Mike Buckland
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mcbuckland.bsky.social
Mike Buckland
@mcbuckland.bsky.social
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mcbuckland.bsky.social
The Taiga Bean Goose at North Point, Norfolk is a female, based on size and its passive behaviour. Birdguides continue to report as ‘Probable’ despite acknowledging “For all intents and purposes, the bird resembles a female Taiga Bean Goose.” in their weekly round-up. #NorfolkBirding
Female Taiga Bean Goose (left) beside a feral, some might say ‘oven ready’ Greylag Goose. The wedge shaped head, high and forward eye and long, relatively narrow bill all point to an ID of Taiga.
January 6, 2026 at 11:04 AM
mcbuckland.bsky.social
Was amazing to watch the Eastern Black Redstart at Sheringham trying to kill, swallow and digest a large Sea Slater Ligia oceanica on Sunday am #NorfolkBirding
A brightly plumaged Eastern Black Redstart at Sheringham, Norfolk catches a Sea Slater, a large, woodlouse-like crustacean found on rocky shores. It spent more than five minutes passifying and dispatching its meal before trying to swallow it. Clearly a difficult snack it sat with its bill pointing skyward and wide open as it tried to force down the bug before sitting uncomfortably on the groyne for several more minutes trying to digest it. If it can deal with the discomfort there is an endless supply of Sea Slaters along the sea defences.
December 30, 2025 at 6:37 PM
mcbuckland.bsky.social
After being away from Norfolk for perhaps the most bird productive five December days ever I was relieved to catch up on some great seasonal birding on an amazing Sunday. Black-bellied Dipper, Eastern Black Redstart, 35+ Common Cranes, Glossy Ibis and Black-shouldered Kite #NorfolkBirding
Common Cranes, Glossy Ibis and Black-shouldered Kite at Ludham Bridge and St Benets Abbey, Black-bellied Dipper at Bintree and Eastern Black Redstart at Sheringham. Norfolk is rocking this Christmas!
December 30, 2025 at 5:34 PM
mcbuckland.bsky.social
A comparison of Hume’s Leaf Warbler (Wells Woods), left, and Yellow-browed Warbler (Holkham), right, from the last two days. Subtle but distinctive differences between these two similar Phylloscopus species supported by their quite different calls. #NorfolkBirding
Hume’s Leaf Warbler (left two) and Yellow-browed Warbler (right two) showing the subtle but distinctive differences between plumage tones and patterns.
November 27, 2025 at 6:58 PM
mcbuckland.bsky.social
Some great views of Divers at Wells-next-the-Sea over high tide this morning included a juvenile Great-northern and a couple of Red-throated nearby. #NorfolkBirding
Juvenile Red-throated Diver shows a typically white face and gently upturned bill Juvenile Great-northern Diver, big, dark with a bulbous forehead and dagger-like bill. The square block on the side of its neck also distinctive Divers spend a lot of time under salt water and therefore frequently flap their wings to dry off
November 27, 2025 at 6:35 PM
mcbuckland.bsky.social
Hume’s Leaf Warbler is a variable bird. The 3 currently inhabiting Holkham NNR all look different. The two I found on 16th: a grey/greenish rather scruffy bird (top left), & a buff/cream clean bird (top right) & Ash Saunders’ Wells bird is grey with contrasting green secondary edges #NorfolkBirding
Three Hume’s Leaf Warblers are currently inhabiting the Holkham NNR and unlike the consistent looking Yellow-browed Warbler show a variety of plumage tones, which seem to change tone in different lights and at different angles. Of the two in Holkham Pines one is grey/greenish above and a bit scruffy (top left), one is buff/cream and clean (top right), and the bird at Wells (bottom) is grey above with lovely contrasting yellow/greenish secondary edges and a pale central crown. Such lovely birds well worth putting in effort to see.
November 27, 2025 at 6:28 PM
mcbuckland.bsky.social
Yesterday with Sibe Phylloscs all around the best I could find was a late Willow Warbler. Today at Holkham I made up for it: first up a Hume’s was soon followed by a Pallas’s and concluded when they were joined in a flock by a Yellow-browed, a Sibe Chiff, a Firecrest & 3 Chiffchaff! #NorfolkBirding
A Hume’s Leaf Warbler showing its distinctive muted shades, buffy supercilium and wing bars was joined in a flock at Holkham Pines in Norfolk by a Pallas’s Warbler, a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Siberian Chiffchaff, 3 Common Chiffchaffs and a Firecrest! Norfolk November birding at its best.
