Mark D
@seaskywatch.bsky.social
Interested in all #wildlife, but #seabirds, #raptors and #cetaceans are my favourites. Many hours spent #seawatching at home and abroad.
(Header: Balearic and Manx Shearwaters 05/08/25)
(Header: Balearic and Manx Shearwaters 05/08/25)
Berry Hd: clearance just one Manx, Black-throated Diver ( flew into the bay), Rtdiver flew out. Red-necked Grebe and 14 GN Divers on sea from BHd to Shoalstone.
December 7, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Berry Hd: clearance just one Manx, Black-throated Diver ( flew into the bay), Rtdiver flew out. Red-necked Grebe and 14 GN Divers on sea from BHd to Shoalstone.
Reposted by Mark D
Derbyshire Constabulary appeals for information 3 months later.
#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/12/07/p...
#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/12/07/p...
Peregrine found with shotgun injuries in Peak District National Park
Derbyshire Police Rural Crime Team posted the following on Facebook on 3 December 2025: WILDLIFE CRIME AWARENESS – INJURED PEREGRINE Between 01/09/25 – 08/09/25, we received a report from the…
raptorpersecutionuk.org
December 7, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Derbyshire Constabulary appeals for information 3 months later.
#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/12/07/p...
#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/12/07/p...
Wow just seen how far down this massive low drags up from!
December 7, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Wow just seen how far down this massive low drags up from!
Back to Cockwood today as my views of a distant 'orange-billed' Tern weren't great and certainly inconclusive on 03/12. But today though distantly perched it did one circuit our way and gave great in-flight scope views. A few quick shots with a 400mm lens. Happy I've seen Lesser Crested Tern👍
December 5, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Back to Cockwood today as my views of a distant 'orange-billed' Tern weren't great and certainly inconclusive on 03/12. But today though distantly perched it did one circuit our way and gave great in-flight scope views. A few quick shots with a 400mm lens. Happy I've seen Lesser Crested Tern👍
Well a few record shots, this is the female Merlin on Exminster Marshes 03/12/25. A tiny fullcrop, only a 400mm lens, but you can see what it is!
December 5, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Well a few record shots, this is the female Merlin on Exminster Marshes 03/12/25. A tiny fullcrop, only a 400mm lens, but you can see what it is!
Reposted by Mark D
Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bangalensis off Dawlish Warren this morning. Was speedily succesful catching a good sized fish. Probably the rarest bird I will see in my lifetime.
A probable vagrant from W/N.Africa and found in Indian Ocean as far east as Australia.
A probable vagrant from W/N.Africa and found in Indian Ocean as far east as Australia.
December 4, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bangalensis off Dawlish Warren this morning. Was speedily succesful catching a good sized fish. Probably the rarest bird I will see in my lifetime.
A probable vagrant from W/N.Africa and found in Indian Ocean as far east as Australia.
A probable vagrant from W/N.Africa and found in Indian Ocean as far east as Australia.
Teign Est am, 2 juv/1w Spoonbills ( different from the 3 five weeks ago). Also single Avocet
December 4, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Teign Est am, 2 juv/1w Spoonbills ( different from the 3 five weeks ago). Also single Avocet
Sometimes Mr& Mrs Great Spot turn up together on our sunflower hearts. There is also a pair of Blackcaps and a Firecrest in the garden this week!
December 3, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Sometimes Mr& Mrs Great Spot turn up together on our sunflower hearts. There is also a pair of Blackcaps and a Firecrest in the garden this week!
Nice wander around Exminster Marshes, with a Merlin, 3 Marsh Harriers, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Firecrest and a Green Sandpiper.
Then down to Cockwood to see a distant, ‘orange-billed’ Tern!
Then down to Cockwood to see a distant, ‘orange-billed’ Tern!
December 3, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Nice wander around Exminster Marshes, with a Merlin, 3 Marsh Harriers, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Firecrest and a Green Sandpiper.
Then down to Cockwood to see a distant, ‘orange-billed’ Tern!
Then down to Cockwood to see a distant, ‘orange-billed’ Tern!
