UK Wildlife Sightings June 2026

 Due to a combination of the wretched weather and other interests, I didn't make any long wildlife-watching trips in June until the 10th, when I decided to visit RSPB Strumpshaw Fen in the Norfolk Broads, despite a poor weather forecast. It was a risk that wasn't really worth taking: with regular showers, few sunny intervals and temperatures ranging from 12-15C, there was little chance of seeing Swallowtail butterflies, and the few dragonflies that were on the wing were not enough to tempt the resident Red-footed Falcon to put in an appearance during my visit (it had been seen earlier in the day), although I did have a couple of sightings of Hobby and saw my first Green-eyed ("Norfolk") Hawkers of the year. However, I did come across a Mole above ground, which I watched for ten minutes as it moved around, starting to dig holes and then leaving them - was it looking for food? I didn't see it eating anything. I can't remember the last time I saw a Mole and I haven't been able to photograph one before. Despite very low light, I managed to get one or two 'record shots' of this rarely seen mammal: one is below.

A Mole Digging a Hole! RSPB Strumpshaw Fen, 10 June

Male Reed Bunting, RSPB Strumpshaw Fen, 10 June

Female Scarce Chaser Dragonfly, RSPB Strumpshaw Fen, 10 June

Northumberland, May 2026

 Ever since I was a small child, visiting Northumberland in the 1960s, I have been drawn back to this lovely county, with its rolling hills, beautiful coastline and beaches. There are few better places in the UK for a bird watcher to be in in May and I have taken to spending a little time here every year. In 2026 I spent three nights in Warkworth, near Alnwick and situated on the River Coquet, half an hour's walk from the beach. This gave me the first evening, two full days and a final morning for an intensive session of bird watching. Although I passed through some torrential rain on the journey north and there was one wet early morning, the weather was generally very good, with plenty of sunshine.

Perhaps the main attractions for the bird watcher are the onshore and offshore seabird colonies. On the first full day I was on a boat trip to Coquet Island, home to England's only breeding colony of rare Roseate Terns as well as hundreds of Puffins and other tern species. The island is looked after by the RSPB and landing is not allowed, but we did get decent views of the terns. Photography in a moving boat is always challenging, but I managed a few ok photos of the terns.

Roseate Terns and Puffins, Coquet Island, 20 May

A visit to the Farne Islands, about 20 miles further up the coast, is of course essential. Landings are now just allowed on Inner Farne (owned by The National Trust) and I was there on the following full day. Last year I went in late April, before the breeding Arctic Terns had arrived. They had returned this year but had not really started nesting, so their attacks on peoples' heads had not started! Eider ducks had formed a little creche on one of the pools on the island. The males, which play no part in rearing the young, were ever-present along the coast and on estuaries.

Arctic Tern, Inner Farne, 21 May

Eider Ducks, Inner Farne, 21 May

Most people go to the Farne Islands to see the Puffins, and there were plenty to see although they were in the early stages of breeding and weren't flying in with beaks full of Sand Eels for their young. Huge numbers of Guillemots, including the 'bridled' variant, as well as Razorbills (my favourite), were on   

the cliffs, as were Kittiwakes and a few Fulmars. We only had an hour on the island, which isn't enough for photographers who, like me, can't make their minds up which birds to photograph! I had planned to spend time photographing Arctic Terns in flight, but struggled to get anything satisfactory - I should have concentrated on the seabirds that you can get almost within touching distance of at the top of the cliffs.

Razorbill, Inner Farne, 21 May

Back on dry land there was plenty to do. I paid a visit to the lovely Hauxley nature reserve, which is only a few miles from Warkworth. Whilst there is lots to see there, including at least nine species of warbler (Cetti's Warblers have arrived here and I also heard a Lesser Whitethroat, quite a rare species this far north), my target bird was a Hauxley speciality: Bullfinch! This species, which is in danger of becoming extinct in Hertfordshire, can be seen from a hide overlooking a bird feeding station and I had good views of both male and female birds feeding here. There is also a good colony of Tree Sparrows at Hauxley. Later in the season terns, including Roseate Tern, can be seen bathing and feeding here, but just a few Common Terns were seen on my visit.

