@bigstarbirding.bsky.social
Birds birds birds, tea and cake, the mighty Boro, Big Star, Teenage Fanclub, Avett Brothers, alt-country, love a banjo.
It's time to kick out the jams motherf*ckers.
It's time to kick out the jams motherf*ckers.
#Northantsbirds Other than the 3 Ibis, Summerleys provided little excitement, but Marys Lake gave up the goodies, with a 2w Caspian Gull and an adult YL Gull among a good number of larger Gulls - if we ever get a cold snap, hopefully a white-winger will drop in🤞
November 8, 2025 at 7:40 PM
#Northantsbirds Other than the 3 Ibis, Summerleys provided little excitement, but Marys Lake gave up the goodies, with a 2w Caspian Gull and an adult YL Gull among a good number of larger Gulls - if we ever get a cold snap, hopefully a white-winger will drop in🤞
#Northantsbirds Nice to find this 2nd-Winter Mediterranean Gull on Marys late afternoon (more black in the primarys than the 2W I had there Oct 13th). Before this, thought I heard a YBW calling at Podington Garden Centre, only to realise it was a squeaky wheelchair🙂; honestly, it sounded identical!
November 7, 2025 at 7:14 PM
#Northantsbirds Nice to find this 2nd-Winter Mediterranean Gull on Marys late afternoon (more black in the primarys than the 2W I had there Oct 13th). Before this, thought I heard a YBW calling at Podington Garden Centre, only to realise it was a squeaky wheelchair🙂; honestly, it sounded identical!
#Northantsbirds Another look at the Lesser Scaup at Ditchford this afternoon, thankfully without the stress and swearing of Mondays visit! Love watching the shape of the bird change as it streamlines itself pre-dive; also looks so tiny next to the Gadwalls feeding off whatever it stirred up🙂
October 30, 2025 at 8:37 PM
#Northantsbirds Another look at the Lesser Scaup at Ditchford this afternoon, thankfully without the stress and swearing of Mondays visit! Love watching the shape of the bird change as it streamlines itself pre-dive; also looks so tiny next to the Gadwalls feeding off whatever it stirred up🙂
Similar in Kettering earlier🙂
October 30, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Similar in Kettering earlier🙂
#Northantsbirds An unexpected 2nd bite at the drake Lesser Scaup cherry this evening! Arrived to find no birders present and low,strong Sun making silhouettes of all ducks; ran to the North side, constantly swearing, and, as dusk fell, finally picked up the almost mythical duck! And breath...😉
October 27, 2025 at 9:05 PM
#Northantsbirds An unexpected 2nd bite at the drake Lesser Scaup cherry this evening! Arrived to find no birders present and low,strong Sun making silhouettes of all ducks; ran to the North side, constantly swearing, and, as dusk fell, finally picked up the almost mythical duck! And breath...😉
#Northantsbirds Easing ourselves back into local birding with a wander round Summerleys today. Plenty of ducks about but nothing different. A single dead Mute Swan on the main lake😕. A Jack Snipe showed bobingly well on Eddies. The Gull hotspot of Marys produced this 2W Caspian🙂.
October 26, 2025 at 6:47 PM
#Northantsbirds Easing ourselves back into local birding with a wander round Summerleys today. Plenty of ducks about but nothing different. A single dead Mute Swan on the main lake😕. A Jack Snipe showed bobingly well on Eddies. The Gull hotspot of Marys produced this 2W Caspian🙂.
Last day in Norfolk😟, but another decent day. Walked to Friary Hills from Cley, very vocal YB Warbler at the East end, on the Freshes, 9 Cattle Egret, Glossy Ibis and Whooper Swan. Back at Salthouse, walked to Kelling Quags, family party of 4 Whoopers on the WM, mobile Glossy Ibis and brief SEOwl.
