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)
Yesterday a birthday trip to Pendeen,0900-1100: 11 RtD, GND, 36 C Scoter, c200 Manx. c1500 Kittiwakes passing and feeding. From Lelant nice ad Iceland Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Caspian Gull & Yellow-legged Gull in with 100s of gulls.
February 13, 2026 at 9:01 AM
Yesterday a birthday trip to Pendeen,0900-1100: 11 RtD, GND, 36 C Scoter, c200 Manx. c1500 Kittiwakes passing and feeding. From Lelant nice ad Iceland Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Caspian Gull & Yellow-legged Gull in with 100s of gulls.
Shoalstone on sea 12 GND, Black-throated Diver, Red-throated Diver. Out to sea moving ahead of front 1 Manx Shearwater & c1500 Auks
February 9, 2026 at 1:05 PM
Shoalstone on sea 12 GND, Black-throated Diver, Red-throated Diver. Out to sea moving ahead of front 1 Manx Shearwater & c1500 Auks
Berry Head/Shoalstone: finally a SW wind but just a RtDiver and a few GNDs on the move. Walk back to Shoalstone indicated a bit of a clear out of GNDs with only 29, but also birds flying on Tor Bay
February 6, 2026 at 1:33 PM
Berry Head/Shoalstone: finally a SW wind but just a RtDiver and a few GNDs on the move. Walk back to Shoalstone indicated a bit of a clear out of GNDs with only 29, but also birds flying on Tor Bay
Then a walk over the top to look at poor Torcross - damaged properties (smashed roof tiles etc on many); and a devasting double breach in the Slapton line, very sad may be not repairable (or the funds to do so!!). Taken with wide angle then full zoom (600mm eqiv).
February 5, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Then a walk over the top to look at poor Torcross - damaged properties (smashed roof tiles etc on many); and a devasting double breach in the Slapton line, very sad may be not repairable (or the funds to do so!!). Taken with wide angle then full zoom (600mm eqiv).
Beesands Ley drake Ring-necked Duck, 26+ Tufted Ducks, Firecrest by hide. Also total devastation of much of the beach from recent NE to SE storms.
February 5, 2026 at 3:25 PM
Beesands Ley drake Ring-necked Duck, 26+ Tufted Ducks, Firecrest by hide. Also total devastation of much of the beach from recent NE to SE storms.
White-winged Gull (most likely Iceland Gull) flew E past Shoalstone; also Brixham/Shoalstone: Caspian Gull 1w, ad Med Gull, 1 BtDiver, 4 Rt Diver,(in flight), 2 Common Scoter, c100 GN Diver
February 4, 2026 at 3:38 PM
White-winged Gull (most likely Iceland Gull) flew E past Shoalstone; also Brixham/Shoalstone: Caspian Gull 1w, ad Med Gull, 1 BtDiver, 4 Rt Diver,(in flight), 2 Common Scoter, c100 GN Diver
Berry Hd seawatch, relatively quiet 2 RtDivers through and 20 GNDs on sea, another c30 GNDs on walk back to Brixham with where many (c30) in harbour including one X-billed! 1w Caspian Gull also in harbour and same Black-throated Diver as a few days ago at Shoalstone. Mother & calf H Porpoise too!
January 29, 2026 at 5:15 PM
Berry Hd seawatch, relatively quiet 2 RtDivers through and 20 GNDs on sea, another c30 GNDs on walk back to Brixham with where many (c30) in harbour including one X-billed! 1w Caspian Gull also in harbour and same Black-throated Diver as a few days ago at Shoalstone. Mother & calf H Porpoise too!
Brixham-Shoalstone: Black-throated Diver (photo), 8 Red throated Divers (3 on sea pic of 2, also 5 flying), ad Little Gull. Amazing count of 182 Great Northern Divers at 16:00 when forming large roosting rafts across Tor Bay!! Earlier count from end of breakwater (162), also 6 Purple Sandpipers.
January 24, 2026 at 6:07 PM
Brixham-Shoalstone: Black-throated Diver (photo), 8 Red throated Divers (3 on sea pic of 2, also 5 flying), ad Little Gull. Amazing count of 182 Great Northern Divers at 16:00 when forming large roosting rafts across Tor Bay!! Earlier count from end of breakwater (162), also 6 Purple Sandpipers.
