Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 16m

Red legged Partridge, drifting past the seawatch hide at Dungeness is one that comes to mind. Good job I had seen it fly off of the beach as I doubt I would have otherwise been able to tell what it was. Ripe for being strung as some rare Pacific alcid

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 9h

Exactly that! I have to keep reminding myself that it is still only the second week of October and therefore shouldn't abandon hope...

1

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 1d

Fair to say that the last couple of weeks have been something of a slog. We do tend to lose leaves a bit earlier in the autumn on here but this year seems particularly stark #BirdingOrkney Really doesn't feel like there is much left to attract and hold migrants...

The school sycamores with barely a leaf left on them

1 1 19

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 5d

Aye, 23 yesterday. Normally two pairs of breeding Mute Swan on there

1

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 5d

A slight drop in the wind produced a bonanza of Sooty Shearwater off Mull Head #BirdingOrkney 360 west, but lots of birds feeding, including one flock of up to 150. Also my 2nd Barred Warbler of the autumn along the North Wick #PWC2025

1 17

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 7d

Don't worry, Its not as dangerous/collapsible as what it might appear!

2

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 7d

No need when you have your very own, carefully constructed seawatch shelter! #OrkneyBirding

1 1 12

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 7d

Unbirdable outside so it's a day of description writing and painting. That said, I will be keeping a regular eye out from the house, should @stevedudley.bsky.social Franklin's Gull decide to drop in for a visit onto the loch...

3 1 45

Reposted by David Roche

Will Bowell- Just Wild Images @justwildimages.bsky.social · 8d

Stunning views of the Siberian Thrush in Shetland. Worth the three hours in Loch Asta. More on justwildimages.blogspot.com
@birdguides.bsky.social @promoteshetland.bsky.social
@hughharrop.bsky.social @shetlandwildlife.bsky.social
@britishbirds.bsky.social @britishbirdsbbrc.bsky.social

2 8 75

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 17d

In on the recent Taiga action with this adult and juvenile, present at Backaskaill this morning. My first, anywhere away from the Yare Valley birds of winters past #BirdingOrkney Third find tick in under two weeks, having not added anything since May 2023! @patchbirding.bsky.social

1 1 27

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 17d

Juv Long-tailed Skua past Mull Head this morning #BirdingOrkney Two Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler and Whinchat the best migrant offerings, but all lingering birds. No sign of Brown Shrike today

1 17

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 19d

Brown Shrike still present this morning for its fourth day #BirdingOrkney Finally a rest bite tomorrow from the wind, so hopefully some action on the sea or a chance to unearth some new arrivals...

1 9

Reposted by David Roche

Steve Dudley @stevedudley.bsky.social · 21d

Here’s a wee clip of the utterly fabulous Brown Shrike found by @papaybirder.bsky.social on neighbouring Papa Westray today. I do so enjoy a little dirty Papay twitching 😜 All part of the joys of #WestrayBirding + 🙅🏻‍♂️

3 4 88

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 21d

Orkney's 5th record of Brown Shrike, present in the garden of the Manse today #BirdingOrkney A species that I always thought should have one day been on the cards for here #PWC2025 #RareBirdsUK

2 6 92

Reposted by David Roche

John Malloy @johnmalloy.bsky.social · 26d

Black Tern, Druridge Bay Country Park
September 2025.

#NEBirding

1 1 27

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 26d

Agreed!

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 26d

Baird's Sandpiper in the North Wick this evening #OrkneyBirding 7th Orkney record, 1st for Papay and a species I have always imagined finding here #PWC2025 Present for all of about five minutes but thankfully obliged for the camera #RareBirdsUK

1 1 63

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 27d

Rosefinch around Whitehowe this afternoon #BirdingOrkney One that was missing from the island year list last year. Always surprises me how scarce these seem to be in Orkney, outside of the North isles. Just a lack of coverage from mainland?

1 1 37

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 28d

Wryneck can be frustratingly skulking at times. Other times, less so... #BirdingOrkney Another new bird this morning #PWC2025

2 4 64

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · 29d

Buff-breasted Sandpiper hanging out on the Papay airfield today #PWC2025 #BirdingOrkney Two or three recorded most autumns within Orkney, but only my second island record.

1 1 64

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · Sep 10

A bit greyer than your average juvenile but yes. Can't turn it into a SemiP or RNStint unfortunately

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · Sep 8

Until today I had only seen four Wryneck on Papay, in what is now my 9th year on the island. This afternoon, I found THREE different birds within less than two hours! #OrkneyBirding #PWC2025 Five Garden Warbler and three Pied Fly also amongst a small number of common migrants

3 38

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · Aug 31

Pectoral Sandpiper above the North Wick this afternoon, plus a surprise reappearance by the Greenish Warbler in the willows outside Hundland #BirdingOrkney Refound here the day after being seen at Fowl Craig but not seen since. Couple of Pied Flycatchers, my first of the year here #PWC2025

3 41

David Roche @papaybirder.bsky.social · Aug 26

My first Papay tick of 2025 in the form of a White-rumped Sandpiper, briefly in the North Wick this morning. No sign this afternoon, but made up for by finding this Greenish Warbler in the far geo at Fowl Craig! #OrkneyBirding #PWC2025 Also a Great Shearwater offshore whilst watching it

Feeding in the bottom of the geo, less than 10 metres below me

Far North end of Fowl Craig. I have always walked past this geo and thought it deserved something good... Not sure I have ever seen a single migrant passerine in it until today!

2 3 76

Reposted by David Roche

Tim Marshall @twmar.bsky.social · Aug 22

A trip out to the Eastern end of the Moray Firth with Guide Charters out of Macduff gave us a close encounter with a Sooty Shearwater which stayed with the boat for over 15 minutes. Another highlight was a Pomarine Skua that did a fly-by. #birdingscotland

1 36