Another EYEBROWED THRUSH the West Cliffs, Fair Isle. 📷 photos by Luke Marriner.
Andy Close
@birds-and-me.bsky.social
ADHD birder, hubby and daddy. Just trying to find my way in an upside down world. I love birds and the peace they bring. Coastal patch at Seaburn and Whitburn but my birding heart rests in Fair Isle. 🌍💚🇪🇺
1. Fair Isle Day 2: completely lashed by the wind today. Flag cracking Southeasterly from dawn until dusk. Birds arrived throughout the day but birding conditions were difficult. This the star bird found by Alex Penn @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social Photograph courtesy of Steve Arlow #UKBirding
1. Fair Isle Day 1: SSW and birding under clear skies. Birds were moving. We started the day with Common Rosefinch & Barred Warbler. By lunchtime a small increase in common migrants- Siskin, Willow Warblers, Blackcaps and Common Redstart and Black Redstart in the Raeva’s. #UKBirding #ScotlandBirding
ONE. MILLION. RAPTORS. COUNTED!!!! A huge thank you to the 39(!) volunteers who have joined us this season so far. Photos: Mitra Daneshvar, Valentin Cordes, Elle Heiser, Thijmen Stolk, Bart Hoekstra, Olaf Gwiazdowski
Rubbish BOC record shot of the 1CY Citrine Wagtail at Quendale Burn this morning in unpleasant conditions. Lush wee bird, though. #UKBirding
Sound inequality While working on a new book project with The Sound Approach, Lucy McRobert was reminded of how overlooked female birds are in favour of males:
Lucy McRobert: sound inequality
While working on a new book project with The Sound Approach, Lucy McRobert was reminded of how overlooked female birds are in favour of males.
f.mtr.cool
Right then, it’s the time of year when I refocus my birding efforts to a small island. Forecast for Fair Isle and Shetland next week looks immense. Arrive Fair Isle Monday morning. May the birding Gods be forever in my favour. #UKBirding
IMPORTANT NEWS - You can now book your 2027 visit to Fair Isle Bird Observatory. There are many compelling reasons to book (see image). For more information visit www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/accommodation The amazing offer for late October this year is still open!
A European Nightjar in Malta has been identified as an individual of the East Asian subspecies – and raises "significant possibility" that Britain's only record of Egyptian Nightjar, in Dorset in June 1984, could have been this form:
Asian nightjar in Malta is European first
The specimen was identified as belonging to the Asian plumipes subspecies of European Nightjar.
f.mtr.cool
Kittiwakes that expend more energy raising chicks may ultimately improve their breeding performance the following year – but only at the cost of reduced survival, according to a new study:
Kittiwakes trade survival for future breeding success
A new experimental study suggests seabirds that invest heavily in raising chicks may enjoy greater breeding success the following year – but only by sacrificing their own chances of survival.
f.mtr.cool
Quite a fall this morning: 50 WWs and 4 Pied Flys ringed already between the Obs and the CEF. Also a really strong movement of Med Gulls offshore: 1100 thru so far.
Second helpings of the Red-footed Falcon at Aberlady this morning. Looks like it has now moved on, having flew off high south around 11:45 @birdinglothian.bsky.social
Crested Auklets cold waters of N Pacific Ocean, and Bering Sea Nest on rocky sea cliffs March-May during breeding seasons The rest of year they spend floating, swimming on the ocean. They dive for small fish, and squid. Female lays ONE single egg, parents feed chick for 35 days.
Looks like it has finally happened, British breeding #CaspianGull! #takingovertheworld #gulls #ukbirding
Due to room availability at the end of the season, we are running a special price of £99 per person per night for stays of 7 nights or more between 15th-30th October, available on both single and twin rooms.
Reposting this colour-ringed Sandwich Tern white J.L7 from St Mary's Island, Northumberland, on 16 July in the hope someone can find out when and where it was ringed, please! #SuperSeabirdSunday @steelyseabirder.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @birdingclimate.bsky.social
1. It’s been a tough few weeks and a patch workout this evening was much needed therapy. 😔 Whitburn Steel high tide roost- Ringed Plover 10, Dunlin 6, Curlew 8, Oystercatcher 126, Turnstone 54, Redshank 103, Teal 5, Manx Shearwater 1, Eider 7. #NEBirding #UKBirding
Back in April this 3cy male pallid harrier appeared by me at dusk in Caithness. Kept quiet as it was interacting with a pair of HH on territory... However, no sign the next day/since and the HH bred successfully. Remarkably, we think that this male pallid is a different bird to the Nybster male! ⬇️
Brief visit to the Whitburn yesterday evening- Redshank, Curlew, Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Grey Heron. Common Tern and Sandwich Tern are increasing in number. My first 1CY Black-headed Gull of the season and an adult Mediterranean Gull. All indicators of early Autumn. #NEBirding #UKBirding
First signs of autumn returning to patch today. Four adult Dunlin at Whitburn Steel feeding along high tide line. Possibly my earliest return date for this species. Black-headed Gull numbers also continue to increase. #NEBirding #UKBirding
I’m gonna have to mute Long-tailed Shrike, aren’t I 😶🤦🏻♂️
Adult male Long-tailed Shrike reported in a garden near Crail, Fife earlier today. Currently being looked for. Not sure who took this pic? #ukbirding
Pallid Swift photographed heading south past The Warren at c.7.20am this morning, confirmed from further review of images. Over 4700 Swifts south since 5.55am. Harry Appleyard 📷
