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julianthomas19.bsky.social
Birder in Somerset. Tern freak.
194 posts 473 followers 172 following
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N'land trip in nos: 137spp (5 in Durham), 4 N'land ticks (Temminck's, Am Goldie, Quail, GWE), 11 YTs (Red and Black Grouse, Grey Part, Am Wigeon, Smew, Puffin, Arctic and Roseate Terns, Am Goldie, Quail, Pinkfoot). Plus Woodcock, Am Black Tn, 2 Spoonbills, 8 Dotterels, 3 Wood Sands, Ruddy Shelduck.

submitted 3 days ago • 1 comment

She made me wait a bit this morning, but showed v well in the end. Stuck watching v close range Arctic Terns while I waited - what a hardship! 😀Back in Somerset now, just as drift migrants are starting to turn up. Oh well, I had a brilliant week - 137 spp recorded, brilliant scenery too.

submitted 3 days ago • 0 comments

Cracking 1st day of Northumberland trip. Black and Red Grouse and Woodcock on Durham fells at dawn, then Grey Partridge, Am Wigeon, Smew, Puffin, Arctic and Roseate Terns, Temminck"s Stint, Wood Sand, the "Buston Teal", and Dotterel.

submitted 9 days ago • 1 comment

10 years ago today, an amused reception committee was waiting for me at @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social , watching me arrive sweaty from Top Fields before flinging myself to Norfolk for a gripback I never expected to get, and certainly not so quickly: birdingtales.blogspot.com/2020/05/citr...

submitted 12 days ago • 2 comments

Bit late in the day, but 8 May is the 8th anniversary of @0100011s.bsky.social leaving the barbers halfway through a haircut. The reason? A showy Spectacled Warbler on the slopes at Portland Bill, 1st for Dorset and only the 9th British record. Sadly it sloped off overnight.

submitted 14 days ago • 1 comment

I worked out last night that the Purple Heron I saw over the weekend was my 19th in Somerset and 7th on Shapwick Heath NNR. Mostly twitched, of course, but I have found 2: Catcott Lows, 8 May 2005, and Westhay Moor, 23 September 2020 (the latter with Trevor Ellery while waiting for a Spotted Crake).

submitted 17 days ago • 0 comments

So, in the past week I've seen: 16 Poms, Night Heron, Purple Heron, Temminck's Stint, Bluethroat, Red-footed Falcon, and 2 Black-winged Stilts. Throw in 2 Glossy Ibises, Wood Sand, 2 Red Kites, 5 Garganey, singing Wood Warbler and Spot Fly, and a bunch of other common migrants and it's not been bad!

submitted 17 days ago • 4 comments

1st summer Purple Heron showed well at Meare Heath early evening. Seen to pluck a Four-spotted Chaser from a stem and ate it before it dropped to the reed edge and started fishing. #somersetbirding

submitted 19 days ago • 0 comments

Roseate Terns on Coquet Island webcam now. I'll be up there in about 10 days or so - can't wait. www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gG2...

submitted 19 days ago • 0 comments

Late afternoon whizz up to a breezy Slimbridge for Temminck's Stint. Nice if distant views, plus Glossy Ibis, Wood Sand, Common Sand, 3 Ruff, 4 Garganey, and a pair of Cranes. Well worth the effort!

submitted 19 days ago • 0 comments

1s Purple Heron at Meare Heath now on 1st tank W of Ashcott Corner c/pk and showing well 10.07am. #somersetbirding

submitted 20 days ago • 0 comments

Sub-ad Purple Heron 9.40am in front left edge of reedy island on 2nd tank on Meare Heath. Showing reasonably well, considering. Found by @marshallpaul.bsky.social . #somersetbirding

submitted 20 days ago • 1 comment

At last! An accessible (at least to hear) Nightingale in Somerset this year along Bridgwater-Taunton canal by bridge at Cogload Junction. Same place as last year, and completely undisturbable unless you fancy trespassing, tackling barbed wire and thick brambles, and playing with high-speed trains.

submitted 21 days ago • 1 comment

Out early this morning, and what better way to celebrate my birthday than with flocks of Poms (16 in total past Portland Obs, though I missed a couple), plus an apparent female Surf Scoter. This pm in Somerset not so good - ternfest at Burnham was over by time I arrived and dipped Purple Heron again

submitted 22 days ago • 5 comments

Wow, what a pic!

submitted 24 days ago • 0 comments

Nice late afternoon/early evening visit to Goldcliff Pools: Broad-billed Sand, Lsr Whthroat, Whitethroat, Reed, Sedge etc and currently watching the Green-winged Teal from seawall hide.

submitted 25 days ago • 1 comment

50spp in 3hrs at Ham Wall this am: 2 Wood Sands, 1st Swifts of year, Glossy Ibis, Garganey, Ruff, 2 Hobby, sev Garden Warblers, Whitethroat etc. Also Hairy Dragonflies and lots of Variable Damsels.

submitted 27 days ago • 1 comment