The Backward Birder
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The Backward Birder
@backwardbirder.bsky.social
78 followers 50 following 430 posts
Old-fashioned birder. Member of The Irregulars. Lover of Wild places and wildlife. Reliably twenty years behind the times.

Also on Twitter {yes, it's still that to me} There's a blog out there somewhere, too...
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The Backward Birder @backwardbirder.bsky.social · Feb 2
You deserve something to look at, as I once again haven't uploaded my photos yet {This is getting to be a habit}. So perhaps something Special?

One from the Vaults, I hope you like it;
🤩
The Ayatolla of Rock and Roller!!! Roller. Bere Ferrers, Devon, '22 What. A. Bird. Yes, the cornish one earlier in the year was prettier, but oh my sweet Goddess, this one showed better. And in Devon. Twitched at the second attempt, straight from a Night shift, too.
backwardbirder.bsky.social
Yesterday at Brixham Harbour, it was wondered "Where are all the Purple Sands?"
Having to be in Town today, I decided to see if the Haldon Pier birds were still present.

Yup.
18 Purple Sandpiper & 12+ Turnstone counted late afternoon.
I have photos.
😁🦉
First up, a couple zoomed in, so it's not all blobs... Eight Puple Sandpipers, plus three Turnstones. Yes, eight. Six are easy, two are not. Nine Purple Sandpipers, including the two in photo 1. You may well have realised that eight plus nine equals seventeen. Here's the other one, who was out stuffing his little bill and getting waved for it.!
January 31, 2026 at 7:08 PM
backwardbirder.bsky.social
Finally able to join the Great Brixham Caspo Hunt today, & after a little elusiveness to spice things up, a Caspian Gull showed, er, rather well! 😍
Even better, I didn't get rained on. {Until after the bird had showed, anyway, when I was too happy to care}
🦉
A few other birds present, too ⬇️
Caspian Gull {2cy} with Great Northern Diver {one of 62+ in area.!} in background. Activate the digiscope!! Note which feathers have been replaced and fine detail of bill pattern to identify vs others seen at this location. Same bird, different pose.
January 30, 2026 at 4:10 PM
backwardbirder.bsky.social
Having paid some dues {Patch first} it was time for a little filthy twitching today.
Though I again managed to get thoroughly rained-on.! 🌧️🤧

Totally worth it with a TOTOF on yankee Lifers 😁.
Ok, one's a little more, er, debatable 🤭, but he's so purdy that I'm sure we'll all forgive him, right?
🦉
1/
It's a Graaaackle in the raaaiiiin, just a Graaaaackle in the raiiin, what a glooorious biiiirdy, worth twiiitchin' I'm sayin'..... I would apologise, but that requires remorse and lying is wrong. Killdeer, feeling far less obliging to the twitchy hordes... And without awful digiscope attempt. It was lovely through scope when not trying to hold a zoomed-in camera lens to the eyepiece. Honest.
January 25, 2026 at 11:04 PM
backwardbirder.bsky.social
Bit frisky at the Nose lunchtime today {see @shiphaybirder.bsky.social for evidence..😲}, but I defied wind, rain, & sea {all going sideways at speed} to try for Little Gulls.
🤞
Readers, I rolled a 6!
😁
Party of 5 {2 ad + 3 2cy} loitering, +3rd ad arrived.

Also 44 GND in Hope Cove {next post}
🦉
1/
First winter Little Gull {plus 1w Herring Gull}. Note wing pattern and pale nape/ crown First winter Little Gull {plus 1w Great Black-backed Gull}, note v similar wing pattern to first 2cy, but note dark nape/ crown marking, thus different bird. Mix of Kittiwakes, Common Gulls, Great Black-baked Gulls, a Mediterranean Gul {can you see it?}, and a 2cy Little Gull, bottom right. Note different wing pattern to other two birds. Adult Little Gull {plus Herring Gull}
January 24, 2026 at 2:56 PM
backwardbirder.bsky.social
When you go after a specific bird, you are always rolling the dice.
{Amongst other annoyances, they do this 'flying' thing, you see...}

