Rob Swift
@robswift5.bsky.social
Birder & Birding. Continuously life inspired by Birds & the wonder of the Natural World around me! 😀
An enjoyable visit to Musselburgh Lagoons, East Lothian recently. The highlight being 16 regal Whooper Swans🤩… also plenty of Waders (shorebirds). Very impressed with the well thought out, vast new scrape area with a backdrop of the distant, Edinburgh skyline. .
November 23, 2025 at 7:53 AM
An enjoyable visit to Musselburgh Lagoons, East Lothian recently. The highlight being 16 regal Whooper Swans🤩… also plenty of Waders (shorebirds). Very impressed with the well thought out, vast new scrape area with a backdrop of the distant, Edinburgh skyline. .
Reposted by Rob Swift
Even minus its upper tail covert plumes, this male Resplendent Quetzal is a stunner. The extraordinary sheen on the Birds plumage gives it a ‘wet look’! Observed in fantastic #Panama, April 25… a must see Bird for me, fulfilled. 😌#Birds #Birding #Birdphotography 🦉🪶
October 28, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Even minus its upper tail covert plumes, this male Resplendent Quetzal is a stunner. The extraordinary sheen on the Birds plumage gives it a ‘wet look’! Observed in fantastic #Panama, April 25… a must see Bird for me, fulfilled. 😌#Birds #Birding #Birdphotography 🦉🪶
Reposted by Rob Swift
Homage to Xavier Bou: little swifts at the Olifants River high-water bridge, Kruger National Park. Unstacked from video taken with an Iphone 14. #birds #photography #SouthAfrica #iPhone
October 26, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Homage to Xavier Bou: little swifts at the Olifants River high-water bridge, Kruger National Park. Unstacked from video taken with an Iphone 14. #birds #photography #SouthAfrica #iPhone
Reposted by Rob Swift
The weather is shifting now in the mountains of northern #CostaRica, with more rain and less food in the forests, and some birds are now starting to come down to the banana feeders for a snack.
This male Red-legged Honeycreeper wanted me to see his new hairdo. At @tapirvalley.bsky.social
#birds
This male Red-legged Honeycreeper wanted me to see his new hairdo. At @tapirvalley.bsky.social
#birds
October 26, 2025 at 5:43 PM
The weather is shifting now in the mountains of northern #CostaRica, with more rain and less food in the forests, and some birds are now starting to come down to the banana feeders for a snack.
This male Red-legged Honeycreeper wanted me to see his new hairdo. At @tapirvalley.bsky.social
#birds
This male Red-legged Honeycreeper wanted me to see his new hairdo. At @tapirvalley.bsky.social
#birds
Reposted by Rob Swift
This 2nd winter Caspian Gull was at the west end this afternoon. Also a great turn out for this mornings work party, where we cleared a load of encroaching willow scrub along the south east bay and Scott hide reed bed.
October 26, 2025 at 4:22 PM
This 2nd winter Caspian Gull was at the west end this afternoon. Also a great turn out for this mornings work party, where we cleared a load of encroaching willow scrub along the south east bay and Scott hide reed bed.
Reposted by Rob Swift
One of two Northern Long-tailed Tits on the island of Yell, Shetland early this morning. It was like watching excited golf balls with wings and I'm not sure there is a word that can justify their beauty.
#BirdingScotland #UKbirding #RareBirdsUK #Birds #UKWildlife
#BirdingScotland #UKbirding #RareBirdsUK #Birds #UKWildlife
October 26, 2025 at 5:02 PM
One of two Northern Long-tailed Tits on the island of Yell, Shetland early this morning. It was like watching excited golf balls with wings and I'm not sure there is a word that can justify their beauty.