Male Bullfinch, Hauxley NR, 20 May

I also made my first visit to the breeding tern colony at "Long Nanny", near Beadnell on the coast. Arctic and Little Terns breed here, and both were present in big numbers. Arctic Terns were starting to nest in front of the rangers' hut. Whilst I was there, I was lucky to see a very rare visitor, a returning American Black Tern (a sub-species of our Black Tern), which had previously nested here with an Arctic Tern. I managed to grab a flight photograph of this bird (below) - not great, but a record of the only American Black Tern in the UK! On the way back to Beadnell I watched the Little Terns feeding along the shore line. One individual was resting on the beach. Its partner approached, landed and offered it a couple of little fish. Most unusually, I managed to catch the 'decisive moment' when the fish were exchanged. Although far from perfect, this is still my favourite image from the holiday.

American Black Tern, Long Nanny, 21 May

Little Tern Fish Exchange, near Beadnell, 21 May

I did lots of walking near the hotel. Walking down the Coquet Estuary to the sea gave me the chance to see passage waders (Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, lots of Turnstones and Ringed Plovers), warblers (including Grasshopper Warbler) and terns (particularly Sandwich Terns). Not everything was successful: I made two visits to a lake where Garganey and Temminck's Stints had been reported, but saw neither. However, on those visits I saw Scaup and Mandarin Duck, my first Dingy Skipper butterflies of the year and some very co-operative Brown Hares. In all, I recorded 103 bird species (95 seen). Roll on next year, and a return visit!

UK Wildlife Sightings, April 2026

 After a hiatus of three weeks, during which my bird watching was restricted to the local area, I visited the Norfolk coast on the 4th. I started at RSPB Titchwell Marsh, adding two summer visitors (a single Swallow and around 300 [!] Sandwich Terns) to my year list. Mediterranean Gulls were, surprisingly, the dominant gull species - it was interesting to see them mixing with the Sandwich Terns at the edge of the freshmarsh. A couple of Spoonbills made regular visits to the marshland between Titchwell Marsh and Thornham Harbour - I guess that they may be nesting further to the west at the Ken Hill rewilding estate? Two Red-breasted Mergansers were on the tidal marsh before flying off, whilst the long-staying female Scaup was still present there.

Sandwich Terns and Mediterranean Gulls, RSPB Titchwell Marsh, 4 April

Spoonbill in marshland between RSPB Titchwell Marsh and Thornham Harbour, 4 April

I moved a little west to Thornham Harbour - always a good spot for photographing wading birds - and was lucky to find my first Greenshank of the year in one of the channels. I suspect that this was an over-wintering bird, because the main spring passage of Greenshanks through the country doesn't start until late April. I know that a Greenshank over-wintered here in 2024-25, although most Greenshanks over-winter in Africa before returning to their breeding sites in Northern Europe (a few nest in the north of Scotland, but none nest in England).

Greenshank, Thornham Harbour, 4 April

Curlew having a Wash, Thornham Harbour, 4 April

My final destination was Old Hunstanton golf course, where a Great Grey Shrike (an increasingly rare winter visitor to the UK) had been showing for a few days beforehand. Unfortunately for me, it didn't show during my visit, although it had been seen an hour beforehand - such is life.

London's parks are of some interest for the bird photographer, because the wild birds there become quite tame and allow a closer approach than do those (say) in the Royston area. For this reason I took a photographic trip in to central London on the 9th to visit Regents Park and Hyde Park / Kensington Gardens, concentrating on the water birds on and around the lakes there. Regents Park was a little disappointing, with far more people (it was the school Easter holidays) than birds, although I did hear my first Reed Warbler of the year there. However, a couple of circuits of The Serpentine were more productive, with almost point blank close-ups of Cormorants and Gadwall, allowing me to photograph their plumage in good detail and also a bit of action out on the lakes. However, for an old man the walking involved on what was, at least initially, a very warm day, led to exhaustion by the end of the day.

