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One of three Garganey in front of the viewing screen at SMI Wetland yesterday lunchtime - one of my absolute favourite spring migrants, such a stunning species.

We touched down in Mallorca yesterday for some bank holiday sun, so naturally I headed straight out and walked the Boquer Valley… two male Balearic Warblers at the east end were the best plus Booted Eagle, Crag Martin, Serin and Hoopoe. Smashing place!

Bank Holiday lifer - one of two Balearic Warblers in Boquer Valley, Mallorca this afternoon.

I spent this morning at S’Albufera Nature Reserve, home to some of Europe’s most stunning birds. The personal highlights for me were several singing Moustached Warblers, and a party of four Black Vultures circling to the north, both species were lifers for me.

1500 Barnacle Geese left out to sea over Budle Point this morning. Failed to add any this evening, but did stumble into a bonny Red-throated Pipit!

Delighted to catch up with the Red-throated Pipit at Budle Point this evening after dipping the Newton bird in 2021 - elusive at times, I was chuffed to set eyes on it! Lovely addition to my British and Northumberland lists, courtesy of another top tier find by Ross Ahmed!

A showy Cetti's Warbler in the sun at Backworth this morning - it might not be the mega it once was in North Tyneside, but they still feel rare to me! Considering there had never been a record in the borough before March 2021, the expansion of this species has been remarkable.

4 Avocets between Backworth and Seghill this evening - wader habitat is a serious scarcity in North Tyneside this spring, so I’ve been checking this unassuming flash for the last few weeks (red pin on map) and tonight it came up trumps!

I’m currently doing a North Tyneside big day, hoping to get somewhere near last year’s total of 104 species. This one wasn’t on the cards when I started the day however - smashing drake Garganey currently in Marden Quarry!

Long day in the field yesterday! Despite the weather not being overly conducive for a big total, I still finished up with 100 species across North Tyneside. Some good quality on offer inc Garganey, Cetti’s Warbler, Common Sand, Whimbrel and Arctic Tern to name a few.

Singing male Garden Warbler near Swallow Pond yesterday morning, never an easy bird to connect with in North Tyneside in spring.

Our annual Scotland trip is underway, with a night in Strontian followed by four nights on Uist, before finishing up in Aviemore. Loads of quality on offer already, in a stunning setting and glorious sunshine - it’s good to be back!

So, that’s a wrap on the Scotland trip for another year! Magical as always, with all the regulars doing their bit, plus a self-found Surf Scoter at Balranald on Monday morning. Until next year…

The curtain comes down on a very quiet May! An afternoon on Weetslade hill failed to produce the hoped-for Red Kite, but a Little Egret south over kept a slight bit of interest. Hopefully June produces a rarity or two…

We touched down in Turkey yesterday, and are very much looking forward to an action packed week of birding. A few lifers in the bag already such as Sombre Tit, Kruper’s Nuthatch, Black-headed Bunting etc, but tomorrow is the big one - operation Caspian Snowcock!

Incredible morning up in the mountains of Aladaglar National Park - 10 lifers for me including the key target in Caspian Snowcock. Some other quality species on offer were Radde’s Accentor, Red-fronted Serin, Crimson-winged Finch and Finsch’s Wheatear to name a few - mega!

Turkey trip still going strong, and it’s been a brilliant couple of days birding along the mighty Euphrates River. Some WP gold seen in Iraq Babbler, Red-wattled Lapwing, See-see Partridge and Pallid Scops Owl, amongst many other highlights!

Our final day in Turkey is sadly at an end, and a fitting way to finish the trip by getting mega views of Kurdish Wheatear at Nemrut Dagi. A totally fantastic week of birding and company, finishing up on 35 lifers! Lots of photos to follow I’m sure…

One of the most memorable new birds of our trip to Turkey was Black-headed Bunting, and this exceptional male singing right beside the road was our first!

Radde’s Accentor from Demirkazik Tepe, one of our big targets in Turkey. We saw a minimum of seven birds around the viewpoint including recently fledged youngsters, and three singing males, often totally unfazed by our presence!