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Andy Mackay

@leicesterllama.bsky.social

1K followers 480 following 950 posts

Leicestershire & Rutland birder, artist and freelance bird surveyor. UK birding, particularly Eyebrook Reservoir, moths and general wildlife stuff. No politics, no religion, no football! http://www.ajm-wildlife-art.co.uk

www.ajm-wildlife-art.co.uk

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · Aug 18

I've added some recent work to the Illustrations page of my website. Please have a look if you have a few moments. Thanks.

www.ajm-wildlife-art.co.uk/illustrations

#art #wildlifeart #birds #ukbirding

A coloured pencil and gouache illustration of five Waxwings perched in a tree. Published as the front cover of the 2023 Leicestershire and Rutland Bird Report.

A coloured pencil and gouache illustration of a singing Sedge Warbler in brambles, drawn for eventual publication in my book The Birds of Eyebrook Reservoir.

A coloured pencil and gouache illustration of a male Wheatear perched on a wooden post, drawn for eventual publication in my book The Birds of Eyebrook Reservoir.

An acrylic painting of three flying Goosanders, to be published soon in the 2024 Spurn Bird Observatory Report.

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 2h

Incredible record! A British record flock? Seven together in Wexford today as well.

Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 2h

No, it was too windy, but the call was consistently Western and it never gave even a hint of a raspy or buzzy call, so nothing more to be done with it. Seen and heard by plenty of very good birders, and everyone was happy it was Western. Maybe from the eastern end of the range.

Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 3h

A few highlights from my week on Scilly now I've had a chance to edit photos. Details in the alt text. Unfortunately the Mourning Dove wasn't pinned down until after we'd left. Maybe it'll stay till next year? 😂 #scillybirds #ukbirding

This juvenile Wilson's Phalarope on Porth Hellick Pool, St Mary's showed incredibly well just a few feet away from the hides for several days.

Hoopoe on Periglis beach, St Agnes. Another bird that gave great views for several days as it fed on insect larvae amongst the boulders at the top of the beach.

An interesting 'monochrome' Yellow Wagtail on Periglis beach, St Agnes. Initially thought to be possibly an Eastern Yellow Wagtail, but the call sounded like Western. Maybe an eastern Western or a western Eastern?!

Juvenile Rose-coloured (or Rosy if you prefer) Starling on a wire at Old Town, St Mary's. These always seem to look a bit scruffy, maybe as a result of having a much later post-juvenile moult than Common Starlings?

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Reposted by Andy Mackay

Rachel Taylor @fidhw.bsky.social · 1d

If you love #glassart or #birds or are already following my #art (hi and I love you) the SWLA @ Mall galleries opens next week, and my Black-tailed Godwit #sculpture will be there - online preview (sculpture page - scroll down for the Godwit!) here buyart.mallgalleries.org.uk/swla-2025/?_...

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 1d

It says Scilly 4 times in the post, including the hashtag and alt text, so I think I'd assume that's what I meant rather than Sicily?

Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 2d

Goodbye Scilly, see you next year (for longer!) hopefully. Didn't see a huge number of birds, but a very enjoyable visit. Good return crossing: Sabine's Gull, 2 Great, 1 Sooty & 1 Manx Shearwater, and 6+ Storm Petrels, most of which (apart from the Sab's) were in Scilly waters. #scillybirds

The Isles of Scilly as seen from the back of the Scillonian against a cludy sky with the sun just breaking through.

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 3d

I think the emargana records are probably from before it was split?

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 3d

I've gen detted numerous effractana from mainland Shetland (specimens from locals via Paul Harvey and latterly Rory Tallack). Never had a Shetland emargana, so it's a reasonable assumption they are all effractana there.

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 3d

Yes, £14.

Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 4d

Yes, it was definitely a Mourning Dove, but sadly only seen by the finder, Keith Pellow. We went over for a rather expensive Turtle Dove year tick (and another look at the Hoopoe), but that's the way it goes sometimes.

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 5d

Not sure. I walked all round Peninnis, Lower Moors and the Garrison today and saw perhaps half a dozen all day. But I think lots were on St Agnes for the pipit.

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 5d

Yes, leaving on Weds though so only tomorrow for it to happen really.

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 5d

I've been trying all day to find one here, but no luck so far...

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 5d

Yes, it's very different these days. Partly why I came back, as I never could stand crowds! 😂

Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 5d

😂 Yes, that was me when I got to the sheltered side of Peninnis this morning!

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 5d

I would say very few, but my reference point for St Mary's is nearly 30 years ago! Most times I've been out away from where the known rarities are, I've seen almost no-one. Up to c30 people max at the log so far, but obviously not everyone goes to that.

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 5d

Yes, I'm sure there is. Just the small matter of finding it in the acres of cover here! 😵‍💫

Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 5d

Met Office forecast for Scilly today vs the reality. It's often like that here, far warmer and sunnier than they say it's going to be. But I still always forget and wear too many clothes! 🥵

Met Office forecast for Scilly showing thick cloud all day (and every hour previously as well)

What it's actually been like here all morning.

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Reposted by Andy Mackay

Rachel Taylor @fidhw.bsky.social · 5d

Birds in stained glass, freestanding #art or wall sculptures, rarely window panels. My birds are celebrations, explanations, rants and sometimes tears; but like the birds that inspire them, they are all beautiful dancers-with-light…

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Reposted by Andy Mackay

Jan Wilczur @janwilczur.bsky.social · 6d

‘Turkestan Shrike, adult male’

acrylic, 13 x 18 cms.

Turkestan Shrike, also known as Red-tailed Shrike, is a very rare visitor from Central Asia to the UK. Along with the closely related Daurian Shrike it was once considered one of the sub-species of Isabelline Shrike.
#turkestanshrike
#birdart

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 6d

Bloody thing flew off about a minute before we got there. 🙄 Not a Scilly tick for me, but Ben needs it for the UK, so he wasn't best pleased. Hopefully it'll reappear tomorrow.

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 6d

Yes, wind definitely dropping over the next few days and no more rain forecast. Has to be better than what we've had today!

Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 7d

We're going to Aggie tomorrow I think. So there'll probably be something good on Mary's! 😂

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Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 7d

Meanwhile, just 30-odd miles away, absolutely nothing from Scilly this morning. Not even as many Gannets as there were yesterday. 😫

Andy Mackay @leicesterllama.bsky.social · 7d

Absolutely nothing in an hour's seawatch off Peninnis this morning 😴. A Short-eared Owl sheltering behind a wall along King Edward's Road and better views of the Wilson's Phalarope at Porth Hellick, but not much else today in the very strong wind. #scillybirds

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