NO Birding for 7 of us this morn @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social Belvide Reserve, as we prepared 2 new 3mx3m Tern nesting rafts for towing out.Rewarding work. In the summer we’ll be repairing our 2 - 4.8mx2.4m fibreglass rafts for refloating. Thanks to the guys who gave up their time this morn. 👏🏻 😀👍🏻
A great way to end the day, the bizarre sight of a normally sea faring female Common Scoter on the Staffs-Worcs Canal..a few 100m from my home in Baswich, Stafford.I’m guessing it was put down by a rain squall this PM. 😳Thanks to the finder for putting the news out. #Birds #BirdPhotography #Birding
Great piece by @katebradbury.bsky.social on the RSPB's shift towards an evidence-based policy on bird feeding; I look forward to reading the full report #UKBirding #Ornithology
katebradbury.substack.com/p/is-it-time...
Water Pipit for today’s #BirdOfTheDay ..theme standing on #Grass Captured in the foothills of the French Pyrenees a few years ago! 😌 #Birds #Birding #BirdPhotography
Nice to catch up with the smart Drake Ring-necked Duck at Chasewater Reservoir, Staffs UK, late afternoon. Never drifted that close though. Also, 2 Goosander, 2 LRP, 2 Oystercatcher & c150 Sand Martin. 🤩 #Birds #Birding #Ducks
Welcome Bird migrants in the River Sow Valley, Baswich-Milford, Staffs this early AM. 2 Whitethroat (earliest patch record by a week) Willow Warbler, Sedge Warbler. Also, 2 Lt Egret, 3 LRP, 9 dueling Cetti’s, 4 Blackcap, Oystercatcher & an unusual 2 Gadwall. 😎
A chilly 2 hours on Radford Meadows, Stafford this morning…rewarded with 2 Black tailed Godwit, 4 Oystercatcher, Peregrine, 2 Lt Egret, 2 Blackcap, 3 Cetti’s, 18 Shelduck, 26 Shoveler, Goosander, 2 Pintail, c80 Teal & just 6 Wigeon remain. 👍🏻 @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social
A lunchtime scan of the changing scene of the beautiful Aberdesach Bay, North Wales. Quite quiet for Birds but a superb 4 Red throated Divers & a group of 7 Great Northern Divers. The latter in transitional plumage ..a pre season gathering before heading off far north, to who knows where to breed. 😌
A good afternoon visit to @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social Belvide Bird Reserve, Staffs, UK last Saturday. Year ticks of Sand & House Martin, Black necked Grebe & Little ringed Plover. Several, squally showers passed through with Birds sheltering in front of the Andrew Chappell Hide. 🦉🪶 #Birds
Northern Shoveler studies … Birds with a bit of ‘always looking annoyed’ character! This pair showed well at @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social Belvide Reservoir Reserve, Staffs, UK, last Saturday. 🦉🪶 #Birds #Birding #BirdPhotograpy #naturephotography
All the ‘4’s..44 species recorded on River Sow Meadows, Baswich-Milford Staffs, this AM.Northern Wheatear,5 Cetti’s, Mandarin, 2 Goosander,35 Wigeon,17 Skylark, 3 Redwing, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Lt Egret.(+ a lady showed me a phone vid of a Beaver on the river a month back😳) @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social
I usually visit a locality in Scotland for Taiga Bean Goose. However, this one, with its duo of Pink footed Geese pals was only twenty miles from home at Longdon on Tern, Shrops. A pleasing encounter with images/vid taken at great distance this late afternoon. 😀👍 🦉🪶 #Birds #Birding #Nature
Another look at the Mow Cop Shorelark, on the Cheshire-Staffs border this PM. Showed well for 20mins. A striking Bird - 49 days on site I believe. Image of the ‘Border’ wall -Cheshire on the far side is where the Bird frequents #Birds #UKBirding #Birdphotography 🦉🪶
Detailed watercolor painting of a common loon with a baby on its back, floating on water with red and green lilypads. The adult loon is seen from the side, with its head facing the fluffy brown baby.
Detailed marker illustration of a Common Loon rearing up with its wings back, showing its underwing feathers.
Watercolor painting of a Common Loon rearing up out of the water, crushing an ice cube in its beak.
