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Colin Davies

@coldav1.bsky.social

280 followers 140 following 370 posts

Reluctant Pennington Flash birder. NW birding in general, selective twitcher and cetacean enthusiast.

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Colin Davies @coldav1.bsky.social · 1d

At least 40 common dolphins from the Barra - Oban ferry this morning with at least 1 calf seen. Around 20 were at the entrance to the Sound of Mull out from Tobermory, 10 were out from Castlebay on Barra and the rest somewhere in between #CetaceansUK

Colin Davies @coldav1.bsky.social · 2d

Barra's first coal tit for 2 years has sulphur yellow cheeks & appears to be of the Irish race P.a.hibernicus. I have no experience of this race & no idea what the liklihood is of it reaching Barra. Comments welcome. @birdguides.bsky.social @rayb126.bsky.social #BirdingScotland #RareBirdsUK

Coal tit possibly of the Irish race P.a.hibernicus

Coal tit possibly of the Irish race P.a.hibernicus

Coal tit possibly of the Irish race P.a.hibernicus

Coal tit possibly of the Irish race P.a.hibernicus

Colin Davies @coldav1.bsky.social · 3d

This morning we found a lesser whitethroat at Northbay, Barra and also managed to catch up with the rarest bird on Barra right now, a coal tit, the first on the island in two years #BirdingScotland @rayb126.bsky.social

Lesser whitethroat

Lesser whitethroat

Lesser whitethroat

Redwing

Colin Davies @coldav1.bsky.social · 4d

I should have added, when the lesser white-fronted goose was at King Lynn, it apparently arrived there with pink-feet.

Colin Davies @coldav1.bsky.social · 4d

Thanks. I asked because there's a ruddy shelduck been travelling with pinks for a year or two, seen in Lancs, Norfolk & probably Scotland. Presumably going to Iceland with them as well.

Colin Davies @coldav1.bsky.social · 5d

Here's the bird at Upper Thurnham in Lancs in March #LancsBirding. Prior being in Lancs it was at King's Lynn, Norfolk earlier in the winter. Birdguides reports 2 ruddy shelduck also. Do you know if they arrived with the flock or where they already there?

Lesser white-fronted goose with pink-footed geese at Upper Thurnham, Lancs

Colin Davies @coldav1.bsky.social · 7d

@peediepuss.bsky.social

Colin Davies @coldav1.bsky.social · 7d

Lots of By-the-wind sailors washed up on Barra today following recent gales, plus items with common goose barnacles attached. Also a role of sellotape sp. with what look like goose barnacle sp. but not sure they're common. Any suggestions? #beachcombing @rayb126.bsky.social @barrabirder.bsky.social

By-the-wind sailor.

Common goose barnacles

Goose barnacle sp.?

Colin Davies @coldav1.bsky.social · 10d

dorsalfins.blogspot.com

The Whale and Dolphin Blog

Whales and dolphins from my travels, mainly in the UK, Australia and New Zealand

dorsalfins.blogspot.com

Colin Davies @coldav1.bsky.social · 10d

I've had a poor year for whales & dolphins having missed out on my annual trip to Gairloch & Ullapool. However, we have seen a few dolphins during our trip to Barra inc. common and bottlenose dolphins and harbour porpoise, the latter with a calf. Hoping for more on the ferry next week #CetaceansUK

One of 4 bottlenose dolphins in the Sound of Fuideigh from Eoligarry jetty, Barra.

Harbour porpoise just off the Ardmhor, Sound of Barra ferry terminal.

Harbour porpoise just off the Ardmhor, Sound of Barra ferry terminal, with a calf on the right of the photo.

Colin Davies @coldav1.bsky.social · 10d

Brilliant 👍 the first treecreeper I ever saw was on a wall like that. I was about 10. Never seen one on a wall since 😆

Colin Davies @coldav1.bsky.social · 10d

Also today, wheatear, hen harrier and merlin at Cleat.

Colin Davies @coldav1.bsky.social · 10d

Barra, juvenile black tern again this afternoon from Eoligarry jetty in the mist and rain. A bit different to watching them at Pennington Flash, apart from the mist and rain #BirdingScotland @rayb126.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

Colin Davies @coldav1.bsky.social · 11d

Barra, spotted flycatcher flycatching on the seaweed on Cleat beach was the birding highlight for me today, also a juv black tern from Eoligarry jetty and a YBW at Castlebay football pitch. 4 bottlenose dolphins also from the jetty #BirdingScotland @rayb126.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

Colin Davies @coldav1.bsky.social · 12d

We didn't manage to catch up with the red-eyed vireo at Nask, Barra today but managed to find our 2nd YBW of the trip at Northbay. Hopefully REV still around for another day & it's promising with Swainson's under the belt already 🤞 @rayb126.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #BirdingScotland

Colin Davies @coldav1.bsky.social · 14d

Barra, my first yellow-browed warbler of the year at Nask, called a few times & seen in flight. Also this morning, pintail at Castlebay which was a Barra tick, Golden eagle over the co-op & house martin. @birdguides.bsky.social @rayb126.bsky.social #BirdingScotland

Colin Davies @coldav1.bsky.social · 16d

A video of the black tern on Barra this afternoon, from Eoligarry jetty. Also juv Sabine's gull past south east. Video slowed to half speed @birdguides.bsky.social #BirdingScotland

Colin Davies @coldav1.bsky.social · 16d

Barra, black tern distantly off Eoligarry jetty this afternoon. Presumably same bird as 2 days ago. @birdguides.bsky.social #BirdingScotland

Colin Davies @coldav1.bsky.social · 16d

It or another one is still present this afternoon in exactly the same place.

Colin Davies @coldav1.bsky.social · 18d

Barra, black tern from Eoligarry jetty this afternoon. Apparently the first Barra record for 15 years so pretty chuffed to find it with @rayb126.bsky.social! The video is slowed to half speed when the bird flies @barrabirder.bsky.social @ianricketts.bsky.social #BirdingScotland

Colin Davies @coldav1.bsky.social · 20d

Barra, Swainson's thrush still at the Manse, Cuidhir. Showed well at 10.15am, on the fence & feeding on cotoneaster behind the hut for about 1 minute before disappearing again @rayb126.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #rarebirdsUK #BirdingScotland

Swainson's thrush on a fence on Barra.

Swainson's thrush in cotoneaster bush on Barra.

Colin Davies @coldav1.bsky.social · 21d

#BirdingScotland #RareBirdsUK

Colin Davies @coldav1.bsky.social · 21d

Barra, Swainson's thrush still at the Manse, Cuidhir. Elusive but showed well on the fence behind the hut briefly. This is the best photo for now 😆. Barra's 4th record and our 3rd on the island @rayb126.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

Colin Davies @coldav1.bsky.social · 23d

So good to see a genuine wild bird, I'm surprised it's not sparked a major twitch. Get it to move to Barra next week please, like the cattle egret last year 🙏

Colin Davies @coldav1.bsky.social · 24d

Pennington Flash, juv little gull today but not seen by me after 8:30am. Juv ringed plover & 2 common sands still at sailing club. Unfortunately Teal scrape is now Teal lake & the spit is almost under water so only waders likely now are those that can tolerate dog walkers at sailing club #PFBirding