Rob Hemming
@robhemming25.bsky.social
Urban birderwatcher, Birmingham. Local Patch - Edgbaston Res, Winterbourne Gardens. Can also be found up Walton Hill, Worcestershire. Occasional trips elsewhere. Lover of Natural history in general.
Dear all streaming services, Please stop trying to start the next film before the current one has finished. No one ever in the history of ever wants this. There is already so much to dislike about your products, but this one is up there with the worst. Many Thanks, The whole world.
Personal site record of 7 L Egret at Winterbourne Gardens today. Nice to see another Hummingbird Hawkmoth doing the rounds as well.
Amazing birthday ramble around Walton hill,Worcs, today Stoked to find a Wood Warbler! amongst a large group of other small birds inc. 6+ Spotted Flys, Willow Ws, chiffs, tits, treecreepers & nuthatch Red Kite, Goshawk, Kestrel, Sprawk, Buzzard & Ravens Plus Redstart & 2 juv Stonechat #UKbirding
A young woodpigeon was the victim of a window strike yesterday. I knew a fox would probably take the body so left it. To our surprise, it wasn't a fox that took it...... Everything is an opportunist. But it was still a surprise seeing this! #badger #wildlife #nature @ecorecord.bsky.social
Our French holiday came to an end on Wednesday. 131 species of bird seen. Loads of butterflies, the odd moth & some magical mammal moments. Highlights Western Bonelli's Warbler Glanville Fritillary Scarce Swallowtail Southern White Admiral Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth Dolphins #ukbirding abroad
Final day of the hols. Back to Pointe du Payre with Ruth. Early start took us through the woods in darkness & onto the small cliffs overlooking the sea. Dug out a single Balearic Shearwater. Tawny & Nightjar Waders inc more Whimbrel 3 Common Scoter 8 Dolphins frolicking around #UKbirding abroad
Barrage du Mervent walk Highlight was my 1st ever Western Bonelli's Warblers. Heard them, then saw one. Very happy! Honey Buzzard Marsh tits Barn & Little Owl 2 beautiful Southern White Admirals with striking blue sheen & a Broad bordered Hummingbird Hawkmoth were also firsts #UKbirding abroad
Tour de Moricq walk today Last year I stumbled upon my only Stone Curlew ever. Not so lucky this time Alas, lovely walk through tree sized hedges, marsh & rough pasture Surprise Tree Pipit. Stock dove & Yellowhammer joined the list. Night Herons, Hoopoe, Golden Os & R-b Shrikes #UKbirding abroad
A close encounter of a Boar kind in the Foret Dominiale de Longeville this morning. There were 2 rummaging away in front of me, with 3 (including a heavy adult) round the corner..... .....I promptly walk the opposite way after they wandered past 😅🐗 #wildboar
A Black-winged Floof being very well protected at the lagoons of Point D'Arcay this morning. Short-toed Eagle & Nightingale new for the holiday list. 2 Wild Boar & 3 Red Squirrels were exciting to see! Marbled Whites & Cardinals join the butterfly's seen #ukbirding abroad
North Baie de L'Aiguillon area for today's outing. Thousands of waders. Bar-tailed Gs, Whimbrel, Greenshank, B-w Stilts the highs. Mostly Curlew, Redshank, Blck-t Gs, Oyks & Grey Plvrs. Osprey, Quails, Monty Harriers, Hobby, Cuckoo, Crested Lk, Hoopoe, Corn Bs, Bluethroats etc #UKbirding abroad
Saw this skipper today in mid-west, coastal France. Well worn, but can anyone help with ID if possible? Species of southern Marbled, Mallow, tufted marbled all look a bit like it Not a good image I know, maybe the footage will aide better... @carljones57.bsky.social @ukbutterflies.bsky.social
Pointe du Payre today. Ruth & i bumbled around the Holme oak woods, sat on the cliffs & down to the estuary Gannet & Common Scoter at sea Kentish Plvrs on the sand Spotted Flys & Firecrest in the woods Stunning male Cirl bunting in the fields And I think a Glanville Fritillary?? #ukbirding abroad
Meandering walk by the river Lay just north of La Tranche this am. Then south to Pointe de L'Aiguillon Quail Marsh & Montagu's Harrier Night Heron Little Owl, Hoopoe, Bluethroat Lots of Corn Bunting Avocet, Knot, Whimbrel, Grey plvr etc Crested Lark & Tawny Pipit Clouded Yellow #ukbirding abroad
A first for me this am in the form of 2 lovely Scarce Swallowtails nr Les Conches, just north of La Tranche-sur-mer Great to see 2 adult & one juv Night Heron Added Kingfisher, Mistle thrush, LTT & Cirl Bunting to holiday list Several splendid & showy Red-backed Shrikes around #butterflies #birds
First walk of the holiday this am. Dunes to the fields & past the sewage works nr La Tranche-sur-Mer 27°C at 5am Swallowtail Clouded Yellow Many Wall browns & painted ladys Jersey tiger moth? Tawny Pipit Night heron 15! Green sands R-b Shrike pair Many warblers,waders, egrets etc #birdsabroad
Common Spotted Orchids are looking outstanding out the back. 7 spikes on the mother plant this year. Last year it was 3 The southern marsh are going over now They're all very special for me. An amazing link to the past & garden I grew up in #ukorchids @ukorchids.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social
My little potted wild patch is looking lovely at the moment. Common Spotted and Southern Marsh Orchids are getting into their stride. And a shout out to the Fox and cubs, too....insects are really enjoying them @ukorchids.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social
Chiff chaff out the back of my apartment has been embacing its inner funk this afternoon. Can't say I've heard anything similar in the past. Prob have to turn the volume up #UKbirding
Cooking tea and it's Mary Anne Hobbs on 6 radio. I don't dislike her choices and knowledge...but she's so sycophantic it makes me laugh and cringe.... puts me off listening. It's like she's been drugged.... I can't be alone?
Muntjac deer barking in Edgbaston, Birmingham last night. I'm not too surprised, but never seen or heard one around here before. Not exactly a great record of wildlife - as an introduced species - but interesting in its own way. @ecorecord.bsky.social
Two Painted Ladies at work today. Think they're the first ones I've caught up with this year. The second one was almost half the size of the first. Any suggestions on why one was so much smaller? Perhaps just freshly emerged?? @ukbutterflies.bsky.social @carljones57.bsky.social
Edgbaston reservoir 4.45-7.15 No sign of the LRPs this morning. The good weather has brought people out, which appears to have driven them off for now. Hopefully they'll return Someone had been pushing a trolly all over the area they've been on 😒 A Common Tern was present until 6.30ish #UKbirding
Hi @britishspiders.bsky.social Sorry to hit you up again, but this jumping spider landed on me today and I don't think I've ever seen one different from the ordinary zebra spiders. So just wondered about this one.
Edgbaston res The pair of LRPs are still here amazingly. And by the looks of things valiantly trying to do something. Here's one of the pair today, sat on a scrape Problem is, it's tremendously accessible. Dogs, people, not to mention other predators. Real shame #ukbirding @ecorecord.bsky.social
Found this rather lethargic little fella today at work. Think it's a noble false widow spider @britishspiders.bsky.social B68, West midlands.
With a 77% decline in Willow Tit across the UK between 2024-2025 (BBS), every nest counts. Wherever possible, we protect Willow Tit nest cavities from GSW attack with mesh guards. On public sites we add additional camouflage to keep the nest discreet and blending in with the natural surroundings.
