Author | Lightnews

Paul Bright-Thomas @paulbt.bsky.social · 8d

Got a garden YBW of my own last year (inland, S England), a silent flit-through. Took hours to hear it; three days later it reappeared and was recorded.

I recorded the next 27 nights/mornings with no sign, then a few calls mid-Nov slightly different in shape and pitch, a 2nd YBW. Amazing birds!

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Paul Bright-Thomas @paulbt.bsky.social · 12d

Recording confirmed the Brambling, Woodlark sounded lovely (very close over).

Yellow-browed Warblers either side of St Margaret's Bay today, so I was just 24 hrs too early.

Paul Bright-Thomas @paulbt.bsky.social · 13d

In search of migration, down to South Foreland in Kent. Lovely spot, wooded gullies packed with Chiffchaffs, plus a few blackcaps and crests. Finches brought the action, with several small Crossbill flocks, some Redpolls and a couplr og Brambling calls. A Woodlark low over was the star.
#ukbirding

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Paul Bright-Thomas @paulbt.bsky.social · 19d

Not a great way to contribute sightings to cbwps ... don't think their mentions are being checked.

Paul Bright-Thomas @paulbt.bsky.social · 20d

@cbwps.org.uk

Firecrests were in almost every valley the past few days. Even had one singing (!) from conifers at the W end of the A30 roadworks outside Penzance.

#cbwps #CornwallBirds

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Paul Bright-Thomas @paulbt.bsky.social · 20d

@cbwps.org.uk
Polgigga to Lower Bosistow: Willow Warbler (w tit flock), Spotted Flycatcher, 7 Firecrest.

Brew Farm: at least 1 Turtle Dove
#cbwps #CornwallBirds

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Paul Bright-Thomas @paulbt.bsky.social · 21d

Great day at Pendeen 0745-1600: 265 Sooty, 106 Great (many more), 1 Cory's, 3 Balearic, 18 Sabine's, 3 Leach's, 153 E Storm Petrel, 75 Arctic, 70 Great, 2 Pomarine, 3 Long-tailed Skua, 10 Grey Phal, 1 sum plum Gt Northern Diver, 30 Arctic, 10 Sandwich Tern, 2 C Scoter.

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Paul Bright-Thomas @paulbt.bsky.social · 22d

@cbwps.org.uk
#cbwps #CornwallBirds

Kenidjack Pied Flycatcher, Firecrest opposite cottages by yard.

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Paul Bright-Thomas @paulbt.bsky.social · 23d

@cbwps.org.uk Firecrest btw Lower and Higher Bosistow, 2 Yellow Wagtail btw H Bosistow and Nanjizal, Redstart on lane from H Bosistow back to road.

Porthgwarra: 1 Cory's 10:15, Reed Warbler by Dr's cottage.

#cbwps #CornwallBirds

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Paul Bright-Thomas @paulbt.bsky.social · Jun 26

Lovely pen and inks ... miss them a lot, loved them in in old BBs from 70s and 80s.

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Paul Bright-Thomas @paulbt.bsky.social · May 26

I've got them, loved the breadth, the variable illustrations and the sense of connection with the archives.

As a kid, I had the first out from the library on constant renewal for almost four years without ever incurring a fine.

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Paul Bright-Thomas @paulbt.bsky.social · Apr 12

Fieldfare N over Suckthumb quarry.

@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

Paul Bright-Thomas @paulbt.bsky.social · Apr 8

Years ago, I stopped to pee on bird race day, and in the tree above was a much-needed Turtle Dove.

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Paul Bright-Thomas @paulbt.bsky.social · Mar 28

I would have thought that pipits don't like boxes very much, though.

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Paul Bright-Thomas @paulbt.bsky.social · Mar 24

But then a third spell got a garden heard-only first of probable Water Rail, to be confirmed on the recording ... only ever recorded before.

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Paul Bright-Thomas @paulbt.bsky.social · Mar 24

#UKBirding #berksbirds

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Paul Bright-Thomas @paulbt.bsky.social · Mar 24

Well over 100 birds seen in 20 mins of #thermal #vizmig including at least 4 flocks of presumed wildfowl (only one low enough to estimate size, most likely eight geese).

But I only heard one Coot and one Redwing, so everything else unidentified. And #nocmig recording is only scratching the surface.

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Paul Bright-Thomas @paulbt.bsky.social · Feb 6

I have a terrible early 2000's phonescoped pic of a typical winter male Shoveler with a normal sized bill that was a bright Mallardy yellow, maybe a touch more orangey ... not sure what would cause that variation.

Paul Bright-Thomas @paulbt.bsky.social · Jan 30

Ridiculous behaviour (but not funny).

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Paul Bright-Thomas @paulbt.bsky.social · Jan 25

Ignore the egret, RNG is further down ...

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Paul Bright-Thomas @paulbt.bsky.social · Jan 25

cbwps.org.uk/recent-sight...

This RNG in Cornwall is doing a very good swan impersonation, also a potential holbollii.

Friday 24th January 2025 - Cornwall Birds (CBWPS)

Marazion: Booted Eagle circling for approx 1 hr. (D Allan, G Tamblin, M Northey) Marazion Marsh, 11.45: Marsh Harrier quartering. (P Geddes) Mousehole, St Clement’s Isle: 1 Iceland Gull 3rd winter or ...

cbwps.org.uk

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Paul Bright-Thomas @paulbt.bsky.social · Jan 24

Porkishead.

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Paul Bright-Thomas @paulbt.bsky.social · Jan 20

I had experienced similar before, with three birds singing in front of me at a different location, timings (maybe pitch also) differ between individuals.

Paul Bright-Thomas @paulbt.bsky.social · Jan 20

Not sure if thread additions are easily visible ... two singing Quails in the same Berkshire Downs field in July 2023 had notably different timings (notes 1-2/2-3). Quail A had 230/115ms and Quail B had 275/155ms (each over 15+ calls). The difference is clear in this (unedited) clip:
#berksbirdnews

Paul Bright-Thomas @paulbt.bsky.social · Jan 19

Boy, .mp4 on here seems to really boost low-frequency noise, so here's the same clip with a strong high-pass filter to keep the noise down:

Paul Bright-Thomas @paulbt.bsky.social · Jan 19

Boy, .mp4 on here seems to really boost low-frequency noise, so here's the same clip with a strong high-pass filter to keep the noise down:

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