Nice duck ringing session at Rye Meads, Herts. This young Pochard is a rare age class to be ringed in the UK; we don't know much about our breeding Pochard's movements. What we do know is that his mum was ringed as a duckling here thirteen years ago! #ringingunderlicence #UKbirding
Alan Harris
@alanharrisbirdart.bsky.social
Bird artist, Rye Meads RG devotee
The latest British Birds is out now: Scarce migrant birds in Britain 2024, Bulwer's Petrel records in Yorkshire and our news & comment section. Read it here: 🔗 britishbirds.co.uk/journal/volu... 🎨 Purple Heron by Alan Harris 🎨 Alpine Swift by Dave Nurney
Autumn officially opened at Rye Meads, Herts today with the first returning Green Sandpiper.
A great moment this morning whilst farmland bird monitoring when at 0640 a Honey Buzzard emerged from roost at Great Chishill, Cambs, and drifted off North. Been doing this farm for 25 years.....that's got to be the best! #Cambsbirdclub #UKbirding
We’re losing the only RSPB Reserve in Hertfordshire! 😡 A travesty for all wildlife in the county! www.rspb.org.uk/england/engl...
Important update on Rye Meads Nature Reserve
To ensure our longer-term sustainability, the RSPB has been reviewing its operations across the UK so that everything we do aligns to our charitable and strategic aims and delivers the most impact for...
rspb.org.uk
A subtle intersex Teal from Draper hide at Rye Meads the last few days. Female type bill, mixed head pattern, male breast and coarse variegated barred flanks, yellow undertail without black surround.
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Beautiful 'acredula' type Willow Warbler caught and ringed today at Rye Meads, Herts (birds lacking yellow can occur in any population but predominately in the north and east). #ukbirding #hertsbirds
Early morning ringing session at Rye Meads enlivened by a fly over Night Heron! That completes my self found heron patch list - Bittern, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Squacco, Little Bittern, Little, Cattle and Great Egrets! It has taken fifty-one years, but.... quite chuffed really. #UKbirding
Brilliant to see the left leg ringed Bittern at Lakenheath today, still going strong #ukbirding
Early start surveying paid dividends with Cattle Egret, Great White Egret and an Arctic Tern through Rye Meads. Had to wait til lunchtime to complete the trio of Egrets. A full on day of tit ringing followed with a total 175 including five Chiffchaff chicks. (I am very tired) #ukbirding
East Kent for the weekend. Unexpected Jack Snipe flushed from the tideline at Folkstone Warren.
Been hard work on the patch (Rye Meads) recently. After a good nine hours today the birding Gods finally relented and sent an Osprey our way. Guided off site by Red Kite, Buzzard and Peregrine. It was proper nice. #ukbirding
Interesting Pintail x aythya (or netta?) at Slimbridge today. He was in with the Chiloe Wigeon #birdhybrids #Ukbirding
Water levels dropping at Rye Meads Draper hide now, looking good for the weekend and plenty of ducks already. Please keep an eye out for colour ringed Gadwall and Shoveler! #ukbirding #hertsbirds
Winter Gull Survey at Nazeing GPs, Essex tonight with Phil B. Rather quiet with only 1845 birds in, many more continuing south to KGV or Girling Res. Cracking salmon-pink male Goosanders and a hot cuppa courtesy of a crafty Carper. All very convivial😊. #ukbirding
11 Snipe close in at Gadwall Hide, Rye Meads today attracted by the running water. Also a Barn Owl roosting in bushes in middle of meadow, viewable from Warbler hide. #ukbirding
The huge Starling roost continues at Rye Meads RSPB, around 6000 tonight! What an amazingly important place for birds. #UKbirding
At least 51 Little Grebes on Dernford Res, Cambs, amazing for a lake this size. Presumably no big fish competitors .....yet