Large influx of Great Northern Divers today after SSE gales, managed to see 76 while earlier @clennonvalley.bsky.social had 93. With others dotted around BHd & Hope's N, surely a record 100+ around Tor Bay. Also c50 GC Grebes in 2 groups & 3 RTDs. 6 Purple Sandpipers on the breakwater
January 22, 2026 at 5:36 PM
Large influx of Great Northern Divers today after SSE gales, managed to see 76 while earlier @clennonvalley.bsky.social had 93. With others dotted around BHd & Hope's N, surely a record 100+ around Tor Bay. Also c50 GC Grebes in 2 groups & 3 RTDs. 6 Purple Sandpipers on the breakwater
My Devon shot of 2025! Not knowing at the time I had taken in-flight shot of both male & female Ring-necked Ducks with male & female Tufted Duck providing a great comparison! For #photographers #BirdingGear its the cheap Nikon Z50II with a sharp (not so cheap) Z400mm 4.5, both bought 2nd-hand
January 20, 2026 at 2:19 PM
My Devon shot of 2025! Not knowing at the time I had taken in-flight shot of both male & female Ring-necked Ducks with male & female Tufted Duck providing a great comparison! For #photographers #BirdingGear its the cheap Nikon Z50II with a sharp (not so cheap) Z400mm 4.5, both bought 2nd-hand
Berry Head 0800-1000 very strong SSE 7-8: lighlights Manx Shearwater and ad w Little Gull; also Great Northern Diver, 624 Gannets, 360 Kittiwakes, 124 Fulmars, c30 Common Dolphins
January 20, 2026 at 12:48 PM
Berry Head 0800-1000 very strong SSE 7-8: lighlights Manx Shearwater and ad w Little Gull; also Great Northern Diver, 624 Gannets, 360 Kittiwakes, 124 Fulmars, c30 Common Dolphins
As a seabirder Balearic Shearwater was bird of 2025 for me. Yet another record year off Devon - my personal tally of c6500 sightings this year off South Devon (many from boat) blew away previous years.
January 1, 2026 at 5:59 PM
As a seabirder Balearic Shearwater was bird of 2025 for me. Yet another record year off Devon - my personal tally of c6500 sightings this year off South Devon (many from boat) blew away previous years.
Yesterday up to Hartland to count the Red-throated Divers, a good count of 374 in nice calm conditions. On Bursdon Moor 4 Hen Harriers to roost (3 as males & ringtail) and Merlin.
January 1, 2026 at 5:15 PM
Yesterday up to Hartland to count the Red-throated Divers, a good count of 374 in nice calm conditions. On Bursdon Moor 4 Hen Harriers to roost (3 as males & ringtail) and Merlin.
Teign Est as well usual wintering birds this Dec (Spot Red, 40+ Redshank, 10+ Greenshank, 5+ Common Sandpiper), also today Great Northern Diver mid est, and 16 Avocet ( highest count this winter( upper est).
December 30, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Teign Est as well usual wintering birds this Dec (Spot Red, 40+ Redshank, 10+ Greenshank, 5+ Common Sandpiper), also today Great Northern Diver mid est, and 16 Avocet ( highest count this winter( upper est).
Happy Xmas from a wild Torcross
December 25, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Happy Xmas from a wild Torcross
Somerset always way ahead of Devon but the we do have Lundy to add!
A superb achievement by the County Recorder, Editors and all who submitted records. #somersetbirding
December 23, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Somerset always way ahead of Devon but the we do have Lundy to add!
Berry Hd 10:30-12:00 in flight 6 Red-throated Divers, 3 Great Northern Divers, 30 Common Gulls, ad Med Gull, 2 Wigeon.
BHd-Brixham Harbour 32 Great N Divers, 5 Purple Sandpipers (breakwater)
BHd-Brixham Harbour 32 Great N Divers, 5 Purple Sandpipers (breakwater)
December 23, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Berry Hd 10:30-12:00 in flight 6 Red-throated Divers, 3 Great Northern Divers, 30 Common Gulls, ad Med Gull, 2 Wigeon.
