The Yellow-browed Warbler was a tad dryer yesterday
and the “Arctic” Redpoll was still kicking around
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It would be a tragedy of unimaginable proportions if Gyr Falcons were to disappear for good.
Perhaps the ultimate raptor to see in Britain but it would seem the chances are diminishing rapidly.
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Saw one, once, in Iceland in the far NW, ca. 1999. Never again, and I was there several times a year back then. Tragic indeed that they are disappearing… Thanks, China.
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Tree Sparrows are now red listed in Britain having suffered a catastrophic decline since 1970 (down by 93% between 1970 and 2008)
Not exactly rare but can be difficult to find. Here they’re a very scarce bird, I’ve only seen a handful in 9 years, so to find two in one of the gardens I regularly visit was patch gold!
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I saw some in Amble this year - First time. lovely birds
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We have a healthy population of House Sparrows round here, but I am not sure that I have ever seen a Tree Sparrow
They’re birds of the countryside, farmland etc. rather than urban dwellers, like the House Sparrow.
They’re also not exactly common in your neck of the woods
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Very much a ‘record shot’ of a Water Rail in my garden just after 8am this morning (sunrise is 08:24)
Terrible light but it was so dark, to get ‘any’ pic was a bonus. Through the kitchen window, hand held (840mm lens) 1/13 sec and ISO 12800.
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I’ve heard them calling in the Cairngorms but never twigged the a werewolf likeness 
Now, I’ll never unhear it
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Haha, they get called Ringtails for a reason, they’re difficult to separate (juveniles & females) There’s so much overlap in features it’s a minefield.
FWIW my guarded opinion is juvenile and possibly a male but I’m no expert on HHs so I wouldn’t put my house on it!
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Thanks Paul yes quite tricky! Could be adult female I guess… nice to see regardless 
Two Water Rails in the garden yesterday morning, one in the front and this one in the back, crappy shot taken through my bedroom window.
Been very good numbers of passage birds this winter.
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Someone else spotted later and recorded as juv male.
The bright yellow iris and lack of a distinct malar spot would suggest not.
Lol, at least one person agrees with me 
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