The Backward Birder
@backwardbirder.bsky.social
Old-fashioned birder. Member of The Irregulars. Lover of Wild places and wildlife. Reliably twenty years behind the times.
Also on Twitter {yes, it's still that to me} There's a blog out there somewhere, too...
Also on Twitter {yes, it's still that to me} There's a blog out there somewhere, too...
More bad pics of the joyously wonderful {eventually} Lesser Crested Tern.
Shown here with another fish {rapidly scarfed on the wing}, flying past The Wreck {IYKYK}, & posing up high.
Also a bit of the twitch hiding from the wind {after the tide dropped a bit.!}
🦉😄
Shown here with another fish {rapidly scarfed on the wing}, flying past The Wreck {IYKYK}, & posing up high.
Also a bit of the twitch hiding from the wind {after the tide dropped a bit.!}
🦉😄
December 5, 2025 at 12:55 PM
More bad pics of the joyously wonderful {eventually} Lesser Crested Tern.
Shown here with another fish {rapidly scarfed on the wing}, flying past The Wreck {IYKYK}, & posing up high.
Also a bit of the twitch hiding from the wind {after the tide dropped a bit.!}
🦉😄
Shown here with another fish {rapidly scarfed on the wing}, flying past The Wreck {IYKYK}, & posing up high.
Also a bit of the twitch hiding from the wind {after the tide dropped a bit.!}
🦉😄
After days of twitching {nervous}, I got to twitch {chase bird} the Lesser Crested Tern on the Exe.
🦉
After a frigid hour & change at Cockwood Crossing, the bird terned up with a Sandeel {looked like} & proceeded to show far & near to my joy & that of my co-watchers
✅😍😁
Observe;
🦉
After a frigid hour & change at Cockwood Crossing, the bird terned up with a Sandeel {looked like} & proceeded to show far & near to my joy & that of my co-watchers
✅😍😁
Observe;
December 5, 2025 at 12:55 PM
After days of twitching {nervous}, I got to twitch {chase bird} the Lesser Crested Tern on the Exe.
🦉
After a frigid hour & change at Cockwood Crossing, the bird terned up with a Sandeel {looked like} & proceeded to show far & near to my joy & that of my co-watchers
✅😍😁
Observe;
🦉
After a frigid hour & change at Cockwood Crossing, the bird terned up with a Sandeel {looked like} & proceeded to show far & near to my joy & that of my co-watchers
✅😍😁
Observe;
It's Tomb Tuesday,🗿 so here is a cisted cairn circle from Bellever on Sunday.
This lesser-visited one is still hidden amongst the trees of the plantation, which while restricting the views, does make for a more intimate atmosphere.
This lesser-visited one is still hidden amongst the trees of the plantation, which while restricting the views, does make for a more intimate atmosphere.
December 2, 2025 at 6:27 PM
It's Tomb Tuesday,🗿 so here is a cisted cairn circle from Bellever on Sunday.
This lesser-visited one is still hidden amongst the trees of the plantation, which while restricting the views, does make for a more intimate atmosphere.
This lesser-visited one is still hidden amongst the trees of the plantation, which while restricting the views, does make for a more intimate atmosphere.
For Standing Stone Sunday {just}, here's the Laughing Man from earlier today.
🗿
Also a rainbow, a Robin, and a Roe Deer!
🌈🦉🦌
I had a fun day on t'Moor.
😄
🗿
Also a rainbow, a Robin, and a Roe Deer!
🌈🦉🦌
I had a fun day on t'Moor.
😄
November 30, 2025 at 10:29 PM
For Standing Stone Sunday {just}, here's the Laughing Man from earlier today.
🗿
Also a rainbow, a Robin, and a Roe Deer!
🌈🦉🦌
I had a fun day on t'Moor.
😄
🗿
Also a rainbow, a Robin, and a Roe Deer!
🌈🦉🦌
I had a fun day on t'Moor.
😄
A call from @shiphaybirder.bsky.social had me heading to Thatcher Point, where these blobs - which are actually a female type Velvet Scoter & 36 {also f-type} Common Scoter - were showing far better than the below imply.
🤦
Honest.
🦉
🤦
Honest.
🦉
November 29, 2025 at 5:29 PM
A call from @shiphaybirder.bsky.social had me heading to Thatcher Point, where these blobs - which are actually a female type Velvet Scoter & 36 {also f-type} Common Scoter - were showing far better than the below imply.
🤦
Honest.
