Clifford Smout
@csmo34.bsky.social
Birdwatching, football (NTFC) and politics. Normally mildly depressed as a result.
It’s out in time for Christmas. Again! #hertsbirds #ukbirding
November 20, 2025 at 2:08 PM
It’s out in time for Christmas. Again! #hertsbirds #ukbirding
Well it was optimistic to expect BBS square TL1012 to be any better in the winter I guess. New bird today though - a couple of Canada Geese flying past ☹️. #hertsbirds #UKbirding
October 18, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Well it was optimistic to expect BBS square TL1012 to be any better in the winter I guess. New bird today though - a couple of Canada Geese flying past ☹️. #hertsbirds #UKbirding
My first Herts Pec Sand today at Stanborough GP. #hertsbirds #ukbirding
October 1, 2025 at 2:45 PM
My first Herts Pec Sand today at Stanborough GP. #hertsbirds #ukbirding
I’ve just seen the Wine Society delivering in a red van. But I guess they use white vins too.
September 8, 2025 at 11:34 AM
I’ve just seen the Wine Society delivering in a red van. But I guess they use white vins too.
My second Night Heron in Herts (this one at Rye Meads) and a vx bird it was too! #ukbirding #hertsbirds
July 19, 2025 at 2:09 PM
My second Night Heron in Herts (this one at Rye Meads) and a vx bird it was too! #ukbirding #hertsbirds
First Stock Dove in garden (in 35 years). Further signs of increasing urbanisation of species - I guess Woodpigeon went the same way? #ukbirding
June 9, 2025 at 9:38 AM
First Stock Dove in garden (in 35 years). Further signs of increasing urbanisation of species - I guess Woodpigeon went the same way? #ukbirding
Patch gold today: trebles my local total…. Harpenden #hertsbirds #ukbirding
May 12, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Patch gold today: trebles my local total…. Harpenden #hertsbirds #ukbirding
An excellent Spotted Sandpiper at the dam at Grafham Water today in glorious sunshine. My first for Huntingdonshire as the 1994 Fen Drayton bird was (just) outside. And no I won’t inflict my photos on you…. #ukbirding
May 1, 2025 at 4:46 PM
An excellent Spotted Sandpiper at the dam at Grafham Water today in glorious sunshine. My first for Huntingdonshire as the 1994 Fen Drayton bird was (just) outside. And no I won’t inflict my photos on you…. #ukbirding
A female Wheatear today brings the 2025 Harpenden walk list up to 79. In general though spring migration has been very poor so far, perhaps because there’s been no bad weather to ground birds that are passing through. #hertsbirds #ukbirding
April 18, 2025 at 11:23 AM
A female Wheatear today brings the 2025 Harpenden walk list up to 79. In general though spring migration has been very poor so far, perhaps because there’s been no bad weather to ground birds that are passing through. #hertsbirds #ukbirding
Two male Whitethroat on my “walk from home” patch this morning at Cooters End Lane. More unexpectedly a pair of Lapwings displaying. #hertsbirds
April 14, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Two male Whitethroat on my “walk from home” patch this morning at Cooters End Lane. More unexpectedly a pair of Lapwings displaying. #hertsbirds
Well I could work out what this was in Cornwall yesterday. #ukbirding
April 10, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Well I could work out what this was in Cornwall yesterday. #ukbirding
I AT LAST caught up with the local Firecrest in Harpenden. And a very fine bird it was too. #hertsbirds #ukbirding
March 31, 2025 at 5:24 PM
I AT LAST caught up with the local Firecrest in Harpenden. And a very fine bird it was too. #hertsbirds #ukbirding
Reposted by Clifford Smout
2025 Hertfordshire Rookery Survey: please submit nest counts from active rookeries in the county, full details here: www.hnhs.org/herts-bird-c... #hertsbirds
March 24, 2025 at 7:05 AM
2025 Hertfordshire Rookery Survey: please submit nest counts from active rookeries in the county, full details here: www.hnhs.org/herts-bird-c... #hertsbirds
Swallow at Kinsbourne Green pit near Harpenden looking a lot colder than those in the desert 6 days ago! #hertsbirds #ukbirding
