Thank you to South Essex RG for helping us with another successful joint @essexbirdnews.bsky.social & @btobirds.bsky.social Youth event! It was great to see some many enthusiastic young people get the chance to help out and learn about conservation. The Firecrest was an awesome bonus! #EssexBirding

I switched to a 32mm model 10 years ago when the new top-end optical systems began to deliver much brighter 32mm models which has meant that I've never missed the extra light that 40+ or 50+ models provide. And I certainly don't miss the extra weight of larger models. #BirdingGear

Winter at Spurn is never quiet. Join us as a Residential Winter Volunteer and help protect one of Britain’s most remarkable birding sites. Fresh air, new skills, and unforgettable wildlife moments await 🪶 🔗 spurnbirdobservatory.co.uk/news/winter-...

Did my #RyeMeads @rspb.bsky.social #WednesdayWander a walk I guide managed to use a favourite word of mine Heterophylly is often witnessed in holly trees, where some leaves are prickly, a defense against herbivores, while others are non-prickly, with smooth margins and no defense at browse height

So worried about a Wogan last night but averted with 4/4 LBAM Feathered thorn Dark chestnut & appropriate November moth VC20 #teammoth

🌿 Love wildlife and winter landscapes? We’re looking for two Winter Volunteers to help care for Spurn Bird Observatory and its beautiful surroundings this season. Be part of something wild. 🕊️ 👉 Learn more & apply: spurnbirdobservatory.co.uk/news/winter-...

Another great EBWS field trip yesterday, co-guiding with @swallowbirding.bsky.social & @esbr-essex.bsky.social! Lots of good birds at Freiston & Frampton, including Hen Harrier, Merlins, Whooper Swans, Spoonbill, Peregrines, and huge numbers of Wigeon & Pintail. #Birding #UKBirding

09/11/25 A good day with @essexbirdnews.bsky.social visiting #RSPBFrampton & #RSPBFreistonShore 77 Species recorded. Highlights, Whooper Swans (10), Merlin (2) successfully chasing a pipit, Male Hen Harrier, Eurasian Spoonbill, Peregrine, Great Egret, Pink-footed Goose, & Common Kingfisher.

Wonderful afternoon spent at Wallasea Island RSPB reserve. The big high tide pushed waders everywhere but the real highlights were seeing HEN HARRIER on several occasions plus BARN OWL, SPOONBILL, GREAT EGRET, 6+ MARSH HARRIER and lots more. #essexbirding #birds #birding #BirdsSeenIn2025

Very fun afternoon guiding for @swallowbirding.bsky.social & Topsail Charters on the Blackwater. The highlights included Harbour Seal, Avocets, Marsh Harrier, Turnstones, Golden Plover, very close views of Rock Pipit, and some lovely soup! #EssexBirding #Birding #UKBirding

What were your #Top5Birds or bird moments from the past week? Mine, from my garden: 1. Jay burying an acorn in a flowerbed 2. Hearing migrating Redwings call at night 3. Bullfinch eating rowan berries 4. Robin visiting window feeder 5. Magpie on my windowsill trying to get to the window feeder 🪶

Brilliant day guiding at Blue House Farm EWT Reserve. Highlights inc GLOSSY IBIS, RAVEN, MARSH HARRIERS, BARNACLE GEESE, ARCTIC TERN and lots more. #essexbirding #birds #birding #BirdsSeenIn2025

In case you missed it I recently posted my video on how to film wildlife youtu.be/Zr7HqTM5saE #wildlife #wildlifefilmmaking #nature #ukwildlife #filmmaking #video

A recent outbreak of bird flu in Britain is causing concern among scientists:

Where are they now? More than 10 years on from the initial revelation, it still blows my mind that Shetland’s phalaropes winter in the Pacific (map from Brooke’s ‘Far From Land’). Yet they are short-distance migrants compared with Arctic Terns… #BirdingScotland

Some good news for Friday: the new RBBP report reveals that five species of large wading bird reached record totals in 2023, including Spoonbill. See the trend since 2010 below… even the bird itself looks shocked by the increase! Read more at rbbp.org.uk/2023-report-... #ukbirding #ornithology

Legacy of a Labour Baroness who voted against Swift Bricks @hannahbournetaylor.bsky.social

