July, it was summer but this month is the start of autumn birding. Returning waders heading south for the autumn/winter anticipated and at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London Black-tailed Godwits numbered slowly increased, Curlew back on the Aveley Bay shore and other noteworthy sightings were Whimbrel (3) towards the end of the month and a handful of Green Sandpipers from mid-month. Also expected at this time was a build- up of Yellow-legged Gulls including several juvs. Great White Egret regular on site (5 on 19th). Yellow Wagtails regular and a fresh juv. Stonechat (20th) suggested local breeding. In the air Marsh Harriers showed well with what appeared to be a 1st summer Hobby that would prove to linger, Red Kite and Peregrine sightings logged. Raven present in the area. Of summer visitors Sand Martins gave nice views and Yellow Wagtails could be glimpsed on occasion. Towards the end of the month both juv. and adult Mediterranean Gulls were on the shore across the Thames at Erith.
August, much the same in terms of continuing returning waders along the Thames at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London and across at Erith. Greenshank added to the list (2nd), and a skittish flock of Turnstones (6 on 16th) nice to see after a squally shower. Nearby along the Thamesmead Peninsula a group of Ringed Plovers (8) seen on the same date. A handful of Yellow-legged Gulls noted in the area throughout, with an adult colour-ringed Mediterranean Gull (Red – PLET - Poland) present on Erith Causeway (10th).
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| Mediterranean Gull |
Back on the moorland edge of the Peak District at the end of the month Red Kite and Hobby noted, as was a wide ranging passage Marsh Harrier. Crossbills regular about the evergreen fringed reservoirs and Nightjars remained late in the month. Sign of autumn being a passage juv. Wheatear along a moorland Clough, Yellow Wagtails following Cattle before heading off south for the winter. In the South Yorkshire lowlands 2 eclipse drake Red-crested Pochard seen at Broomhill Flash, Barnsley, which held Wood Sandpiper (2) and juv. Garganey (26th).
September, and early in the month the Peak District moorland edge still produced Hobby sightings, and also of its smaller feisty cousin. On the 5th both Swallows (110+) and House Martins (50+) headed south. Back on the theme of raptors wasn’t expecting the addition of a Lancaster Bomber to the raptors seen about the Peak District moorland edge. One flew west on the 5th. Nearby, an Osprey flew south at speed heading towards Sheffield the following day, also saw Swift and Whimbrel heading south plus my first Ring Ouzel of the year rattling away moving down a moorland Beck. Still early in the month Old Moor RSPB, Barnsley, showed why it is, arguably, one of the best places to attract and watch passage waders in the country offering a variety of species including double figures of Greenshank and a handful of Ruff. Spoonbill (3 on 3rd), 2 elusive Mandarin Ducks, a couple of Hobby sightings and Marsh Harrier noted as was both adult Yellow-legged Gull and Caspian Gull on the 4th. Now, of the Gulls along the River Don, Sheffield a classic juv to 1st winter Caspian Gull (Yellow P:A2N – ringed in Poland and assigned to species) and another similar aged (Yellow P:OSR - ringed in Poland but not assigned to species), both allowed for good study at times alongside a similar aged Yellow-legged Gull, that earlier took delight in biting any gull that got close to it. Please scroll down the blog for a detailed blog post of the Gulls.
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| Greenshank |
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| Caspian Gull |
Back at Rainham Marshes, RSPB, London presumably the continuing 1st summer type Hobby remained until just short of mid-month and the nearby Thamesmead Peninsula held a Caspian Gull acquiring 2nd winter plumage with immature Yellow-legged Gulls still present.
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| Caspian Gull |
Birding Cyprus in late September was essentially Birding Akrotiri focussing on the raptor migration. Please scroll down the blog for a detailed blog post. In brief, it was excellent, of the order of 20 species of raptor seen and the Honey Buzzards were very showy. Two watchpoints visited, mornings at the Water Tower watching raptors leave the Phassouri Forest Hotel and then the Beehives to watch others check in there during the afternoon. The afternoon of Tuesday 23 September 2025 was particularly spectacular, raptors still coming in to roost at 5.30pm when there is usually a drop off in numbers from 4pm. Arguably 1000 Honey Buzzards in, stopped counting early at 460 to simply take in the spectacle of a sky constantly full of raptors with clear movement in from the north. 2 Booted Eagles in noteworthy, a Lesser Spotted Eagle, Bonelli’s Eagles and several ringtail Harriers, some identified as Montagu’s or Pallid and others rightfully left as “Pallid/Monty’s”. Red-footed Falcon, Hobby and Eleonora’s Falcon could be relied upon as could a juv. Black-winged Kite, a scarce visitor to Cyprus, that surveyed all from its perch near Akrotiri Marsh. Away from the raptors, finally caught up with a White-throated Kingfisher on Cyprus, what an amazing species!
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| Honey Buzzard |
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| Booted Eagle |
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| White-throated Kingfisher |
October, and back at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London where Great White Egret continued. Rock Pipits (2 on 11th) served as a reminder that winter was around the corner.
Just after mid-month back on the Peak District moorland edge and a movement of Pink-footed Geese (ca. 600 in 5 skeins on 19th) always nice to see. Both Peregrine and Sparrowhawk took an interest in Fieldfares and Redwing fresh in moving through from berry bush to berry bush, with one Fieldfare falling victim to a Sparrowhawk sortie. At one location a spectacular flock of Redpoll (350+) graced the top of a shallow moorland valley, and allowed for good scope views for which all seen well were ‘Lesser Redpoll’. Crossbills again showed on a couple of visits, seemingly becoming regular after a few recent lean years.
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| Pink-footed Geese |
November, and at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London an impressive flock of nearly 500 Black-tailed Godwits look set to winter. A Brent Goose (16th) and Grey Plover (23rd) at Aveley Bay were nice to see, Avocets continued as did Marsh Harriers (up to 6) and at least 3 Red Kites, a species which seems to be regular here now. Yellow-legged Gull present and both Water Pipit and Grey Wagtail seen on most visits. Ended the month twitching in London the returning (with a 2 winter absence) adult Caspian Gull at Eagle Pond, Snaresbrook and Lesser Scaup, (Greater) Scaup, Great Northern Diver and a few Black-necked Grebes at Staines Reservoirs on the same day (30th).
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| Caspian Gull |
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| Scaup |
Into December, and before the Winter Solstice, Water Pipit continued at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London which held a colour-ringed Black-tailed Godwit amongst 250 others and a lone Bar-tailed Godwit (20th). Thamesmead Peninsula revealed at least 3 Common Sandpipers on the 7th with 3 adult winter Yellow-legged Gulls and an adult winter Caspian Gull present on the same date.
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| Caspian Gull |
More average photos uploaded at 'Latest UK Bird Photos'. Please enjoy.