Coot Nesting Activity, Kensington Gardens, 9 April

Cormorant on a Branch, Kensington Gardens, 9 April

Male Gadwall, Kensington Gardens, 9 April

Grey Wagtail, Kensington Gardens, 9 April

As I was leading an RSPB coach trip to RSPB Minsmere (Suffolk) on the 26th I made a reconnaissance trip on the 22nd. I called in at Barton Mills to see whether the toilets had re-opened (they hadn't so it would, unfortunately, be necessary to travel directly to Minsmere on the 26th). Whilst at Barton Mills I recorded my first Garden Warbler of the year. Nightingales were singing near the visitor centre at Minsmere and Sand Martins were using the nearby sand bank. I stayed on the reserve this time and recorded around 70 species, including Bearded Tit, Kittiwake, Bar-tailed Godwit and Whimbrel. I took a detour on the way back, visiting Westleton Heath, where I saw and photographed my second UK Iberian Chiffchaff (the first was seen five years ago only a couple of miles away, at Dunwich Heath). I photographed the bird and was pleased to see the image (below) used in the Birdguides weekly round-up of bird sightings. Some very noisy Stone Curlews were calling nearby, but I failed to see them, despite being told where to look. Dartford Warblers and a Wheatear were also seen here - I may go back in the future for a better look at Westleton Heath.

Sand Martins at RSPB Minsmere, Suffolk, 22 April 

Sandwich Tern in Flight, Minsmere, 22 April

Male Ruff in Breeding Plumage, RSPB Minsmere, 22 April

Iberian Chiffchaff, Westleton Common, 22 April. Note the yellow lower mandible and yellow eye-stripe, features the differentiate this bird from Common Chiffchaff (it also has a more varied song!)

The return visit to Minsmere went very well, with an amazing 108 species being recorded by our 43 members. A Whimbrel was again present, I saw Bittern in flight, Bearded Tit and my first Hobbies and Common Sandpipers. Butterflies seen included Green Hairstreak and Small Copper and we didn't lose anybody, so I can count this as a successful day!

Common Sandpiper, RSPB Minsmere, 26 April

Small Copper, RSPB Minsmere, 26 April

UK Wildlife Sightings, March 2026

 With relatively mild, settled weather and a gentle breeze I decided to go Goshawk hunting at Cockley Cley (Norfolk) on the 3rd. Early March is the best time of year to see Goshawks displaying, although they can be seen in February if weather conditions are right. After 75 minutes of waiting, only lots of Buzzards and a single Red Kite had been seen. However, as I tried to photograph an overhead Buzzard a second bird, clearly a hawk, came into view. People around me said that it was only a Sparrowhawk. Certainly it looked small, but it was fairly high. Eventually I managed to get a 'record shot' of the bird that wasn't blurred. Later examination showed lengthwise striping along the underside of the bird (perpendicular to the barring along the wings and tail), pointing to the fact that this was a young Goshawk - probably a male - success! The image is shown below.

'Record Shot' of a Juvenile Goshawk, Cockley Cley, 3 March

I called into Lynford Arboretum on the way home, on the off-chance that I could see a Hawfinch. A quick check of the feeding station near the 'Shepherd's Baa' cafe netted me my first Brambling of the year (a female). Surely, things couldn't get any better? Oh yes, they could! Sitting at the top of the tallest tree in the paddock was a Hawfinch. I managed to get a few photos before it flew down, not to be seen again.

Hawfinch, Lynford Arboretum, 3 March

The best was still to come. As I continued a walk that I regularly take through the forest I came across signs warning me to watch where I stood, as it was the time of year for migrating frogs and toads. A few yards further on, by the side of a lake, I came upon a mass of courting and mating Common Toads - probably 60 to 70 with more, sometimes 'piggybacking', arriving at the lake as I watched. Forty minutes later I had photographed toads (individuals, couples and even a 'threesome') from every angle. Some spawn had already been laid. The lake is well away from the nearest road, so hopefully mortality as the toads make their way to the mating pond from every direction will be low. I was a herpetologist before I became a bird watcher, so seeing these toads performing was a joy to see.

