Matthew Broadbent

Just had an ALPINE SWIFT at pennance point. . Thanks @ej_cornelius for quick camera work

@Elliott81758817 @NatureDan2007 @OscarPuls @NorthKentBirder @NoahBai14527125 @rossa599 @GeorgieWightman @James_B___ @BSbirding Cracking shots, and great to meet you!

Migfest 2025 was really fun! Red-necked Phalarope (lifer!), Cranes, Curlew Sandpipers, Garganey, Pink feet, Osprey, Arctic Skua, Tree Pipit, Redstarts, Crossbill and 000s of Meadow Pipit the highlights! Was fantastic to have such amazing company as well!

@NorthKentBirder @NatureDan2007 @spurnbirdobs @SwarovskiOptik @Elliott81758817 @DavidWalsh22 @_BTO @rossa599 @SBO_Jason @FinchleyBirder @NoahBai14527125 @OscarPuls @BSbirding @Natures_Voice @RareBirdAlertUK 🥳💥. Good to meet you and congrats on the award! Hopefully some more scarcities next year!

Great migfest! I won Martin Garner Spurn Young Birder!!! - massive thank you to @spurnbirdobs & @SwarovskiOptik! Made a lot better with loads of great people and friends. Best bird of the weekend was definitely RN Phalarope. Both digiscopes. @Elliott81758817 @DavidWalsh22 @_BTO

@FinchleyBirder @NorthKentBirder @spurnbirdobs @SwarovskiOptik @Elliott81758817 @DavidWalsh22 @_BTO @rossa599 @SBO_Jason @NoahBai14527125 @NatureDan2007 @OscarPuls @BSbirding @Natures_Voice @RareBirdAlertUK London 🔛🔝

@NorthKentBirder @spurnbirdobs @SwarovskiOptik @Elliott81758817 @DavidWalsh22 @_BTO @rossa599 @SBO_Jason @NoahBai14527125 @12broadbentm @NatureDan2007 @OscarPuls @BSbirding @Natures_Voice @RareBirdAlertUK Legend 🔥

This gorgeous male Bluethroat was trapped in Plantation this afternoon. Such a nice bird to see up close. @FI_Obs

@SamuelCol1115 @LukeWalshFCHT @FCHTOnline Charlie Hayes-Green and Harvey Sutcliffe also under contract

@LukeWalshFCHT @FCHTOnline Class cheers mate Building a database throughout the summer for squads as retained lists come out, that makes it much easier!

ℹ️ SQUAD UPDATE | The club can confirm the following players have had the option in their contract exercised: Florent Hoti Jamie Cooke Angelo Cappello Jack Jenkins Zak Emmerson Nat Ford The following players will not have the options in their contracts extended and will be released: Adan George Jimiel Chikukwa Frankie Sinfield Ted Lavelle We thank them for their time at the club & wish them the very best for the future. 💙 Contract offers and discussions are ongoing with all the remaining players where applicable. #Shaymen | LD

@BRNature1 @EssexBirdNews @RSPBRainham @BirdGuides @LondonBirdClub @RareBirdAlertUK Rainham on 🔝

Big county birdwatch @EssexBirdNews ended with a boom @RSPBRainham ! Hoopoe obvious best bird but a nightingale doing snippets of song by Ken Barrett hide good second! Also, Jack snipe and garganey still with good numbers of common migrants in now. ebird.org/checklist/S225…

Great days birding with @12broadbentm today with 3 White-billed Divers off Portsoy. Amazing to see these birds at relatively close range in great conditions.

A quiet walk at Kynance this evening turned when @drage_james spotted a Hoopoe across the valley. This became better when that Hoopoe multiplied to two on the path infront of me. Just to finish off, a Purple Heron proceeded to fly in off the sea over one of the Hoopoes! @CBWPS1

Despite having minimal terrestrial birding time in South Africa, a couple of trips to Durban botanic gardens were highly rewarding. Some great views of many common, and a few scarcer, species. A few highlights below

Having recently returned home from a truly unforgettable week on board on the MSC Musica for Flock to Marion 2025 with @BirdLife_SA, it's time to sort through photos and relive all the best moments. Why not start the very best - Wandering and Sooty Albatrosses

Just to give you an idea on what an average albatross fly-by looked like on Flock to Marion! Snowy Albatross in this case, but even the Sooties, Light-mantled and Grey-headeds were doing this, metres away 🤯

Flock to Marion was the most mindblowing, astonishing week of seabirding I've ever had and potentially ever will have. Pterodromas surrounding the boat at all times, albatrosses and giant petrels at arms reach and crazy numbers of crazy birds are experiences I'll never forget.

An adventure of a lifetime, Flock to Marion was leagues above any birding I’ve ever done. Really upset that the week’s come to an end, but makes it all the more magical. I’ll leave you with 4 of the most stunning bird species in the world, we’ve got to protect these seabirds. 🌊

Day 6 of Flock to Marion (yesterday) was quieter as we steam back to Durban, but a steady stream of Soft-plumaged and Great-winged Petrels, and plenty of albatrosses kept us more than entertained. Should be a good chance of some more tropical species on the way back. 🚢🌊

Another day around Marion Island that I’ll remember for the rest of my life, arguably even better than yesterday. Outrageous views of everything, including White-headed Petrel and Blue Petrels!! Not to mention 1,000’s of prions, albatrosses everywhere, and the penguins! 🚢🌊

Just a warning in advance, I will be posting a lot of photos from Marion Island in the coming weeks….Light-mantled Albatross today, IMO the best of all albatrosses 🌊. Another ridiculously good morning so far!!

Can’t even begin to explain the day we’re having at Marion Island currently, 100’s of seabirds on view every second, albatrosses permanently at arms length, prions nearly crashing into us. Best birding day ever, and we’re only half way through 🤯🔥. Some back of camera shots:

Another BARAU’S PETREL just now on approach to Marion Island, must be one of the most southern records of this species ever?! Absolutely buzzing 💥⚡️ so happy that some of the lads connected with this one after missing yesterday’s

Utterly mindblowing morning so far on Flock to Marion, I fear my tiny mind can’t handle all of this 🤯🤯 mega seabirds streaming past us at the moment, and it’s not even 10:00am yet!!!

I could cry, Wandering Albatross on Flock to Marion this morning, the ultimate bird!!!! Pure goosebumps!