Craig Reed

@BelvideBirding @pmandrews1973 He really is a stonker. Glad I made the effort to see it at Slimbridge. Little did I know it'd make it's way to the midlands. Wonder where he has been hiding

@MidlandsBirder @pmandrews1973 Yes Craig. I saw those images and came to the Erythristic conclusion. Thought it had a fine black nail compared to what is usual on a Tufted Duck.

This Tufted Duck caught the eye this afternoon. I first thought maybe a Red Crested Pochard x Tufted Duck hybrid. It appears it is a Tufted Duck that's Erythristic. A mutation, where pigmentation is either pink or red. Comments welcome.

@pmandrews1973 @BelvideBirding Looks very much like the Slimbridge bird!

@BelvideBirding Similar bird recently at Slimbridge although not quite as extreme facebook.com/share/p/1L5WXX…

@lesserspotnet @WorcsWT I'll be surveying this location a number more times, so will try to figure out what's going on!

@MidlandsBirder @WorcsWT Brilliant discovery, Craig, yes, if this LSW doesn't have a mate yet he will have to work fast. LesserSpotNet nest data shows the average date for the first egg is 25 April with a range 16 Apr-5 May. But as you say there are more LSW out there than we think

A male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at a site in central #Worcestershire this morning where the species has not been recorded in 10+ years. I seem to be repeating myself year on year, but they're out there to be found! @WorcsWT @lesserspotnet #WorcsBirds

@EcolaEvans Thanks Lloyd!

@MidlandsBirder @RobSwift5 @WorcsWT @lesserspotnet Brilliant find, Craig👍🏼

@JoshT01UK @lesserspotnet My experience is exactly that. More effort into looking and suddenly they're being refound all over the place. Admitidly, thinly locally, mostly single territories away from hotspots. When P.A.M is rolled out at a wider scale, they'll be refound in many more areas.

@MidlandsBirder @WorcsWT @lesserspotnet Fantastic. Consensus seems to be under recording and perhaps not quite as sharp a decline as thought? (though very much still a significant decline). Less territorial / detectable? Still seems an issue of singles as opposed pairs.

@GibsonTomgibo @lesserspotnet Drumming regularly! Sadly, probably not a good sign this late in the season but time will tell.

@MidlandsBirder @WorcsWT @lesserspotnet Excellent find! Did you hear it calling or how did you manage to track it down?

At this time of year when I'm out birding I really try to make an effort to add breeding evidence to my records. It's really quick and easy in @BirdTrack and adds value to my records, especially for @ukrbbp species. Added P for pair in suitable habitat. Good practice for atlas!

@Nick_Earl26 Fantastic stuff Nico. Great find and great pics! eBird report safely recieved and we'll use that/the attached photos as evidence for county records so no further info needed :)

@MidlandsBirder Hi Craig. Just a quick one, I found the Spotted Crake at Upton Warren this morning, let me know if you need the photos, I've submitted via ebird as well

LITTLE TERN straight north through Grimley CLP at 08:25. Didn't even consider stopping #WorcsBirds

2 adult Kittiwakes north upriver at 11:10 and 11:16 @slimbridge_wild #GlosBirds

Nice lunchbreak bonus at @BirdersStore. An Osprey high overhead 13:30 being mobbed by 4 Buzzards and large Gulls. #WorcsBirds

@BelvideBirding Crazy place!

@MidlandsBirder Wacky Belvide isn't it pal.

There's more Ruff in that flock than I've seen in Worcestershire in my entire birding life... I haven't seen one in the county since 2019...

This wind blown adult Kittiwake made a brief stop at Grimley-CLP this morning. #WorcsBirds

@Tay_PJT Don't think it's got a chance given its geographic location or associated species, regardless of where it has come from. From someone's back garden or half way across the world? Impossible to know with waterbirds.

@MidlandsBirder I think it’s unlikely it will ever get accepted as cat A?

Richardson's Cackling Goose on Grimley-Church Farm this morning, then flew towards riverside fields when flushed by a dog. 8 Pintail (5m,3f) was a good count for Grimley with Wigeons on riverside fields. Prob my highest count here #WorcsBirds

@Baractus @oliver_paisey @slimbridge_wild @Nickgoatman Thanks John. Agree, shape wise, it is 'just' a Tufty and doesn't really resemble TDxRCP. Erythrism? Fantastic looking bird

@oliver_paisey @MidlandsBirder @slimbridge_wild @Nickgoatman This looks like it could be an aberrant Tufted Duck to me. It seems to lack the look of Tufted x R-c Pochard & structurally it's pretty much identical to a standard male Tufted. This photo is from Saturday.

From earlier today @slimbridge_wild: Highlight was the hybrid Tufted x Red crested pochard in the Eider pool. Also, 1 Grey plover from ET, Spoonbill on TNP, 16 Tundra beans + Pink footed goose on Dumbles, Water rail, 3 Marsh harriers, 2 Buzzards. #GlosBirds

@WyreJason Was the LSW a 'confirmed' LSW or just a merlin heard only? Good record if you managed to confirm it so please do submit the record if you can

Definitely felt like Spring is on the way this morning. Five minutes into the early morning dog walk I had gold crest, lesser spotted woodpecker etc on my Merlin list. @RSPBEngland @WorcsWT