Berry Head 08:00-10:00: 4 Med Gulls, 4 Common Scoter, 75 Fulmar, 88 Common Gulls, 30+ ABF Tuna, 8 Harbour Porpoises. 1000s of commoner seabirds passing and feeding on Horizon, based on timed counts of closer passage: 5500 Kitiwakes, 6600 Auks, 2800 Gannets.
November 27, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Berry Head 08:00-10:00: 4 Med Gulls, 4 Common Scoter, 75 Fulmar, 88 Common Gulls, 30+ ABF Tuna, 8 Harbour Porpoises. 1000s of commoner seabirds passing and feeding on Horizon, based on timed counts of closer passage: 5500 Kitiwakes, 6600 Auks, 2800 Gannets.
Also 4 Great Northern Divers off Torcross
November 26, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Also 4 Great Northern Divers off Torcross
Can't really get excited by dubious Geese, but this White-fronted (juv/1w flavirostris) flew past with its carrier flock of feral Canadas at Slapton today, also several Firecrests, Chiffchaff!
November 26, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Can't really get excited by dubious Geese, but this White-fronted (juv/1w flavirostris) flew past with its carrier flock of feral Canadas at Slapton today, also several Firecrests, Chiffchaff!
Six Purple Sandpipers Brxham breakwater, also the presumed returning ad Med Gull
November 23, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Six Purple Sandpipers Brxham breakwater, also the presumed returning ad Med Gull
Drake and f-type Ring-neckedDucks (with drake Tufted) spooked by anglers Beesands Ley 21/11/25 . Thanks to
@sheldonbirds.bsky.social
@sheldonbirds.bsky.social
November 22, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Drake and f-type Ring-neckedDucks (with drake Tufted) spooked by anglers Beesands Ley 21/11/25 . Thanks to
@sheldonbirds.bsky.social
@sheldonbirds.bsky.social
Yesterday at Beesands Ley, there's always some idiots that think rules don't apply to them! May be fishermen quietly in the reeds at the side is tolerable, but you can imagine the effect of these two (in their new kit) - as per photo of all the ducks clearing off to Slapton!
November 22, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Yesterday at Beesands Ley, there's always some idiots that think rules don't apply to them! May be fishermen quietly in the reeds at the side is tolerable, but you can imagine the effect of these two (in their new kit) - as per photo of all the ducks clearing off to Slapton!
Beesands Ley: male Ring-necked Duck on with 33+ Tufted Duck, before all spooked by anglers in small inflatable craft!! Also 4+ Firecrests with Goldcrests. On sea 5 distant (Cn) Scoter.
The ducks flew towards Slapton Ley where m RN Duck was later. Also 3 Great White Egrets higher Ley
The ducks flew towards Slapton Ley where m RN Duck was later. Also 3 Great White Egrets higher Ley
November 21, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Beesands Ley: male Ring-necked Duck on with 33+ Tufted Duck, before all spooked by anglers in small inflatable craft!! Also 4+ Firecrests with Goldcrests. On sea 5 distant (Cn) Scoter.
The ducks flew towards Slapton Ley where m RN Duck was later. Also 3 Great White Egrets higher Ley
The ducks flew towards Slapton Ley where m RN Duck was later. Also 3 Great White Egrets higher Ley
Berry Hd:10:30-13:00: Storm-petrel sp., Bonxie, 4 Med Gulls, 7 Cn Scoter, c40 Common Scoter, 5 Harbour Porpoise, 3 ABF Tuna
November 12, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Berry Hd:10:30-13:00: Storm-petrel sp., Bonxie, 4 Med Gulls, 7 Cn Scoter, c40 Common Scoter, 5 Harbour Porpoise, 3 ABF Tuna
Nice to see a good run of 52+ Fulmars today past Berry head. As we get into winter, always hope for a 'dark' one, or even super 'double dark'.
November 11, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Nice to see a good run of 52+ Fulmars today past Berry head. As we get into winter, always hope for a 'dark' one, or even super 'double dark'.
