Drew Lyness
@djlbirding.bsky.social
Norfolk birder usually found patching or volunteering in the Mid-Yare Valley (TG40). Views are my own.
I'll be at 'The Settlement' in Letchworth this Friday (7.30pm) with the local RSPB group there, showcasing the best of RSPB Strumpshaw Fen! Come along to learn about this incredible reserve - expect scarcities, swallowtails and more! #HertsBirds @hnhsoc.bsky.social @hertsbirds.bsky.social
December 1, 2025 at 4:22 PM
I'll be at 'The Settlement' in Letchworth this Friday (7.30pm) with the local RSPB group there, showcasing the best of RSPB Strumpshaw Fen! Come along to learn about this incredible reserve - expect scarcities, swallowtails and more! #HertsBirds @hnhsoc.bsky.social @hertsbirds.bsky.social
Whooper Swan have been a scarce bird in the mid-Yare Valley over the last decade or so, therefore very pleased to find these two at Limpenhoe Marshes this afternoon. #NorfolkBirding
November 8, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Whooper Swan have been a scarce bird in the mid-Yare Valley over the last decade or so, therefore very pleased to find these two at Limpenhoe Marshes this afternoon. #NorfolkBirding
Great weekend in Sussex celebrating a friend's 30th birthday. Some wildlife highlights of finding a Vagrant Emperor at Beachy Head plus many, many Firecrest! Also twitched the Isabelline-type Shrike on the way home. #SussexBirding
October 26, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Great weekend in Sussex celebrating a friend's 30th birthday. Some wildlife highlights of finding a Vagrant Emperor at Beachy Head plus many, many Firecrest! Also twitched the Isabelline-type Shrike on the way home. #SussexBirding
Great to drop in on the Brown Shrike at Upper Hollesley Common on Friday on the way down south. It was still attracting plenty of admirers. #SuffolkBirding
October 26, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Great to drop in on the Brown Shrike at Upper Hollesley Common on Friday on the way down south. It was still attracting plenty of admirers. #SuffolkBirding
A rather sad one as this Gannet flew in off sea at Cromer last week while tangled in rope! It circled the church there before heading south-east. This same bird was later brought into the Runham Wildlife Rescue Centre! Hopefully it's stay there was short and successful. #NorfolkBirding #Birds
October 20, 2025 at 7:15 PM
A rather sad one as this Gannet flew in off sea at Cromer last week while tangled in rope! It circled the church there before heading south-east. This same bird was later brought into the Runham Wildlife Rescue Centre! Hopefully it's stay there was short and successful. #NorfolkBirding #Birds
Very entertaining watching a couple of first-winter Caspian Gull around Cromer Pier last week. This one was scrapping for leftovers from visitors that had been crabbing. #NorfolkBirding
October 20, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Very entertaining watching a couple of first-winter Caspian Gull around Cromer Pier last week. This one was scrapping for leftovers from visitors that had been crabbing. #NorfolkBirding
A quieter sea-watch off Cromer this morning, where a single Black Guillemot and a Little Gull were the highlights, before an amble around Beeston Regis that held a few common migrants like Brambling and Chiffchaff. Anyone else noticed Rock Pipit everywhere along the coast this year? #NorfolkBirding
October 15, 2025 at 4:26 PM
A quieter sea-watch off Cromer this morning, where a single Black Guillemot and a Little Gull were the highlights, before an amble around Beeston Regis that held a few common migrants like Brambling and Chiffchaff. Anyone else noticed Rock Pipit everywhere along the coast this year? #NorfolkBirding
A week off in North Norfolk with @sophgoesbirding.bsky.social, so far featured Dusky, Barred and YB Warblers, Ruddy Shelduck and an arrival of classic autumn migrants like Brambling and Redwing. Also a strong passage of ducks out at sea including Velvet Scoter, Eider and Goosander. #NorfolkBirding
October 14, 2025 at 4:51 PM
A week off in North Norfolk with @sophgoesbirding.bsky.social, so far featured Dusky, Barred and YB Warblers, Ruddy Shelduck and an arrival of classic autumn migrants like Brambling and Redwing. Also a strong passage of ducks out at sea including Velvet Scoter, Eider and Goosander. #NorfolkBirding
Unexpected surprise encountering a Ruddy Duck distantly at Abberton Reservoir yesterday during a work team away day! I wonder whether this is the same bird that was in Lowestoft a couple of weeks ago? Was hard to pick out in the masses of wildfowl and Coot. #EssexBirding