October 24, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Last day in Norfolk😟, but another decent day. Walked to Friary Hills from Cley, very vocal YB Warbler at the East end, on the Freshes, 9 Cattle Egret, Glossy Ibis and Whooper Swan. Back at Salthouse, walked to Kelling Quags, family party of 4 Whoopers on the WM, mobile Glossy Ibis and brief SEOwl.
Lazy day, the weather not exactly conducive for finding migrant passerines🤪. Did have a quick look at Sheringham seafront, but not a lot moving. Decided to head for the shelter of Cleys hides early evening, with some nice waders present - Spotted Redshank, 2 Little Stint and 2 vocal Greenshank🙂.
October 23, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Lazy day, the weather not exactly conducive for finding migrant passerines🤪. Did have a quick look at Sheringham seafront, but not a lot moving. Decided to head for the shelter of Cleys hides early evening, with some nice waders present - Spotted Redshank, 2 Little Stint and 2 vocal Greenshank🙂.
Spent hours around the Overstrand-Trimingham area with its Warbler-friendly clifftop woods, for just a single Chiffchaff🤪. Back to Salthouse,a Glossy Ibis behind the ducks pond, then down Meadow Lane at dusk, where the Yellow-browed Warbler showed incredibly well in its favoured tiny Sallow patch🙂.
October 22, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Spent hours around the Overstrand-Trimingham area with its Warbler-friendly clifftop woods, for just a single Chiffchaff🤪. Back to Salthouse,a Glossy Ibis behind the ducks pond, then down Meadow Lane at dusk, where the Yellow-browed Warbler showed incredibly well in its favoured tiny Sallow patch🙂.
Started at Stiffkey campsite wood, trees hooching with Chaffinch and Brambling,but just a couple of Chiffchaff; found a roosting Tawny Owl. Nothing at Garden Drove. Parked up at Salthouse, a Merlin flew over, more (distant) views of the GG Shrike, finished with 3 each of Cattle Egret and Glossy Ibis
October 21, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Started at Stiffkey campsite wood, trees hooching with Chaffinch and Brambling,but just a couple of Chiffchaff; found a roosting Tawny Owl. Nothing at Garden Drove. Parked up at Salthouse, a Merlin flew over, more (distant) views of the GG Shrike, finished with 3 each of Cattle Egret and Glossy Ibis
Cley,and the birding Gods decided to smile kindly on us; just finished lunch at the VC, when a young lad picked up a Great Grey Shrike flying past😮, and then we had amazing views before it moved further away🙂, also 5 Whooper Swan, 10 Cattle Egret, Ruddy Shelduck and Water Pipit.
October 20, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Cley,and the birding Gods decided to smile kindly on us; just finished lunch at the VC, when a young lad picked up a Great Grey Shrike flying past😮, and then we had amazing views before it moved further away🙂, also 5 Whooper Swan, 10 Cattle Egret, Ruddy Shelduck and Water Pipit.
Later, great views of the Walsey Hills Dusky Warbler, feeding high up (for a Dusky!) for a minute, calling regularly too, accompanied by 2 YBW. At Cley, thousands of Pink-footed Geese (including the leucistic bird) wiffled in to North Scrape, and the 3 Whoopers fed next to the VC. Cute Ivy Bee too🙂
October 18, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Later, great views of the Walsey Hills Dusky Warbler, feeding high up (for a Dusky!) for a minute, calling regularly too, accompanied by 2 YBW. At Cley, thousands of Pink-footed Geese (including the leucistic bird) wiffled in to North Scrape, and the 3 Whoopers fed next to the VC. Cute Ivy Bee too🙂
Atmospheric walk from Hunstanton towards Heacham early morning, Fieldfare, Redwing, Starling and Chaffinch moving in good numbers, with smaller counts of Siskin, Redpoll and Brambling; plenty of 'continental' Blackbirds too. 4 calling Whooper Swan over too.