This month's fascinating talk is about Recording Rare Breeding Birds in the UK and Essex, by Mark Eaton from the RBBP. It's streaming live on YouTube from 8pm on Friday: youtube.com/live/VlTi7GS... #essexbirding #RareBirdsUK @ukrbbp.bsky.social

Other goodies at Heybridge included COMMON GREENSHANK, KINGFISHER, BRENT GEESE galore and lots of waders including this RUDDY TURNSTONE. #essexbirding #birds #birding #BirdsSeenIn2025

Cracking day guiding at Heybridge Basin, Essex where this female RING-NECKED DUCK stole the show as bird of the day spending time with the TUFTED DUCKS! #essexbirding #birds #birding #BirdsSeenIn2025 #RareBirdsUK @rarebirder.bsky.social

If you have ever fancied trying wildlife filmmaking or just want some tips on how to get better footage, I just posted a video on that very subject - its a long one though so get comfy 1st! www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zr7H... #wildlife #ukwildlife #wildlifefilm #filmmaking

What were your #Top5Birds or bird moments from the past week? Mine, from my garden: 1. Wren bathing in one of the bird baths 2. Robin singing a sub-song & in Sussex 3. First of year Corn Bunting 4. Lovely view of 3 Ravens low overhead 5. Heard a Yellow-browed Warbler (now I want to see one!) 🪶

Really pleased to see this gorgeous PALLAS'S WARBLER at The Naze this morning. Always on the move and feeding actively. Great to catch up with lots of local birders too! #essexbirding #birds #birding #BirdsSeenIn2025 #RareBirdsUK

🕷️ Britain’s craziest creature? Meet Megabunus diadema — a harvestman with eyes on a spiky turret! Not a spider, but part of its own Order: Opiliones. Learn more in our UK Harvestmen webinar on 5 Feb 2026: 🔗 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1720584467... @britishspiders.bsky.social @megabunus.bsky.social

@essexbirdnews.bsky.social, @btobirds.bsky.social Youth and the South Essex Ringing Group are holding a bird-ringing demonstration for u25s on 15th November at Wat Tyler CP. To find out more and book your place visit www.bto.org/our-work/eve... #essexbirding

@radiolento.bsky.social forget to include you here are my Dead man’s fingers I had on this Fungi walk yesterday

Another great morning seawatching at Frinton with @esbr-essex.bsky.social Highlights Inc 2 PURPLE SAND, 1 LITTLE STINT, 5 COM SCOTER, 2 RB MERG, GANNETS, 4 GADWALL + FIRECREST on the undercliff. Full totals on @trektellen.bsky.social www.trektellen.org/count/view/2... #essexbirding #migration

Amazon is helping fund a $300 million build of a ballroom for the White House. Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity. They are not the same.

Had an amazing #FungiWalk on Tiptree Heath today with #EssexFieldClub the popped to #EssexWildlifeTrust #AbbertonReservoir for some birdwatching bumped into @esbr-essex.bsky.social 👍

Rather damp day guiding at The Naze & Holland Haven yesterday. Despite the drenching we still managed to find YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER, FIRECREST, BRAMBLING, RAZORBILL, KINGFISHER, GOLDCRESTS, CHIFFCHAFF and more. #essexbirding #birds #birding #BirdsSeenIn2025

Exciting post delivered today 😍 reading for the darker evenings @vc40ladybirds.bsky.social @vc40orthops.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social @andrew-jewels.bsky.social @chrismothman.bsky.social

Fantastic morning Vis-migging at Frinton-on-Sea with @esbr-essex.bsky.social Lots of WOOD PIGEONS on the move plus GOLDFINCHES, SISKINS, BRAMBLING and more. Totals at www.trektellen.nl/count/view/2... #essexbirding #vismig #birds

This month's Birds of Essex is on Friday 31st at 7:30pm. With the usual mix of news, photos and sightings it's going to be spooktacular! Watch live at www.youtube.com/live/uwz1qcV... #essexbirding

Adding and smoothing the base layer and little bits of highlight on my black chested buzzard eagle wool painting. Next stage is starting to add the details of the feathers. These are right up there as one of my favourite birds. #birds #birdart #wildlifeartist

