2026 - Spring Birding

Please find a birding summary of Spring 2026, a variety of places visited and birds seen. An inland Yorkshire Guillemot was very unexpected!

Cyprus - March

A visit at the start of the period towards the end of March 2026 was excellent. Whilst early in the season visits means some Summer migrants are not yet in or passing through, bird migration well in place with the visit offering a chance of seeing a lingering visitor. The weather helped the birding as it was dominated throughout by a low pressure system hanging about Cyprus churning up showers, variable winds with comfortable temperatures for birding.

Caught up with an overwintering Isabelline Shrike at Paphos Headland and eventually, the nearby Desert Finch. Find the Greenfinches at the headland south-east of Paphos Harbour and you had a chance of catching up with this, the 4th Desert Finch record for Cyprus. Always something to see throughout the 10 day or so visit. Of note were the numbers of Eastern Bonelli's Warblers with up to and probably in double figures on most visits to Asprokremmos "Aspro." Dam where Semi-collared Flycatchers gave birders the annual run around. The one shown below was a 'twitchable' one over at Bishop's Pool, Akrotiri. A walk out at nearby Akrotiri Plain on the first full day's birding was great, many highlights but the best was the ghostly adult male Pallid Harrier flying north. An area of scrub 1km or so north of the chapel held a variety of birds including an ever so brief Bluethroat and a probable but elusive Siberian (Caspian) Stonechat. Definite 'Caspian' Stonechats studied for longer were seen elsewhere. One visit to Paphos "Inner" Headland, the wonderful archaeological site was not disappointing, an Eastern Orphean Warbler even posed for a photograph. But with the above mentioned Isabelline Shrike, both Rock Thrushes, Finsch's Wheatear and 'Caspian' Stonechats on site, plus supporting cast of Isabelline and Eastern Black-eared Wheatears, Woodlarks, many Hoopoes, Woodchat Shrike, Rüppell's Warbler, Eastern Subalpine Warbler etc., it will always be one of the top sites to visit. Nearby Mandria on the Paphos Plain produced a much sought after Namaqua Dove, Long-eared Owl, ringtail Harriers whilst the beach held passage Black-winged Stilt and Greater Sandplover. At this location on turning around you could chance upon a Desert Wheatear and others in the dustbowl. Over to the east a single visit to the Larnaca airport area produced Audouin's Gull, Slender-billed Gulls, more Greater Sandplovers and a lone winter-plumaged Red-necked Phalarope that swam alongside a mass of Ruffs and other waders.

'Caspian' Stonechat - Paphos Headland

Semi-collared Flycatcher - Akrotiri

Namaqua Dove - Mandria

Hen Harrier - Mandria

Please click here to see the post in full for the Cyprus visit.

Please click here to view a birding video compilation from the Cyprus visit (YouTube).

Easter

Back in Yorkshire where a couple of 1st w/s Caspian Gulls lingered at Old Moor RSPB, Barnsley. Elsewhere, the moorland edge saw returning Ring Ouzels and the good numbers of Crossbills noteworthy, 47 a minimum at one site including a flock of 33. They were seen on most visits. Woodcock patrolled the skies at dusk, and this area produced my first Brambling of the winter period just gone, with a fly over on 07 April. An Osprey moved slowly north late a few days later, adding to the reliability of seeing a passage bird up the spine of the country during the first 10 days of April. Wheatear staged at one site, where 8 nearly became 7 but a pouncing Stoat missed!

Osprey (South Yorkshire)

May Bank Holidays

Again back in Yorkshire for both bank holidays. At the beginning of the month Pied Flycatchers sang about their nest boxes in the uplands and a male Redstart was heard singing in the distance at one location, sadly this song may be lost from the moorland edge as the years pass by. The most bizarre sighting was in the lowlands at the northern most part of the 'Barnsley' Area, never thought I would see a Guillemot swimming on Wintersett Reservoir! This Yorkshire Red-legged Partridge showed in almost the same pose as the Chukar from Cyprus (inset), allowing a nice comparison of the two species.

Red-legged Partridge - Yorkshire (Inset: Chukar - Cyprus)

The hot weather around the Spring Bank Holiday made birding more sedentary, Nightjars present at one site, and then it was over to Nottinghamshire where a concentrated watch at Welbeck RWP produced nice views of an Osprey moving though.

Osprey (Notts.)

Germany - June

Great birding and time spent with friends over in Baden-Württemburg. Bee-eaters showed well at one location where a Honey Buzzard glided on by. Red-backed Shrikes abundant and widespread, and as dusk fell the Song Thrushes and Nightingales quietened down and the countryside air was filled by a couple of squeaky gates, with an adult Long-eared Owl showing briefly in flight. As the visit was in early June the inhabitants of a set of marshes/pools in the rift valley kept a low profile. However, particular highlights here included nice views of Purple Heron, a lone Spoonbill, Black Kite not making friends at a Black-headed Gull colony plus White Storks circling overhead. On the ground Large Tortoiseshell and Queen of Spain Fritillaries at a grassland location, plus views of Lesser Purple Emperor and a brief Poplar Admiral elsewhere.   

Honey Buzzard (BW, Germany)

Bee-eater (BW, Germany)

Please click here to view on YouTube a video of a Honey Buzzard seen in Germany (Osprey from Nottinghamshire also shown at the beginning).