March 24, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Swallow at Kinsbourne Green pit near Harpenden looking a lot colder than those in the desert 6 days ago! #hertsbirds #ukbirding
Great trip to Morocco with @limosa.bsky.social. Many highlights (eg Black-necked Grebe in desert; Cream-Coloured Courser; Pharaoh Eagle Owl) with good views of 11 types of lark (!). Others took great photos but you’ll have to make do with mine…. #birds
March 23, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Great trip to Morocco with @limosa.bsky.social. Many highlights (eg Black-necked Grebe in desert; Cream-Coloured Courser; Pharaoh Eagle Owl) with good views of 11 types of lark (!). Others took great photos but you’ll have to make do with mine…. #birds
Red Admiral and Speckled Wood by Thames on the Isle of Dogs today
March 2, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Red Admiral and Speckled Wood by Thames on the Isle of Dogs today
Grey Partridge and Green Sandpiper today takes 2025 Harpenden walk list up to 68. Both are birds I see here most years but neither are that easy. Also 8 hares in one field. #hertsbirds #ukbirding
February 25, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Grey Partridge and Green Sandpiper today takes 2025 Harpenden walk list up to 68. Both are birds I see here most years but neither are that easy. Also 8 hares in one field. #hertsbirds #ukbirding
Reposted by Clifford Smout
A Lesser Black-backed Gull that was rescued from a bin in Scotland has been seen some 2,900 km away in Morocco:
Gull rescued from Scottish bin seen on Moroccan beach
A Lesser Black-backed Gull that was rescued from a bin in Scotland has been seen some 2,900 km away in Morocco. The bird was recently seen on a beach in Agadir by a birder who was able to decipher the code on its ring, '74TC'. It transpired that the gull had been rescued by the Scottish SPCA after i...
bit.ly
February 25, 2025 at 12:46 PM
A Lesser Black-backed Gull that was rescued from a bin in Scotland has been seen some 2,900 km away in Morocco:
Whoever thought I’d see a lifer in Newport Pagnell? And whoever thought that one field with a Richard’s Pipit could be so large! Many thanks to those who found it before I did……
February 22, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Whoever thought I’d see a lifer in Newport Pagnell? And whoever thought that one field with a Richard’s Pipit could be so large! Many thanks to those who found it before I did……
February 22, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Whoever thought I’d see a lifer in Newport Pagnell? And whoever thought that one field with a Richard’s Pipit could be so large! Many thanks to those who found it before I did……
Saw ENUI on motorway bridge. Class graffiti - “couldn’t be bothered to look up spelling”.
February 22, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Saw ENUI on motorway bridge. Class graffiti - “couldn’t be bothered to look up spelling”.
Very many thanks to the finder of the Red-necked Grebe at Amwell today: only the second I have seen in Herts. Not easy to view once the fishermen had disturbed it but I saw it well in the end through gaps in the trees #hertsbirds #ukbirding
February 21, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Very many thanks to the finder of the Red-necked Grebe at Amwell today: only the second I have seen in Herts. Not easy to view once the fishermen had disturbed it but I saw it well in the end through gaps in the trees #hertsbirds #ukbirding
Could be helpful for #hertsbirds too as I think there is a similar issue with posts only being kept for a few days on the feed.
I had this issue with the rare birds UK Feed. Settings seemed identical to other Feeds I’d also set up (in SkyFeed) that didn’t have the same issue. I ended up adding a ‘keep posts’ instruction and posts were then retained (though it didn’t capture earlier posts)
February 16, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Could be helpful for #hertsbirds too as I think there is a similar issue with posts only being kept for a few days on the feed.