Reposted by Mark D
Berryhead 7.15-14.15
Kittiwake 5000+, Fulmar 52 Med Gull 11, Arctic Tern (juv)
Gannet 1500+, Manx 3, Puffin, Bonxie 2, Com Scoter 15, GN Diver, Com Dolphin 60, Porpoise 3 plus AB Tuna
#Devonbirds
Kittiwake 5000+, Fulmar 52 Med Gull 11, Arctic Tern (juv)
Gannet 1500+, Manx 3, Puffin, Bonxie 2, Com Scoter 15, GN Diver, Com Dolphin 60, Porpoise 3 plus AB Tuna
#Devonbirds
November 11, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Berryhead 7.15-14.15
Kittiwake 5000+, Fulmar 52 Med Gull 11, Arctic Tern (juv)
Gannet 1500+, Manx 3, Puffin, Bonxie 2, Com Scoter 15, GN Diver, Com Dolphin 60, Porpoise 3 plus AB Tuna
#Devonbirds
Kittiwake 5000+, Fulmar 52 Med Gull 11, Arctic Tern (juv)
Gannet 1500+, Manx 3, Puffin, Bonxie 2, Com Scoter 15, GN Diver, Com Dolphin 60, Porpoise 3 plus AB Tuna
#Devonbirds
The seasons are out of phase, Blackthorn flowering at Slapton while there are sloes on othe bushes!??
November 8, 2025 at 5:21 PM
The seasons are out of phase, Blackthorn flowering at Slapton while there are sloes on othe bushes!??
Slapton Ley (higher Ley Street Gate end), 4 Great White Egrets roosting.
Start Pt 3 Black Redstarts (2 f/imm type, one m)
Start Pt 3 Black Redstarts (2 f/imm type, one m)
November 8, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Slapton Ley (higher Ley Street Gate end), 4 Great White Egrets roosting.
Start Pt 3 Black Redstarts (2 f/imm type, one m)
Start Pt 3 Black Redstarts (2 f/imm type, one m)
Reposted by Mark D
\o/ Available now on Talking Bat Podcast \o/
Excellent interview with Dave Smallshire @smallshire.bsky.social chatting about his life journey
Once you finish listening to Dave, why not check out all the other brilliant people we have spoken to in the series batability.podbean.com/e/talking-dr...
Excellent interview with Dave Smallshire @smallshire.bsky.social chatting about his life journey
Once you finish listening to Dave, why not check out all the other brilliant people we have spoken to in the series batability.podbean.com/e/talking-dr...
October 24, 2025 at 9:07 AM
\o/ Available now on Talking Bat Podcast \o/
Excellent interview with Dave Smallshire @smallshire.bsky.social chatting about his life journey
Once you finish listening to Dave, why not check out all the other brilliant people we have spoken to in the series batability.podbean.com/e/talking-dr...
Excellent interview with Dave Smallshire @smallshire.bsky.social chatting about his life journey
Once you finish listening to Dave, why not check out all the other brilliant people we have spoken to in the series batability.podbean.com/e/talking-dr...
Last few days off Berry Head we've had record nos of Kittiwakes with 18k, 20k and 16k. Are they the same birds getting pushed back up into Lyme Bay or a through-put?!
November 5, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Last few days off Berry Head we've had record nos of Kittiwakes with 18k, 20k and 16k. Are they the same birds getting pushed back up into Lyme Bay or a through-put?!
One of the Great Northern Divers was sat on the sea, smart jus coming out of breeding plumage, also some Common Dolphins, this was the later close group.
November 5, 2025 at 1:55 PM
One of the Great Northern Divers was sat on the sea, smart jus coming out of breeding plumage, also some Common Dolphins, this was the later close group.
Berry Hd 0700-1100: Leach's Storm-petrel (10:20), 2 Manx, juv Arctic Tern, 16k Kittiwakes, 27 Med Gulls, 35 Cn Gulls, c6,000 Razorbill/Guillemot, juv (pale type) Pomarine Skua, 5 Arctic, 5 Bonxie, 2 GN Diver, Red-t Diver, c20 Cn Dolphin, 4 H Porpoise, 2 ABF Tuna with @clennonvalley.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Berry Hd 0700-1100: Leach's Storm-petrel (10:20), 2 Manx, juv Arctic Tern, 16k Kittiwakes, 27 Med Gulls, 35 Cn Gulls, c6,000 Razorbill/Guillemot, juv (pale type) Pomarine Skua, 5 Arctic, 5 Bonxie, 2 GN Diver, Red-t Diver, c20 Cn Dolphin, 4 H Porpoise, 2 ABF Tuna with @clennonvalley.bsky.social