##RarebirdsUK
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ukraritiesdaybyday.bsky.social
February 1st: 🧾

There were seventeen (17) accepted records on this day... 😃

#UKrares
#rarebirdsUK
#UKbirding
A winter adult Bonaparte's Gull in Glamorgan in Cardiff Heliport/ R. Taff/ Cardiff Bay area in 2015 - ©John Fordham, many thanks. 👍🏻 A 1st winter Spotted Sandpiper in Dorset at Stanpit Marsh, Christchurch Harbour in 2012 - ©Andrew Jordan, many thanks. 👍🏻
February 1, 2026 at 8:44 AM
ukraritiesdaybyday.bsky.social
February First Records! 🥇

There were five (5) accepted first records logged this month... 😃

#UKrares
#rarebirdsUK
#UKbirding
Steller's Eider - ©Ray Hennessey Forster's Tern - ©Jonathan Irons Franklin's Gull - ©David Vander Pluym American Herring Gull - ©Unknown
February 1, 2026 at 8:36 AM
ukraritiesdaybyday.bsky.social
February 1st: 🧾

Around 255 species and 40 subspecies were reported in the UK in January... 😃

Some of the highlights were: Black-winged Kite, Northern Harrier, Killdeer, Zitting Cisticola, Tengmalm's Owl, Siberian Thrush, Baikal Teal and Red-flanked Bluetail. 😉

#UKrares
#rarebirdsUK
#UKbirding
©Gary Wotton, many thanks. 👍🏻 ©Ochruros KayD, many thanks. 👍🏻 ©Brian Small, many thanks. 👍🏻
February 1, 2026 at 8:24 AM
atmylifeoutside.bsky.social
Really nice views of the Baikal Teal from Castell Ddu this morning. Initially feared another dip with no Wigeon flock in sight but looks like it’s teamed up with the Mallards, likewise a lone Wigeon. Had begun to think this bird had a vendetta against me! #birdingWales #rareBirdsUK #birdsSeenIn2026
January 31, 2026 at 6:59 PM
hughharrop.bsky.social
Lovely views of the long-staying drake American Wigeon in the Ringasta / Brow area of the south Mainland of Shetland this week.

#BirdingScotland #UKbirding #RareBirdsUK #UKWildlife #Birds
January 31, 2026 at 6:55 PM
yeovilbirder.bsky.social
A very good day out around East Anglia. Much better views of Zitting Cisticola than I had back in August, plus Black-winged Kite, Eastern Black Redstart, Bittern, Cranes and Spotted Redshanks #ukbirding #rarebirdsuk
Zitting Cisticola - Walberswick Eastern Black Redstart - Sherringham Black-winged Kite - Hickling Broad
January 31, 2026 at 4:14 PM
wildfozzy.bsky.social
The long staying Red-Crested Pochard at @rspb.bsky.social St Aidan's showed very well in the afternoon sun shortly after New Years.

By far our best view of one!

@unsociable-lapwing.bsky.social #UKWildlife #YorkshireWildlife #Wildlife #YorkshireBirding #BirdingUK #RareBirdsUK 🪶
Netta rufina Netta rufina
January 31, 2026 at 4:05 PM
atmylifeoutside.bsky.social
Baikal Teal! Finally! At our fourth attempt. Currently showing very well from Castell Ddu, roosting with a single Wigeon and several Mallards on the opposite bank. #birdingWales #rareBirdsUK
January 31, 2026 at 12:30 PM
ukraritiesdaybyday.bsky.social
January 31st: 🧾

There were twenty-two (22) accepted records on this day... 😃

#UKrares
#rarebirdsUK
#UKbirding
A winter adult Franklin's Gull in Hertfordshire at Amwell NR in 2016 - ©Barry Reed, many thanks. 👍🏻 An immature Gyr Falcon on Orkney in Newark Bay, Deerness in 2013 - ©Tim Wootton, many thanks. 👍🏻
January 31, 2026 at 7:57 AM
ukraritiesdaybyday.bsky.social
January 30th: 🧾

There were nineteen (19) accepted records on this day... 😃

#UKrares
#rarebirdsUK
#UKbirding
One of two Cackling Geese in Argyll on Islay in 2010 - ©Steve Percival, many thanks. 👍🏻 A 2nd winter male King Eider on Shetland at Bluemull Sound in 2022 - ©Robbie Brookes, many thanks. 👍🏻 An adult Paddyfield Warbler in W. Sussex in Pagham Harbour, in 2012 - ©Trevor Guy, many thanks. 👍🏻
January 30, 2026 at 7:31 AM
ukraritiesdaybyday.bsky.social
January 29th: 🧾