🦉
🤦
Honest.
🦉
A surprise was waiting for me when I got in from work this afternoon;
a Feathered Thorn!
{Every day is Moth Day 😄}
🦋
a Feathered Thorn!
{Every day is Moth Day 😄}
🦋
November 26, 2025 at 5:24 PM
A surprise was waiting for me when I got in from work this afternoon;
a Feathered Thorn!
{Every day is Moth Day 😄}
🦋
a Feathered Thorn!
{Every day is Moth Day 😄}
🦋
A day's birding Down South - from Slapton to Beesands to Hallsands - in four photos.
I had fun.
😁
🦉
I had fun.
😁
🦉
November 23, 2025 at 11:46 PM
A day's birding Down South - from Slapton to Beesands to Hallsands - in four photos.
I had fun.
😁
🦉
I had fun.
😁
🦉
Yes, even more waxcaps!
😁
3/ 🍄
😁
3/ 🍄
November 19, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Yes, even more waxcaps!
😁
3/ 🍄
😁
3/ 🍄
A good array of waxcaps now on show, though some take a little more finding than others.!
2/ 🍄
2/ 🍄
November 19, 2025 at 9:13 PM
A good array of waxcaps now on show, though some take a little more finding than others.!
2/ 🍄
2/ 🍄
It's Waxcap Wednesday & the Nose at the weekend again provided some lovelies for you to admire.
{He says, in hope if not expectation...}
1/ 🍄
{He says, in hope if not expectation...}
1/ 🍄
November 19, 2025 at 9:13 PM
It's Waxcap Wednesday & the Nose at the weekend again provided some lovelies for you to admire.
{He says, in hope if not expectation...}
1/ 🍄
{He says, in hope if not expectation...}
1/ 🍄
Couldn't get on @shiphaybirder.bsky.social 's pet Dartford {it likes him}, or find any divers at all {😔}, but did get 12 Brent Goose high-ish S, 6 Common Scoter on the sea off Meadfoot, and 3 Red-breasted Merganser {scarce these days} N, seen from there {café birding, can't beat it! 😁☕}
🦉
🦉
November 16, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Couldn't get on @shiphaybirder.bsky.social 's pet Dartford {it likes him}, or find any divers at all {😔}, but did get 12 Brent Goose high-ish S, 6 Common Scoter on the sea off Meadfoot, and 3 Red-breasted Merganser {scarce these days} N, seen from there {café birding, can't beat it! 😁☕}
🦉
🦉
Just one or two...
😵
😵
November 16, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Just one or two...
😵
😵
Hope's Nose early this am saw a massive {for the site} passage of Woodpigeon, with ~56,000 in 1hr!
Flocks were coming up the peninsula, grouping into multi-k mega-flocks, then heading out SE.
I'd heard so much about this, but never seen them in real numbers here.
Brisk NE wind did the business! 🤩
🦉
Flocks were coming up the peninsula, grouping into multi-k mega-flocks, then heading out SE.
I'd heard so much about this, but never seen them in real numbers here.
Brisk NE wind did the business! 🤩
🦉
November 16, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Hope's Nose early this am saw a massive {for the site} passage of Woodpigeon, with ~56,000 in 1hr!
Flocks were coming up the peninsula, grouping into multi-k mega-flocks, then heading out SE.
I'd heard so much about this, but never seen them in real numbers here.
Brisk NE wind did the business! 🤩
🦉
Flocks were coming up the peninsula, grouping into multi-k mega-flocks, then heading out SE.
I'd heard so much about this, but never seen them in real numbers here.
Brisk NE wind did the business! 🤩
🦉
And so it rained. And rained. And rained. This was not forecast, btw. 'Slight chance of a light shower', they said. This was not slight or light or anything but sustained. Oh well, only a fool goes up on t'Moor without waterproofs, & I am not that {Usually 😉}
Did make the waxcaps look extra purdy
😍🍄
Did make the waxcaps look extra purdy
😍🍄
November 11, 2025 at 9:11 PM
And so it rained. And rained. And rained. This was not forecast, btw. 'Slight chance of a light shower', they said. This was not slight or light or anything but sustained. Oh well, only a fool goes up on t'Moor without waterproofs, & I am not that {Usually 😉}
Did make the waxcaps look extra purdy
😍🍄
Did make the waxcaps look extra purdy
😍🍄
A LOT of Golden Plover were flying about overhead in a swirling mass of sub-flocks that occasionally came together. Had to be at least 400. Odd groups came a bit lower, like these;
November 11, 2025 at 9:11 PM
A LOT of Golden Plover were flying about overhead in a swirling mass of sub-flocks that occasionally came together. Had to be at least 400. Odd groups came a bit lower, like these;
Saturday was a day of two halves.