Common Toads in Amplexus, arriving at their Breeding Lake, Lynford, 3 March

Common Toad 'Mating Ball' (two males and a female), Lynford, 3 March

On the 5th I made my annual pilgrimage to the North Yorkshire coast, visiting RSPB Bempton Cliffs and Filey Brigg. At my age, I shouldn't still be making this 400 mile round journey in a day, but needs must on this occasion. Maybe next year I'll stay longer in Yorkshire and check out some of the other wonderful wildlife areas in my 'home' county. Lots of Gannets, Guillemots and Razorbills were on the cliffs at Bempton, in flight or (in the case of the last two) loafing on the sea. I couldn't find any Puffins - there has been mass mortality out at sea due to the effects of storms, but in any case it is also a little early in the season for Puffins to appear. Fulmars were much in evidence on the cliffs and Tree Sparrows, Linnets, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits were present in big numbers around the reserve. A Barn Owl was seen briefly. The tide was in when I arrived at Filey, meaning that I couldn't walk out along the Brigg at sea level, but I was able to walk along the top of The Brigg and look down towards the rocks at the end, where Oystercatchers and other, unidentified waders were roosting. Adult and juvenile Shags flew past the rocks. 

Gannet Pair, RSPB Bempton Cliffs, 5 March

Razorbills on the Cliffs at Bempton, 5 March

Fulmar in Flight, RSPB Bempton Cliffs, 5 March

Tree Sparrow, RSPB Bempton Cliffs, 5 March

I was back on the North Norfolk coast on the 11th. I had missed Long-tailed Ducks on my two previous visits this year, but finally located a group of 8-10 birds on the sea, between Titchwell and Brancaster. They were too far out to get decent photographs. A large flock of Mediterranean Gulls (I was told that 102 birds had recently been counted) was seen on the freshmarsh. It will be interesting to see how many stay on to nest at Titchwell. Moving on to Holkham Park, I had hoped to see a Ferruginous Duck on the lake there, but a 90 minute search failed to reveal the bird: other bird watchers similarly left "empty handed". A very large flock of Barnacle Geese was seen in the park. However, all the birds appeared to have been ringed. Were they part of a collection? Finally, I hurried down to the sea at Holkham Gap. This involved a walk of over half a mile across the beach - the tide goes out a long way here! I was rewarded with views of flocks of hundreds of Common Scoters, which seem to be resident here during the winter months, but which I hadn't seen elsewhere along the Norfolk coast this winter. Some images taken on this trip are below.

Marsh Harrier in Flight, RSPB Titchwell Marsh, 11 March

Mediterranean Gulls (and Shelduck), RSPB Titchwell Marsh, 11 March

 

Barnacle Geese (Captive Flock?), grazing in Holkham Park, 11 March

A few days of sunny weather from the 17th encouraged me to make afternoon visits to RSPB Lakenheath Fen (Suffolk) on the 18th and Welney (Norfolk) on the 19th. Highlights of a quiet but enjoyable walk around the Lakenheath reserve were several Roe Deer, Whooper Swans and half a dozen different wader species. I had been hoping to see a very early Garganey or a very late Water Pipit, but neither materialised. The next day I stopped in Welney village to see the reported Glossy Ibis (image below). All three egret species (including my first Cattle Egrets of the year) were on the same flooded fields. On the WWT reserve, ten distant Cranes were on Lady Fen. Wader species seen included Avocets, Redshank, Ruff, Snipe and several Black-tailed Godwits, some of which were developing their summer plumage. Garganey had been sporadically reported from here since the 14th, but there was no sign of this rather secretive bird on my visit.

Glossy Ibis, Welney, 19 March

Redshank, WWT Welney, 19 March

I joined an RSPB coach trip to Abberton Reservoir on the 22nd. I wasn't leading so, as I frequently do, I decided to go off and 'do my own thing'. Having been round the reserve I headed off along the Layer de la Haye causeway, to the Billett's Farm screens, hoping to see the male Canvasback, a very rare American duck which had been associating with male Pochards (it looks very similar to them) in the previous week. My efforts were unsuccessful but Steve, probably our best and most experienced bird watcher, did eventually catch up with it. I then walked along a footpath to the Layer Breton causeway (the others came by coach a little later) and was rewarded with views of at least three Russian White-fronted Geese (winter visitor) and three Spoonbills, two of which were nesting with another individual nearby, perhaps hoping that a mate would turn up soon. Between us we managed to record 82 bird species - quite an impressive total considering that this is an inland site.