#BirdingScotland #UKbirding #RareBirdsUK #Birds #UKWildlife
#BirdingScotland #UKbirding #RareBirdsUK #Birds #UKWildlife
Reposted by Rob Swift
The cruelty of bird migration laid bare at Cley this morning as a tired Woodcock reached the end of its sea crossing to be met by a hungry Peregrine. Knocked into the water the Woodcock ultimately succumbed to the rough breakers while the Peregrine left with just a tail feather. #NorfolkBirding
October 26, 2025 at 4:26 PM
The cruelty of bird migration laid bare at Cley this morning as a tired Woodcock reached the end of its sea crossing to be met by a hungry Peregrine. Knocked into the water the Woodcock ultimately succumbed to the rough breakers while the Peregrine left with just a tail feather. #NorfolkBirding
A delayed Volunteer work Party season, but it kicked off this morn @WestMidBirdClub Belvide Reserve, Staffs with 16 souls turning out. A lot of willow regrowth cut .. here Mike, Kevin & I worked in the main Scott Hide Reedbed to clear some stubborn regrowth. A nice 2-3hrs ‘willow workout’! 🤪👍🏻
October 26, 2025 at 2:33 PM
A delayed Volunteer work Party season, but it kicked off this morn @WestMidBirdClub Belvide Reserve, Staffs with 16 souls turning out. A lot of willow regrowth cut .. here Mike, Kevin & I worked in the main Scott Hide Reedbed to clear some stubborn regrowth. A nice 2-3hrs ‘willow workout’! 🤪👍🏻
More from #Panama Trip April ‘25..a marvellous Birding Country. Rare Capped Heron in the Darien, Green Heron, Imm’ Little Blue Heron and close Great Blue Heron! #Birds #Birding #Birdsseenin2025
October 26, 2025 at 2:25 PM
More from #Panama Trip April ‘25..a marvellous Birding Country. Rare Capped Heron in the Darien, Green Heron, Imm’ Little Blue Heron and close Great Blue Heron! #Birds #Birding #Birdsseenin2025
Finally finishing the processing of images from the superb Panama trip April ‘25! Trogon time 🤩- six species seen including White-tailed, Orange-bellied, Black-tailed & female Gartered on show 💥
October 24, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Finally finishing the processing of images from the superb Panama trip April ‘25! Trogon time 🤩- six species seen including White-tailed, Orange-bellied, Black-tailed & female Gartered on show 💥
River Sow Meadows, Stafford early AM..this guy has been on a vizmig session for a fair while, so I joined him for 90 mins to see 1240 Wood Pigeon, 38 Skylark, 18 Linnet, c30 Meadow Pip & 641 B H Gull S/SW. Also on site 3 Cetti’s, 2 Stonechat & 26 Teal. 😁 @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social #Birds #Birding 🦉
October 24, 2025 at 12:08 PM
River Sow Meadows, Stafford early AM..this guy has been on a vizmig session for a fair while, so I joined him for 90 mins to see 1240 Wood Pigeon, 38 Skylark, 18 Linnet, c30 Meadow Pip & 641 B H Gull S/SW. Also on site 3 Cetti’s, 2 Stonechat & 26 Teal. 😁 @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social #Birds #Birding 🦉
@staffsbirdnews.bsky.social Radford Meadows, Stafford this AM-2 Ruff, 102 Lapwing, 2 Cetti’s, 6 Siskin, 44 Wigeon, 4 Ring-necked Parakeet, Goosander, 30 Fieldfare flock, 12 Skylark flock, 9 Redwing, Chiffchaff. 👍🏻
October 18, 2025 at 11:05 AM
@staffsbirdnews.bsky.social Radford Meadows, Stafford this AM-2 Ruff, 102 Lapwing, 2 Cetti’s, 6 Siskin, 44 Wigeon, 4 Ring-necked Parakeet, Goosander, 30 Fieldfare flock, 12 Skylark flock, 9 Redwing, Chiffchaff. 👍🏻
Reposted by Rob Swift
Congratulations to Colin McShane, winner of The Bernard Tucker Medal! Thanks to his unique survey methods for roosting Jack Snipe, utilising a thermal imager, there’s been an increase in birds ringed. He’s inspired researchers & bird clubs, resulting in the deployment of 16 GPS tags. Thank you Colin
October 16, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Congratulations to Colin McShane, winner of The Bernard Tucker Medal! Thanks to his unique survey methods for roosting Jack Snipe, utilising a thermal imager, there’s been an increase in birds ringed. He’s inspired researchers & bird clubs, resulting in the deployment of 16 GPS tags. Thank you Colin
Reposted by Rob Swift
New @birdtrack.bsky.social migration blog! ➡️ www.bto.org/our-work/new...
Reports of winter thrushes are on the up, there’s been an increase in Yellow-browed Warblers after a below average autumn so far & records of Short-eared Owls arriving off the sea along the east coast of England. #Ornithology
Reports of winter thrushes are on the up, there’s been an increase in Yellow-browed Warblers after a below average autumn so far & records of Short-eared Owls arriving off the sea along the east coast of England. #Ornithology
October 17, 2025 at 3:55 PM
New @birdtrack.bsky.social migration blog! ➡️ www.bto.org/our-work/new...