BHd-Brixham Harbour 32 Great N Divers, 5 Purple Sandpipers (breakwater)
BHd-Brixham Harbour 32 Great N Divers, 5 Purple Sandpipers (breakwater)
Reposted by Mark D
THREE satellite-tagged White-tailed Eagles disappear in suspicious circumstances in England, Wales & Scotland - two tags had been cut off.
Press release from Isle of Wight WTE Project Team & additional commentary from me ⬇️⬇️
#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/12/17/t...
Press release from Isle of Wight WTE Project Team & additional commentary from me ⬇️⬇️
#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/12/17/t...
Three satellite-tagged White-tailed Eagles disappear in suspicious circumstances in England, Wales & Scotland – two tags had been cut off
Press release from Forestry England (17 December 2025) THREE WHITE-TAILED EAGLES DISAPPEAR IN SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES The public are being asked to help the police investigate the suspicious disap…
raptorpersecutionuk.org
December 17, 2025 at 9:23 AM
THREE satellite-tagged White-tailed Eagles disappear in suspicious circumstances in England, Wales & Scotland - two tags had been cut off.
Press release from Isle of Wight WTE Project Team & additional commentary from me ⬇️⬇️
#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/12/17/t...
Press release from Isle of Wight WTE Project Team & additional commentary from me ⬇️⬇️
#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/12/17/t...
Reposted by Mark D
Absolutely shocking.
We're offering an overall award of £10k for information that leads to a conviction in these cases.
We need to make raptor persecution a thing of the past.
We're offering an overall award of £10k for information that leads to a conviction in these cases.
We need to make raptor persecution a thing of the past.
December 17, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Absolutely shocking.
We're offering an overall award of £10k for information that leads to a conviction in these cases.
We need to make raptor persecution a thing of the past.
We're offering an overall award of £10k for information that leads to a conviction in these cases.
We need to make raptor persecution a thing of the past.
Any ideas on this wing remains. Probable Peregrine kill. Scale with size 6.5 boots (wife’s)
December 15, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Any ideas on this wing remains. Probable Peregrine kill. Scale with size 6.5 boots (wife’s)
Berry head 10:50-12:25: in flight 4 Great Nothern, Black-throated & 4 Red-throated Divers and Common Scoter. Another 6 GNDs on sea. Two groups of Common Dolphins and 2 Harbour porpoise
December 14, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Berry head 10:50-12:25: in flight 4 Great Nothern, Black-throated & 4 Red-throated Divers and Common Scoter. Another 6 GNDs on sea. Two groups of Common Dolphins and 2 Harbour porpoise
Brixham breakwater: 5 Great Northern Divers (incl this juv/1w), the ever obliging adult Med Gull, and 3 Purple Sandpipers. Further towards Berry Head quite a few Common Gulls feeding with Gannets over Harbour Porpoises
December 11, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Brixham breakwater: 5 Great Northern Divers (incl this juv/1w), the ever obliging adult Med Gull, and 3 Purple Sandpipers. Further towards Berry Head quite a few Common Gulls feeding with Gannets over Harbour Porpoises
Walking up to Turf from Powderham this boat came past heading for the LC Tern, we quickly set up scope on tern as sure it would be spooked. And yes they did just that😡 in front of many birders. LCT flew off and boat headed back down past us. Here they are, well ****** done😡😡!
December 10, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Walking up to Turf from Powderham this boat came past heading for the LC Tern, we quickly set up scope on tern as sure it would be spooked. And yes they did just that😡 in front of many birders. LCT flew off and boat headed back down past us. Here they are, well ****** done😡😡!
Berry Hd 1200-1430 to catch the clearance after the big storm. Very quiet just a Rt Diver into Tor bay, 5 GNDs on the sea. A few Gannets, Kittiwakes, Auks and Fulmars, but very low numbers considering!
December 9, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Berry Hd 1200-1430 to catch the clearance after the big storm. Very quiet just a Rt Diver into Tor bay, 5 GNDs on the sea. A few Gannets, Kittiwakes, Auks and Fulmars, but very low numbers considering!
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.