Nesting Spoonbills, Abberton Reservoir (from the Layer Breton Causeway), 22 March

Russian White-fronted Geese, Abberton Reservoir, 22 March

Having failed to see Water Pipits (a rare winter visitor) at other sites this year, I was encouraged to make another visit to the Staines Reservoirs on the 24th by a report of four birds there early in the morning. They were exactly where they had been reported on 'Birdguides' by the observer (thank you), about 200 metres along the bank of the south basin from the western end of the causeway that separates this from the north basin. Fortunately I had my telescope with me to confirm their identity - they could be separated from the numerous Meadow Pipits that were present by their strong white supercilia and their relatively unmarked greyish-blue backs (they appeared to be developing their summer plumage). Being distant, I only managed to get poor 'record shots' of the birds, but hopefully the two images below will convince the viewer of their identity when compared with the Meadow Pipits.

Poor 'Record Shot' of a Water Pipit (note the Supercilium), Staines Reservoirs, 24 March

Meadow Pipit (this Bird lacks a Supercilium), Staines Reservoirs, 24 March

UK Wildlife Sightings, February 2026

 On a dank, dismal day that was a feature of late January and early February, I visited Grafham Water (Cambridgeshire) on the 3rd, hoping to see one of the many (up to nine) Great Northern Divers that were wintering there. I was in luck: not only was a diver resting near the dam, close to the main car park, but I had chosen a day when parking was free! With a maximum temperature of 3C on the day and a lively breeze blowing in my face, I took a few photos of the diver and of a nearby flock of 20-25 Goldeneyes and left.

Great Northern Diver, Grafham Water, 3 February

I was lucky that a free day for bird watching (on the 4th) coincided with the best weather in the first week of February (dull, but bright with occasional sunshine later in the day and no rain until after dark). I visited the east coast of Norfolk, starting at Great Yarmouth where there used to be a sizeable flock of wintering Mediterranean Gulls (10-20 birds) on the beach on past visits. I hadn't been for a few years and could only find two birds this time. Whether this was due to a decline in wintering numbers or that other birds were elsewhere in the area, I don't know.

Mediterranean Gull, Great Yarmouth Beach, 4 February

I moved up the coast to Winterton, where I soon found the wintering Snow Buntings, my target species, sitting on top of one of the fishermens' huts, close to the car park. A couple of photographers were lying on the ground nearby, waiting for the birds to come down to feed on a patch of grass that had probably been 'laced' with bird seed. However, the buntings were reluctant to come down to the ground so I left them to it and moved on again, heading for Sea Palling.

Three of a flock of 23 Snow Buntings on the roof of a fisherman's hut, Winterton, 4 February

The juvenile Iceland Gull, my target species at Sea Palling, was located a few hundred metres north west of the lifeboat station, feeding alongside a few hundred other gulls and waders from a section of beach that stuck out into the sea, close to some rocks. I was told that adult and first winter Caspian Gulls were amongst the many Herring Gulls seen here, but for once I didn't spend much time searching for them - I had more bird watching to do.

Juvenile Iceland Gull (on the right) with other gulls, Sea Palling, 4 February

My final stop was at Hickling Broad, where I walked around the Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve before heading down to the raptor watchpoint at Stubb Mill. On the way round the reserve I added Bearded Tit, Treecreeper and a single over-flying Common Crane to my year list. A Black-winged Kite, probably the same bird that I had seen for the first time at Hickling last year, had been present nearby during the previous week, but I was out of luck here: the bird did not make an appearance and was not seen on subsequent days either. However, as I was about to leave the raptor roost site at Stubb Mill a male Hen Harrier came in to roost. I missed this bird as I was putting up my tripod again to look for it, but I did see one of possibly two 'ringtails' (females or first winter males) that followed it in, to complete an excellent, if hard working, day of bird watching.

