Cairn Gorm - School of Birding, May '26

We were hoping - with varying degrees of realism, according to the ever-changing mountain forecast - to make it up the funicular railway and onto the near-summit at some point during the week, but expectations were low... 

 

.... but finally we saw a break, and to everyone's joy (guides included) we found ourselves hiking up beyond the restaurant and along the snowy tracks.

We didn't go far, and didn't need to; being just below the summit on the northern side gave us some protection from a south-westerly wind, and we were very fortunate to have periods of brightness between cloud banks (and no rainstorms, which passed us by on both sides).

 

What about our targets? We'd tempered expectations, and would take anything we got. Ptarmigan would be great result; Dotterel even more so, with none yet reported and snow cover potentially displacing them. Mountain Hares, Ring Ouzel and Snow Bunting were all also possible, but we didn't want to be too greedy....

Long story short, we effectively cleaned up. Mountain Hares first, followed by Ptarmigan, and then the undisputed stars of the show - four Dotterel, which we watched for an extended period as the fed on a stony plateau, getting closer and closer to us as we lapped them up. I've seen plenty of Dotterel in plenty of places, but this is the first time i've seen them in their wild, evocative breeding habitat - breathtaking.

A brief burst of Snow Bunting song as we watched them was as good as it got for that species (can't win 'em all, eh), but with a cracking male Ring Ouzel and more Ptarmigan from the viewing areas by the restaurant, it was a very happy group that descended on the railway back to the car park. What a day!

School of Birding, Module Two, Class Three - May '26

Alright, catching up time.... May was, as ever, super busy (not entirely sure where it went, to be honest) but after guiding at Spurn and then Flamborough earlier in the month, I was Scotland-bound once again by mid-month, for our tenth (!) School of Birding.

Slavonian Grebe

Or more accurately, our eleventh (if we include our School Trip to the Outer Hebrides in May last year), and our third Module Two. Simon and I were very much looking forward to this one, for several reasons: not least because we knew the whole gang well, and the fact that it was our first in May meant a significantly different suite of species would hopefully be on offer.

Pied Flycatcher

And what a week we had, with a truly fabulous team. The learning sessions were great, which focused on patch birding, songs and calls, finding rare birds, purposeful birding and more; our time in the field, meanwhile, was rich and varied and (and generally blessed with good weather).

Glaucous Gull (above), Willow Warbler (below)

Highlights? Where do you start? Beautiful breeding plumage Slavonian Grebes glistening in the sunshine, even more beautiful breeding-plumage Black-throated Divers performing fabulously (and delivering much high drama for us, all of which thankfully ended well), Crested Tits feeding young in the nest....

Pied Flycatchers (below) and Tree Pipits (above) singing and attending their nests, a very special Osprey nest with lots of close-up activity, summer-plumage divers, waders and ducks on the coast....

..... point-blank Dippers, Red-breasted Mergansers and Goosanders, a cracking surprise Glaucous Gull (at Spey Bay), fantastic views of Crossbills, plus Peregrines, Merlins, Goshawks, Golden Eagles, huge Sand Martin colonies...

... and an unforgettable session at the summit of Cairn Gorm, as described in the next post. I'm sure I've forgotten more highlights, but it was one of those weeks when they just kept on coming - and we couldn't have shared it all with a better bunch.

We're fully booked for 2026, but 2027 dates are now available and selling fast - click here for details!

Half-Marathon for Leeds Swifts - help!

Alright folks, I need your help. I've decided to run the East Yorkshire Half-marathon, to raise funds for the wonderful people at Leeds Swifts (more on them below). I've left it late - it's exactly four weeks til Race Day - but let's see if we can make some serious brass for a fantastic cause that I'm guessing, and hoping, is close to many of our hearts. 

 (Can't be arsed to read on? No problem - just give me your money by clicking HERE!)

If you've been lucky enough to have Swifts arrive back over your neighbourhood in the last week or two, you'll know how special it feels - the quintessential sight, sound and spectacle of the British summer. You'll also very likely know how badly they're faring. 

Over the past 20 years our Swift population in the UK has fallen dramatically by nearly 70% in cities, mainly through loss of nest sites in buildings due to modern methods and renovations.