Sometimes you roll a 1

Spot the Bittern, today at Bowling Green.
🦉

Go on. Look carefully.
Can you see it?
🤔

No, I couldn't, either.. 😔
A section of - slightly windblasted - Reeds at Bowling Green today. There has allegedly been a Bittern there. I wasn't alone in dipping.
January 23, 2026 at 9:56 PM
backwardbirder.bsky.social
More highlights from the Patch yesterday, starting with a few early flowers. None from gardens of any kind, btw.
{Oh yes}
🌼
Crocus in January. Not the only spot, either. Summer Snowflake {slightly less early}
January 19, 2026 at 5:59 PM
backwardbirder.bsky.social
Patrolling the Patch in the rain was enlivened by finding a ridiculously showy Black-throated Diver, at times just off the surf, at Meadfoot today 😃
Even better, despite moving well out, it came back in again for @shiphaybirder.bsky.social & a small but happy twitch
👍
🦉
Black-throated Diver, in heavy rain, off Meadfoot shelter. Had just caught a fair-sized fish. In better visibility, and stretching the neck! Very white sides when riding high. BTD taking a well-deserved bow!
January 18, 2026 at 5:34 PM
backwardbirder.bsky.social
Altogether more clement conditions today at Broadsands, where the Red-necked Grebe defied expectations & actually showed rather well.! 😲
I also got on 13+ Great Northern Diver, 1 Red-throated Diver, & ~15 Common Scoter {at range, still on limited scope}.

We will not mention the Tystie...
🤨
🦉
Red-necked Grebe in the sunshine! RNG has a yellow bill base {a good ID feature, often visible at range}, sometimes more than the base, though this is partly a trick of the light {not an artefact}. Red-necked Grebe off Broadsands Head. As the tide rose {and the assorted human disturbers buggered off..} later in the afternoon, it came closer inshore. All according to plan ::rubs hands:: Great Northern Diver. Most were well offshore, but this one was nicely close. The Boss had 22, I believe, but restricted to my li'l scope, I could only be sure of 13. Common Scoter flock off Goodrington. Note head tossing bird on right, identifying Common Scoter, {even with wings closed as I just missed the flap by 1/4 second..} There are I believe 15 birds; from scope counts, as the swell was enough to make it hard to catch them all visible in one picture and they didn't fly while I was there, though this is ±2 {and more likely - than +}.
January 17, 2026 at 10:50 PM
backwardbirder.bsky.social
Defied the weather post-work to go after Saturday's misses.
The weather replied with rain. And hail. ⛈️
Sideways hail.
That was fun.🤕

But I was not stopped, oh no, and I hit what I'd missed 😃
Nr Modbury; goose. South Huish; duck and pipit, Slapton; egret.
4 more 📅✅

Happy days.
🦉
Once I discovered that the 'field by the bridge' did not mean a bridge on the main road {which would be easy, come on...}, I found the site. The birds were, well, wild geese and as shy as you'd expect. But after a little stalking {not least to find somewhere I could see from.!}, we have a slightly cropped and very zoomed shot of 3 of 3 Barnacle Geese [yeartick!], 3 of 7 Egyptian Geese, and 7 of 7 White-fronted Geese! The male Green-winged Teal* at South Huish proved far more amenable. For a while, anyway! {* The 'powers that be' can do one, as far as I'm concerned.} Luminous! Extra GWT to make up for failures elsewhere. The Water Pipit was less helpful. Ok, actually it posed in the open - if briefly - but this was while it was hailing stright into my view, so while I hit it, you can barely tell there's a bird there, let alone what it is, and my camera got a bit soggy... Great White Egret at Slapton hid away until finally flying over the bridge to roost in the North Ley. No, I wasn't fast enough [and soggy camera plus well after sunset, oh and it was raining there, as well]. Yes, I had lots of fun. No, really. Honest. Ok, the hail hurt, but it was worth it!
January 16, 2026 at 9:30 PM
backwardbirder.bsky.social
Still a bit 🤕, but that didn't stop me getting out after shameless YearTicks yesterday.
Some hits, some misses {some awful 😳}, but only one was willing to be photo'd.

Who?
Of course it's the Baron of Beesands!
👑🦆

Also a little scenery from where birds were more bashful...
🤷
🦉
Male Ring-necked Duck, Beesands Ley. Shot through the reeds from the sea side {he was hidden from the hide, the scamp!} Devon scenery, taken from one of those 'Somewhere in Devon' sites. Sorry. Black-necked Grebe, Ring-necked Duck {female}, and White-fronted Goose were all present, but could I get a usable shot? Could I [BLEEEEEEP] I couldn't even hit the Red-throated Diver that was messing about really quite close offshore. Ah well.
January 11, 2026 at 6:07 PM
backwardbirder.bsky.social
A gratuitous multi-post photodump of Saturday's fun at Seaton
{With maybe an extra in there, too}