After a morning of sunshine and Dartford Warblers, this double delight over Holne Lee was the herald of that which was to come.
🌈🌧️
Still, it looked pretty 🙃
After a morning of sunshine and Dartford Warblers, this double delight over Holne Lee was the herald of that which was to come.
🌈🌧️
Still, it looked pretty 🙃
November 11, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Saturday was a day of two halves.
After a morning of sunshine and Dartford Warblers, this double delight over Holne Lee was the herald of that which was to come.
🌈🌧️
Still, it looked pretty 🙃
After a morning of sunshine and Dartford Warblers, this double delight over Holne Lee was the herald of that which was to come.
🌈🌧️
Still, it looked pretty 🙃
Looked at the sea at the Nose, as it was blowier than expected: timed count gave 180 auks {176 Razorbills, 4 Guillemots. No Puffins!}, 3 Gannets, 3 Kittiwakes, & 1 Common Gull in 10 mins. A party of 10+ scoter got past as I was getting the scope out, a Med Gull also passed.
This fly{?} best pic.!
🦉🦟
This fly{?} best pic.!
🦉🦟
November 9, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Looked at the sea at the Nose, as it was blowier than expected: timed count gave 180 auks {176 Razorbills, 4 Guillemots. No Puffins!}, 3 Gannets, 3 Kittiwakes, & 1 Common Gull in 10 mins. A party of 10+ scoter got past as I was getting the scope out, a Med Gull also passed.
This fly{?} best pic.!
🦉🦟
This fly{?} best pic.!
🦉🦟
After finding not much at the Nose 1st thing, I tried for Slav{s} from Cockwood Crossing.
The 🌧️ kindly waited until after the 11th hour, the grebes were less helpful 😔
More helpful was the @warrenbirding.bsky.social Garganey, who flew through my field of view while I was scanning the duck masses!
😄🦉
The 🌧️ kindly waited until after the 11th hour, the grebes were less helpful 😔
More helpful was the @warrenbirding.bsky.social Garganey, who flew through my field of view while I was scanning the duck masses!
😄🦉
November 9, 2025 at 9:51 PM
After finding not much at the Nose 1st thing, I tried for Slav{s} from Cockwood Crossing.
The 🌧️ kindly waited until after the 11th hour, the grebes were less helpful 😔
More helpful was the @warrenbirding.bsky.social Garganey, who flew through my field of view while I was scanning the duck masses!
😄🦉
The 🌧️ kindly waited until after the 11th hour, the grebes were less helpful 😔
More helpful was the @warrenbirding.bsky.social Garganey, who flew through my field of view while I was scanning the duck masses!
😄🦉
Text from @shiphaybirder.bsky.social {🎩} had me pulling a 180° from a trip to t'Moor for a full-fat genuine Patch Tick at the Nose today...
Dartford Warbler!! 🤩
✔️🦉
After showing well but just too quick for a photo on arrival, the influence of the Dread Artefact later gave me these;
Dartford Warbler!! 🤩
✔️🦉
After showing well but just too quick for a photo on arrival, the influence of the Dread Artefact later gave me these;
November 8, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Text from @shiphaybirder.bsky.social {🎩} had me pulling a 180° from a trip to t'Moor for a full-fat genuine Patch Tick at the Nose today...
Dartford Warbler!! 🤩
✔️🦉
After showing well but just too quick for a photo on arrival, the influence of the Dread Artefact later gave me these;
Dartford Warbler!! 🤩
✔️🦉
After showing well but just too quick for a photo on arrival, the influence of the Dread Artefact later gave me these;
2/ More on offer, oh yes!
Waxcap Wednesday - courtesy of the Nose last weekend - also gives you Butter, Scarlet, Slimy, and Fibrous. {How appetising.! 🤨}
🍄
Waxcap Wednesday - courtesy of the Nose last weekend - also gives you Butter, Scarlet, Slimy, and Fibrous. {How appetising.! 🤨}
🍄
November 5, 2025 at 8:48 PM
2/ More on offer, oh yes!
