Birdingprof
@birdingprof.bsky.social
Actual Birder, sometime Twitcher, nascent Moth-er.
2025 Garden Bird yearlist 1️⃣0️⃣9️⃣
VC 26 - West Suffolk.
TL77C - Where Breckland meets Fenland.
2025 Garden Bird yearlist 1️⃣0️⃣9️⃣
VC 26 - West Suffolk.
TL77C - Where Breckland meets Fenland.
The Otter found a handy feeding ledge in the wall of the old lock gate, now part of the fish ladder.
December 3, 2025 at 10:39 PM
The Otter found a handy feeding ledge in the wall of the old lock gate, now part of the fish ladder.
After a while searching the riverside vegetation, it changed to a more energetic task - swimming & fishing at the bottom of the new fish ladder. 🐟 🪜
Really showed itself to be a master of its realm.
Really showed itself to be a master of its realm.
December 3, 2025 at 10:37 PM
After a while searching the riverside vegetation, it changed to a more energetic task - swimming & fishing at the bottom of the new fish ladder. 🐟 🪜
Really showed itself to be a master of its realm.
Really showed itself to be a master of its realm.
This afternoon’s Otter could be quite confiding if approached stealthily, which of course I did. Came to within 2-3m. I could even hear it breathing
December 3, 2025 at 10:31 PM
This afternoon’s Otter could be quite confiding if approached stealthily, which of course I did. Came to within 2-3m. I could even hear it breathing
Today’s #Otter. I’m thinking could be a male, as it looked to have a broader muzzle to the one earlier in the week, also it appeared to have a less pink nose, but I’m not 100% confident.
Spent a lot of time ‘wummaging in the undagwoth’ as David Bellamy might have said.
Spent a lot of time ‘wummaging in the undagwoth’ as David Bellamy might have said.
December 3, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Today’s #Otter. I’m thinking could be a male, as it looked to have a broader muzzle to the one earlier in the week, also it appeared to have a less pink nose, but I’m not 100% confident.
Spent a lot of time ‘wummaging in the undagwoth’ as David Bellamy might have said.
Spent a lot of time ‘wummaging in the undagwoth’ as David Bellamy might have said.
Spent a fair while, before a late lunch, watching this #Otter, at times visible from, and occasionally in, the garden.
I always struggle to see what small prey they are catching, though it often sounds crunchy.
I think this shows one eating a Crayfish British or American? I don’t know. 🦞 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 🤷🏻♂️
I always struggle to see what small prey they are catching, though it often sounds crunchy.
I think this shows one eating a Crayfish British or American? I don’t know. 🦞 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 🤷🏻♂️
December 3, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Spent a fair while, before a late lunch, watching this #Otter, at times visible from, and occasionally in, the garden.
I always struggle to see what small prey they are catching, though it often sounds crunchy.
I think this shows one eating a Crayfish British or American? I don’t know. 🦞 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 🤷🏻♂️
I always struggle to see what small prey they are catching, though it often sounds crunchy.
I think this shows one eating a Crayfish British or American? I don’t know. 🦞 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 🤷🏻♂️
Fairly quiet this morning, certainly in terms of any movement over the garden.
Unusually the Water Rail(s?) were not quiet. Normally don’t hear a peep, or ‘pik’ from them during the winter here, but I always suspect that if and when I do hear one, that there’s actually another nearby.
Unusually the Water Rail(s?) were not quiet. Normally don’t hear a peep, or ‘pik’ from them during the winter here, but I always suspect that if and when I do hear one, that there’s actually another nearby.
December 3, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Fairly quiet this morning, certainly in terms of any movement over the garden.
Unusually the Water Rail(s?) were not quiet. Normally don’t hear a peep, or ‘pik’ from them during the winter here, but I always suspect that if and when I do hear one, that there’s actually another nearby.
Unusually the Water Rail(s?) were not quiet. Normally don’t hear a peep, or ‘pik’ from them during the winter here, but I always suspect that if and when I do hear one, that there’s actually another nearby.