🙃
🦉
Black Redstart on the ground. They were coming Robin-close, it was great. Lesser Whitethroat foraging on the ground, too. Though at a more discrete distance. That tail!
January 8, 2026 at 6:28 PM
backwardbirder.bsky.social
East Devon yesterday, and some birds - new for the Year - were showing quite well...
😆
🦉
Apologies for the delay in posting, but I've been a little hors de birdage
🤯🤕
Female type Black Redstart, dino-theme crazy golf at Seaton Lesser Whitethroat of an eastern heritage, dino-theme crazy golf, Seaton Slavonian Grebe, Lower Otter Restoration Project {between the bridges, though only after 90 mins of thinking I'd dipped...}
January 4, 2026 at 9:55 PM
backwardbirder.bsky.social
It's been a bit more hard work than desired, but the Year has started quite well {though not Bean well, alas 😔}
This isn't the place for words, so instead have a 'few' pictures from a day and a bit {I love my job. Honest} about Devon.
Firstly a few views, then a few birds;
🙃🦉
A balmy -2° at Bowling Green. {Stop sniggering, that's cold for Devon!} Someone took the plug out again... Birders defying the Sun to seek yearticks. No, this hasn't been messed with, that is a big black cloud coming to say 'Hi' {and find out how waterproof you are today...} The crop field at Dart's Farm was alive with birds {9 yearticks!} - though the marsh beyond was not, as an open gate let the world and their dogs {mostly the dogs} in... This is also the closest you're getting to a selfie on here. The Ore Stone and Thatcher Rock, {not that Thatcher} from Thatcher Point {still not that Thatcher}. There is a female Velvet Scoter in this photo, sneakily North of Thatcher Rock for once. {I will be shocked if you can see her here, though} Gave me a right scare, thought she'd buggered off...
January 2, 2026 at 6:53 PM
backwardbirder.bsky.social
Last couple of days in four views
{Shock News; I got off-Patch..!! 😱}
{Un-shock news; I saw no rarities}
I'm still 🤕, btw.

Oh, and tonight the fecking 🧨💥✨ have started up already
🤬
{Can they not tell time? 🙄}
::Le sigh::

Happy New Year?
Looking out on empty seas from Withy Point. It's a wee bit nippy, and grey too. Exminster as the clouds clear. It's all a bit atmospheric, and there are ducks and things out there, too. View from Withy Point this morning. Argh! Sunshine! Utterly empty seas {I counted 19 BHGs and 1 Shag. That was it. Total. Feck.} Looking Patch-wards from the slopes above the river Dart, Dartmoor. Despite it being about 4°, it was actually rather balmy in the sunshine, as there was no wind! {This is so rare as to be noteworthy in and of itself}
December 31, 2025 at 10:34 PM
backwardbirder.bsky.social
More from the Patch.
Yesterday, the frisky weather pushed the big scoter flock in close enough to finally count! 5️⃣2️⃣
Clear out of smaller gulls, & total GND vs GCG no.s reversed, with notably 1st GND seen in Inner Harbour.
📸 include Meadfoot's ☕ with free sea salt!🌊
🦉
Looking westish from Kilmorie battery. Nestled under Daddyhole Plain, Meadfoot's bright beach huts are next to the café {slightly hidden by breaking waves} Some of 52 Common Scoter, viewed from Kilmorie battery {Napoleonic fake fortification, put in to deter the dastardly frenchies from trying anything. Looks enough like the real deal from a hand-held telescope on a swaying ship's deck. Of course, some of them - such as at Berry Head - were the real thing} Reversed view from photo 1. Don't know why nobody sat at the other tables, really I don't...
December 29, 2025 at 6:46 PM
backwardbirder.bsky.social
Restricted to Patch right now, so patrolled today.
Notes; f-type BlackRed + 2 GCG at the Nose {Sandy Cove}, ~50 C Scoter off Meadfoot + 3 Rockit on Sea Road, 7+ GND in Outer Harbour & 2 off Livermead, throated diver sp. off Torre Abbey + 3 GCG.
15+ Blackcap noted, also 2 Stock Dove overhead.
🦉
1/
First decent photo of a male Blackcap at Home! He's going "What did you say?!?" At my tongue-clicking, btw... Great Northern Divers, showing quite well, really. :D Part of a distant flock of Common Scoter, bouncing in the sunshine! Rock Pipit, using 'rock' of a sort.
December 27, 2025 at 6:30 PM
backwardbirder.bsky.social
Festive views from dusk and dawn on the Patch.
🌊🌤️
Dusk at Meadfoot. Berry Head in the distance, crescent Moon in the sky, 8' swell on the sea... Dawn over Ilsham. High clouds etched in festive red, while lower grey clouds are actually zooming past; powered by a gale-force ENE wind..!!
December 26, 2025 at 6:15 PM
backwardbirder.bsky.social
My birding is currently rather restricted 😔, though having 15 assorted tits simultaneously in my Skygarden yesterday morning was rather good 😍 {if a little crowded!}
Slightly less good was this poor Greenfinch, bearing a nasty Tick on the cheek...
🦉🕷️
female Greenfinch stuffing her face with seed on a cleaner-than-it-looks feeder, while beset by a large tick sp. on the cheek...
December 26, 2025 at 6:10 PM
backwardbirder.bsky.social
At this time of year, it is traditional to think of those less fortunate than ourselves.