There were sixteen (16) accepted records on this day... 😃

#UKrares
#rarebirdsUK
#UKbirding
A 1st winter male Black-throated Thrush in Cambridgeshire at Werrington, Peterborough in 1996 - ©Paul Gale, many thanks. 👍🏻 A 1st winter male Pine Grosbeak on Shetland at North Collafirth in 2013 - ©Steve Minton, many thanks. 👍🏻 An adult winter Ross''s Gull in Aberdeenshire at Peterhead in 2005 - ©Steve Whitehouse, many thanks. 👍🏻
January 29, 2026 at 8:26 AM
ukraritiesdaybyday.bsky.social
January 28th: 🧾

There were seventeen (17) accepted records on this day... 😃

#UKrares
#rarebirdsUK
#UKbirding
A 1st winter Long-billed Dowitcher in Cheshire at Inner Marsh Farm in 2003 - ©Steve Williams. An adult Ross's Gull in S. Devon at Blackstone Meadow, Plym Estuary in 2002 - ©George Reszeter. A juvenile Thayer's Gull in Hampshire in the Ibsley Water/ Tidpit Down/ Martin area in 2018 - ©Gareth Rees.
January 28, 2026 at 6:09 AM
markgolley.bsky.social
A journey thru' the past.
Hampshire's Killdeer got me all nostalgic for my UK encounters. November 1989 & I sorted a Skybus charter to St Mary's for the superb Normandy bird. In 2005, Norfolk's 1st took two goes at Breydon & two goes in the Cley square as well...
See ALT
#rarebirdsuk
#historicrares
Only our plane-load were the inky visitors to twitch the Normandy Killdeer on the day we went to St Mary's in late November 1989. I was so happy to enjoy such smart views ~ a nervy bird at times, it showed just as Alan Tate's photo here shows, as well as giving brilliant (noisy!) flight views after a scare from a local Peregrine. Rather lovely to have it to ourselves 🙂 What a carry on the Norfolk Killdeer was! I was at the north end of East Bank when my pager went off: the rare happening of me actually running down East Bank to meet Richard Millington for a failed Sunday around the side of Breydon Water (near the rugby pitch) followed... ...happily, all as made well the following morning with early news of it's reappearance (think that was Graham Etherington) & this time... BOOM! Killdeer on the Norfolk list... ... but that wasn't the end of the saga... A few days later, the Killdeer rocked up on the pools off Friary Hills in Blakeney. Inexplicably kept quiet on the Friday until late, it stayed across two further days (albeit intermittent in its appearances). I was working in London ~ I came home late on Friday to dip early on Saturday before heading back to London for work at Television Centre, before coming back late night the same day. The alarm was set for very early Sunday & I walked to the Freshes for dawn on a chilly April morning. A slightly nervy wait & some studious searching & happily I discovered it feeding quietly on a small pool at the east end of Friary Hills. I was ecstatic! This one feels like yet another incredible Cley Square bird & likely one not to be repeated (see also Little Whimbrel!).
January 27, 2026 at 6:45 PM
ukraritiesdaybyday.bsky.social
January 27th: UK FIRST RECORDS: 🥇

SOUTH POLAR SKUA
Stercorarius maccormicki

Present at West Bexington, Dorset for nine days from January 27th - February 4th 1996.

#UKrares
#rarebirdsUK
#UKbirding
South Polar Skua at West Bexington, Dorset in 1996 - ©Cliff Rogers, many thanks. 👍🏻 South Polar Skua at West Bexington, Dorset in 1996 - ©Carole Leigh, many thanks. 👍🏻
January 27, 2026 at 5:44 AM
ukraritiesdaybyday.bsky.social
January 27th: 🧾