After a day exploring Sutton Hoo NT we couldn't resist popping to Hollesley Common to see the BROWN SHRIKE. Never too close but great to see and 16 years since my last in the UK! #suffolkbirding #rarebirdsuk #birds #birding #Birdsseenin2025 #suffolk #UKBirding

I love how nature & birds especially teach me or show me something different or new that I’ve not come across before …. Ever learning 🥰

Interestingly enough I was volunteering at #RyeMeads @rspbengland.bsky.social yesterday & witnessed for the first time a male Teal DIVING regularly rather than just ots normal dabbling 😳

Our #AutumnArrivalSpotlight turns to the Teal today, the UK’s smallest dabbling duck. 🦆 With visitors arriving from northern Europe, their vibrant green eye-stripes brighten our lakes and marshes.

What were your #Top5Birds or bird moments from the past week? Mine, in East Sussex: 1. Seeing a Peregrine catch a pigeon 2.Song Thrush, Robin, Goldfinch & House Sparrow bathing together in a puddle 3. Ravens 4. First of season Redwing And in my garden: 5. Robin putting leaves in the nest box 🪶

Great day out birding North Norfolk yesterday with @stuttonsparrows.bsky.social @esbr-essex.bsky.social & @fivefootseven.bsky.social Kicked off at Sheringham with LITTLE AUK west, ARCTIC TERN, ARCTIC SKUA, LT DUCK, GANNETS, RAZORBILLS etc #Norfolkbirding #birds #birding #birdsseenin2025

After a coffee stop at Cley, we headed to Wells Woods where up to 3 FIRECREST showed wonderfully in the autumn sunshine! #Norfolkbirding #birds #birding #birdsseenin2025 #norfolk

Rounded off an excellent day at Titchwell RSPB reserve where 2 SPOONBILL, PEREGRINE, FIELDFARES in off, KINGFISHER, GREAT EGRET and a large STARLING murmuration ended the day nicely! #Norfolkbirding #birds #birding #birdsseenin2025 #norfolk

🤫 after 10 yrs using the Swaro 8x32 Field Pros I’ve just upgraded! I bought a used pair, of course. And IMO the Zeiss Victory SF are the best 32s on the market. And I’m absolutely loving ‘em! #BirdingGear

Some phone-scoped footage of the juvenile Brown Shrike at Hollesley yesterday! #Birds #Birding #UKBirding

We've reached 600,000 downloads! 🎧 That's thousands of peaceful sleeps, focussed work tasks, virtual escapes to familiar + new locations, distractions from fireworks and building work, and meaningful connections with real places through sound. A big Lento thank you to supporters and listeners. ❤️

Great start to our Northumberland tour with an afternoon at Newbiggin-by-the-Sea on Thursday 16th October 2025 where LONG-TAILED DUCK, VELVET SCOTER, MED GULLS, SHORT-EARED OWL, MERLIN, PURPLE SANDPIPERS, ARCTIC TERN & RED-THROATED DIVERS were seen. #NEbirding #birds #birding #birdsseenin2025

A day on Holy Island on Friday 17th October 2025. Lots of common migrants inc REDWING, FIELDFARES, BRAMBLING, REDPOLL & CHIFFS plus good numbers of PINK-FOOTED, BARNACLE & PALE-BELLIED BRENT GEESE then rounded off day with AMERICAN BLACK SCOTER at Goswick. #NEbirding #birds #birding #birdsseenin2025

Spent the 18th October 2025 birding various sites on the Northumberland coast. Highlights included YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER, SHORT-EARED OWL, BRAMBLINGS, SISKINS, GANNETS, TREE SPARROWS, GOLCRESTS and the COMMON EIDER X MALLARD hybrid in Seahouses harbour. #NEbirding #birds #birding #birdsseenin2025

Dropped into Widdrington on Sunday 19th October for the SLAVONIAN GREBE then onto Druridge CP where we had great views of LONG-TAILED DUCK, COMMON GOLDENEYE, 2 GREATER SCAUP and lots of GADWALL. #NEbirding #birds #birding #birdsseenin2025

Then onto Hauxley NWT reserve where we had stunning views of three GREATER SCAUP on the main lagoon. #NEbirding #birds #birding #birdsseenin2025