Tony Blake

@ianbennell75 Top find. Great one for the at work list.

Just got back to our yard and instantly heard a Wood Warbler singing! Just had it in the yard but it’s not a very yellow one and not doing full song just spinning coin. Probably best viewed from here (purple) bird is favouring trees in orange. #hertsbirds

@RupertEvershed @Hertsbirds Fantastic Rupert. What an early spring at Stanborough.

A short clip of the stunning male Blue-headed Yellow Wagtail at Stanborough GPs this morning. Also 1 White Wagtail, 2 Swallows, 7 Sand Martins, 2 Little Ringed Plovers & 7 Pintail. @Hertsbirds #hertsbirds

Great views of this Water Pipit at Holmethorpe Sandpits in Surrey today.

At this time of year trees with baubles start to appear. I rather like this Strawberry Tree that was glowing away in Southwark at lunchtime today.

Headley Heath, Surrey, this morning. A relaxing hour and half sitting on a bench watching Hawfinches go back and forth and perching up. Thanks to @surreywallcreep for sketching out where to go.

@lesserspotnet @blackdownbirder @kenandlindasmi2 Many congratulations Ken, Linda and collaborators. Such important work with so many challenges for Lesser Spots especially.

Thank you, the Marsh Award is a huge honour for us, @blackdownbirder @kenandlindasmi2 & all the Woodpecker Network volunteers raising the profile & gathering data about Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers to try to understand why they are in such trouble & what could be done to help.

Hoopoe - Tresco, Isles of Scilly with Hotentot Fig to give an even more exotic look.

@ianbennell75 Good luck! I’m due there on 10th, but on Tresco, assuming travel ok.

Hmmmm so it’s looking more likely to be the Sickonian 🤢 on Saturday as heavy rain and winds due just as I should be flying. Then the end of the week could have ex hurricane Kirk hitting the SW. My new poncho might be getting a run out I fear!

@grahamknight59 @StAlbansCouncil @WriterHannahBT @swifts_uk Excellent Graham. Let’s hope it translates into delivery.

The draft @StAlbansCouncil local plan has been published and, when adopted, will mandate Swift bricks in all new developments, excellent news for urban nesting birds. Personally I am just a little bit pleased #hertsbirds @WriterHannahBT @swifts_uk

Holmethorpe Sandpits, Surrey – Whinchat busily flycatching from a hedgerow at lunchtime today. @SurreyBirdNews

@RupertEvershed Beautifully written Rupert and emphasising the value and fun of local birding and wildlife watching. Garden shaping up well in Surrey - much potential.

I have been writing a new blog and I thought it was about time I shared it! My latest post is here: rupertevershed.com/the-blog Please check it out if you like all things birds and wildlife in general!

@dogwooddays_nic @GdnCountryDiary Really enjoyed this piece. I always read the Country Diary and it’s stronger than ever with your observations. Thank you.

@RupertEvershed @birdinglothian Wow - some good views there!

Great to finally connect with a White-winged Scoter - the Stejneger’s Scoter that was refound yesterday afternoon at Musselburgh. Perfect timing for my visit to Edinburgh! @birdinglothian

Very enjoyable trip to the Hampshire coast this morning - Common, Little and Roseate Terns in descending order of photo quality! Many years since I've seen a Roseate and they are beautiful.

@andrewstoddart Hi Andy - sorry am late to the party here. I have a few images of this bird, which was in north west London three years ago. Could be quite an extreme coburni? I can't DM but let me know if you'd like to see more images.

Female Scaup still at Hilfield Res today – looking almost chestnut in the sun. Present since mid Jan, but today was the first time I've seen it since mid March. #hertsbirds #londonbirds

This male Sparrowhawk perched for around five minutes at Wood Farm in Stanmore this morning. From the first flap when it flew, Blue Tit alarm calls began to sound. It wasn't just me watching it. #londonbirds

@NickPoole1 @biblioluke @ace_national @Sharedintel @BenYMLee Thanks Nick and colleagues. All of us in the @Sharedintel team found it a really stimulating and rewarding project. We'll be banging the drum for local teams to use the toolkit.

Thanks @biblioluke @ace_national for funding us to work with @SharedIntel & @BenYMLee on the fantastic new #ComeRainOrShine trend report and toolkit. Thanks to the public library staff that contributed, as well as our national steering group cilip.org.uk/news/663884/Ne…

A good duck morning at Hilfield Res. Female Scaup and this close drake Goldeneye. Also fem Goosander (no photo). #hertsbirds #londonbirds

Couldn’t resist a trip out to the Northern Waterthrush in Essex. It showed remarkably well. Here it is looking rather pipity in flight (short tertials aside) and showing us the fruit of its probing in the vegetation.