J Hanlon
@jahanlon.bsky.social
Cambs-based Birder & freelance ecologist
writer/ author natural history & UK vagrancy
https://sites.google.com/view/jameshanlonnaturalistecologist/books-media
www.jhanlonecology.co.uk
writer/ author natural history & UK vagrancy
https://sites.google.com/view/jameshanlonnaturalistecologist/books-media
www.jhanlonecology.co.uk
Bar-headed goose (family), Minsmere RSPB, June 2019. A slightly different subject today, as this species is not yet part of the British list. In addition to escapes, #birds likely reach us from naturalised populations in the low countries; as can be seen here they do breed, so a future Cat C?
December 7, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Bar-headed goose (family), Minsmere RSPB, June 2019. A slightly different subject today, as this species is not yet part of the British list. In addition to escapes, #birds likely reach us from naturalised populations in the low countries; as can be seen here they do breed, so a future Cat C?
Baikal Teal (Ad m) Ouse Washes, April 2019. Of the 3 UK drakes I've seen this is the one that failed to gain formal recognition from the BBRC, due to it not migrating on time. But wild vagrant or escapee, we'll never know its true origin. Such a smart bird, anyway!
December 5, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Baikal Teal (Ad m) Ouse Washes, April 2019. Of the 3 UK drakes I've seen this is the one that failed to gain formal recognition from the BBRC, due to it not migrating on time. But wild vagrant or escapee, we'll never know its true origin. Such a smart bird, anyway!
Whilst working around the Brecks since yesterday picked up some notable roadside birds - this 3rd yr Caspian gull in pig fields by the A11/A1075 roundabout, & 2 GWE just N of Chittering. Also Merlin & Gos nr Swaffham. #Birding
December 3, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Whilst working around the Brecks since yesterday picked up some notable roadside birds - this 3rd yr Caspian gull in pig fields by the A11/A1075 roundabout, & 2 GWE just N of Chittering. Also Merlin & Gos nr Swaffham. #Birding
Asian Desert Warbler, Winterton, October 2024. Around 14 or so British records so a major rarity here still.
December 3, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Asian Desert Warbler, Winterton, October 2024. Around 14 or so British records so a major rarity here still.
Arctic warbler, Wells Wood, September 2017. This location is a classic one for rare autumn Phylloscopus 'leaf' warblers and this bird was one of the showier ones. With fewer trips to the coast these days it's perhaps unsurprising I haven't seen another since. #Birds #Birding
December 2, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Arctic tern (ad), Farne Islands, August 2013. One of our longest distance migrants, travelling sometimes almost pole to pole on migration. This is an excellent location to see them though they can be aggressive & even draw blood from a peck if you get too close a nest! #Birds #Birding
December 1, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Aquatic warbler, W Sussex, Sept 2023. Much declined due to habitat loss in E Europe, this species is still mainly encountered in ringers' nets at private S coast reedbed sites in Aug/ Sept, making it difficult to catch up with. This just my 2nd after one in Cornwall in '91. #Birding
November 29, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Aquatic warbler, W Sussex, Sept 2023. Much declined due to habitat loss in E Europe, this species is still mainly encountered in ringers' nets at private S coast reedbed sites in Aug/ Sept, making it difficult to catch up with. This just my 2nd after one in Cornwall in '91. #Birding
Amur falcon, Cornwall, August 2017. E Asian counterpart of the more regular Red-footed falcon, this species migrates long distance to Southern Africa in vast flocks. Far from home, this individual constituted just the 2nd (& most recent) UK record. #Birds #Twitching
November 28, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Amur falcon, Cornwall, August 2017. E Asian counterpart of the more regular Red-footed falcon, this species migrates long distance to Southern Africa in vast flocks. Far from home, this individual constituted just the 2nd (& most recent) UK record. #Birds #Twitching
American Royal tern (3rd cal yr), Co Kerry, August 2016.
Royal tern was split into this species & W African Crested Tern in 2020. Differing from its congener mainly on different bill structure, the latter is yet to be recorded in the UK but has since made it at least as close as France. #Birds
Royal tern was split into this species & W African Crested Tern in 2020. Differing from its congener mainly on different bill structure, the latter is yet to be recorded in the UK but has since made it at least as close as France. #Birds
November 26, 2025 at 2:04 PM
American Royal tern (3rd cal yr), Co Kerry, August 2016.
Royal tern was split into this species & W African Crested Tern in 2020. Differing from its congener mainly on different bill structure, the latter is yet to be recorded in the UK but has since made it at least as close as France. #Birds
Royal tern was split into this species & W African Crested Tern in 2020. Differing from its congener mainly on different bill structure, the latter is yet to be recorded in the UK but has since made it at least as close as France. #Birds
Reposted by J Hanlon
Last night the Government pulled the rug out from under what little nature remains in the UK. Please tell your MP that this is not OK! #Planning&InfrastructureBill #P&IBill
action.rspb.org.uk/page/180990/...
action.rspb.org.uk/page/180990/...
Tell the UK Government they must do better for nature!