Rainham Marshes RSPB, London - throughout

Sporadic visits to this London site on the Thames by the Dartford Bridge brought birding changes throughout the season. At the end of April and into May cracking summer-plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit graced Aveley Bay, on one occasion with the commoner (at this site) Black-tailed Godwits. Continuing on a wader theme both summer-plumaged Golden and Grey Plovers present on site (9th May). Hobby showed well through the early part of the period with one still in the area at the end of May. Red Kites increased in the area with Great White Egret and Raven sightings throughout. Cuckoos lingered with a fantastic view of 'hepatic' female Cuckoo in flight with a male. The site had lots to offer with many singing Warblers throughout and Bearded Reedlings and seasonal Common Terns nice to see. Was the Curlew on the last day of Spring (20 June) an early returning bird?

Butterflies -  Green Hairstreak seen early in the season, Wall Brown emergence in early May and Marbled Whites were on the wing (20 June).

Dragonflies - Of note at least one elusive Norfolk Hawker present (31 May).

Hobby - Rainham Marshes RSPB

Cuckoo - Rainham Marshes RSPB

More average photos uploaded at 'Latest UK Bird Photos'. Please enjoy.

Birding Germany June 2026

A nice long weekend in early June visiting friends over in Baden-Württemburg, Germany, with many thanks to all for the kind hospitality.

The weather was fine, dry and comfortable temperatures for birding (ca. low 20Cs).

Waghäusel, officially known as Wagbachniederung, essentially a wetland habitat located in the rift Valley a few kms east of the Rhine in between Karlsruhe and Mannheim. Characterised by reedbeds, water meadows and basins this is a well known birding site.

Given the visit in early June many of the song birds either didn't show or were elusive. Hawfinch near the reserve entrance nice to see. Bluethroats eluded us, a Savi's Warbler 'reeled' from the reedbeds but didn't show and Marsh Warblers were very elusive in the nettlebed habitat before the 'Bluethroat' benches. Cuckoos called all over the place, but didn't see one. As in previous visits the hedgerows held Nightingales and Blackcaps and several Turtle Doves 'purred'. Red-backed Shrikes present across the reserve, and the tree-lined edge of the west and northern sides of the reserve held both heard only Short-toed Treecreeper and Golden Oriole.

Nevertheless, the areas of water reliable as always for seeing a variety of birds including both Red-crested Pochards and Common Pochards, other duck species and several Black-necked Grebes and Great Crested Grebe. A Kingfisher took the opportunity to fish from the western side and a few Purple Herons showed well about the reserve, with a wandering Great White Egret noted. Little Ringed Plovers and at least 3 Black-winged Stilts present and a mass of Black-headed Gulls plus a flyby of both Yellow-legged Gull and, more surprisingly, a Lesser Black-backed Gull. A 1st summer Little Gull played hide and seek when swimming amongst the Black-headed Gulls. As found last year a Black Kite made many unsuccessful attempts of raiding the Black-headed Gull colony. Other raptors included Marsh Harriers, Buzzard and Kestrel throughout, with a Hobby that didn't want to linger. Two sets of Raven sightings, one flying south early on during the visit, plus 4 together flying to the east of the reserve later in the afternoon. Many White Storks soaring over the reserve and the occasional visit by a group of Swifts.

Black-winged Stilt

Black Kite

Red-backed Shrike

Purple Heron

Weingartenermoor, the wet woodland nature reserve north east of Karlsruhe along the eastern edge of the rift valley hosts a bird hide overlooking a marsh fringed lake. The walk through the woodland and along the boardwalk to the bird hide produced many singing Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Chaffinches and several Great Spotted Woodpeckers. The lake was calm and yielded expected species such as Cormorant and Coot, a few ducks and with Yellow-legged Gulls wandering about (adult and 3rd summer). A Spoonbill was in the area and showed briefly but actively as it flew in to feed in the shallows.

Saalbachniederung Bruchsal, the grassland area with flooded gravel pit located a few kms to the south of Waghäusel. Great Reed Warblers sang but as Spring progresses they were more hidden than as found when visiting several weeks earlier in past years. The same could be said for Reed Warbler, and a Marsh Warbler sang from deep within the nettles. On the water were many ducks, Egyptian Geese, Mute Swans and not forgetting over 20 Category C equivalent Ruddy Shelducks. The shore held several Little Ringed Plovers and a Green Sandpiper. A Yellow-legged Gull was in the area. A most acrobatic Hobby entertained us on the way in, Kestrel around and several Black Kites and Buzzards up above. A pair of Honey Buzzards glided by and White Storks were either in the air, attending nests or feeding in the grasslands. A Large Tortoiseshell butterfly seen and nice views of Queen of Spain Fritillaries.

Grey Heron and White Stork

Queen of Spain Fritillary

Large Tortoiseshell

Honey Buzzard

White Stork

Elsewhere in Baden-Württemburg - suburban birding dominated by Black Redstarts singing from the rooftops, but where were the Serins? Countryside walks produced a nice variety of species, lots of highlights including Bee-eater sightings and Red-backed Shrikes were both widespread and territorial. Honey Buzzard seen and Red Kite seemed to be more numerous than Black Kite. White Storks commonplace and a Yellowhammer sang in the open. Redstarts sang from the canopy and the woodlands were dominated by Chiffchaff, Blackcaps and Blackbirds. Squeaky gates betrayed the presence of Long-eared Owls with an adult seen hunting at dusk, a time that Jupiter, Venus and Mercury could be seen in the western sky on a couple of clear evenings. A Tawny Owl flew from a woodland one evening and, back in the daytime, Lesser Purple Emperor butterflies showed well just before the end of the visit plus a brief look at the large Poplar Admiral. 

Honey Buzzard

Bee-eater

Lesser Purple Emperor