Reposted by Birdingprof
01/12/25. 3/2. Winter Moth & 2 Mottled Umber. Highlight of today was the unbelievable sight of a Camberwell Beauty sunning itself on a footpath along the E Norfolk coast! Inadvertantly flushed & flew off NW. A long search failed to relocate it... #teammoth #norfolkmoths @norfolknats.bsky.social
December 2, 2025 at 6:35 PM
01/12/25. 3/2. Winter Moth & 2 Mottled Umber. Highlight of today was the unbelievable sight of a Camberwell Beauty sunning itself on a footpath along the E Norfolk coast! Inadvertantly flushed & flew off NW. A long search failed to relocate it... #teammoth #norfolkmoths @norfolknats.bsky.social
Not long in the garden this morning, but long enough to note the Water Rail and Yellow-browed Warbler still present. December is a new month, needless to say, for the latter species. A total of 74 species lifts December from worst performing month.
#suffolkbirds
#suffolkbirds
December 2, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Not long in the garden this morning, but long enough to note the Water Rail and Yellow-browed Warbler still present. December is a new month, needless to say, for the latter species. A total of 74 species lifts December from worst performing month.
#suffolkbirds
#suffolkbirds
Reposted by Birdingprof
Huge News from the Western Amazon: it's the year 2025 and we are still describing entirely new, strikingly-distinctive large-bodied bird species! Behold Tinamus resonans sp. nov. the Slaty-masked Tinamou mapress.com/zt/article/v... #Ornithology @tetzoo.bsky.social 🪶
December 2, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Huge News from the Western Amazon: it's the year 2025 and we are still describing entirely new, strikingly-distinctive large-bodied bird species! Behold Tinamus resonans sp. nov. the Slaty-masked Tinamou mapress.com/zt/article/v... #Ornithology @tetzoo.bsky.social 🪶
A decent morning in the garden. A Mistle Thrush flew in and landed, and a Water Rail appeared just about on cue, in the millstream.
Those 2 additions for the month makes this November, surprisingly, my 5th best month, out of 89, since we’ve lived here, with 69 species!
YBW @ 09:10
#suffolkbirds
Those 2 additions for the month makes this November, surprisingly, my 5th best month, out of 89, since we’ve lived here, with 69 species!
YBW @ 09:10
#suffolkbirds
November 30, 2025 at 11:30 AM
A decent morning in the garden. A Mistle Thrush flew in and landed, and a Water Rail appeared just about on cue, in the millstream.
Those 2 additions for the month makes this November, surprisingly, my 5th best month, out of 89, since we’ve lived here, with 69 species!
YBW @ 09:10
#suffolkbirds
Those 2 additions for the month makes this November, surprisingly, my 5th best month, out of 89, since we’ve lived here, with 69 species!
YBW @ 09:10
#suffolkbirds
Reposted by Birdingprof
Extraordinary record of Willow Tit from Moray!! - 250km-ish from nearest breeders or 550km from Scandinavia! @richardkbroughton.bsky.social birdsinmorayandnairn.org/bird-recordi...
Recent records — Birds in Moray and Nairn
birdsinmorayandnairn.org
November 28, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Extraordinary record of Willow Tit from Moray!! - 250km-ish from nearest breeders or 550km from Scandinavia! @richardkbroughton.bsky.social birdsinmorayandnairn.org/bird-recordi...
It’s 3 months since I’ve seen any Otters. I’ve heard others have seen them recently, and a guy passing by told me he’d seen a Beaver just up river. Quickly corrected to Otter.
Anyhoo, what should come swimming up our millstream this afternoon? Amazing the difference having a bit of water makes
Anyhoo, what should come swimming up our millstream this afternoon? Amazing the difference having a bit of water makes
November 28, 2025 at 8:13 PM
It’s 3 months since I’ve seen any Otters. I’ve heard others have seen them recently, and a guy passing by told me he’d seen a Beaver just up river. Quickly corrected to Otter.
Anyhoo, what should come swimming up our millstream this afternoon? Amazing the difference having a bit of water makes
Anyhoo, what should come swimming up our millstream this afternoon? Amazing the difference having a bit of water makes
Large-grooved Diving Beetle (Colymbetes fuscus) was the highlight from the @rspb.bsky.social Lakenheath Moth trap. Also 9 December Moth and a Winter Moth.
A Chiffchaff this morning in the garden was a relief, and just squeezes into November. An impressive unbroken run of 24 months for the species.
A Chiffchaff this morning in the garden was a relief, and just squeezes into November. An impressive unbroken run of 24 months for the species.
November 28, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Large-grooved Diving Beetle (Colymbetes fuscus) was the highlight from the @rspb.bsky.social Lakenheath Moth trap. Also 9 December Moth and a Winter Moth.