On the 12th, in my next 'twitch' of any distance I went just across the Hertfordshire boundary to Fishers Green in Essex, to see a single Tundra Bean Goose (a rare winter visitor from The Continent that I had missed when I visited Abberton Reservoir in January) and a flock of Russian White-fronted Geese. The weather was atrocious, but I managed to locate and photograph the birds. The only problem was that car parking payment was by 'app' only. After spending time downloading the required app and setting up a password, etc. a local fisherman walked by and remarked that parking was free because the authorities hadn't installed the cameras yet! So, for the second time in a fortnight, I got away with free parking.

Tundra Bean Goose, Fishers Green, 12 February

Russian White-fronted Goose, Fishers Green, 12 February

My partner and I spent a weekend in Eastbourne from the 13-15th. I expected bird watching to be minimal, but discovered on the first evening that there was a spectacular Starling murmuration, centred on Eastbourne pier (where the Starlings roost). On the Saturday, after a rare sunny day, we returned to see the Starlings. Murmurations are always difficult to capture well in the failing light, but I managed to take a few videos of the birds, as well as (less impressive) photographs, one of which is shown below. I estimate that about 3,000 birds were involved.

Part of a Starling Murmuration, Eastbourne, 14 February

During the following week I saw all five grebe species that occur in the UK. Great Crested and Little Grebes, which are common residents, were seen at various locations. A Black-necked Grebe (an uncommon breeding species here) was seen at Amwell (see my 'Local Wildlife Sightings' post for February) and on the 18th I visited Rutland Water, where I (eventually) had good views of a Red-necked Grebe, an uncommon winter visitor that does not breed in the UK.

Red-necked Grebe in Winter Plumage, Rutland Water, 18 February

To 'complete the set' of grebes, I drove up to RSPB Titchwell Marsh on the 20th to see a Slavonian Grebe (a rare and declining Scottish breeder and also a winter visitor), that had been present for several days on the Tidal Marsh, where a female Scaup (which had been present on my previous visit) was also feeding. I didn't stay for long on what was another poor weather day, but I did stop on the way back down the A10 at Sedge Fen (near Southery) , to view a flock of Bewick's Swans (along with a few Whoopers) which was feeding there.

'Record Shot' of a Slavonian Grebe, RSPB Titchwell Marsh, 20 February

One of a flock of about 50 Bewick's Swans, Southery, 20 February

I boarded the RSPB Hitchin and Letchworth Local Group coach for its first visit to the WWT London Wetland Centre, near Barnes, on the 22nd. Ring-necked Parakeets were around the visitor centre to noisily greet us. Out on the 'wild side', a few of our members saw Bittern and Bearded Tits. I spent a fair bit of time photographing birds in the 'collection', concentrating on those seen in the UK, such as Garganey and Red-crested Pochard. Male Goldeneyes were displaying in their enclosure, much to the apparent bemusement of the females. I won't include any of their images here, but will concentrate instead on the 'genuine' wildlife.

Ring-necked Parakeet, WWT London Wetlands Centre, Barnes

I made my first visit of the year to the Suffolk coast on the 25th, parking at RSPB Minsmere but initially walking up onto Dunwich Heath where, after a fair bit of searching, I was able to locate and photograph a Dartford Warbler. My other target species here, Woodlark, proved frustratingly difficult to see. At least three birds always seemed to be singing nearby, but it took a couple of hours before I was able to eventually see one in flight.

Dartford Warbler, Dunwich Heath, 25 February

Back at Minsmere I struggled to find much of interest. A flock of Barnacle Geese was out on the South Levels, but my best sighting was of an Adder, coiled up on a bank opposite the Public Hide.

An Adder at RSPB Minsmere, 25 February

I moved on up the coast to Kessingland, where four Shorelarks had been reported. I hadn't realised just how big an area of coastal land I would have to cover to see these birds and, with dusk approaching, I missed out on this occasion. The birds had been seen a few minutes before I arrived, but there was nobody on site to direct me. I've been lucky to see the vast majority of birds that I have 'twitched' this year, so I wasn't too disappointed to miss out here.