Waxcap Wednesday - courtesy of the Nose last weekend - also gives you Butter, Scarlet, Slimy, and Fibrous. {How appetising.! 🤨}
🍄
Waxcap Wednesday - courtesy of the Nose last weekend - also gives you Butter, Scarlet, Slimy, and Fibrous. {How appetising.! 🤨}
🍄
Waxcap Wednesday!
Nose waxcaps are showing up, so I am putting them up.
😁🍄
1/ Blackening and the white ones, Snowy and Cedarwood.
I am a big Blackening fan, second only to Parrot in my book, so they get double-picced.
Nose waxcaps are showing up, so I am putting them up.
😁🍄
1/ Blackening and the white ones, Snowy and Cedarwood.
I am a big Blackening fan, second only to Parrot in my book, so they get double-picced.
November 5, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Waxcap Wednesday!
Nose waxcaps are showing up, so I am putting them up.
😁🍄
1/ Blackening and the white ones, Snowy and Cedarwood.
I am a big Blackening fan, second only to Parrot in my book, so they get double-picced.
Nose waxcaps are showing up, so I am putting them up.
😁🍄
1/ Blackening and the white ones, Snowy and Cedarwood.
I am a big Blackening fan, second only to Parrot in my book, so they get double-picced.
After failing at the Nose, I didn't find any BlackReds around the café end, either. This dear little psychopath might have had something to do with that...
😟
Robin: "Give me a sammich or I'll chin yer"
{Coffee was good, though 😇☕}
😟
Robin: "Give me a sammich or I'll chin yer"
{Coffee was good, though 😇☕}
November 4, 2025 at 8:35 PM
After failing at the Nose, I didn't find any BlackReds around the café end, either. This dear little psychopath might have had something to do with that...
😟
Robin: "Give me a sammich or I'll chin yer"
{Coffee was good, though 😇☕}
😟
Robin: "Give me a sammich or I'll chin yer"
{Coffee was good, though 😇☕}
Sunday Continues.
Having to be in town, I naturally had a look at Haldon Pier, where despite the high tide, there were no Purple Sands roosting, though there were 2 busily foraging amongst the boulders 😃
Later, there were at least 3 more on East Shag {the coolly-stratified rock off Meadfoot Beach}
🦉
Having to be in town, I naturally had a look at Haldon Pier, where despite the high tide, there were no Purple Sands roosting, though there were 2 busily foraging amongst the boulders 😃
Later, there were at least 3 more on East Shag {the coolly-stratified rock off Meadfoot Beach}
🦉
November 4, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Sunday Continues.
Having to be in town, I naturally had a look at Haldon Pier, where despite the high tide, there were no Purple Sands roosting, though there were 2 busily foraging amongst the boulders 😃
Later, there were at least 3 more on East Shag {the coolly-stratified rock off Meadfoot Beach}
🦉
Having to be in town, I naturally had a look at Haldon Pier, where despite the high tide, there were no Purple Sands roosting, though there were 2 busily foraging amongst the boulders 😃
Later, there were at least 3 more on East Shag {the coolly-stratified rock off Meadfoot Beach}
🦉
Sunday about the Patch & having failed to find BlackRed at the Nose {passing @shiphaybirder.bsky.social on my way out, who of course did..🙄}, I gave the coastal cover a going-over for warblers of a hopefully stripey nature.
What did I find? Well, have a look for yourselves;
🦉
What did I find? Well, have a look for yourselves;
🦉
November 3, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Sunday about the Patch & having failed to find BlackRed at the Nose {passing @shiphaybirder.bsky.social on my way out, who of course did..🙄}, I gave the coastal cover a going-over for warblers of a hopefully stripey nature.
What did I find? Well, have a look for yourselves;
🦉
What did I find? Well, have a look for yourselves;
🦉
4/ Ducks!
Common Scoters passed in ones and two, I tried to shoot them wherever possible in case of something interesting📷. One female skimmed just outside the Lead Stone and had to be papped.
🦉
Common Scoters passed in ones and two, I tried to shoot them wherever possible in case of something interesting📷. One female skimmed just outside the Lead Stone and had to be papped.
🦉
November 1, 2025 at 7:35 PM
4/ Ducks!
Common Scoters passed in ones and two, I tried to shoot them wherever possible in case of something interesting📷. One female skimmed just outside the Lead Stone and had to be papped.
🦉
Common Scoters passed in ones and two, I tried to shoot them wherever possible in case of something interesting📷. One female skimmed just outside the Lead Stone and had to be papped.
🦉