A Chiffchaff this morning in the garden was a relief, and just squeezes into November. An impressive unbroken run of 24 months for the species.
A Chiffchaff this morning in the garden was a relief, and just squeezes into November. An impressive unbroken run of 24 months for the species.
Hard to believe there’s not been a gettable bird in Ireland in all that time!
November 27, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Hard to believe there’s not been a gettable bird in Ireland in all that time!
Yellow-browed Warbler was, by its standards, fairly obliging. Heard on/off c.08:20-10:50.
House Sparrow a surprise.
With Kingfisher & Kestrel, Novembers total comes to a record 65 spp. Sadly still no Chiffchaff.
Isleham Wash for the 1st time in a while: Ice, Ice, Baby. @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
House Sparrow a surprise.
With Kingfisher & Kestrel, Novembers total comes to a record 65 spp. Sadly still no Chiffchaff.
Isleham Wash for the 1st time in a while: Ice, Ice, Baby. @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
November 26, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Yellow-browed Warbler was, by its standards, fairly obliging. Heard on/off c.08:20-10:50.
House Sparrow a surprise.
With Kingfisher & Kestrel, Novembers total comes to a record 65 spp. Sadly still no Chiffchaff.
Isleham Wash for the 1st time in a while: Ice, Ice, Baby. @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
House Sparrow a surprise.
With Kingfisher & Kestrel, Novembers total comes to a record 65 spp. Sadly still no Chiffchaff.
Isleham Wash for the 1st time in a while: Ice, Ice, Baby. @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
Reposted by Birdingprof
Super dooper house tick this afternoon, entirely thanks to David Curle who alerted locals to a Black-throated Diver on the Crouch by Blue House Farm.
A quick scan from upstairs and boom, there it was 😊
Excellent photo by David from BHF.
Terrible photo by me from indoors!
#EssexBirding
A quick scan from upstairs and boom, there it was 😊
Excellent photo by David from BHF.
Terrible photo by me from indoors!
#EssexBirding
November 25, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Super dooper house tick this afternoon, entirely thanks to David Curle who alerted locals to a Black-throated Diver on the Crouch by Blue House Farm.
A quick scan from upstairs and boom, there it was 😊
Excellent photo by David from BHF.
Terrible photo by me from indoors!
#EssexBirding
A quick scan from upstairs and boom, there it was 😊
Excellent photo by David from BHF.
Terrible photo by me from indoors!
#EssexBirding
A female Blackcap in the garden this morning. A pleasant surprise after a male 3 weeks ago.
A distant call sounded a bit Chiffchaff-esque, but I’ve not had one this month, yet. Could be the first blank month in 2 years.
Then the Yellow-browed Warbler magically appeared just behind the Blackcap.
A distant call sounded a bit Chiffchaff-esque, but I’ve not had one this month, yet. Could be the first blank month in 2 years.
Then the Yellow-browed Warbler magically appeared just behind the Blackcap.
November 25, 2025 at 3:08 PM
A female Blackcap in the garden this morning. A pleasant surprise after a male 3 weeks ago.
A distant call sounded a bit Chiffchaff-esque, but I’ve not had one this month, yet. Could be the first blank month in 2 years.
Then the Yellow-browed Warbler magically appeared just behind the Blackcap.
A distant call sounded a bit Chiffchaff-esque, but I’ve not had one this month, yet. Could be the first blank month in 2 years.
Then the Yellow-browed Warbler magically appeared just behind the Blackcap.
Im still hoping for a garden December Moth, perhaps I’ll actually have to wait till December.
But, today offered up a wall-mounted Winter Moth. I’ve only seen 3 and they’ve all been in the last year. What chance of a Northern Winter Moth someday…?
But, today offered up a wall-mounted Winter Moth. I’ve only seen 3 and they’ve all been in the last year. What chance of a Northern Winter Moth someday…?
November 24, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Im still hoping for a garden December Moth, perhaps I’ll actually have to wait till December.
But, today offered up a wall-mounted Winter Moth. I’ve only seen 3 and they’ve all been in the last year. What chance of a Northern Winter Moth someday…?
But, today offered up a wall-mounted Winter Moth. I’ve only seen 3 and they’ve all been in the last year. What chance of a Northern Winter Moth someday…?
