A Siberian Chiffchaff from my local patch

I started my regular birding route in New Bradwell to walk to Old Wolverton with the first lights. Upon my arrival, a very green Common Chiffchaff welcomed me, accompanied by a normal-looking Common Chiffchaff. When I entered the Stonebridge Pits eastern trail, a strange songbird call drew my attention. I soon found the bird, whichContinue reading "A Siberian Chiffchaff from my local patch"

Easterlies delivered again

The changing weather conditions of last night triggered another extraordinary migration event of European songbirds. The southwesterly winds finally turned into strong easterlies with a combination of high-pressure systems over Scandinavia. These conditions were ideal for the songbirds cumulated in Western Europe to start their migration over the North Sea overnight. I gambled a littleContinue reading "Easterlies delivered again"

The ‘Snettisham Spectacular’: A must-see natural phenomenon

Have you heard about the term 'Spring tide'? And today we had a 'Spring tide'... Spring tide in September? Yes, as this term refers to the term 'springing forth' of the tide and not the season of spring. A wonderful and calm morning over The Wash. © Gyorgy SzimulyThe T On the way to ourContinue reading "The ‘Snettisham Spectacular’: A must-see natural phenomenon"

A Norwegian Ruff

After witnessing the shorebird spectacle at Snettisham, Hasan and I made a quick visit to the Titchwell RSPB Reserve in a hope to find one of the Yellow-browed Warblers. As we tried to get better views of this autumn beauty, a lady informed us about the presence of a Jack Snipe at the far cornerContinue reading "A Norwegian Ruff"

A Wonderful Honour

31 years ago, with the help of some of my new birding friends, I initiated the establishment of a bird ringing camp at my local patch in Hungary. The idea was to study bird migration at the Ferencmajor fishponds and to attract people of all ages to birding. At that time, there was no activeContinue reading "A Wonderful Honour"

The Frampton Marsh delivered… again

Being a resident in the Midlands means all coastal habitats and nature reserves are too far away for frequent birding. Among them, the extraordinary RSPB Frampton Marsh in Lincolnshire is probably the closest and the fastest to reach. This RSPB reserve is a safe haven for waterbirds and shorebirds and paradise for birders of everyContinue reading "The Frampton Marsh delivered… again"

Another lifer in 2022 – Dusky Warbler in Norfolk

The original idea was for a Monday birding trip, to see the stunning White-tailed Lapwing which moved from Lincolnshire wintering grounds to Norfolk. Sadly, the bird disappeared overnight so we had to change plans. As a potential lifer has been reported daily on the north coast of Norfolk in the last two weeks, it wasContinue reading "Another lifer in 2022 – Dusky Warbler in Norfolk"

Urban birding with the first smells of Spring

Having a gorgeous weather in my city has been a rare event in the last couple of months so there was no excuse to stay home. I left home at 6 AM for my regular 7.6 miles-long urban birding route, mainly along the River Ouzel in the eastern part of Milton Keynes. The spring isContinue reading "Urban birding with the first smells of Spring"

Birding on the Isle of Sheppey

It's not often I go out birding with someone like-minded in the United Kingdom. Today I joined my new birding buddy, Hasan for a trip to north Kent in a hope to have a productive birding day and see some different birds and habitats. And what a fantastic day it turned to be. The originalContinue reading "Birding on the Isle of Sheppey"

Pallas’s Leaf Warbler – a long-chased lifer

After several failed attempts in the past, I finally had a good chance to see a wintering Pallas's Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus proregulus) in the relative neighbourhood. My local birding friend, Hasan, invited me to find this rarity in Oxfordshire, UK. A strip of woods, adjacent to the Abingdon sewage works, proved to be a very productiveContinue reading "Pallas’s Leaf Warbler – a long-chased lifer"