Self-found Photos

A selection of record shots of some of birds I’ve found over the years…

Wryneck at Reculver, Kent on 4th May 2017. I have also found three on St Martins (1x Oct 2010; 2 x Oct 2011).
Arctic warbler at Reculver, Kent on 9th October 2021. 6th record for Kent, 2nd for Reculver recording area.
Cattle egret at Reculver, Kent on 1st January 2022.
Grey-headed wagtail at Reculver, Kent on 13th May 2022. Photo by Alex Perry https://alexperrywildlife.com. Although a sub-species, this is roughly as rare as Radde’s warbler in Kent.
Red-rumped swallow at Reculver, Kent on 21st May 2022. I noticed a small movement of swifts moving west and then picked up this bird in with them.
Red-throated pipit, St Martins, Isles of Scilly on 14th October 2011. Compared to meadow pipit in foreground. Arrived during a large movement/fall of pipits across the island.
Red-throated pipit, St Martins, Isles of Scilly 14th October 2011. Showing streaky rump.
Pectoral sandpiper at Ballyconne, Galway, Ireland on 17th September 2017. Photo by J. Gilroy.
Red-backed shrike at Spurn, Yorkshire on 7th October 2015.
Spoonbill (two) at Reculver, Kent on 19th August 2015. Also found one at Grove Ferry, Kent on 8th August 2016.
Long-eared Owl at Spurn, Yorkshire on 12th October 2013. Not a scarce migrant but being mainly a ‘southern’ based birder it took me a while to connect with self-sound LEO.
Yellow-browed Warbler, Spurn, Yorkshire. I love finding yellow-browed warblers, and these autumn sprites always cheer me up and create hope there are other birds to be found. I found my first on Shetland on 26th September 2002 at Westwick. Since then I have found several more in Shetland and at Spurn. In Kent, I have found at least six birds: Sandwich 29/9/13; Reculver 12/10/15, 5/10/16, 15/10/17, 7/10/19 and Warden Point, Sheppey 23/10/2012 (heard only).
Yellow-browed warbler, Sandwich, Kent on 29th September 2013.
Hawfinch at Spurn, Yorkshire on 12th October 2013. This bird dropped in front of me during a big fall of autumn thrushes. For me Spurn is one of the best, most accessible and affordable places to find rare and scarce birds.
Great Grey Shrike at Reculver, Kent on 8th October 2016. I found another in Kent near Chambers Wall, with Rik Addison, on 30th September 2007 and another at Spurn on 13th October 2013, when several birds were seen across the area. Who doesn’t like finding a shrike?!