today for the first time this year. Birding on new years days is never really an option for me and with the Toon away to...