Buzzards definitely apply.
It's tough to be a Buzzard;
🦉
Buzzard, sittin' inna tree, not bothering anyone. Magpie... Is a little bar steward. Magpie attacks! Yes, that's the Buzzard's wingtip it's got there... Buzzard: "A-hem" Magpie: "I didn't do nuffin!"
December 23, 2025 at 4:02 PM
backwardbirder.bsky.social
Merry Yule!🌞
Alas the Sun was feeling bashful this morning at the Nose...

A fair few divers sort-of made up for it {10 GND on sea + 2 S, 1 RTD S}. I wandered over to Thatcher Point, where 3 f Velvet Scoter {+4 & 1 GND and 2 RTD} were even better. They even stayed for @shiphaybirder.bsky.social 🦉
An hour and a half late, this is the best we got. Oh well. One year. One year..... 3 f Velvet Scoter. Look, you can see a wingbar and everything! {Or look at @shiphaybirder's video, I suppose...} Part of a big flock of Common Scoter which flew in, dived a handful of times, then vanished while I was looking at the Velvets. No, I didn't get a flight shot for a good count, so '~50' is the best I can do... Great Northern Diver showing the scoter how to pose properly!
December 21, 2025 at 10:21 PM
backwardbirder.bsky.social
Yesterday morning I pinched some time to have a look for the reported Scaup on Exminster Marsh.
🦆
No sign of it 😖
Perhaps as many as 4 Marsh Harriers were some consolation, though not to the waders and wildfowl of the now back-to-being-a-marsh reserve.!
Marsh Harrier! Adult female Marsh Harrier. Adult male. Marsh Harrier. Juvenile {bird seen to fly} Marsh Harrier, same as first photo. Note blackish primary tips, a marker of maturity.
December 20, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Reposted by The Backward Birder
raptorpersuk.bsky.social
THREE satellite-tagged White-tailed Eagles disappear in suspicious circumstances in England, Wales & Scotland - two tags had been cut off.

Press release from Isle of Wight WTE Project Team & additional commentary from me ⬇️⬇️

#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/12/17/t...
Three satellite-tagged White-tailed Eagles disappear in suspicious circumstances in England, Wales & Scotland – two tags had been cut off
Press release from Forestry England (17 December 2025) THREE WHITE-TAILED EAGLES DISAPPEAR IN SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES The public are being asked to help the police investigate the suspicious disap…
raptorpersecutionuk.org
December 17, 2025 at 9:23 AM
backwardbirder.bsky.social
A frisky breeze enlivened a wander up on t'Moor on Sunday.
🌬️
{Did restrict the birds, though..}
A little damp underfoot, but still got to Cranmere ok 😁
Here are a few views, with nattering in the alt-text;
South of Okehampton; Oke Tor, Steeperton Tor, Wild Tor {just}, and East Mill Tor. Blue sky above lower {and fast-moving} clouds Crossing Black-a-ven Brook Heath Waxcap Up on the tops, Hangingstone Hill in the distance. It's damper underfoot than it looks...
December 16, 2025 at 6:19 PM
backwardbirder.bsky.social
Patch News:
Today, Haldon Pier; 15 Purple Sandpiper, 2+ Rockit. Harbour; Common Seal {eating a fish & dodging the camera 😔}, 2 Mute Swan. Inland; Blackcaps notable, with 2 singing & 3+ calling during walk to Town, Firecrests still.
Earlier in week, Treecreeper with tit band 😍
🦉🐬 {no seal??}
Purple Sandpiper at dusk Roosting Purple Sands More roosting Purple Sands Sea action shot!
December 13, 2025 at 8:03 PM
backwardbirder.bsky.social
After days of twitching {nervous}, I got to twitch {chase bird} the Lesser Crested Tern on the Exe.
🦉
After a frigid hour & change at Cockwood Crossing, the bird terned up with a Sandeel {looked like} & proceeded to show far & near to my joy & that of my co-watchers
✅😍😁
Observe;
Lesser Crested Tern with Exmouth seafront in the background - nope, not a holiday shot! Basically it's a slightly darker Sarnie with a bright orange bill. Long lanky wings like a mini-Gannet {or indeed a Sandwich Tern}, makes a 90° twist when it dives like a Gannet, too. LCT on deck. Bad digiscoped pic but shows landed structure; long wings with darker tips, white breast and forehead, black rear-crown, carrot bill!
December 5, 2025 at 12:55 PM