Dr David W. Smith
@drdavebirding.bsky.social
Birder, Ecologist & Wildlife Conservationist. Views my own. Born when CO2 was at c.337 parts per million. #selffoundbirding #kentbirding
My wife's definition of birding: "Birding consists of either being out birding, or scrolling and being grumpy about what others have seen and/or found, but you haven't.".... thoughts?!
It's coming to the end of lesser spot season, and chicks are fledging. Listen out for calling chicks if you're in the woods. Video by Paul Cox (thanks Paul for permission to use).
This past fortnight, I've managed to see a few mammals around Kent, from brown hare, pipistrelle bats emerging from their roost - to beaver, a family of fox and rabbit.
To anyone birding in Kent, please remember to take & submit good notes of the UK Rare Breeding Birds you see. For ducks look out for male/female pairs, females and ducklings. #kentbirding #ukbirding @ukrbbp.bsky.social
Some heavily cropped photos of the adult female red-footed falcon I found today at Reculver. #kentbirding
Back home and reviewing some of my photos from Cyprus. One of the best birding locations I've experienced in Europe/Western Palearctic. Lots of amazing birds, including a wonderful selection of stunning wheatear, with lots of variation too. #cyprusbirds
🔊 WE'RE RECRUITING Would you like to play a central role in delivering our journal IBIS and engaging with the #ornithology community? Join us as our Journal and Engagement Manager! ⏰ Apply by 14 April bou.org.uk/vacancy-j... 🪶
Savi's warbler from earlier in holiday. All the birds I heard reeling were from dense scrub. #cyprusbirds
Highlight from yesterday was watching 2 little crake, and as I was leaving a small flock of blue-cheeked bee eater flew over. #cyprusbirds.
Some other highlights from yesterday's afternoon arrival, all within a stroll from the holiday digs. #cyprusbirds
Got lucky this afternoon when I found this stunner, during a bit of fall. Turkestan shrike. #cyprusbirds
After playing hide and seek, and then deciding to head back to the car, the masked shrike decided to fly and land in front of me. ##cyprusbirds
Always a good day when you find a bluethroat on migration. This is from today, but probably the same bird from yesterday. Cape Greco #cyprusbirds.
Enjoying my morning strolls and bumping into a few of these beauties each morning. Across 3 visits to Greco I've seen the following sylvia warblers (all well): eastern subalpine; ruppell's; eastern orphean; cyprus; sardian; spectacled; lesser whitethroat; whitethroat & blackcap. #cyprusbirds.
What a weekend! It was a privilege for Kent to host 2026 @lesserspotnet.bsky.social workshop in the Blean! Interesting discussions had between different regions, good connections made, exciting things ahead. Some Lesser Spots didn’t go a miss either @kentishplover.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social
@lesserspotnet.bsky.social took five hours to locate this little fella - The Blean, Kent, 21st March
I saw some early signs of excavating at the weekend and come hail or shine this male lesser spot was busy excavating today. My earliest views of excavation. @lesserspotnet.bsky.social #Birds @angusrobin.bsky.social
Away from the adopted holiday patch, we bumped into two great spotted cuckoo. A species high on the UK self-found dream list. Targets corvid nests, particularly magpie. #cyprusbirds.
One of my highlights from today whilst out for a late afternoon stroll with my wife in Cyprus. Wasn't expecting such a corker. #cyprusbirds.
Back from a great @lesserspotnet.bsky.social weekend in Kent discussing the monitoring, ecology and conservation of our smallest woodpecker. Infectious enthusiasm and a wealth of skills and experience shared, topped off by actually seeing them! xeno-canto.org/1086062 #ornithology
XC1086062 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dryobates minor)
xeno-canto.org
Had a superb weekend in Kent courtesy of @lesserspotnet.bsky.social’s workshop, hearing of all the exciting developments in Lesser Spotted Woodpecker monitoring & research, topped by great views of the birds themselves 😍 - my first for a decade!
4+ Water Pipits commuting between cut reedbeds at Westbere and the water meadows to the south this evening, as viewed from the north bank of the Stour #kentbirding
What a thrill, my first 🇬🇧 Beavers! Saw two along the River Stour east of Fordwich, Kent this evening - located in the darkness by the loud wood-munching sounds! #ukmammals #uknature
Success! Lesser spotted woodpeckers, a male and female pair. The morning after the lesser spotted woodpecker workshop. @ukrbbp.bsky.social @lesserspotnet.bsky.social
It’s nearly March, spring is springing, and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel has emerged from hibernation again to encourage you to get out recording rare breeding birds #UKbirding #ornithology
The Rare Breeding Birds Panel@ukrbbp.bsky.social · last yr.It’s not quite spring, but it’s on the way. Which means it’s time to start recording rare breeding birds to help the work of the RBBP. Stay tuned through the spring & summer for videos and blogs with guidance on how you can add extra value to your birding #ornithology #ukbirding #birds
Bossenden Wood last couple of days: Lesser Spot, Great Spot, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Firecrest, Goldcrest, Stock Dove, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Blue Tits, Great Tits and LT Tits. #kentbirding
