Simon King

Walrus! Calshot Castle Hampshire. Swam out into Southampton water c. 1205. Amazing!

Forster’s Tern, Poole Park, Dorset. Tues 10 March 2026. A few more photos attached. It finally showed mid afternoon and was worth the wait giving the best views I have had of this annually returning bird over the last 4 years. @DorsetWildlife @DorsetBirdClub

Forster’s Tern, Poole Park, Dorset Tues 10 Mar 2026. Having seen it on 3 Mar 2026 but mostly distant out in the harbour I decided to return since the bird had been ‘reliably’ visiting Poole Park at closer range. An 8 hour vigil was finally rewarded at c. 3pm. @DorsetWildlife

@dartfordtrapper Nice photos James. Great to catch up yesterday and I am glad you guys got back quickly and connected with the Forster’s Tern. It flew off again just as you were driving away…..

A jaunt down to the South coast started well with the Salisbury plain Great Bustards, but was followed by a 5 hour war of attrition at Poole boating lake when the Forster's tern finally showed just after we left the site! It all ended well in the end thanks to @UKTwitcher!

@mikebarthbirdin @aquilabirding @CBWPS1 @BirdGuides @RareBirdAlertUK @ArthriticPeak Thanks! Yes luckily it was relatively close in.

@UKTwitcher @aquilabirding @CBWPS1 @BirdGuides @RareBirdAlertUK Nice one Simon. Managed views of it yesterday afternoon with @ArthriticPeak but not quite as close as your views 👏

Pacific Diver giving good scope views off Penlee Point, Newlyn, Cornwall yesterday Fri 27 Feb 2026. Even though relatively close in, it was a little far out for photos however it was great to see this bird after failing to locate it earlier in the week. @CBWPS1

@hobbylovinglife @CBWPS1 @BirdGuides @RareBirdAlertUK Thanks Karen, a great bird.

@UKTwitcher @CBWPS1 @BirdGuides @RareBirdAlertUK Great photos Simon 👌🏻

The rather stunning 1w Ross’s Gull performed well in Newlyn, Cornwall on Tuesday (24 Feb 2026). I love seeing these dainty gulls - My 2nd in Cornwall and 9th in the UK. @CBWPS1 @BirdGuides @RareBirdAlertUK

A few more photos of the superb 1w Ross’s Gull at Newlyn Harbour, Cornwall. These were taken during a return visit on Fri 27 Feb 2026 although raining at times. The trip also yielded Pacific Diver, Iceland, Bonaparte’s & Ring-billed Gulls which I did not see earlier in the week.

@dogdoughty @CBWPS1 @BirdGuides @RareBirdAlertUK 😎🤣 @01000011S

@UKTwitcher @CBWPS1 @BirdGuides @RareBirdAlertUK I think my attempt was more of a Cliff Smith effort

Great Northern Diver in a rain shower. Newlyn Harbour, Cornwall. (Fri 27 Feb 2026) @CBWPS1

@asianbirder @CBWPS1 @BirdGuides @RareBirdAlertUK Thanks Rob indeed a cracking bird!

@UKTwitcher @CBWPS1 @BirdGuides @RareBirdAlertUK Great photos of a cracking bird!

@markjleitch @HantsIWWildlife @HOSbirding I think it was just after 2pm it drifted back in view but, as I understand was the case this morning, he was mostly asleep…..

@UKTwitcher @HantsIWWildlife @HOSbirding Glad you got to photograph it. Did you have to wait long?

A fine looking drake Ring-necked Duck eventually showed well at Fleet Pond, Hampshire mid afternoon today. @HantsIWWildlife @HOSbirding

@Photos2Print @CBWPS1 @BirdGuides @RareBirdAlertUK Thanks Mark!

@UKTwitcher @CBWPS1 @BirdGuides @RareBirdAlertUK Great photos Simon 👍🏽

Amazing views of this pair of Lesser Scaup showing exceptionally well on Coronation Pool, Helston Cornwall (Tuesday 24 Feb 26). A worthwhile session whilst we awaited the falling tide before returning for further views of the Ross’s Gull. @CBWPS1 @BirdGuides @RareBirdAlertUK

@james_sellen @CBWPS1 @BirdGuides @RareBirdAlertUK Thanks!

@UKTwitcher @CBWPS1 @BirdGuides @RareBirdAlertUK Excellent Simon

@churchartnature @BirdWatchIE @BirdGuides @RareBirdAlertUK Thanks!

@UKTwitcher @BirdWatchIE @BirdGuides @RareBirdAlertUK Lovely shots!

I have just returned from a great weekend in Ireland. The star bird was again the Harlequin Duck at Curransport, Donegal. Great to see him again for 2026. His dapper plumage looked very similar to my last visit. 1st & 2nd photos are 01/12/25 and 3rd is 22/02/26. @BirdWatchIE

Ireland weekend cont: At Curransport, we saw the Pacific Diver at the same location as the Harlequin Duck. Next Killybegs, Donegal where we saw an Adult & a 2w Iceland Gull. On our way back to Dublin we called in to Round O jetty in Enniskillen for the Adult Ring-billed Gull.

Ireland weekend continued: The 1w Ring-billed Gull at Quayside. Sligo showed well and came in for the bread we threw out for the gulls. I was pleased to see this after failing to locate it during my last visit in December 2025. @BirdWatchIE

Ireland weekend continued: The juv Glaucous Gull at Spiddal, Galway showed well despite it continually raining during our visit. @BirdWatchIE