Paul Baker
@bakerboybirding.bsky.social
Based in south Essex. Enjoy twitching (BOU 500+) as well as local patch birding. I like to spend time birding in Norfolk, too. Easily distracted by mammals (esp cetaceans), reptiles, amphibians & butterflies. No politics on here, just wildlife!
Bit of a fun 'twitch' to look for the Rainham A13 White Stork this evening. It was roosting on it's favoured lamp post. I quite like the industrial landscape married with the setting sun and the silhouetted stork. #EssexBirding @neilchambers78.bsky.social
A totally unexpected mid-summer garden tick today. A fem/imm Black Redstart feeding on my south Essex driveway, nowhere near any historic breeding site!! I didn't have my phone on me, but here's a snippet from the CCTV #EssexBirding
The beautiful Long-tailed Shrike today at Crail. It was even seen and heard singing this morning. Good views of Peregrine, Tree Sparrows, Yellowhammers and Corn Buntings too. #RareBirdsUK
Black-winged Kite still roosting yesterday near Sea Palling at 06:30. Was then well placed for the news of a Caspian Tern at Hickling where Bitterns, Cranes, Spoonbills, Hobbies, GWEgret, LRPs and Bearded Tits made for a very pleasant and productive 30 minutes. #NorfolkBirding
Westleton Heath yesterday with Neil C The rather mobile male Red-backed Shrike, a family of Little Owls, Stone Curlews, Dartford Warblers, Woodlarks and SSBlue Butterflies - not bad! No sign of Red-footed Falcon but found a SD CARD from a Canon EO6 R6 ##SuffolkBirds
Surprised that there aren't many photos or videos of the Western Reef Heron in Caerphilly....😅 So here's a video from 17:30 on 17th June. #RareBirdsUK
You'll have to trust me on this one! It was quite a surprise to see an Osprey from my house this evening, flying east to west along the ridgeline to the north of Blue House Farm. Can't imagine there's too many, if any in Essex currently. #EssexBirding
Short-eared Owl still patrolling the seawall at the bottom of my south Essex garden just now. #EssexBirding
Calling Cuckoo from my house this afternoon in south Essex. He arrived back on 30th April. #EssexBirding
Great to still have a Short-eared Owl lingering into May here in south Essex. Seen from my house this evening. #EssexBirding
Really didn't anticipate a Ross's Gull on a lake today, 30 minutes from home on a warm and sunny day in Essex! Great to see all the Essex birders turning out for this county first and thanks to @ETilburyBirder for the excellent find.
The Tawny Pipit at Landguard showed superbly this afternoon to myself and NC #SuffolkBirds ##RareBirdsUK
The Tawny Pipit popped up in front of us this afternoon at a very blustery Landguard with NC. Never expected views this good! #SuffolkBirds #RareBirdsUK
Feeling very fortunate to have Adder as a regular garden visitor now. This female looks to have eaten recently and was tasting the air as I approached. Taken in south Essex.
An excellent house tick this evening with a White Stork flying west along the Crouch over Blue House Farm. They look almost prehistoric in flight! #EssexBirding
The first day of sunshine in what feels like ages, and I was thrilled to see the Short-eared Owl was still around at the bottom of the garden. 5 Yellowhammers, 3 Red Kites, singing Corn Bunting, Song Thrush and Cetti's made for an uplifting afternoon. #EssexBirding
Rather modest record shots of Red flanked Bluetail near Gressenhall, this morning. A 'lifer' for me. A popular bird, and my thanks to the knowledgeable local birders helping to spot this mobile bird to visitors. #Norfolkbirding
Despite viewing being somewhat obstructed by my new found friend 🕊😂, an impressive 106 Corn Buntings were atop their favoured tree this evening. A pair of Yellowhammers around the garden included a singing male. Earlier, 3 Red Kites & 7 Buzzards were airborne together. #EssexBirding
Some of the 93 Corn Buntings adorning the tree by my garden which borders a setaside field. Poor quality photo as taken at an angle through double glazing. There's a partial leucistic Corn Bunt in the centre of the photo too. Also, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunts, Stonechats and Barn Owl. #EssexBirding
2 of 2 Espied 4 White-fronted Geese on Blue House Farm this evening from my house. No sign of 'my' Short-eared Owl this evening in poor weather but...friend and birder Matt got this cracking photo of it yesterday evening with the Brent in the background - just so evocative 😍 #EssexBirding
1 of 2 Barn Owl came out again during the brief lull in the rain this evening. Phonescoped from indoors. #EssexBirding
The Bittern obeying the RSPB rules and regs at Loch of Spiggie, Shetland... #BirdingScotland #UKbirding #RareBirdsUK #UKWildlife #Birds
Barn Owl this afternoon at the bottom of the garden from the house. I haven't seen a Short-eared Owl here for over a week now, although the weather hasn't been great. #EssexBirding
Well that was unexpected. A first-winter Little Gull seen from my house this afternoon in the murk, feeding on the River Crouch. #EssexBirding
'Just' a Barn Owl from the house this evening although two male Yellowhammers also flew in at dusk, and are arguably now scarcer than owls here. #EssexBirding
Short-eared Owl again from the house but not as showy today. 40 Linnets, 20 Corn Bunts and 2 Yellowhammers also present. ♂️ Merlin streaked through chasing a Starling. 3 Spoonbills still on Wallasea. 2 HARVEST MICE with thermal imager on the south Essex marshes with NC tonight. #EssexBirding
In addition to the Hen Harrier, the two Short-eared Owls were still around the end of my garden too 🦉 #EssexBirding
A ringtail Hen Harrier was hunting at the bottom of my south Essex garden this afternoon. In panic, much fumbling with my phone meant I nearly missed getting any footage 🙄 They really are such special birds 😍 #EssexBirding