November 16, 2025 at 6:33 PM
mcbuckland.bsky.social
After hearing the American Golden Plover was showing well I popped in to Titchwell but it had gone missing. Managed to find it distantly showing just its head above a bank before the flock flushed and it landed close to the path. Four hurried phone scoped shots later it was gone. #NorfolkBirding
The juvenile American Golden Plover at Titchwell RSPB briefly lands beside a roosting Northern Lapwing on the saltmarsh beside the main path. The darker, greyer plumage, small size, long wings and bright white supercilium contrast with the more golden European Golden Plovers it is associating with. A distant, cropped and out of focus phone scope shot which captures the dark grey underwings of the juvenile American Golden Plover, contrasting with the bright white underwings of its European cousins.
November 10, 2025 at 8:56 PM
mcbuckland.bsky.social
Two Isabelline Wheatears today and a Desert Wheatear yesterday. So just how lucky were @jameslowenwild.bsky.social and me when late this afternoon we found a Northern Wheatear beside the golf course at Brancaster 😢 #NorfolkBirding
November 9, 2025 at 5:51 PM
mcbuckland.bsky.social
A nice end to what had been a fairly quiet walk around Warham Greens when I got back to North Point and in very quick succession a Yellow-browed Warbler was quickly upstaged by a calling Dusky Warbler #NorfolkBirding #UKBirding
A Yellow-browed Warbler quickly moving along a coastal hedge at Warham Greens showing a double wing bar and long supercilium A very elusive Dusky Warbler eventually gives a brief view. Mainly heard ‘tacking’ and ‘tucking’ from a dense Ivy and Bramble hedgerow behind North Point Pools A very elusive Dusky Warbler eventually gives a brief view. Mainly heard ‘tacking’ and ‘tucking’ from a dense Ivy and Bramble hedgerow behind North Point Pools A very elusive Dusky Warbler eventually gives a brief view. Mainly heard ‘tacking’ and ‘tucking’ from a dense Ivy and Bramble hedgerow behind North Point Pools
November 8, 2025 at 5:50 PM
mcbuckland.bsky.social
Has anyone got or seen a photo of the 5x reported adult female Pallid Harrier around Warham Greens and North Point over the last 10 days? #NorfolkBirding #UKBirding
October 27, 2025 at 6:37 PM
mcbuckland.bsky.social
This gorgeous Jack Snipe was hunkered down out of the wind while trying to warm up in the morning sunshine outside Bishop’s Hide at Cley NWT. #NorfolkBirding
October 26, 2025 at 4:33 PM
mcbuckland.bsky.social
This beast of a juvenile Glaucous Gull was patrolling the Cley beach this morning, giving several close fly pasts as it searched the tideline for food. #NorfolkBirding
October 26, 2025 at 4:30 PM
mcbuckland.bsky.social
The cruelty of bird migration laid bare at Cley this morning as a tired Woodcock reached the end of its sea crossing to be met by a hungry Peregrine. Knocked into the water the Woodcock ultimately succumbed to the rough breakers while the Peregrine left with just a tail feather. #NorfolkBirding
A Eurasian Woodcock, intricately marked in hues of brown, reaches the beach at Cley after a lengthy sea crossing in rough winds only to be met by a hunting Peregrine. The Peregrine knocked the Woodcock into the sea where it initially floated while the Falcon tried to pick off its prize, but ultimately lost its life in the surf The juvenile Peregirne Falcon gives up on the hapless Woodcock and leaves with just a tail feather as a reminder of its efforts.