Today is the first #NationalLoonDay, marking the 65th anniversary that the MN Legislature made the Common Loon our State Bird!
I love drawing and painting these beauties, especially now that they're one symbol of our community standing up each other.
#BirdArt #SciArt #Nature #FineArt
Hen Harrier.
When I rolled up to the small harbour, in Port Patrick, SW Scotland this morn, I was hoping to see a Black Guillemot. At one point there were twenty three, surface skimming & swirling about in the water. Pairing up for the breeding season no doubt. Beautiful. 🤩 🦉🪶 #Birds #Birding #Naturephotography
Half a century of species on Radford Meadows, Stafford this AM. 62 Russian White fronted Geese, 51 Pintail, 4 Shelduck, Goldeneye, 75 Shoveler, 7 Gadwall, 4 Goosander, Curlew, 4 Oystercatcher,4 Golden Plover, 652 Lapwing, Peregrine, Lt Egret, 3 Cetti’s, 6 Siskin. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social
I nipped in to see the Shorelark at Mow Cop on the North Staffs/Cheshire border this PM. Cracking individual with probably the brightest colouration I’ve seen in the species. Siberian temperature up there on the high ground with poor light, but a superb encounter! 🥶 😀👍
A quick march to the south end of Radford Meadows, Stafford at dusk, revealed at least 124 Russian White fronted Geese. Also a quick count of 61 Pintail, 2 Shelduck 6 Goosander & Cetti’s. Year tick Green Sandpiper x 2 were a joy to find. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social @staffswildlife.bsky.social
I couldn't resist another visit to the White-billed Diver in Dundee today and I'm glad I did as @dundeebirding.bsky.social and I were treated to some lovely close views of this fantastic bird.
#birds #birdingscotland
Whirlwind Sunday in North Wales, with great views of the Bufflehead at Llyn Coron. Plus an Anglesey support cast of 3 Slav Grebe, LT Duck, 2 GN Divers, Mergansers, 40+ PB Brent Geese, Waders etc. 2 showy Drake Surf Scoters at Colwyn (once we found ‘em!😊) +100’s Common Scoters & 5 R T Divers👍🏻 #Birds
In addition to 40 Russian White fronted Geese at Amerton Flood meadows, Staffs there were 4 Shelduck, 481 Lapwing, 19 Golden Plover, Curlew, 300 Starling, c100 Wigeon+Teal & Shoveler This imm Peregrine ensured everything stayed at one end of the flood! 🦉🪶 #Birding #Birds @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social
@staffsbirdnews.bsky.social 40 Russian White-fronted Geese on Amerton Flood meadow, east of Stafford, Staffs at midday.
Decent walk along River Sow Meadows Baswich -Milford local patch, east of Stafford this AM. Red kite, 6 Goosander, 80 Wigeon, 60 Teal, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Cetti’s, 2 Siskin, 28 Skylark flock,3 Raven. Hawthorn breaking bud. 😳 #Birds #Birding @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social
A check of Amerton Flood meadow, east of Weston, NR Stafford after lunch .. weh hey.. found 38 loafing Russian White-fronted Geese . Also, 3 Oystercatcher, Curlew, 502 Lapwing, 84 Wigeon, 36 Shoveler, 2 Greylag. 2 Gadwall…. And then the heavens opened! ☔️ @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social
Well flooded Radford Meadows, Stafford this AM. 81 Pintail, Pochard, 3 Tufted Duck, 2 Goosander, 20 Gadwall, 150 Shoveler, 500+ Wigeon, 500+ Teal, 612 Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Snipe, Golden Plover, Great Egret & Lt Egret, 8 Siskin, 247 LBB & 18 Herring Gull. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social
Curlew Sandpipers at @rspbtitchwellsnett.bsky.social for #BirdOfTheDay and the theme of #Reflection 😌
I’ve heard some of these recording’s and they’re superb! 😀👍 @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social @staffswildlife.bsky.social
A gloomy start to the day here in our Colchester garden. 1 Lesser Redpoll still around and a sign that spring is not too far away, here’s our male Blackcap singing which it’s been doing since Jan 26th. ( my earliest singing bird ) #essexbirding