October 2, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Unexpected surprise encountering a Ruddy Duck distantly at Abberton Reservoir yesterday during a work team away day! I wonder whether this is the same bird that was in Lowestoft a couple of weeks ago? Was hard to pick out in the masses of wildfowl and Coot. #EssexBirding
The first-winter Isabelline / Red-tailed Shrike at Happisburgh showed very nicely for me and @sophgoesbirding.bsky.social late afternoon in the gardens behind the beach car park. Hides well in the buddliea at times. #NorfolkBirding
September 30, 2025 at 5:19 PM
The first-winter Isabelline / Red-tailed Shrike at Happisburgh showed very nicely for me and @sophgoesbirding.bsky.social late afternoon in the gardens behind the beach car park. Hides well in the buddliea at times. #NorfolkBirding
A wholesome day at RSPB Strumpshaw Fen that included attending the annual volunteer thank you event. A pleasure to be part of the team of such wonderful and dedicated people! #NorfolkBirding #Nature #Wildlife
September 26, 2025 at 5:48 PM
A wholesome day at RSPB Strumpshaw Fen that included attending the annual volunteer thank you event. A pleasure to be part of the team of such wonderful and dedicated people! #NorfolkBirding #Nature #Wildlife
A few shots from patch yesterday. Swallowtail still on the wing at Strumpshaw Fen, and lots of waders passing through Buckenham too. #NorfolkBirding
August 31, 2025 at 8:58 AM
A few shots from patch yesterday. Swallowtail still on the wing at Strumpshaw Fen, and lots of waders passing through Buckenham too. #NorfolkBirding
A top lunchtime bonus courtesy of the @btobirds.bsky.social Nunnery Lakes Reserve - a juv Purple Heron! It's a skittish bird but gave some quality flight views at times. A great excuse to take a break from the desk. #NorfolkBirding
August 12, 2025 at 4:59 PM
A top lunchtime bonus courtesy of the @btobirds.bsky.social Nunnery Lakes Reserve - a juv Purple Heron! It's a skittish bird but gave some quality flight views at times. A great excuse to take a break from the desk. #NorfolkBirding
A lovely sunny day at Winterton Dunes with @sophgoesbirding.bsky.social where there may have been a shortage of migrant birds (an understatement) but still a couple of smart Lesser Emperor Dragonfly and a juv Caspian Gull to see. Bring on autumn! #NorfolkBirding 😎
August 10, 2025 at 6:18 PM
A lovely sunny day at Winterton Dunes with @sophgoesbirding.bsky.social where there may have been a shortage of migrant birds (an understatement) but still a couple of smart Lesser Emperor Dragonfly and a juv Caspian Gull to see. Bring on autumn! #NorfolkBirding 😎
Patching has been relatively quiet in the mid-Yare Valley recently (aside from finding a small flock of Wood Sandpiper a couple of weeks ago) but the insects have been brilliant! So many Swallowtail at Strumpshaw today and a fantastic Hummingbird Hawkmoth too. #NorfolkBirding
August 9, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Patching has been relatively quiet in the mid-Yare Valley recently (aside from finding a small flock of Wood Sandpiper a couple of weeks ago) but the insects have been brilliant! So many Swallowtail at Strumpshaw today and a fantastic Hummingbird Hawkmoth too. #NorfolkBirding
I'm meant to be flying to India today for a birding holiday, but sadly fell victim to their awful e-visa system (😔). To cheer me up, I'll reflect on a great experience last weekend with @sophgoesbirding.bsky.social when we spent a night at the wonderful yet stormy Whipsnade Zoo! Lucky to have her! 😊
July 23, 2025 at 10:33 AM
I'm meant to be flying to India today for a birding holiday, but sadly fell victim to their awful e-visa system (😔). To cheer me up, I'll reflect on a great experience last weekend with @sophgoesbirding.bsky.social when we spent a night at the wonderful yet stormy Whipsnade Zoo! Lucky to have her! 😊
Going to #GlobalBirdfair?
➡️ Sat 12 July (10am) - Plover Lecture Stage - 'Scarcities & Swallowtails: Celebrating 50 years of RSPB Strumpshaw Fen'.
✅ Learn about this amazing reserve, now in its 50th year, from the perspective of its most addicted patch-birder... me! #birds #NorfolkBirding 😎
➡️ Sat 12 July (10am) - Plover Lecture Stage - 'Scarcities & Swallowtails: Celebrating 50 years of RSPB Strumpshaw Fen'.
✅ Learn about this amazing reserve, now in its 50th year, from the perspective of its most addicted patch-birder... me! #birds #NorfolkBirding 😎
July 8, 2025 at 6:34 AM
Going to #GlobalBirdfair?
➡️ Sat 12 July (10am) - Plover Lecture Stage - 'Scarcities & Swallowtails: Celebrating 50 years of RSPB Strumpshaw Fen'.
✅ Learn about this amazing reserve, now in its 50th year, from the perspective of its most addicted patch-birder... me! #birds #NorfolkBirding 😎
➡️ Sat 12 July (10am) - Plover Lecture Stage - 'Scarcities & Swallowtails: Celebrating 50 years of RSPB Strumpshaw Fen'.
