After the LTS, I headed to Belvide where @belvidebirding.bsky.social had found a Stone Curlew. Only my 2nd in Staffs(the other in ‘old’ Staffs). A little distant in haze but an amazing record. A nice backup with juv BN Grebe, 2nd s YL Gull, Blackwit & Turnstone.

Up early this morning & instead of checking the local patch made the pretty short journey down to the Gloucs/Oxon border to see the Long-Tailed Shrike. Great views despite the bright conditions. Unbelievable to think I saw the 2nd for Britain in Fife a couple of weeks ago

Early morning check of Gailey Res produced 2 Great Egrets roosting amongst 5+Littles. Also Common Tern up to 7 including 2 juvs #staffsbirds

Quick after work visit to Gailey Res produced 4 Little Egrets with as feeding 3 young still. It appears the first family have now fledged. Also pr Oyc, Common Sand, & juv Common Gull #staffsbirds

Early morning check of Gailey Res produced more good news with a 2nd successful Little Egret nest. Adult feeding 3 very downy young. At least 8 birds present including the other family. Also noted 1st s Common Gull, 2 Common Tern, pr Oyc with chick and family of Grey Wags(3juvs). #staffsbirds

A few hours at Gailey Res this morning produced 4 Little Egret inc the 3 juvs, the 3 Blk T Godwit flew East shortly after seeing them, & a pair of Oyc with another chick. Still dreaming of a Staffs Little Bittern 😁 #staffsbirds

Chuffed that the Fife LT Shrike lingered yday. Many thanks to Andy Lawson for relocating late on 👍

Good news from Gailey Res this morning with a pair of Little Egret successfully nesting for the first time here with 3 well grown young m. Also present 5 Oyc, 2 Common Sand, & 2 Common Tern. On the Odonata front, Lesser Emperor showing nicely along the dam #staffsbirds

Family walk from home over the old Littleton Pit site & Shoal Hill was nice in the warm weather. Still plenty of warblers in song inc Garden,Whitethroat, Willow & Reed. A few butterfly sp noted with Ringlet, Large Skipper, & Small Heaths. Also numerous common orchids and including a few Bee Orchids.

After work dash to Blithfield produced the fine Caspian Tern at the top of Blithe Bay. Mostly chilling but also a few nice flight views. A fine & well deserved find by GJM. At one point the 1st s Caspian Gull almost came along side the tern. Also Ruddy Shelduck, 2 Pintail, Curlew #staffsbirds

Between heron watching stints, I went to Penmon Point. Lots of birds inc Shags,Kittiwakes, 10+Sarnie Terns,7+Black Guillemots,sev Puffin with other auks,2 Chough. A quick visit to a windy South Stack saw the lingering Woodchat & more Chough.Also a coffee break on way home saw Dipper & male Pied Fly.

An excellent day in NW Wales. Great views of the Western Reef Heron in Caernarfon Harbour early morning and again early afternoon on a return visit. Very relieved this first for Britain lingered after not being able to go yesterday

Morning walk with the parents for a few miles along the coastline through desert steppe. Pretty quiet for birds in windy conditions. A few Cory’s Shears offshore, Southern Grey Shrike & the ubiquitous Spanish Sparrows & Red-Vented Bulbuls. Also noted Atlantic Lizards & Barbary Ground Squirrels

Birds aside, highlight of today was the impeccable behaviour of my little partner in crime. Helping my dad over rocky ground & ensuring we all had food & drink. Dave is the bomb ❤️

Sat with the family having a drink and Spanish Sparrows feeding around our feet. The commonest bird on Fuerteventura but one I really quite like.

On drive back to hotel, we stopped off at the coastal village of La Pared. Another cracking spot with sev Cory’s Shearwaters passing close inshore & entertaining Barbary Ground Squirrels.

We then made the short drive to the Barranco de los Molinos. A really beautiful wild location. Absolute highlight was a family of 4 Fuerteventura Stonechats showing very well.

Hired a car today and took the family to Embalse de los Molinos. Superb scenery and very birdy. 60 Ruddy Shelduck, 2 ‘Barbary’ Peregrines, 2 Egyptian Vultures, 10 BW Stilts, 20 Black-Bellied Sandgrouse, 2 Hoopoes, sev Southern Grey Shrikes, 5 Berthelots Pipits, 7 Lesser ST Larks, 2 Trumpeter Finch

A very windy day on Fuerteventura. Just a short walk from the hotel was hard work with the weather. Nevertheless Berthelot’s Pipit located and good to hear the distinctive call. Some impressive desert scenery

After a delayed flight y’day,nice to take it easy today on Fuerteventura.Spanish Sparrows everywhere but more interesting were 3 African Sacred Ibis & sev Red-Vented Bulbuls. Naturalised escapes which are now part of the avifauna here. Also,always entertaining to see the Barbary Ground Squirrels

Couple of hours at Belvide this afternoon with Dave was thoroughly enjoyable. The 1st s Bonaparte’s Gull again gave great views. Also noted Red Kite, ringed 1st s Caspian Gull, 2 YL Gull(ringed 2nd s & 3rd s), ad Med Gull, plenty of warblers singing #staffsbirds

Early morning visit to Gailey Res produced 2 Egyptian Geese, Common Tern, 4 Oyc + 2 young, Common Sand, 2 Yellow Wag, 7 Reed Wblr, Garden Wblr. Also at nearby WMI off Gravelly Way 2 LRP #staffsbirds

Belvide does it again! The smart 1st s Bonaparte’s Gull gave some nice flight views but even better when it landed on the Chappell bund. 30 years since my last and only other in Staffs! Also BN Grebe & drk Scaup as a nice back up #staffsbirds

At Gailey Res this morning Osprey N(per earlier report), pr Oyc with 2 young, 5 Common Sand, Spot Fly, sev Reed Wblr, Sedge Wblr #staffsbirds

With a bit of time spare before a family birthday celebration, no better way to spend an hour enjoying one of my favourite migrants the Wood Wblr. Outstanding views of a very vocal individual. Doesn’t get much better!

A few hours at Belvide this evening. After a couple of brief views, the Great Reed Wblr finally gave itself up on top of an oak tree! One of the most random sightings I’ve had in Staffs. Also BN Grebe, drk Mandarin, sev Common Terns, & plenty of Garden, Reed & Sedge Wblrs #staffsbirds

Did Blithfield 05:00-15:00. A proper good mooch by our small team of 5 reached 98 species so far. Other members still on site #westmidsalldayer

And so it begins. Dawn at Blithfield. Good luck to all participating in today’s #westmidsalldayer

Couple of hours at Blithfield this evening with GJM produced c50 Arctic Terns & 20+Commons. Always a thrill seeing these migrants heading northbound #staffsbirds

Couple of hours at Belvide this evening was bliss and had the place to myself. 2 Wood Sand on the N shore & BN Grebe off the dam still. Also present drk Mandarin, 1st s Med Gull, 2 Common Tern, sev LRP, 2 juv Tawny, Swift, confiding Garden Wblr & plenty of Reed & Sedge Wblrs #staffsbirds