What a bird! Definitely one of the best birds for me. This tame dude near Prestatyn delighted all the visitors today, showing incredibly well. My best views of the species in the UK and finally a closeup with the crest up, new pfp for sure. @northwaleswt.bsky.social
Cracking way to finish the weekend, lovely sunny evening walk with the Mrs around @rspbburtonmere.bsky.social Spotshanks almost in full finery, med gulls looking smart and as we left the wood warbler did the right thing and showed well.
A minute after the news of a wryneck at Burton was out, I had asked the Mrs for permission and was on the way! Great bird to have locally, would be nice for a closer, not backlit showing but I'll happily take it. Great find by David King.
Thank you!
First time having proper views of hooded crows, love the little dudes. They've been at every port on our Norwegian Fjords Cruise, as it's a honeymoon I haven't done any proper birding, so I was happy to have these guys easy to find!
Great views of 17 bustards on the plains today, ended up being there 2 hours longer than planned as the rough road popped a tyre. Thankfully, replaced by a mobile unit and on our way!
A big North Wales road trip on Thursday, 10 black grouse to start, first 2 swallows of the year, crossbill, kites, curlews. A lack of the target ring ouzels though. Bonus marsh harrier on Denbigh moors was nice. @rspbcymru.bsky.social @northwaleswt.bsky.social
Great spring migrant filled trip to @rspbburtonmere.bsky.social today. Little gull, little ringed plover, 6 spotshank and pair of garganey being the highlights. The garganey pair even mated briefly. The little gull has a colour ring and was rung in Finland
Dip, dip, dip, dippers. The female of one of the four pairs I'm watching now appears to be on eggs, so the male is doing a lot more lounging about and stretching. Hopefully, the others will follow shortly for plenty of fledglings this year! @rspbcymru.bsky.social @northwaleswt.bsky.social
Such smart little dudes, my first wheatears of the year at Hoylake RNLI this morning, 3 males all running around with their long legs. Spring is here!!
Annnnd even more North Wales dippers. I really love being near to this species now. The female is definitely in charge of the lining of the nest, she was quite picky with what leaves she selected for it @rspbcymru.bsky.social
Got a reasonable view of the lingering Shropshire taiga bean goose before it was spooked by a low flying helicopter. Always fun to see the rarer variant before the more common one, having seen a taiga and not a tundra yet! @shropshirewildlife.bsky.social
Suns out, nest building still going on, so plenty of opportunities to try getting some flight shots of some of the 3 dipper pairs at Dyserth. Great birds and fun to try capturing midair. @northwaleswt.bsky.social @rspbcymru.bsky.social
Better than I had but still not a great sign for the population up there
Some more of the showy scoter on West Kirby Marine Lake yesterday morning. In the third shot you can see a crab claw hanging out of it's mouth as it gets on with swallowing it whole!
My best views ever of a common scoter this morning on West Kirby Marine Lake. This drake wasn't worried about me watching in the slightest, catching multiple crabs and even swallow a whole razor clam!
Yesterday morning was a great chance to catch some lekking in the sunshine, up in North Wales uplands. 7 male black grouse and double digit reds, including a few not moving from the road side as i parked next to them, not bad views! @northwaleswt.bsky.social @rspbcymru.bsky.social
Nice shots! had 7 male black grouse yesterday morning, did you count similar? hoping there's more hiding somewhere
Had a great session with the Nant-y-Pandy reds last weekend. The sun was out and showed off their full colours, even let me try catching them mid jump as they came for some tasty bribes. Just look at those tufts! @northwaleswt.bsky.social
@rspbcymru.bsky.social @northwaleswt.bsky.social
Prepare for a few days of dipper shots, this mornings session with the 2 pairs at Dyserth was brilliant. All 4 birds are very confiding and with a little bit of fieldcraft will show almost down to minimum focal distance!
Thought I'd revisit the Speke grackle this evening as I hadn't really tried viewing it come to roost. Glad I did as not only did I meet the grackle whisperer ( @birderjack.bsky.social ) but also got to hear the grackle singing!
hover vid
Two clips of the star lincs shrike from Wednesday. First one showing him comfortably singing to us, the other hovering high over the field hunting. Excuse the amateur videography as usual, taken at 1120mm. @lincswildlife.bsky.social (hovering video in thread)
A flying lunch visit to @rspbburtonmere.bsky.social was very rewarding with a snoozing spoonbill, very obliging willow tit, pair of barnacle and a white fronted goose.
A visit to the famous lincs shrike had to be done, 9 hours in it's field yesterday with it visible for most of 8 hours. Sadly, no close hovering, wasn't helped by some chasing it most of the day. Still a great bird to see singing, hovering and hunting.
@lincswildlife.bsky.social
Thanks!
Thanks mate, that one will be a little harder!
Thanks mate!
Guess I'd better start posting here as well now the other is getting quieter. Nice to now be near North Wales and it's dippers, able to visit before work! The Dyserth pair are busy nest building, tame as ever and a pleasure to watch. @rspbcymru.bsky.social @northwaleswt.bsky.social