October 26, 2025 at 4:26 PM
mcbuckland.bsky.social
Still (sadly) at least that annoying Sparrowhawk won’t be chasing any more migrant passerines that arrive here exhausted. Looks like it lost a scrap with the local Peregrine! #norfolkbirding
October 8, 2025 at 7:47 PM
mcbuckland.bsky.social
It was like AI birding today. I got exactly what I asked for, but not quite what I had in mind… an offtrack oddity blown of course and sheltering under a coastal bush 😫 #norfolkbirding
October 8, 2025 at 7:45 PM
mcbuckland.bsky.social
While clearing rubbish I happened upon an interesting looking, camouflaged, fast and tiny spider. I was surprised to learn I’d seen a Sand Running-Spider, Rhysodromus fallax, a Nationally Rare and Threatened Arachnid, found only at a few sites in coastal Norfolk and Wales @norfolknats.bsky.social
The tiny and highly camouflaged Sand Running-Spider Rhysodromus fallax is almost invisible when stationary. It moves very quickly running briefly before pausing and its markings blend incredibly with the sand.
October 1, 2025 at 7:29 PM
mcbuckland.bsky.social
Today was largely spent clearing rubbish from East Hills. Some was the inevitable flotsam from fishing boats, but so much left by inconsiderate visitors - I don’t understand why people go to enjoy the beauty of a place only to leave all their rubbish for others to ‘enjoy’ (and clear up!).
October 1, 2025 at 7:17 PM
mcbuckland.bsky.social
Lovely views of the juvenile Red-backed Shrike between Stiffkey and Morston yesterday afternoon. A very confiding individual with patience. #NorfolkBirding
A juvenile Red-backed Shrike sat in an Elder in the sunshine
October 1, 2025 at 7:13 PM
mcbuckland.bsky.social
An evening walk at Holkham produced my first flock of Pink-footed Geese for the autumn, but the surprising highlight was this stunning ‘Silver’ Hare near Meals House!
September 20, 2025 at 7:02 AM
mcbuckland.bsky.social
My last collage from Japan. Yellow Bunting in the forests at Karuizawa, Japanese Green Pheasant at Narita, Japanese Accentor on Mount Fuji and Ryukyu Green Pigeon on Amami. Read more at travellingbirder.blogspot.com
A male Yellow Bunting singing in the wonderful forests at Karuizawa when we eventually located him, a surprisingly showy Japanese Green Pheasant, the subtly attractive Japanese Accentor on the slopes of the iconic Mount Fuji and a Ryukyu Green Pigeon enjoying a light shower on Amami.
August 18, 2025 at 4:58 PM
mcbuckland.bsky.social
Locustella Warblers in Japan, easily heard but a particularly challenging group to see: Middendorf’s Grasshopper Warbler, Sakhalin Grasshopper Warbler and Styan’s Grasshopper Warbler. We also heard many Lanceolated Warblers but never saw even a feather! Read more at travellingbirder.blogspot.com
Middendorf’s, Sakhalin and Styan’s Grasshopper Warblers were all seen eventually on the Spring tour of Japan. A skulky, challenging group of birds by any standard.
August 18, 2025 at 4:52 PM
mcbuckland.bsky.social
Some interesting Phylloscopus Warblers on the Japan spring tour: Ijima’s Leaf Warbler, Sakhalin Leaf Warbler, Japanese Leaf Warbler (x2 images) and Eastern Crowned Warbler all seen and more importantly heard very well. Read more at travellingbirder.blogspot.com
Phylloscopus Leaf Warblers seen and heard around Japan in Spring 2025 were Ijima’s Leaf Warbler, Sakhalin Leaf Warbler, Japanese Leaf Warbler and Eastern Crowner Warbler.
August 18, 2025 at 7:34 AM
mcbuckland.bsky.social
A night drive on Amami produced some unexpected birds roosting along the overhead cables: Lidth’s Jays, Amami Thrush and Ruddy Kingfisher while we searched the road for Amami Woodcocks. Read more at travellingbirder.blogspot.com
Lidth’s Jay glows purple and blue in the torchlight, Amami Theusb high up on cables and a dazzling Ruddy Kingfisher showing a purple sheen across its back, with the target Amami Woodcock finally giving great views on the road.
August 17, 2025 at 9:14 PM
mcbuckland.bsky.social
Japanese Scops Owl, Ryukyu Scops Owl and the imposing Blakiston’s Fish Owl from a late Spring tour of Japan. Read more at travellingbirder.blogspot.com
The bright orange eyes of the Japanese Scops Owl shine in the torchlight, a very relaxed Ryukyu Scops Owl sitting calmly at its day roost and the huge and imposing Blakiston’s Fish Owl catching fish in a small stream.
August 17, 2025 at 6:44 AM