I've just emailed my MP to tell them what nature means to me and that I want it to stay protected. Will you take action too?
action.rspb.org.uk
November 25, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Last night the Government pulled the rug out from under what little nature remains in the UK. Please tell your MP that this is not OK! #Planning&InfrastructureBill #P&IBill
action.rspb.org.uk/page/180990/...
action.rspb.org.uk/page/180990/...
American Redstart (female), Barra, September 2017. A major UK rarity with just a handful of records. Sometimes there isn't time to get a good photo. I arrived with barely an hour's daylight available, the bird at distance & the light already poor. Still a right bobby dazzler! #Birds #Twitching
November 24, 2025 at 11:31 AM
American Redstart (female), Barra, September 2017. A major UK rarity with just a handful of records. Sometimes there isn't time to get a good photo. I arrived with barely an hour's daylight available, the bird at distance & the light already poor. Still a right bobby dazzler! #Birds #Twitching
American pipit, Queen Mother Res, December 2012. A v showy individual of what's an annual autumn vagrant these days. Its sister species Siberian pipit (A japonicus) is unrecorded here tho' widely predicted to occur. The 2 were formerly considered conspecific under the name Buff-bellied pipit. #Birds
November 23, 2025 at 12:01 PM
American pipit, Queen Mother Res, December 2012. A v showy individual of what's an annual autumn vagrant these days. Its sister species Siberian pipit (A japonicus) is unrecorded here tho' widely predicted to occur. The 2 were formerly considered conspecific under the name Buff-bellied pipit. #Birds
American herring gull (2nd cal yr), Newlyn, April 2021. An obliging and rather pale bird, perhaps originating from quite a high latitude. Ireland & this area of West Cornwall produce annual sightings of this species in its more obvious immature plumages but it remains v rare across most of Britain.
November 22, 2025 at 11:34 AM
American herring gull (2nd cal yr), Newlyn, April 2021. An obliging and rather pale bird, perhaps originating from quite a high latitude. Ireland & this area of West Cornwall produce annual sightings of this species in its more obvious immature plumages but it remains v rare across most of Britain.
New #cetacean species for Ireland - Narwhal found on beach last weekend in Donegal (sadly deceased but may have live-stranded; nb graphic pics)
iwdg.ie/narwhal-a-ne...
iwdg.ie/narwhal-a-ne...
Narwhal – A new whale species for Ireland washes up in Co Donegal | Irish Whale and Dolphin Group
A species of whale, never before recorded in Ireland, washed up in Co Donegal last weekend. A small 2-3m whale or dolphin was reported to the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group stranded on Sweet Nellies Be...
iwdg.ie
November 21, 2025 at 3:04 PM
New #cetacean species for Ireland - Narwhal found on beach last weekend in Donegal (sadly deceased but may have live-stranded; nb graphic pics)
iwdg.ie/narwhal-a-ne...
iwdg.ie/narwhal-a-ne...
American coot, Loch Flemington, Highland. March 2014. Think there's been less than a dozen records of these. This was part of a great (but v long) day out in Scotland that also produced an American herring gull and a lekking male Capercaillie.
November 20, 2025 at 4:47 PM
American coot, Loch Flemington, Highland. March 2014. Think there's been less than a dozen records of these. This was part of a great (but v long) day out in Scotland that also produced an American herring gull and a lekking male Capercaillie.
American bittern, Carlton Marshes, April 2018. A major rarity that showed really well to many visitors at this great new reserve, though it kept its distance the day I visited. #Birding #Twitching
November 19, 2025 at 11:01 AM
American bittern, Carlton Marshes, April 2018. A major rarity that showed really well to many visitors at this great new reserve, though it kept its distance the day I visited. #Birding #Twitching
Reposted by J Hanlon
We need to ensure our elected officials are acting on the best intelligence when it comes to tackling the climate crisis . It's why I'm opening the National Emergency Briefing on 27 November , ensure your MP is attending at nebriefing.org
November 18, 2025 at 6:53 PM
We need to ensure our elected officials are acting on the best intelligence when it comes to tackling the climate crisis . It's why I'm opening the National Emergency Briefing on 27 November , ensure your MP is attending at nebriefing.org
Alpine swift, Walthamstow Wetlands, March 2023. Not my finest photographic effort - I've struggled to get a decent pic despite seeing 6 including one once down to about 6ft! But good to see one in London's East End where I grew up & cut my #birding teeth
November 18, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Alpine swift, Walthamstow Wetlands, March 2023. Not my finest photographic effort - I've struggled to get a decent pic despite seeing 6 including one once down to about 6ft! But good to see one in London's East End where I grew up & cut my #birding teeth
Alpine accentor (ad), Slaughden, Suffolk. October 2022. 32 yrs after my 1st on the Isle of Wight. A mostly winter & spring vagrant to the SE / E Anglia with a few dozen records nationally. #birding #twitching
November 17, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Alpine accentor (ad), Slaughden, Suffolk. October 2022. 32 yrs after my 1st on the Isle of Wight. A mostly winter & spring vagrant to the SE / E Anglia with a few dozen records nationally. #birding #twitching