Reports of winter thrushes are on the up, there’s been an increase in Yellow-browed Warblers after a below average autumn so far & records of Short-eared Owls arriving off the sea along the east coast of England. #Ornithology
Reports of winter thrushes are on the up, there’s been an increase in Yellow-browed Warblers after a below average autumn so far & records of Short-eared Owls arriving off the sea along the east coast of England. #Ornithology
Reposted by Rob Swift
Victorian attitudes towards birds of prey /predators in general remain stubbornly persistent in many parts of the UK.
#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime #BirdingScotland
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/10/07/s...
#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime #BirdingScotland
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/10/07/s...
Sparrowhawk killed with banned poison in Aberdeenshire – Police Scotland appeals for information
Press release from Police Scotland: APPEAL FOR INFORMATION FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF A BIRD OF PREY IN ABERDEENSHIRE Detectives are appealing for information after a bird of prey was poisoned in Aberd…
raptorpersecutionuk.org
October 7, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Victorian attitudes towards birds of prey /predators in general remain stubbornly persistent in many parts of the UK.
#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime #BirdingScotland
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/10/07/s...
#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime #BirdingScotland
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/10/07/s...
Reposted by Rob Swift
...also on the ringing front: we've received notification of a fantastic recovery of a Firecrest ringed here last October that was controlled a few days ago by a ringer in the Czech Republic - the first movement of a UK-ringed Firecrest to the Czech Republic or indeed to anywhere in central Europe
October 7, 2025 at 9:55 PM
...also on the ringing front: we've received notification of a fantastic recovery of a Firecrest ringed here last October that was controlled a few days ago by a ringer in the Czech Republic - the first movement of a UK-ringed Firecrest to the Czech Republic or indeed to anywhere in central Europe
Reposted by Rob Swift
Our first pulse of Icelandic Redwings on Barra today, though other migrant passerines remain in very short supply. #BirdingScotland
October 5, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Our first pulse of Icelandic Redwings on Barra today, though other migrant passerines remain in very short supply. #BirdingScotland
Storm Amy at @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social Belvide Reserve dropped in a Grey Plover & Curlew Sandpiper this AM. + Dunlin, 4 Ringed & 6 Golden Plover, BN Grebe, Drake Goldeneye, Peregrine,10+ Great Egret. A large tree casualty, is now blocking the spill weir, woodland path @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social
October 4, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Storm Amy at @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social Belvide Reserve dropped in a Grey Plover & Curlew Sandpiper this AM. + Dunlin, 4 Ringed & 6 Golden Plover, BN Grebe, Drake Goldeneye, Peregrine,10+ Great Egret. A large tree casualty, is now blocking the spill weir, woodland path @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social
Reposted by Rob Swift
Tricolored heron in the rain, Phinizy Swamp Nature Park, Georgia. This is the same bird as in this video: bsky.app/profile/matt...
#birds #wildlifephotography
#birds #wildlifephotography
October 2, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Tricolored heron in the rain, Phinizy Swamp Nature Park, Georgia. This is the same bird as in this video: bsky.app/profile/matt...
#birds #wildlifephotography
#birds #wildlifephotography
….a bit of last light Snipe photography this eve, after checking in with the Stewardship mowing contractor @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social Belvide Reserve, Staffs. Now all ready for the winter season refill. 👍🏻
September 28, 2025 at 9:26 PM
….a bit of last light Snipe photography this eve, after checking in with the Stewardship mowing contractor @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social Belvide Reserve, Staffs. Now all ready for the winter season refill. 👍🏻
@staffsbirdnews.bsky.social Radford Meadows, Stafford this morn. Whinchat, Wheatear, 5 Stonechat, 3 Cetti’s, Lt Egret, 5 Snipe, c120 Lapwing, c50 Wigeon, Shoveler, c150 Teal, 340 Greylag. Skywatch- Peregrine, 3 Sparrowhawk, 11 Buzzard, + 17 House Martin, 14 Swallow, 17 Meadow Pip, 3 Skylark south. 👍🏻
September 28, 2025 at 12:43 PM
@staffsbirdnews.bsky.social Radford Meadows, Stafford this morn. Whinchat, Wheatear, 5 Stonechat, 3 Cetti’s, Lt Egret, 5 Snipe, c120 Lapwing, c50 Wigeon, Shoveler, c150 Teal, 340 Greylag. Skywatch- Peregrine, 3 Sparrowhawk, 11 Buzzard, + 17 House Martin, 14 Swallow, 17 Meadow Pip, 3 Skylark south. 👍🏻