Reposted by Birdingprof
Had some great views of this Yellow-browed Warbler on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands yesterday for a few mins. Only my 3rd ever and all of them have been here! So nice to see that lovely bright supercilium and hear the call again! #ukbirding #patchbirding
November 24, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Had some great views of this Yellow-browed Warbler on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands yesterday for a few mins. Only my 3rd ever and all of them have been here! So nice to see that lovely bright supercilium and hear the call again! #ukbirding #patchbirding
A good read, as ever. A nice retrospectus. I’m looking forward to the next chapter, and I’m sure you are too.
Ten Years in West Dorset is less a blog post, more a chapter in my life. Hopefully an inspiration for those who prefer the paths less trodden. Bit of an epic, so well done if you get through it all.
#DorsetBirds
#DorsetBirds
Ten Years in West Dorset
This mega-post has been in prep for a while. Essentially it is a potted summary of ten years birdwatching in West Dorset, between 2015 ...
notquitescilly2.blogspot.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:25 PM
A good read, as ever. A nice retrospectus. I’m looking forward to the next chapter, and I’m sure you are too.
After not being able to find last Thursday’s Dartford Warbler at Fordham, I thought the weather window this morning might be more productive.
It was. A nice bird to bring up #200 for my 10K⭕️
A fairly dull plumaged, presumably 1st winter bird. Mostly hanging out on its own, calling occassionaly.
It was. A nice bird to bring up #200 for my 10K⭕️
A fairly dull plumaged, presumably 1st winter bird. Mostly hanging out on its own, calling occassionaly.
November 24, 2025 at 12:01 PM
After not being able to find last Thursday’s Dartford Warbler at Fordham, I thought the weather window this morning might be more productive.
It was. A nice bird to bring up #200 for my 10K⭕️
A fairly dull plumaged, presumably 1st winter bird. Mostly hanging out on its own, calling occassionaly.
It was. A nice bird to bring up #200 for my 10K⭕️
A fairly dull plumaged, presumably 1st winter bird. Mostly hanging out on its own, calling occassionaly.
Finally, after some decent rain, a bit more water in the river (Lark).
If not in full spate, at least it’s in spate.
I can just see a bit of the new Fish Ladder (a.k.a. Potential Dipper habitat) from the edge of the garden.
Also today, my equal earliest returning winter Little Grebe, down river.
If not in full spate, at least it’s in spate.
I can just see a bit of the new Fish Ladder (a.k.a. Potential Dipper habitat) from the edge of the garden.
Also today, my equal earliest returning winter Little Grebe, down river.
November 23, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Finally, after some decent rain, a bit more water in the river (Lark).
If not in full spate, at least it’s in spate.
I can just see a bit of the new Fish Ladder (a.k.a. Potential Dipper habitat) from the edge of the garden.
Also today, my equal earliest returning winter Little Grebe, down river.
If not in full spate, at least it’s in spate.
I can just see a bit of the new Fish Ladder (a.k.a. Potential Dipper habitat) from the edge of the garden.
Also today, my equal earliest returning winter Little Grebe, down river.
On this day 40 years ago: Managed to see, and ☑️ the 1st winter male Pied Wheatear, in the last glimmers of light, at Sheringham.
At the time just the 10th record for the U.K. Now pretty much expected as a late year finale to the years roll call of rarities.
#rarebirdsuk
At the time just the 10th record for the U.K. Now pretty much expected as a late year finale to the years roll call of rarities.
#rarebirdsuk
November 23, 2025 at 10:19 AM
On this day 40 years ago: Managed to see, and ☑️ the 1st winter male Pied Wheatear, in the last glimmers of light, at Sheringham.
At the time just the 10th record for the U.K. Now pretty much expected as a late year finale to the years roll call of rarities.
#rarebirdsuk
At the time just the 10th record for the U.K. Now pretty much expected as a late year finale to the years roll call of rarities.
#rarebirdsuk
Reposted by Birdingprof
Sudden stratospheric warming has led to the polar vortex collapsing very early (Arctic hot but lots of cold air has come rushing down over Europe). Might bring us some more interesting bits?
#norfolkbirding
#norfolkbirding
November 22, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Sudden stratospheric warming has led to the polar vortex collapsing very early (Arctic hot but lots of cold air has come rushing down over Europe). Might bring us some more interesting bits?
#norfolkbirding
#norfolkbirding