Mike Gaston
@impatientbirder.bsky.social
Impatient casual 'photobirder'. I enjoy taking pictures of birds - if we happen to be in the same place at the same time. East Anglia and Devon, UK http://microbirdology.uk
A few more shots of the Shore Larks at Pakefield Beach today, and the 60+ Snow Buntings in the same area. I have never seen so many at the same time. Surprisingly, the flock was quite skittish, in complete contrast to the individual birds I have encountered. 2/2
December 8, 2025 at 7:48 PM
A few more shots of the Shore Larks at Pakefield Beach today, and the 60+ Snow Buntings in the same area. I have never seen so many at the same time. Surprisingly, the flock was quite skittish, in complete contrast to the individual birds I have encountered. 2/2
I am disappointed that no Shore Larks have been viewable at Holkham Gap this winter, but there is still time! Fortunately, there has been a small group reported on Pakefield Beach, Suffolk, near the Coastwatch site. Access is tricky but I did spot five birds today. 1/2
December 8, 2025 at 7:40 PM
I am disappointed that no Shore Larks have been viewable at Holkham Gap this winter, but there is still time! Fortunately, there has been a small group reported on Pakefield Beach, Suffolk, near the Coastwatch site. Access is tricky but I did spot five birds today. 1/2
Black Redstart on the high 'cliffs' of Seafield Rd, Seaton, this afternoon. #Devonbirding
December 4, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Black Redstart on the high 'cliffs' of Seafield Rd, Seaton, this afternoon. #Devonbirding
Female Desert Wheatear (✅) at Wyke Regis, Dorset this afternoon. After a distant view through the security fence around the camp, I did manage a few shots when it jumped on the razor wire. Bird has been present for at least 5 days. #Dorsetbirds
November 30, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Female Desert Wheatear (✅) at Wyke Regis, Dorset this afternoon. After a distant view through the security fence around the camp, I did manage a few shots when it jumped on the razor wire. Bird has been present for at least 5 days. #Dorsetbirds
No sign of any SEOs in the early morning sunshine near WWT Welney this morning, but there were few Cattle Egrets scavenging in the fields.
November 26, 2025 at 9:32 AM
No sign of any SEOs in the early morning sunshine near WWT Welney this morning, but there were few Cattle Egrets scavenging in the fields.
Often our 'optimistic' diversions while travelling don’t work out, but this time it certainly did, so a few more shots of the ‘Holbury’ Boat-tailed Grackle. One guess is that the bird hitched a ride on a ship to Southampton, as the Grackle considered to be non-migratory.
November 24, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Often our 'optimistic' diversions while travelling don’t work out, but this time it certainly did, so a few more shots of the ‘Holbury’ Boat-tailed Grackle. One guess is that the bird hitched a ride on a ship to Southampton, as the Grackle considered to be non-migratory.
Not the USA East coast but Holbury, Hamps. This bird was first spotted on the 02/11/25 nr Calshot castle but has relocated to Holbury. The first recorded Boat-tailed Grackle in the UK, AFAIK. It seems to be unafraid of humans but is wary of dog walkers! Absolutely stunning bird. #UKbirding
November 24, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Not the USA East coast but Holbury, Hamps. This bird was first spotted on the 02/11/25 nr Calshot castle but has relocated to Holbury. The first recorded Boat-tailed Grackle in the UK, AFAIK. It seems to be unafraid of humans but is wary of dog walkers! Absolutely stunning bird. #UKbirding
Great to see that 'Lucy', the leucistic female Blackbird, is still looking well at the Seaton Wetlands. I think I first saw her on the path by Black Hole Marsh last winter.
November 24, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Great to see that 'Lucy', the leucistic female Blackbird, is still looking well at the Seaton Wetlands. I think I first saw her on the path by Black Hole Marsh last winter.
Hume's Leaf Warbler at Holme N.O.A. this morning. Somewhat tricky to get a picture but lovely to see such a rare warbler, as I have trouble enough with more common species! #Norfolkbirding
November 17, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Hume's Leaf Warbler at Holme N.O.A. this morning. Somewhat tricky to get a picture but lovely to see such a rare warbler, as I have trouble enough with more common species! #Norfolkbirding
Blackcap and male Green Woodpecker at Holme N.O.A. this morning. #Norfolkbirding
November 17, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Blackcap and male Green Woodpecker at Holme N.O.A. this morning. #Norfolkbirding
It was too breezy for Bearded Tits or even Reed Buntings to pose for photographs this morning at Ouse Fen. Fortunately, there are always Stonechats!
November 13, 2025 at 3:21 PM
It was too breezy for Bearded Tits or even Reed Buntings to pose for photographs this morning at Ouse Fen. Fortunately, there are always Stonechats!
Nothing too exciting from the main observatory at Welney in the early afternoon but there are plenty of birds on the water. We are looking forward to going to a floodlit swan feed. #WWTWelney
November 12, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Nothing too exciting from the main observatory at Welney in the early afternoon but there are plenty of birds on the water. We are looking forward to going to a floodlit swan feed. #WWTWelney
It is amazing how Sanderlings stay so white on the beach, especially given the state dogs around them were getting into, on the wet sand.
November 9, 2025 at 5:28 PM
It is amazing how Sanderlings stay so white on the beach, especially given the state dogs around them were getting into, on the wet sand.
The end of my week of casual wandering in North Norfolk. No Shore Larks or convincing Water Pipits but I did get a Snow Bunting (West Runton) and my first Crossbills (Holme NOA), so I am not complaining!