There were nineteen (19) accepted records on this day... 😃

#UKrares
#rarebirdsUK
#UKbirding
An adult Bonaparte's Gull in E. Sussex at Eastbourne in 2013 - ©Paul Rowe, many thanks. 👍🏻 An adult male Bufflehead in Warwickshire at Lea Marston Lakes in 2021 - ©Gaz Robinson, many thanks. 👍🏻 South Polar Skua in Dorset at West Bexington in 1996 - ©Cliff Rogers, many thanks. 👍🏻
January 27, 2026 at 5:35 AM
swallowbirding.bsky.social
Our day concluded at Sheringham with another new bird for @esbr-essex.bsky.social. The EASTERN BLACK REDSTART showed down to 5 ft giving amazing views! #norfolkbirding #BirdsSeenIn2026 #ukbirds #birds #birding #nature @britishnatureguide.bsky.social #rarebirdsuk
Eastern Black Redstart Eastern Black Redstart
January 26, 2026 at 1:30 PM
swallowbirding.bsky.social
Fabulous day out in NE Norfolk with @esbr-essex.bsky.social yday. Bit late to the party but we had good albeit distant views of the BLACK-WINGED KITE perched and feeding + 4 COMMON CRANE! #norfolkbirding #BirdsSeenIn2026 #ukbirds #birds #birding #nature @britishnatureguide.bsky.social #rarebirdsuk
Black-winged Kite mobbed by Eurasian Magpie Black-winged Kite Black-winged Kite
January 26, 2026 at 11:52 AM
ukraritiesdaybyday.bsky.social
January 26th: 🧾

There were nineteen (19) accepted records on this day... 😃

#UKrares
#rarebirdsUK
#UKbirding
A male Falcated Duck in Lincolnshire on Covenham Reservoir in 2023 - ©Graham Catley, many thanks. 👍🏻 An adult Red-breasted Goose in Argyll in the Gruinart area, Islay in 2022 - ©Jonathan Farooki, many thanks. 👍🏻 A 1st winter male Yellow-rumped Warbler in County Durham at High Shincliffe in 2014 - ©Dave Carr, many thanks. 👍🏻
January 26, 2026 at 5:49 AM
collapsedbirder.bsky.social
Tibetan Sand Plover, or Lesser Sand Plover as it was pre-decimalisation, or whatever...... .

An epic twitch. Read on.

#UKRares
#rarebirdsUK
#UKbirding

collapsedbirder.blogspot.com
Confessions of a lapsed birder
An intermittent confessional from a lapsed birder, (okay occasional birder and semi-retired twitcher), delighted, (for now), Burnley follower, environmental consultant slave-worker, (my boss is a b***...
collapsedbirder.blogspot.com
January 25, 2026 at 7:22 PM
pterodroma.bsky.social
The killdeer at Ripley was a long awaited British tick for me having not been around for the past Norfolk ones. How nice would it be to find one of these, Mega, no fuss, easy straightforward identification. #rarebirdsuk #ukbirding
January 25, 2026 at 7:18 PM
pterodroma.bsky.social
The Great-tailed Grackle was a fun addition to today's Killdeer twitch with @jameslowenwild.bsky.social and @stuartwhite73.bsky.social wasnt at all bothered by passers by, but didn't like mopeds! #rarebirdsUK #ukbirding @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social
January 25, 2026 at 7:14 PM
digiscopingbyrick.bsky.social
Caught up with Ring-necked Duck, Queens Park, Glasgow earlier today.

#digiscoped with Kowa884 using iphone16Pro and vario adapter #birdingscotland #RareBirdsUK
January 25, 2026 at 2:27 PM
stephbirdart.bsky.social
Folks who have been for the Liverpool Grackle where are we parking for the roost spot as it says the grounds close at 4pm but it's being seen later than that? #UKbirding #rarebirdsUK @rarebirder.bsky.social
January 25, 2026 at 9:00 AM
ukraritiesdaybyday.bsky.social
January 25th: 🧾

There were eighteen (18) accepted records on this day... 😃

#UKrares
#rarebirdsUK
#UKbirding
An American Coot on the Western Isles on West Loch Ollay, South Uist in 2004 - ©Geoffrey Alan Clewes, many thanks. 👍🏻 A 1st winter American Herring Gull in Dorset at West Bexington in 2020 - ©Mike Morse, many thanks. 👍🏻 A Hume's Warbler in Warwickshire at Hams Hall in 2014 - ©Dave Hutton, many thanks. 👍🏻
January 25, 2026 at 7:53 AM
sniffer2012.bsky.social
Killdeer at Ripley Farm Reservoir this morning. Spent a lot of the time hunkering down to keep out of the howling wind, but popped up often enough to make the trip worth while. Also a bonus 4(four) White-tailed Eagles, and a Little Gull.
#ukbirding
#rarebirdsuk
January 24, 2026 at 10:34 PM