andyfirth.bsky.social - Profile | ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

As the wildlife recorder software is not being supported going forward I have started submitting my records on eBird, I can’t work out a way to screenshot these so understand why people submit links only to their lists. This Reed Bunting was trying enthusiastically despite not yet looking his best.

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

Popped to Astbury Mere this afternoon for the Black-necked Grebe, distant in heavy rain. Hoping for one at Sandbach Flashes, still only three ever records there. #ukbirding

submitted 4 days ago • 0 comments

A couple of fairly static hours around the flashes in strengthening winds, no real change today although an Avocet seen yesterday (no sign today) was new for the year. Shoveler numbers vary day to day so who knows where they go. #patchbirding #ukbirding

submitted 7 days ago • 0 comments

Another three hour session on patch (Sandbach Flashes), nice to have a small influx of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks to freshen things up a little. #ukbirding #patchbirding

submitted 14 days ago • 0 comments

WEBS count Elton Hall and Pump House Flashes Sandbach this am #ukbirding #patchbirding

submitted 15 days ago • 0 comments

A nice round 50 species today on patch at Sandbach Flashes, the local Grey Heron’s looking as cold as I was in the nagging Easterly. @patchbirding @ukbirding

submitted 16 days ago • 0 comments

An out of context Woodcock today’s highlight on patch, Skylark song kicking in, one or two Lapwings halfheartedly displaying suggests a gradual easing of winters grip. #ukbirding #patchbirding

submitted 21 days ago • 0 comments

A freezing Easterly wind on patch this morning, new for the patch year Pink-Footed Goose, Oystercatcher and Green Sandpiper, doing Green Sandpiper things. #patchbirding #ukbirding

submitted 23 days ago • 0 comments

A couple of overdue patch year ticks in Treecreeper and Rook this morning, I covered part of the patch that gets little coverage. #patchbirding #ukbirding.

submitted 28 days ago • 0 comments

Got the day list 50 up at Sandbach Flashes this am. A birding mate let me use his thermal to locate a quite distant roosting Long-eared Owl, very impressive piece of kit, not surprised they’re the latest “must have” with many birders. #ukbirding #patchbirding

submitted 35 days ago • 1 comment

The last couple of days have been quiet at Sandbach Flashes. Black-tailed Godwit and Pintail new for the year though. #ukbirding #patchbirding

submitted 37 days ago • 0 comments

Well worth carrying out the #WinterGullSurvey at Elton Hall Flash Sandbach today, 2,500 Black-headed, 390 Herring, 57 Lesser black-backed, 4 Great black-backed and 3 Common Gulls. I’m pretty sure the roost is casual rather than a nightly occurrence #BTO

submitted 42 days ago • 0 comments

Kept the patch year list ticking along with Water Rail, Stonechat and Golden Plover added. This Black-headed Gull waiting for this evenings winGS BTO Gull cont, usually we only have a pre roost but I will check anyway. #patchbirding #ukbirding

submitted 42 days ago • 0 comments

Enough to maintain interest this morning at Sandbach Flashes. The Green-winged Teal distantly still present, a proper “record shot”.#ukbirding#patchbirding

submitted 43 days ago • 0 comments

Elton Hall Flash/Pump House Flash (Sandbach Flashes) WEBS.

submitted 49 days ago • 0 comments

Any patch morning with both “eared owls” seen ticks every box, bonus Woodcock also. Couldn’t get an image of the Shortie but one from the same location last year gives an idea of the less than salubrious habitat! I think we have a wintering presence again. #UKbirding #patchbirding

submitted 51 days ago • 0 comments

A couple of hours covering Elton Hall and Pump House Flashes (Sandbach Flashes). Decent numbers but no sign of either Green-Winged Teal or White-Fronted Goose. Mandarin a scarce but increasing visitor. #UKbirding

submitted 57 days ago • 0 comments

After struggling carrying the 65mm scope, head, tripod combination recently on patch (bad back). Splashed out on a lightweight kit for birding when covering ground,first ever new scope. Full kit weighs in at less than 2.5kg, there will be downsides I know,but great so far on the back. #BirdingGear

submitted 61 days ago • 3 comments

This year I concentrated on a segment of the larger Flashes recording area as a micro 3km patch, pretty disappointing with a Brent Goose (6th for the flashes) the highlight, 108 species below expectations.Health and home sale permitting moving to County Durham sometime next year a new patch awaits!

submitted 63 days ago • 1 comment

An ok year for my patch birding. Undoubted rarity highlight the Caspian Tern in July a first for the flashes and only my second “first for the flashes” after the 2004 Franklins Gull.

submitted 63 days ago • 0 comments

A decent session across the Sandbach Flashes at the tip and Railway Flashes, nice skein of Pink Feet and almost 50 species recorded.#UKbirding

submitted 63 days ago • 0 comments

Elton Hall and Pump House Flashes (Sandbach Flashes) December WEBS.#bto#ukbirding

submitted 77 days ago • 0 comments

Decent few hours around the 3km patch Sandbach Flashes, nothing new for the year though. #UKbirding

submitted 79 days ago • 0 comments

Struggling for my new 3km patch year list total of 110, reduced from the 120 I thought possible at the start of the year. Keep plugging away as time allows.

submitted 83 days ago • 0 comments

I’ve been fortunate enough to buy the Swarovski compact scope due to increasing back issues following long birding walks carrying my scope. Optically it does what you would expect however it’s clear I am probably going to have to invest in a lighter tripod/head set up as well, bloody back.

submitted 83 days ago • 0 comments

A session around the 3km patch just with binoculars after scope badly damaged. Decent ish morning, image below shows Railway Flash number One looking full of potential and delivering nothing, not unusual. #ukbirbing

submitted 92 days ago • 0 comments

Managed a much belated Jack Snipe this morning, 108 for the 3km patch. Habitat with no Jack Snipe below, typically it saw me before I saw it, watched it land but left it well alone.

submitted 93 days ago • 0 comments

Still plugging away with my 3km patch, managed to allow my tripod to fall over with scope attached, now won’t focus. Even worse I was counting Canada Geese when it happened. Inland patching I sometimes question why!

submitted 97 days ago • 1 comment

Just cleaning out my small garden pond as it is getting too full of leaves and other debris. It’s in shade, small and not very deep but space and ground conditions are limited and my better half won’t let me dig up the lawn. Had common frog and great crested newt so any pond is better than nothing.

submitted 102 days ago • 0 comments

Trying the rather plush and rather expensive Roamwild squirrel buster feeder as the local Grey Squirrels are very persistent, so far so good as a deterrent but the birds are taking time to adjust which was expected. #gardenbirds

submitted 102 days ago • 0 comments

Latest WEBS count for Elton Hall and Pump House Flashes, part of the main Sandbach Flashes recording area. Nice to see most species hanging on (just) to previous years counts. @btobirds.bsky.social

submitted 102 days ago • 0 comments

Sandbach Flashes WEBS count November. Concentrated on Elton Hall and Pump House Flashes.

submitted 107 days ago • 0 comments