Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Andy Appleton @andyappleton.bsky.social · 2d

Hi Sharon, we are looking forward to the Gargano in April. Please say hi to Roger too.

1 3

Andy Appleton @andyappleton.bsky.social · 2d

Yep, Rhodes in April is rather brilliant 👍🏻 - so so much to see.

Ophrys polyxo x rhodia, part of a clump of these great hybrids.

2 1 7

Andy Appleton @andyappleton.bsky.social · 2d

Meadow Pipits: 40 was a good count at Haysden y’day afternoon but I noted them at 4 of the 6 local sites I hit. 2 over the house this morning were overdue house ticks.

50 species at Whetsted GP’s, where there were two Great White Egrets, was the greatest total from any of yesterday’s wanderings.

The mega site record of Great Black-backed Gull at Dunorlan Park from Friday had gone - a one day wonder!

6

Andy Appleton @andyappleton.bsky.social · 4d

Very well done on the Yellow-browed’ Steve. A rarity in Surrey I presume!

1 2

Andy Appleton @andyappleton.bsky.social · 4d

Patch month tick: House Sparrow
Patch year tick: Linnet
Patch tick: Great Black-backed Gull no less! ✔️

I’m so pleased I wasn’t in Yorkshire today (no, okay, that sentence might not quite be truthful).

Dunorlan Park, #TunbridgeWells

Dunorlan Park with three gull species present.

Great Black-backed Gull (and Herring Gull) in Dunorlan Park.

4

Andy Appleton @andyappleton.bsky.social · 7d

🤔 Ladybird soup coming up maybe 🤷🏻‍♂️😀🤣

1 1

Andy Appleton @andyappleton.bsky.social · 7d

One was very vocal in the park this morning too. Smart birds for sure.

1

Andy Appleton @andyappleton.bsky.social · 8d

Redwings and Kingfisher among the 36 species in just under an hour at Dunorlan Park this morning.

1 6

Andy Appleton @andyappleton.bsky.social · 8d

Sunday afternoons:

Sandhill Crane, Suffolk - brilliant, 2011

Issy Wheatear, Kent, (1996)

4th for Britain American Buff-bellied Pipit, Salakee (900 observers that 1st day) - after Northern Oriole on ‘Agnes earlier

White’s Thrush, Spurn, 2004

Audouin’s Gull, Dungeness, 2014

I do see some birds.

3

Andy Appleton @andyappleton.bsky.social · 8d

The dipping days of October have provided 3 failed attempts at Black & White Warblers, no show Pechora at Filey, 1994 (Lancey ample compensation), no show Rose-breasted Grosbeak, no show Rufous-tailed Robin, no show White-rumped Swift, no show Taiga Flycatchers & no show Chestnut-sided Warbler!

😳🤣

2

Andy Appleton @andyappleton.bsky.social · 8d

Dipping in the first days of October:

Yellow-browed Bunting, Sandwich, 2022

Wilson’s Phal, Elmley, 2 days running, 1988 (Oriental Pratincole good consolation)

Citrine Wagtail, Swalecliffe, 2017 - still need this for Kent

Moltoni’s at Holkham, 2017

Parula, Portland, 1988

Green Wbr, Lundy, 2018

Andy Appleton @andyappleton.bsky.social · 8d

Redpoll over Dunorlan Park calling this morning was my first of the season (my first here since February in fact).
36 species in an hour made up primarily of the usual suspects including Grey Wagtail.

Grey Wagtail

This bird flew in calling and landed in front of me yesterday afternoon.

1 5

Andy Appleton @andyappleton.bsky.social · 13d

That was a rather good moment for sure!

5

Andy Appleton @andyappleton.bsky.social · 13d

I don’t do flycatchers in that particular garden 😟

2

Andy Appleton @andyappleton.bsky.social · 15d

Birdy wallpaper was noted in the toilet @scarthinbooks.bsky.social (superb, see an earlier post) & Chatsworth House.

Memories: visiting ‘no signal’ Dove Dale 20 years later: the day of the Acadian Flycatcher 😕 + passing Beeley where I clawed back Dusky Thrush!

A great week in the Peak District.

Fly Agaric. These were on Stanton Moor not far from where we stayed in Derbyshire last week.

Mycena pseudocorticola (Frosty Bonnet) near Ashford in the Water.
Hopefully I have ID’d it correctly! #MushroomMonday

Tracey found an #orchid. A surprisingly ‘not gone over as much as expected’ Broad-leaved Helleborine in the gardens of Lyme Park

Always good to get a Dipper fix.

This was in Monsal Dale (where, shortly after, I counted at least 16 Small Copper butterflies while waiting for a bus).

7

Andy Appleton @andyappleton.bsky.social · 16d

Well done with the phalarope Martyn. That’s certainly a quality list.

1 1

Reposted by Andy Appleton

Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 17d

Dungeness

Spotted Flycatcher, Firecrest, Redpoll, Brambling in the Trapping Area

60 Siskin over

50+ Chiffchaffs and smaller numbers of Blackcap

Merlin hunting the Point

Thousands of hirundines moving South East out to sea this morning

#kentbirdmigrationday

2 23

Reposted by Andy Appleton

Dungeness Bird Observatory @dungenessbirdobs.bsky.social · 17d

13000 Swallows, 500 House Martins 2780 Meadow Pipits, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 50 Skylarks, 100 Siskins and 30 Reed Buntings moving south-east out to sea this morning. Passage still on going. #kentbirdmigrationday

2 13

Andy Appleton @andyappleton.bsky.social · 17d

#kentbirding
#bigkentmigrationwatch

1

Andy Appleton @andyappleton.bsky.social · 17d

Siskins heard and Swallows heading south over both Tunbridge Wells & Tonbridge (while searching in vain for a reports Yellow-browed Warbler) this morning. @kentishplover.bsky.social
#kentmigrationday