But there is hope out there; lots of it, in fact, thanks to a network of dedicated Swift Groups around the country - not least the fantastic team at Leeds Swifts. So - any chance you can spare some virtual loose change? Here's what you'll pay for.... 

DONATE HERE

Their work includes expanding existing Swift colonies across the city by installing Swift nest boxes and Swift call systems on a range of homes and buildings across the city. This year, Leeds Swifts are focusing on installing boxes with calls and nest cameras at Schools. 

Every year, from April to September, Leeds Swifts run a 24/7 Swift Sanctuary to look after injured and grounded Swifts (as well as House Martins and Swallows). These birds need specialist and dedicated care, which cannot be provided without the kind and generous donations from Swift supporters.

Last year, 121 birds (81 Swifts, 23 House Martins and 17 Swallows) found their way to the Swift Sanctuary. 92 of these were able to be saved and released, eventually to start their long journey to Africa. 

Running a Swift Sanctuary is rewarding but demanding. It costs around £1,000 each year - about £12 per week per Swift. This is where the majority of Leeds Swifts fund-raising efforts are focussed. Costs include food for the birds (crickets, wax moth and bee drone larvae and flies), heating, washing and cleaning and transport costs for collecting injured Swifts from across our area.

I'm not a distance runner, and have only run one Half-marathon before, a little over two years ago (when I was in better nick, and did more preparation..). So I'm going to need the inspiration, and guilt, of your support to get me into training and over the line in four week's time. 

How about it? ;-) Donate HERE! 

Eyemouth, 23rd May '26

Peregrine (above), female Stonechat feeding young (below)

It wasn't all about the Honey-buzzard... prior to that, I enjoyed a very peaceful session with multitudes of breeding warblers, hirundines, Swifts, seabirds, and a great show from hunting Peregrines around (and beneath) me.

Sedge Warblers

Eyemouth, 23rd May '26 - Honey-buzzard!

A quick update re: this morning, and a lovely, sunny, peaceful session at Eyemouth, on the coast of the Scottish Borders. Regular readers will know it's my 'pit-stop patch' on the way up to and back from the Highlands, breaking up my journeys by overnighting there and using the evening and morning for birding and running.

It's an increasingly regular part of my calendar these days - especially with our School of Birding going so well (see next post) - so I get to stay there a bunch of times a year, at various different seasons; late spring is unusual, though, so I enjoyed a wildflower-festooned, breeding seabird-dominated, hunting Peregrine-illuminated hike along the cliffs, enjoying lots of summer visitors along the way.

All good - and then as I was about to head back to the car (and York), I heard two Carrion Crows kicking up a fuss, looked up, and arriving in off the sea was a fabulous Honey-buzzard....

... which flew straight for me, unconcerned, and right over my head, to the point where it was too low for the camera to photograph.

You make your own luck, of course, but it did occur to me it took god knows how many hundreds of hours vismigging at Filey to score five or six over the years I lived there; a tiny fraction of that was all it took at Eyemouth, however, and a classic case of right time, right place.

Looking at the national reports there's been a small arrival today, typically all being further south, and I think this is the only one reported north of the border so far. Thanks (yet) again, Eyemouth - see you in September when I'm back again.

Guiding on Flamborough Head, May 2026

Busy times... back from a week's guiding at Spurn early in the month, then a few days surveying and catching up, and then to Flamborough for four days guiding my Spring Migration Specials.

   

As is usual the camera stayed unused (actually back in the car for all but one brief session) - nothing worse than a guide prioritising their own views / photos over the clients! - but after everyone had got prolonged views of the birds featured, I sneaked in a couple of digiscoped video clips and a few shots of a fabulously confiding Black Redstart at the fog station.

A lovely few days with a total of 20-odd lovely clients, all of whom enjoyed plenty of migrants, on land, over sea and on the glorious cliffs inbetween at various locations around Flamborough and Bempton.

 

Now, back up to the Highlands for our third Module Two School of Birding (and eleventh School overall) - really looking forward to this one, with a different suite of species hopefully awaiting....

(and if you'd like to join me on my Puffin Specials in late June / Early July, see here!)