Ray Scally

SVALBARD – Chapter header painting for ISLAND EXPEDITIONS by Nigel Winn, latest book I am working on, 18 Chapter header paintings for far flung birding destinations around the world, Falklands, Lena Delta, South Georgia to name a few, watercolour on @DalerRowney Langton Block.

MIDDLETON MOOR, Derbys. - 2 RINGED PLOVER & 1 LRP juv this morning which gave good comparisons side by side for biro sketches, 1 Sedge Warbler, 3-4 Reed Warbler, 1 Shoveler, 1 Gadwall, 23 P Wagtail, 7 Teal being the highlights @Derbyshirebirds

TRAFFORD INDUSTRIAL PARK, G Manchester - Nice to see some hope in urban decay on an old warehouse site, 1 RINGED PLOVER, 5 LITTLE RINGED PLOVER, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Med Gull this morning.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE - Glossy Ibis currently on Slaynes Lane from watchpoint. @NottsBirders @RareBirdAlertUK @BirdGuides

AUDENSHAW RES, Gtr Manchester - MEGA!! SURF SCOTER found by Rob Adderley this morning! first for GM apparently @BirdGuides @RareBirdAlertUK

WOOLSTON EYES – Cover for the 2024 Annual Report, should be hitting members ‘in boxes’ in the near future, watercolour on Arches paper, a prolific year for Yellow-browed Warblers at the site, prompted me to use this species as its one that may not turn up in the future.

MIDDLETON MOOR, Derbys. - OSPREY was surprise thru this afternoon, 6 Gadwall new in and no wader movement today. @Derbyshirebirds

MIDDLETON MOOR, Derbys. - Wader morning but all fly thru's, 4 SANDERLING, 13 RINGED PLOVER, 3 LR Plover, 1 Curlew, 1 Cuckoo, 1 HOBBY, 2 Shelduck, 2 Shoveler, 1 Garden Warbler, 8 Linnet @Derbyshirebirds

HOOPOE - A rare visitor to the UK, this bird frequented an oak tree on Sandy Lane, Cheshire for a number of days, easily located by its prominent call as it perched high in the tree top, watercolour on @DalerRowney Langton block. @CAWOSBirding

MIDDLETON MOOR, Derbys. - No new birds today, 10 Ringed Plover still from yesterday, 1 Cuckoo, 2 LRP, 2 Curlew, 15 Lapwing, 2 Reed Warbler, 1 Redstart being the highlights @Derbyshirebirds

MIDDLETON MOOR, Derbys. - Finally after years caught up with a site tick of KNOT courtesy of @andysbutler bird stayed into its second day allowing some sketches today. also 2 Oysterc, 5 LRP, 1 Shelduck, 2 Curlew, 20 Lapwing @Derbyshirebirds @waderquest

MANCHESTER CITY CTRE - Pair of SAND MARTIN nesting on a canal basin in the northern quarter, COAL TIT also feeding young, SWALLOW early morning, a rare bird within the ring road, Jay and Goldcrest in St John's Gardens and a R N Parakeet right in Piccadilly Gardens #urbanbirding

PIED FLYCATCHER - Watercol'r on block. One of my favourite birds and pleased to say I have a few breeding areas close to my house so great to see annually, birds back on the breeding grounds and paired up. This illustration will be published next year.

AUDENSHAW RES, Gtr Man - Better today than yesterday, 1 Ringed Plover, 3 Dunlin, 1 Yellow Wag, 1 Lssr Whitethroat (rare here) 2 Oyc's, 2 Comm Sandpiper, 1 LRP, 70 Swift, 2 Blackcap, 3 Barn Swallow, 40 Sand Martin, 2 Gadwall, 1 Buzzard (scarce here)

AUDENSHAW RES, Gtr Man. - Superb morning 8 Arctic Tern, 1 GROPPER, site mega, 1 HOBBY earliest ever, 2 Com Sand, 1 Dunlin, 3 Oyst, 7 White Wagtail, 70 Sand Mar, 10 Swallow, 2 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 H Martin.

MIDDLETON MOOR, Derbys - No sign of yesterdays Black-necked Grebe so far. @BirdGuides @RareBirdAlertUK @Derbyshirebirds

MIDDLETON MOOR - An influx of new birds this morning, the best being 3 RING OUZEL which flew towards Longstone, singing REDSTART, 1 Shelduck, 5 Tufted Duck, 20 Lapwing, 1 Curlew, 5 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 5 Wheatear being the highlights. @Derbyshirebirds

WATERSWALLOWS RES, Buxton - This evening produced this fine RING OUZEL, couldn't relocate the bird when leaving, also 3 Mallard, 8 Tufted Duck, 3 Coot, 2 Lapwing, 2 LBB Gull, 1 Little Grebe, 6 Sand Martin, 4 Swallow, 3 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Meadow Pipit.

MIDDLETON MOOR, Derbys. - Kittiwake briefly and went off east. @RareBirdAlertUK @BirdGuides @Derbyshirebirds

AUDENSHAW RES, Gtr Man – LITTLE GULL down to one, 1 ROCK PIPIT, 1 BLACK REDSTART a site rarity, the continuing SMEW, 1 Ringed Plover, 5 Little ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin, 1 Sand Martin, 1 Skylark, 2 WHITE WAGTAIL and 1 RN Parakeet being the highlights, full list on @Team_eBird