✅ Learn about this amazing reserve, now in its 50th year, from the perspective of its most addicted patch-birder... me! #birds #NorfolkBirding 😎
As always, RSPB Minsmere was quality for @sophgoesbirding.bsky.social and I yesterday where we were treated to not one, not two, but three (!) Roseate Tern, a couple of which displayed high over our heads and out to sea. Also 9 Spotshank and an adorable Green-eyed Flower Bee! #SuffolkBirding 😎
June 22, 2025 at 8:55 AM
As always, RSPB Minsmere was quality for @sophgoesbirding.bsky.social and I yesterday where we were treated to not one, not two, but three (!) Roseate Tern, a couple of which displayed high over our heads and out to sea. Also 9 Spotshank and an adorable Green-eyed Flower Bee! #SuffolkBirding 😎
Going to #GlobalBirdfair?
➡️ Sat 12 July (10am) - Plover Lecture Stage - 'Scarcities & Swallowtails: Celebrating 50 years of RSPB Strumpshaw Fen'.
✅ Learn about this amazing reserve, now in its 50th year, from the perspective of its most addicted patch-birder... me! #birds #NorfolkBirding 😎
➡️ Sat 12 July (10am) - Plover Lecture Stage - 'Scarcities & Swallowtails: Celebrating 50 years of RSPB Strumpshaw Fen'.
✅ Learn about this amazing reserve, now in its 50th year, from the perspective of its most addicted patch-birder... me! #birds #NorfolkBirding 😎
June 19, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Going to #GlobalBirdfair?
➡️ Sat 12 July (10am) - Plover Lecture Stage - 'Scarcities & Swallowtails: Celebrating 50 years of RSPB Strumpshaw Fen'.
✅ Learn about this amazing reserve, now in its 50th year, from the perspective of its most addicted patch-birder... me! #birds #NorfolkBirding 😎
➡️ Sat 12 July (10am) - Plover Lecture Stage - 'Scarcities & Swallowtails: Celebrating 50 years of RSPB Strumpshaw Fen'.
✅ Learn about this amazing reserve, now in its 50th year, from the perspective of its most addicted patch-birder... me! #birds #NorfolkBirding 😎
Well then, what do we think of this? Very exciting to find my first ever mid-Yare Valley Smew this afternoon which (being unringed, fully winged and wary) looks the part, aside from the fact it's June!!! Stranger things have happened though a brilliant bird all the same. #NorfolkBirding 😄
June 14, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Well then, what do we think of this? Very exciting to find my first ever mid-Yare Valley Smew this afternoon which (being unringed, fully winged and wary) looks the part, aside from the fact it's June!!! Stranger things have happened though a brilliant bird all the same. #NorfolkBirding 😄
I may have been a 'zero hero' for the BTO Woodlark survey, but last night's Nightjar survey was a different ball game entirely with seven churring males! Also incredible to see several Silver-studded Blue Butterfly communal roosts. #NorfolkBirding 😲
@btobirds.bsky.social @norfolknats.bsky.social
@btobirds.bsky.social @norfolknats.bsky.social
June 13, 2025 at 10:23 AM
I may have been a 'zero hero' for the BTO Woodlark survey, but last night's Nightjar survey was a different ball game entirely with seven churring males! Also incredible to see several Silver-studded Blue Butterfly communal roosts. #NorfolkBirding 😲
@btobirds.bsky.social @norfolknats.bsky.social
@btobirds.bsky.social @norfolknats.bsky.social
One of my favourite lunchtime wildlife encounters for a while as this young Grass Snake swam over a sluice ditch in front of me at RSPB Strumpshaw Fen. 😍
June 11, 2025 at 2:07 PM
One of my favourite lunchtime wildlife encounters for a while as this young Grass Snake swam over a sluice ditch in front of me at RSPB Strumpshaw Fen. 😍
A spot of dusk birding in the mid-Yare Valley featured a couple of drake Garganey and some fantastic Glow Worm action! #NorfolkBirding 🤩
June 9, 2025 at 10:14 PM
A spot of dusk birding in the mid-Yare Valley featured a couple of drake Garganey and some fantastic Glow Worm action! #NorfolkBirding 🤩
A dose of RSPB Strumpshaw Fen doing what it does best today, featuring Osprey and fan favourites of Otter, Bittern, Swallowtail, Bearded Tit, Kingfisher and a gorgeous Common Lizard. The reserve was the busiest I've ever seen it, but lots of happy visitors! #NorfolkBirding 😄
June 8, 2025 at 7:24 PM
A dose of RSPB Strumpshaw Fen doing what it does best today, featuring Osprey and fan favourites of Otter, Bittern, Swallowtail, Bearded Tit, Kingfisher and a gorgeous Common Lizard. The reserve was the busiest I've ever seen it, but lots of happy visitors! #NorfolkBirding 😄
Still plenty of Swallowtail action at RSPB Strumpshaw Fen today, despite the weather. Was on the reserve all of 30 seconds when @sophgoesbirding.bsky.social spotted this one on the nectar garden. Also exciting to find a pale-morph male Honey Buzzard over! #NorfolkBirding
June 7, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Still plenty of Swallowtail action at RSPB Strumpshaw Fen today, despite the weather. Was on the reserve all of 30 seconds when @sophgoesbirding.bsky.social spotted this one on the nectar garden. Also exciting to find a pale-morph male Honey Buzzard over! #NorfolkBirding