David Bratt

After three seasons of pelagics off Wells without much reward, we finally dug something out on today’s trip as this gorgeous intermediate juv Long-tailed Skua showed well with a young Arctic while we were steaming about 1.5m off Titchwell Great comparison shots by @davidjrbratt

Goosing in the Netherlands was next level. More White-fronted Geese than I've ever seen. 10ks of Barnacle Geese as well as several large flocks of Brent. All grazing happily by the roadside & easy watching from the car. No hedges to look thru & no hills to hide behind!

Needless to say DRB and I had an exceptional wknd away in the Netherlands! Highlights inc. Spectacle Eider, 1000s of Barnacles and White-fronts, 3 Black Woodpeckers, 8 Smew, Pygmy Cormorant, Pacific Diver, Bewick's Swans, Black-necked Grebes and 6 Spoonbills

Highlights from trapping in Fakenham in recent weeks - Dark Crimson Underwing, Cydia amplana and Choreutis nemorana @norfolkmoths

@akkwildlife Presume the escapee could also be drawing in more individuals, but have spent some time with emerging Emperors and been hounded days later so think can linger on fabric potentially.

@davidjrbratt Yeah, that crossed my mind too. There was a gap of a week between housing them and finding the first which I thought was maybe too much, but they could've reacted quicker than that and it took ME a week to actually spot one indoors? Entirely plausible, thanks David

Some weird goings on here, re: Choreutis nemorana Fig-leaf Skeletonizer. Look at the timeline of events: Bit baffled, other than a coincidental find as they look to hibernate? Any thoughts?

Calling Sibe Chiff and Ring Ouzel in the garden this morning and a couple of YBW at lunch. This avo was spent chasing Orca and we managed ok but very brief views in a bay north of Eshaness as they travelled north. A bonus Hen Harrier as we walked back to the car was nice.

With new arrivals thin on the ground, we went for the White’s Thrush at Gorie today. After several brief views we were treated to extended looks on the deck. No way my SX50 was coping with the darkness so hats off, once again, to @davidjrbratt and his big boy camera. Phwoooooarr

Finding this Northern Treecreeper (📸@davidjrbratt) this morning was a good reward for us keeping it local over the last couple of days. Barred Warbler, Sibe Chiff, an educational Marsh Warbler, Mealy Redpoll, several YBW and sensational views of Otter the best of the rest.

@NparsonsNick West end of Crane Mere, Nick

@iPterodroma @Pensthorpe @PatchBirding @RareBirdAlertUK Didn’t see the first bird Dave, so not sure where that was seen.

Oh my giddy Aunt!! A bit of a surprise to come across this singing Great Reed Warbler ⁦@Pensthorpe⁩ this lunchtime.⁦@PatchBirding⁩ ⁦@RareBirdAlertUK⁩

@norfolkmoths twitter.com/robertsjsmith/…

Lunchtime search for Orange Underwing =0 ( bonus Nuthatch instead! ) Anyone seen any OU yet this year?

Shetland Day Eleven. The rest day didn’t happen. Semipalmated Sandpiper at Virkie, 2 Shorelark, Jack Snipe, 5 LT Duck, 2 Arctic Tern at Grutness. This avo the Bonelli’s Warbler sp. just down the road showed very well followed by a very confiding Little Bunting in the valley.

Chrysoesthia drurella (Flame Crest) and Coleophora lineolea (Downland Case-bearer) from recent nights in the garden @norfolkmoths

Coleophora conyzae (Spikenard Case-bearer) the best of the last few days trapping. Other interest Eucosma conterminana, 2 inland Coleophora limoniella again, Minor Shoulder-knot and Dark Spinach @norfolkmoths

@akkwildlife That’s a belter!

Netted Pug!! If it was the only Moth in the trap, I wouldn't care! My 3rd for the garden and like other species I'm catching, about 2 weeks later than the first two. What a Moth... 😍

Photographic results from a wonderful tour of the Kent countryside yesterday courtesy of @davidjrbratt looking at some of the counties exquisite Orchid flora...

Dusky Warbler ringed today at Walsey Hills NOA, thanks to @davidjrbratt and @Vaasetter for pointing us in the right direction as neither me or @birdbyaccident had ever seen one before 🤦‍♀️ pretty little bird, caught on closing round,back again at 6.30 tomorrow!

Wells and Holkham all day with @robertsjsmith and @davidjrbratt: Red-flanked Bluetail, 2 Pallas’s Warbler, 3 YBW, SEO, 4 Woodcock, Reed Warbler and Willow Warbler. Plenty of thrushes and finches.

Wells Woods with @robertsjsmith and @davidjrbratt. Chuffed to find a Pallas’s Warbler near the toilet block, masses of Goldcrest, Firecrest, Woodcock and Redstart.

Jack Snipe and fresh Snow Bunting from the cliff edge at Happisburgh with @norwichbirds