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stevewg.bsky.social
Steve Gale
@stevewg.bsky.social
600 followers 410 following 640 posts
Surrey-based naturalist on the edge of Greater London with a particular interest in bird migration, lepidoptera and botany. A liking for searching the under-recorded parts of the North Downs. Football will also feature! northdownsandbeyond.blogspot.com
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stevewg.bsky.social
Steve Gale @stevewg.bsky.social · 12h
Thank you Andy, not annual but getting that way. A few more birders toiling away locally would find plenty more I’m sure
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stevewg.bsky.social
Steve Gale @stevewg.bsky.social · 14h
Tidy…
stevewg.bsky.social
Steve Gale @stevewg.bsky.social · 19h
Plenty more of them to come Kev
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stevewg.bsky.social
Steve Gale @stevewg.bsky.social · 20h
Denbies Hillside, Surrey: from this higher viewpoint a dribble of overhead passage included 10 Crossbills, but it was a calling Yellow-browed Warbler that stole the show. I was unable to clap eyes on it as it made its way down the slope. Relocated 50 mins later by Andy Holding #UKBirding
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stevewg.bsky.social
Steve Gale @stevewg.bsky.social · 1d
It was very fresh Martin and most skittish. As such a late emerging species the idea of a second brood had not occurred to me. Does it happen?
stevewg.bsky.social
Steve Gale @stevewg.bsky.social · 1d
Best pic I’ve seen of it.
Yours, Vicarious of Surrey
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stevewg.bsky.social
Steve Gale @stevewg.bsky.social · 1d
Keep at it Neil! More gems to unearth still…
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stevewg.bsky.social
Steve Gale @stevewg.bsky.social · 1d
Denbies Hillside, Surrey: Red Kite numbers are increasing along this section of the North Downs. My estimate of 20 this morning includes 15 together in the air. At 08.30hrs I came across seven birds perched on the scarp slope. How high can the count go? #UKBirding
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stevewg.bsky.social
Steve Gale @stevewg.bsky.social · 1d
Denbies Hillside, Surrey: a sign of our times - October 9th, stood in a t-shirt watching Redwings and a Brambling at the same time as this Chalkhill Blue butterfly!! It’s all over the place…
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stevewg.bsky.social
Steve Gale @stevewg.bsky.social · 1d
Denbies Hillside, Surrey: a glorious morning of sun and warmth, with a steady trickle of birds west along the downs: 258 Chaffinch, 140 Siskin, 1 Brambling, 43 Redwing, 2 Woodlarks south, and at least 20 Red Kites loafing in the area #UKBirding
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stevewg.bsky.social
Steve Gale @stevewg.bsky.social · 2d
Congratulations!
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stevewg.bsky.social
Steve Gale @stevewg.bsky.social · 2d
Man of leisure yet Tony?…
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stevewg.bsky.social
Steve Gale @stevewg.bsky.social · 3d
Yellowhammer and Little Owl still holding on - just! Goshawk now resident between Box and Colley!!
stevewg.bsky.social
Steve Gale @stevewg.bsky.social · 3d
Both Ian, although mostly around Buckland Farm. The field north of the railway line (where Lapwings still breed) is the largest.
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stevewg.bsky.social
Steve Gale @stevewg.bsky.social · 3d
‘Evil’ as in the strips are only present because of the released game bird biomass on the farm - result being some of the farmland is comparatively nature rich…
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stevewg.bsky.social
Steve Gale @stevewg.bsky.social · 3d
The farmer has created plenty of game cover strips throughout Buckland which, while botanically interesting, is also a magnet for inverts. Mainly fodder Radish, Phacelia, Flax, Millet, Buckwheat. A necessary evil?
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stevewg.bsky.social
Steve Gale @stevewg.bsky.social · 3d
Box Hill to Reigate Hill and back, Surrey (21.3k walked): quiet. 1 Peregrine, 250 Red-legged Partridge (recent release, many with Chukar heritage), 250 Pheasant, 6 Redwing, 60 Goldcrest, 6 Firecrest, 1 Marsh Tit, 50 Siskin, 1 Yellowhammer
Dribble of pipits and finches overhead west
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#UKBirding
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stevewg.bsky.social
Steve Gale @stevewg.bsky.social · 4d
I’ve been there but come out the other side Kev!
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stevewg.bsky.social
Steve Gale @stevewg.bsky.social · 4d
Good man!
stevewg.bsky.social
Steve Gale @stevewg.bsky.social · 4d
Tomorrow’s itinerary: dawn skywatch from Box Hill, walk along ridge of downs to Colley Hill, down to hill base then back along the flat, via River Mole bank, then back up to top of Box Hill. I’m lucky that after 50 years of birding such modest plans find me excited to go and full of hope! #UKBirding
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stevewg.bsky.social
Steve Gale @stevewg.bsky.social · 4d
Banstead (Surrey) full of ‘em
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stevewg.bsky.social
Steve Gale @stevewg.bsky.social · 5d
Epsom/Walton Downs, Surrey: still 24 Stonechats present with accompanying Whinchat #UKBirding #LowCarbonBirding
Whinchat, Walton Downs, Surrey 5 October 2025
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stevewg.bsky.social
Steve Gale @stevewg.bsky.social · 6d
My kind of afternoon Steve. You can also find some interesting colonising plants at these lower league grounds.
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stevewg.bsky.social
Steve Gale @stevewg.bsky.social · 6d
Ah, I knew somebody would pick that last line up Allan. It is very much a Dungeness song from my youth. Happy memories.
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stevewg.bsky.social
Steve Gale @stevewg.bsky.social · 6d
You’re on a roll Les. I should have switched the MV on…
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