October 18, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Atmospheric walk from Hunstanton towards Heacham early morning, Fieldfare, Redwing, Starling and Chaffinch moving in good numbers, with smaller counts of Siskin, Redpoll and Brambling; plenty of 'continental' Blackbirds too. 4 calling Whooper Swan over too.
#Northantsbirds Summerleys this evening, a showy Water Rail in front of Pioneer Hide was outdone by the trio of Glossy Ibis, amazing to see them so close! Female Pintail also on the main lake. A sizeable pre-roost of Gulls on Marys incl. ad Caspian and 3 ad YL Gulls, also 300+ Bh Gull, 150+ Gadwall
October 15, 2025 at 8:27 PM
#Northantsbirds Summerleys this evening, a showy Water Rail in front of Pioneer Hide was outdone by the trio of Glossy Ibis, amazing to see them so close! Female Pintail also on the main lake. A sizeable pre-roost of Gulls on Marys incl. ad Caspian and 3 ad YL Gulls, also 300+ Bh Gull, 150+ Gadwall
#Northantsbirds Summerleys this evening, love this time of year, winter birds piling in and a chill in the air🙂. 3 Glossy Ibis present, 6 (1 drake) Pintail, bobbin' Jack Snipe on Eddies Island, several Redpoll and 17 GoldenPlover. Marys Lake had ad YL Gull, flyaround 2w Med Gull, plus 164 Gadwall.
October 13, 2025 at 8:07 PM
#Northantsbirds Summerleys this evening, love this time of year, winter birds piling in and a chill in the air🙂. 3 Glossy Ibis present, 6 (1 drake) Pintail, bobbin' Jack Snipe on Eddies Island, several Redpoll and 17 GoldenPlover. Marys Lake had ad YL Gull, flyaround 2w Med Gull, plus 164 Gadwall.
Came across this little Christmas game in a shop in Earls Barton today, a bingo game inspired by your usual British birds - except, check out no.15, just a common old garden Siberian Accentor...🙂
October 11, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Came across this little Christmas game in a shop in Earls Barton today, a bingo game inspired by your usual British birds - except, check out no.15, just a common old garden Siberian Accentor...🙂
#Northantsbirds A fairly 'meh' wander at Titchmarsh LNR and Town Lake today, with the juv Glossy Ibis and juv Ruff both still present; otherwise, 8 Great Egret, a male Stonechat and a 1st-winter drake Goldeneye the best of the rest. Some close views of Red Kite were nice🙂
October 10, 2025 at 2:43 PM
#Northantsbirds A fairly 'meh' wander at Titchmarsh LNR and Town Lake today, with the juv Glossy Ibis and juv Ruff both still present; otherwise, 8 Great Egret, a male Stonechat and a 1st-winter drake Goldeneye the best of the rest. Some close views of Red Kite were nice🙂
#Northantsbirds Maybe not as exciting as a Needletail, but a pleasant evening round Summerleys anyway🙂. Glossy Ibis still in residence on the scrape, but the ducks were the stars; a personal site record of a minimum 325 Gadwall (plus 54 on Marys), along with 5 Pintail, incl a handsome drake.
October 9, 2025 at 7:53 PM
#Northantsbirds Maybe not as exciting as a Needletail, but a pleasant evening round Summerleys anyway🙂. Glossy Ibis still in residence on the scrape, but the ducks were the stars; a personal site record of a minimum 325 Gadwall (plus 54 on Marys), along with 5 Pintail, incl a handsome drake.
