General rule of thumb: nearest half of water to the path, Staffs; furthest, Warks. If in doubt, wait for the bird to swim/fly one way or the other!

Here you go, Paul. Staffs to the north of the yellow line.

Yellow-browed Warbler ringing project launches A new Yellow-browed Warbler colour-ringing project has launched across Britain and Ireland – and birders are being asked to report sightings. Colour rings have been distributed to ringers, initially f...

www.birdguides.com/news/yellow-...

2j Ruff, 9 Blackwit, Oyc, 2 LRP, 17 Snipe, 2 Green Sand, 1 Goosander, 1 Wigeon at #MiddletonLakes this morning. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social

Wood Sandpiper with Lapwings

Wood Sandpiper still on West Scrape at #MiddletonLakes at 10:30. Green Sand, 5 Snipe & Dunlin on Canal Pool and a juv Yellow Wag on east Scrape. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social

Wood Sand on West scrape at #Middletonlakes. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social

Stunning views of the Marsh Harrier again on North Pit this morning as it predated a Coot/Moorhen nest close to the hide. Otherwise pretty slack with 2 Green Sands, 1j LRP, 1j Redshank, 8 Common Tern & 1 GWE. #MiddletonLakes

Pretty quiet this afternoon at #MiddletonLakes, though great views of 2 of its skulkier residents. A juv Water Rail continues to perform at the Silt Pool lookout and a juv Bittern was showing on Fishers Mill. 2 Green Sands & 3 juv Redshank were the only waders of note. #ukbirding

Lousy weather at Rutland Water this morning but it didn't seem to hamper fishing... #ukbirding

Prolonged Marsh Harrier action over North Pit at #middletonlakes this morning plus a cracking juv Peregrine chasing the Lapwings on Jubilee. Also Blackwit, 5 GSand, Snipe, juv Redshank, 3 GWE & 2 Raven. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social

Greenshank, Blackwit, 4 GSand, 2 CSand, 4 Redshank (3j), 15 LRP (11j), 10 CTern (2j), Bittern & GWE at #middletonlakes this afternoon. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social

2 Red Kite east over Drayton Bassett heading towards RSPBMiddletonLakes 1105, plus 1st House Martin of the year. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social

A colour-ringed Curlew "YA" from RSPB's CurlewLIFE
project pitched in on Jubilee just before 1730 tonight at
#MiddletonLakes. Also 2 Avocet & 6 LRP on Jubilee North.
@staffsbirdnews.bsky.social

Fist Swallows of the year at #MiddletonLakes this morning with one for me at Fishers Mill after @steveatkinson.bsky.social had 2 earlier. Also more than 70+Sand Martins over Dosthill NR & river, 4 Oyc, 4 LRP, 4 Redshank & both Common & Jack Snipe on N Pit. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social

A late afternoon circuit of Jubilee at #MiddletonLakes started well with a Red Kite north along the river, followed by a Peregrine 30 mins later. Also Pintail, 8 LRP, Dunlin, Snipe, 7 Oyc, 4 Redshank, 25 Sand Martin & GWE. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social

6 Pochard, 3 Goldeneye, 2 Oyc, 5 LRP, Curlew, Snipe, 4 Redshank, 15 Sand Martin & a White Wag at #MiddletonLakes on a mizzly morning with poor visibility early on. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social

First Wheatear of the year at #MiddletonLakes this morning along with a brief White Wagtail and 8 Sand Martin. 4 Avocet, 6 Redshank and an LRP also on Jubilee. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social

Should read 11 Goldeneye.

First real movement at #MiddletonLakes this morning with 4(5?) LRP and a Blackwit new in as the sun warmed up. Also 2 Pintail, 3 Pochard, 1 Goldeneye, Oyc, 3 Snipe, 4(6?) Redshank, 2 Dunlin & GWE. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social

Definitely 4 now.

2 Jack Snipe topped the bill at #MiddletonLakes this morning, although rather distant. Also 8 Shelduck, 3 Pochard, 9 Goldeneye, 2 Avocet, 2 Common Snipe, Redshank & grunting Bittern heard. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social

3 Avocet, LRP, 2 Redshank, Snipe, Pintail, Pochard & 8 Goldeneye at #MiddletonLakes this morning. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social

4 Sand Martins at #MiddletonLakes this morning were the first of the spring. No sign of yday's LRPs but 3 RLP were a much rarer find! Also Pintail, 4 Pochard, Goldeneye, iffy RB Goose, 4 Redshank, 3 Oyc, Snipe & 2 GWE, one developing breeding colours nicely. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social

18 Goldeneye, 7 Pochard, Pintail, Oyc, 2 Redshank & 4 Curlew at #MiddletonLakes this morning. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social

First Ringed Plover of the year on Jubilee at RSPB Middleton Lakes this morning. Also 13 Goldeneye, 4 Pochard, Pintail, 4 Oystercatcher, GWE. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social

One possible drawback may be potential damage to the phone charging port if knocked when connected.

Was also detecting what I presume were mice in sedge clumps yday at 5+m range.

One issue is screen contrast on bright days, James. Although it has several display modes (eg colour, red/white/black hot) it can be hard to see when sunny. Detected a perched robin at 30m easily enough.

Bought it for ca £300 a few months back, Phil. The link to Amazon has it for £275. Never going to rival the 'proper' gear but cheap & portable for travelling & very occasional use.

First time testing out the ultra budget Hikmicro E20 thermal plug-in camera for mobiles tinyurl.com/bdzjt2eb in my local snipey field near Middleton ahead of a spectacular dusk tonight. Quite impressed to pull a real Xmas cracker Jack Snipe on first outing! #UKbirding #BirdingGear