Paul Baker
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bakerboybirding.bsky.social
Paul Baker
@bakerboybirding.bsky.social
490 followers 270 following 67 posts
Based in south Essex. Enjoy twitching (BOU 500+) as well as local patch birding. I like to spend time birding in Norfolk, too. Easily distracted by mammals (esp cetaceans), reptiles, amphibians & butterflies. No politics on here, just wildlife!
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A few phonepics of the Black-faced Bunting at Spurn this afternoon.

It spent much of it's time behaving like a Lancy as it skulked in the dunes and was constantly eating wild grass seed.

#RareBirdsUK
Black-faced Bunting striking a pose at Spurn this afternoon
#RareBirdsUK
Reposted by Paul Baker
After a dawn raid on the Point, this little beauty was cowering in the buckthorn on my birding walk back, not far south of the Breach at Spurn. Thomas Willoughby’s brilliant pic. Bird of a lifetime. A British tick as well 😂
Lovely to see a pair of Wall Brown butterflies still lingering in my garden today.
They took a particular interest in this dandelion where the male posed briefly 🦋
Thanks, James.
Hopefully, they'll do the decent thing and make it to your garden soon 🤞🕷🕸
Had a much anticipated garden tick today in the shape of two Wasp Spiders.

Also in the garden, two Wall Browns, Common Blue, Hobby, and a late Swift after the showers.
The Bank Vole, under my garden timber pile, initially relied on camouflage and keeping still.
Highlights from moving the timber pile in my garden to a new location just 6ft away.

Bank Vole, 6 Slow-worms, 3 Common Lizards all hiding underneath.
Reposted by Paul Baker
After ok flight views yesterday headed back to Warblewick this morning for the Zitting Cisticola and was rewarded with great views. #rarebirdsuk

Digiscoped with kowa884 using iphone16Pro and vario adapter
I've not posted on here for a while.

Rescued a Willow Emerald Damselfly from inside my south Essex house again.

Incredibly, this is the 16th individual over the last six years that I've found either inside my house or trying to enter my house!

More than half my sightings here are from indoors 🤷‍♂️
Wow, that's a superb shot Will 👏
A lovely Barn Owl filmed through my upstairs double glazing this afternoon, in gorgeous light along the Crouch. Endearing head movements, too! I was also able to see a metal ring on its leg.

The Ruddy Shelduck was still present on Blue House Farm as was another Barn Owl.

#essexBirding
Ruddy Shelduck still on Blue House Farm today at range from my house a mile away.

Barn Owl also showing at the bottom of the garden.
Ruddy Shelduck still on Blue House Farm today at range from my house a mile away.

Barn Owl also showing at the bottom of the garden.
Ruddy Shelduck still present today and yesterday on Blue House Farm as viewed from my house, one mile away! 🔭
#essexBirding
Lovely few hours this morning in north Norfolk.

2 Firecrest & Treecreeper nr Sheringham.

3 Dartford Warblers, Stonechats, Mistle Thrush, Siskin, Y'hammer, Red Kites on the Heath.

SibeChiff at Walsey.

Glossy Ibis, Ruff & 7 Lsr Whitefronts at Stiffkey.

Goshawk nr Holt 😊

#NorfolkBirding
More highlights of the distant Ruddy Shelduck on Blue House Farm bird this morning from my house.

Short-eared Owl & Barn Owl this evening, too.

#essexBirding
A Ruddy Shelduck, distantly on Blue House Farm, was a most welcome addition to the house list this morning.

Also present were 2 Barn Owls, a Short-eared Owl, 24 Pintail, 3 Avocets, and a Marsh Harrier.

#essexBirding
It blows my mind that you no longer get Smew there.
It was always a given that whenever visiting Dunge in the winter, a quick stop to check the pits would always produce multiple Smew.
It's a small World! Southend is sadly not the place it used to be these days.
Yep, we're just borrowing it for a little while, if you don't mind?! 😀😊
Yellow Warbler at New Hythe today.
Eventually gave itself up to the crowd at 11am.
#kentbirding
#rarebirdsuk