#Northantsbirds Despite the wet and windy weather, it was great to have a day in the county with 2 American waders, doesn't happen often! The juv Pectoral Sandpiper was still present at Hollowell Res, plus 3 Gt Egret and several Stonechat. On to Pitsford Res, where the AGP showed distantly🙂
October 3, 2025 at 6:07 PM
#Northantsbirds Despite the wet and windy weather, it was great to have a day in the county with 2 American waders, doesn't happen often! The juv Pectoral Sandpiper was still present at Hollowell Res, plus 3 Gt Egret and several Stonechat. On to Pitsford Res, where the AGP showed distantly🙂
#Northantsbirds Our usual wander round Summerleys this evening (not enough time for a Hollowell/Pitsford US wader double!) with a ton of ducks present - 170+ Gadwall and 300+ Wigeon and 2 Pintail. A check of the pre-roost large Gulls on Marys produced this fine 1st-winter Caspian Gull, plus ad YL🙂
October 2, 2025 at 8:25 PM
#Northantsbirds Our usual wander round Summerleys this evening (not enough time for a Hollowell/Pitsford US wader double!) with a ton of ducks present - 170+ Gadwall and 300+ Wigeon and 2 Pintail. A check of the pre-roost large Gulls on Marys produced this fine 1st-winter Caspian Gull, plus ad YL🙂
#Northantsbirds American Golden Plover at Clifford Hill this evening, stunning smart juv in lovely light! Got to hear it call too, and saw the grey underwings when it was flushed by a hot air balloon. Hat tip to the finder, glad I messaged him suggesting AGP after it went out as Grey, then Golden🙂
September 30, 2025 at 8:18 PM
#Northantsbirds American Golden Plover at Clifford Hill this evening, stunning smart juv in lovely light! Got to hear it call too, and saw the grey underwings when it was flushed by a hot air balloon. Hat tip to the finder, glad I messaged him suggesting AGP after it went out as Grey, then Golden🙂
#Northantsbirds An enjoyable visit to Titchmarsh LNR today; 1 juv Glossy Ibis showed well, but we failed to locate the 2nd bird. A Ruff and 2 YL Gull present, plus 7 Great Egret, several Snipe and good numbers of Teal, plus 26 Pochard🙂
September 27, 2025 at 8:24 PM
#Northantsbirds An enjoyable visit to Titchmarsh LNR today; 1 juv Glossy Ibis showed well, but we failed to locate the 2nd bird. A Ruff and 2 YL Gull present, plus 7 Great Egret, several Snipe and good numbers of Teal, plus 26 Pochard🙂
#Northantsbirds Me, by the time a long-staying Lesser Scaup turns up in the county...🙂
September 25, 2025 at 5:45 PM
#Northantsbirds Me, by the time a long-staying Lesser Scaup turns up in the county...🙂
A few hours at Cley/Salthouse today, no sign of the 2 Pec Sands (refound after we'd left, by the Iron Road, which we'd checked twice🤬). Great views of the very mobile Glossy Ibis, also 17 Spoonbill, 10+ Cattle Egret, 2 Spotted Redshank, 2 Lt Stint, 3 Curlew Sand, 4 Wood Sand. Post-storm rainbow too🙂
September 13, 2025 at 8:46 PM
A few hours at Cley/Salthouse today, no sign of the 2 Pec Sands (refound after we'd left, by the Iron Road, which we'd checked twice🤬). Great views of the very mobile Glossy Ibis, also 17 Spoonbill, 10+ Cattle Egret, 2 Spotted Redshank, 2 Lt Stint, 3 Curlew Sand, 4 Wood Sand. Post-storm rainbow too🙂
A plan to stay in Hunstanton with the in-laws in preparation for a twitch to Hickling tomorrow went down the pan with no sign of the B-W Kite😟; but an excellent few hours at Titchwell cheered us up, with 2 R-N Phalarope, Pec Sand, 4 Little Stint and 3 Curlew Sand. And Eagle Owl at Old Hunstanton...😀
September 12, 2025 at 8:07 PM
A plan to stay in Hunstanton with the in-laws in preparation for a twitch to Hickling tomorrow went down the pan with no sign of the B-W Kite😟; but an excellent few hours at Titchwell cheered us up, with 2 R-N Phalarope, Pec Sand, 4 Little Stint and 3 Curlew Sand. And Eagle Owl at Old Hunstanton...😀