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ianhayes.bsky.social
Birdwatcher, lister, sometime twitcher. Living on Somerset's Mendip Hills.
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Enjoyable morning at Ham Wall/Shapwick with @devontess.bsky.social and Melissa. Plenty of Hobbies including a fine male perched up on Meare Heath. Common Tern briefly over Noah's . Bittern put in a brief appearance late on, a fine lifer for the one of us who picked it up!

Do give him a follow.

So nice to come home to....

Spotted Sandpiper still showing well at Herriot's. Only needed a slight diversion on our way home from Poland.

Poland day 7. This morning we returned for better views of Aquatic Warbler and were successful. Later we visited our 7th site for Three Toed Woody and finally watched them at their nest. A great end to a great week. Pleased to have shared it with @hull24matt.bsky.social a damn fine birder.

Poland day 6 addendum. Late evening, hard work as the sun set yielded our third target bird of the trip. A small number of Aquatic Warblers singing and showing briefly. Also a confusing Grasshopper Warbler and several Whinchat

Poland day 6. Sad to leave the great forest but the Bierza Marshes are pretty fine. At one point this morning we had Rosefinch, Bluethroat and Citrine Wagtail in sight simultaneously...a fly by Kingfisher added to a colourful scene! 4 Montague's Harriers, Great and Lesser Spotted Eagles also seen.

An early morning Bison.

Poland day 4: hot and, at times, frustrating. Definite highlight was spending time with a full colour Red Breasted Flycatcher in a glade. Also great views of Wood and Barred Warblers and Golden Orioles in flight. Failed to find Three Toed Woody or Nutcracker despite a lot of miles covered.

Undoubted highlight of a bird filled 17 hour day was sundown at a Great Snipe Lek. Amazing views of the birds performing courtship leaps, wing flaps, white tails. All while surrounded by krekking Corncrakes, calling Quail and the ever present machine gun sound of Thrush Nightingales. And some Elks!

Stonking 2nd day in Poland. Our highlight: White Backed Woodpecker, long awaited and our final Euro Woody. But also Pigmy Owls at their nest; Marsh,Great Reed, Savi's and Itcterine Warblers;Grey Headed and LS Woods; Rosefinches, Cresties, Firecrest. And a perched LS Eagle at close range. Phew.

First day of our trip to Poland largely spent travelling. Highlights: Lesser Spotted Eagle (high over a beer stop) and stunning views of Thrush Nightingale and Black Woodpecker on a short walk from the hotel.

Distant Woodchat Shrike near Chitterne, Wilts this morning. Very pleased to see the bird at our second attempt.

Ferruginous Duck at Draycote Water, East end, this morning.

Excellent morning at Marston Vale NR in Bedfordshire. At least 2 Turtle Doves seen and more heard. Also: Hobby, Peregrine, Cuckoo, PF Goose and loads of common Warblers. Highly recommended.

Great Reed Warbler, this morning.

First ever visit to Cambridgeshire, around the Ouse reserves. Great Reed Warbler, Temincks Stint, Grey Partridges, Wood Sandpiper, 30+ Hobbies, Stock Doves. Fantastic places, nice folk. Now sat at hotel watching Arctic Terns on the lake. Couldn't find a Turtle Dove but have a little time tomorrow.

Great Reed Warbler showing well and singing his own special song at Ouse Fen. #ukbirding

An information request. I know that on some Scillonian crossings expert local birders act as guides. Where can I find details, dates etc. Thanks in advance. #cornwallbirding

Bluethroat showing well at Slimbridge.

Query for anyone who understands the workings of Bluesky: can someone explain why we didn't get a personal notification (...we didn't, we've searched thoroughly) when the message below from someone we don't follow was posted and they included our username. Concerned we're missing other messages!

M and F Black-Winged Stilton still showing well at Black Hole Marsh. #devonbirding

Red Footed Falcon, Preddanack, Lizard this evening. Lovely to share it with some of Cornwall's finest. #cornwallbirding

Black Kite low over Treeve Moor, Lands End with group of 6 Red Kite. Flew east. Good end to a largely fruitless walk around Lands End with a single Wheatear the best we could manage. #cornwallbirding

Female Common Redstart in hedge near Faraway Cottage. #cornwallbirding

E Subalpine Warbler showing really well over the last 20mins. At previously reported location Lizard Farm #cornwallbirding

Night Heron in atypical pose. A quick dash to Portland rescued what had been a disappointing morning around Poole Harbour.

Quantocks this AM. Priveleged to spend time watching a beautiful Wood Warbler. It's whole body quivering as it belted out it's song in a sunny Beech wood. Britain's best Warbler? Several more singing in the area. I was very pleased that my new hearing aids let me hear them! #somersetbirding

Broad-Billed Sandpiper showed very well for us at Godcliff Pools. An overdue lifer for us. Bonus L Whitethroat NFY. Thanks to the friendly locals and to @paganbirder.bsky.social for pointing us towards the LW.

Ham Wall this morning: Wood Sanpiper (NFY), Glossy Ibis, M Garganey, Bittern, Cuckoo (h)and several Swifts. Warblers in full song. Earlier on Tealham Moor: Yellow Wagtail on scrape and a heard only Whimbrel. #somersetbirding

Garden Warbler NFY at Ham Wall this morning (at least 3 seen, several more heard). Blackcaps, Reed, Sedge, Cetti's and Whitethroat all singing. Our first Swift of the year high over Loxton's. Also Glossy Ibis. Escaped before the crowds. Later Common Redstart NFY on the Mendips #somersetbirding