November 8, 2025 at 6:12 PM
The end of my week of casual wandering in North Norfolk. No Shore Larks or convincing Water Pipits but I did get a Snow Bunting (West Runton) and my first Crossbills (Holme NOA), so I am not complaining!
Overcast early morning at Sculthorpe Moor. Barn owls asleep but the Tawny owls were both looking out of their box. A female Kingfisher caught a huge fish from the ‘goal post’ perch, managed to swallow it and then moved briefly to a perch near the hide to have her picture taken. #SculthorpeMoor
November 5, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Overcast early morning at Sculthorpe Moor. Barn owls asleep but the Tawny owls were both looking out of their box. A female Kingfisher caught a huge fish from the ‘goal post’ perch, managed to swallow it and then moved briefly to a perch near the hide to have her picture taken. #SculthorpeMoor
That is a lifetime’s worth of ‘Crossbill luck’ used up in two visits to the Holme NOA site. I could hear Crossbills in the trees, but it was too windy to catch sight of them. I sat down in one of the hides and a male landed on a branch just in from of me! Very happy! #Norfolkbirding
November 4, 2025 at 8:51 PM
That is a lifetime’s worth of ‘Crossbill luck’ used up in two visits to the Holme NOA site. I could hear Crossbills in the trees, but it was too windy to catch sight of them. I sat down in one of the hides and a male landed on a branch just in from of me! Very happy! #Norfolkbirding
Snow Buntings are amazingly confiding wild birds. This one just carried on feeding while I shuffled about taking its portrait. The only time it ducked down was when a dog walker passed just behind me. West Runton, near the car park this pm. #Norfolkbirding
November 3, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Snow Buntings are amazingly confiding wild birds. This one just carried on feeding while I shuffled about taking its portrait. The only time it ducked down was when a dog walker passed just behind me. West Runton, near the car park this pm. #Norfolkbirding
Reposted by Mike Gaston
The rainbow diffraction effect on a blue tit, taken yesterday with the fab new OM 50-200. Can’t wait for my OM interview at 5pm GMT Friday on YouTube @omsystem.bsky.social @shropshirewildlife.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social @natgeophotos.bsky.social
November 3, 2025 at 8:08 AM
The rainbow diffraction effect on a blue tit, taken yesterday with the fab new OM 50-200. Can’t wait for my OM interview at 5pm GMT Friday on YouTube @omsystem.bsky.social @shropshirewildlife.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social @natgeophotos.bsky.social
My first Crossbill, found at the Holme NOA site. My thanks to the couple who pointed the bird out. 15 had been seen during the day but one was good enough for me! #Norfolkbirding
November 2, 2025 at 4:53 PM
My first Crossbill, found at the Holme NOA site. My thanks to the couple who pointed the bird out. 15 had been seen during the day but one was good enough for me! #Norfolkbirding
The Grey Phalarope on Cley marshes this morning. Blurry shots but, according to Google Maps, I was 370m away from the bird, so I’m quite impressed that it is recognisable at all! #Norfolkbirding
October 30, 2025 at 6:52 PM
The Grey Phalarope on Cley marshes this morning. Blurry shots but, according to Google Maps, I was 370m away from the bird, so I’m quite impressed that it is recognisable at all! #Norfolkbirding
Fallow deer jumping a fence at Hollesley Common, while we were waiting patiently for the Brown Shrike to move a bit closer!
October 29, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Fallow deer jumping a fence at Hollesley Common, while we were waiting patiently for the Brown Shrike to move a bit closer!
I knew little about shrikes, before 5 species appeared locally. Lesser Grey Shrike breeds in SE Europe and W Asia. Red-backed Shrike breeds across Europe and W Asia. Brown Shrike breeds in E Asia. Red-tailed Shrike very closely related to the Brown Shrike (conspecific), breeds in C Asia.
October 29, 2025 at 7:51 AM
I knew little about shrikes, before 5 species appeared locally. Lesser Grey Shrike breeds in SE Europe and W Asia. Red-backed Shrike breeds across Europe and W Asia. Brown Shrike breeds in E Asia. Red-tailed Shrike very closely related to the Brown Shrike (conspecific), breeds in C Asia.
Reposted by Mike Gaston
October 27, 2025 at 9:57 PM
I had another attempt at the Brown Shrike on Hollesley Common today. The bird remained distant am but was a bit closer pm, although mainly visible through a chain link fence. These two shots have been sharpened in ON1 PhotoRaw. They look good to me, but the eyes are a bit suspect... #suffolkbirding
October 27, 2025 at 8:09 PM
I had another attempt at the Brown Shrike on Hollesley Common today. The bird remained distant am but was a bit closer pm, although mainly visible through a chain link fence. These two shots have been sharpened in ON1 PhotoRaw. They look good to me, but the eyes are a bit suspect... #suffolkbirding
Distant/heavily cropped shots of the Brown Shrike at Hollesey Common this morning. Another Asian Shrike that seems to be somewhat astray, geographically speaking. Getting there was tricky, with the level crossing closed off for works. Shrike sp. #5 this autumn!
October 25, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Distant/heavily cropped shots of the Brown Shrike at Hollesey Common this morning. Another Asian Shrike that seems to be somewhat astray, geographically speaking. Getting there was tricky, with the level crossing closed off for works. Shrike sp. #5 this autumn!