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Gary Watton

@garywatton.bsky.social

91 followers 66 following 35 posts

Birder / Photographer BOU life list 363 Often out with my wife Fiona and meeting many other birders on our travels. You may know us as the deaf couple 😊

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Gary Watton @garywatton.bsky.social · 3d

Luck wasn't on your side 😓 will you be going back?

Gary Watton @garywatton.bsky.social · 3d

I must have been lucky then, saw it as soon as I arrived around 2pm and watched it for about 20 mins before it disappeared into the long grass off the path. It showed up again about 2.5 hours later according to the reports. Sorry that you missed it.

Gary Watton @garywatton.bsky.social · 3d

Good luck! It can disappear for an hour or two so you might need some patience. Wind shouldn't be too bad tomorrow according to the forecast 🙏

Gary Watton @garywatton.bsky.social · 3d

Greater Short-toed Lark this afternoon at Snettisham Beach, Norfolk. It was very windy and the bird was on the beach path which had long grasses on one side sheltering it. Life ✅️ no. 363

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Gary Watton @garywatton.bsky.social · 4d

Went to see the Turkestan Shrike at Dunwich Heath, Suffolk yesterday. Waited nearly three hours before it left a small copse with thick shrub onto the heathland by the cliff. The wind, rain and poor light made taking pictures tricky. Happy to get a life ✅️

Gary Watton @garywatton.bsky.social · Apr 29

Pied Flycatcher. Saw good displays and singing from the males against a back drop of fresh Forest of Dean greenery on Sunday. A most enjoyable few hours at one with nature.
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Gary Watton @garywatton.bsky.social · Apr 29

Nightingales are showing well at the moment in West Sussex as this one did on Saturday. Saw at least four as well as two Cuckoos. At Pulborough Brooks.
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Gary Watton @garywatton.bsky.social · Apr 18

Lovely round there isn't it? We saw Cresties at Loch Garten last year but none this time. Capercaillie..... one day hopefully 🙏

Gary Watton @garywatton.bsky.social · Apr 18

Thanks 😊

Gary Watton @garywatton.bsky.social · Apr 18

Grasshopper Warbler at Pinkhill, Farmoor very early this morning. Being deaf we found it difficult to find the two birds we saw as we had the place to ourselves and can't locate by sound!
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Gary Watton @garywatton.bsky.social · Apr 18

We saw three White Billed Divers on Saturday afternoon from a boat within a mile of Portsoy. They were constantly diving and it was nigh on impossible to get close views despite the skipper trying. Hence record shots. @rspbscotland.bsky.social
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Gary Watton @garywatton.bsky.social · Apr 18

At the Boat of Garten Woods we came across a small flock of these Crossbills by a glade near the known cross tracks. They kept us entertained for a good while, even dropping down to drink from the small puddles.
12/04/2025 @rspbscotland.bsky.social

Gary Watton @garywatton.bsky.social · Apr 9

Thank you 😊

Gary Watton @garywatton.bsky.social · Apr 8

Subalpine Warbler at Weymouth yesterday. Tricky photography conditions with the sun behind the bird and twigs making focusing difficult. Best of hundreds of photos!
07/04/2025
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Gary Watton @garywatton.bsky.social · Apr 8

Good size comparison between Dunlin and Least Sandpiper.
RSPB Medmerry Stilt Pool.
6th April 2025
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Gary Watton @garywatton.bsky.social · Apr 8

Amazing how many aquatic larvae this Dipper can hold in its bill. I took this picture from the Steps Bridge at Dunsford Nature Reserve in Devon. Tried looking for more during an evening walk upstream but sadly too many dogs swimming even though notices say must be on a lead.
#birds
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Gary Watton @garywatton.bsky.social · Apr 8

Spotted this beautiful male Yellowhammer by the RSPB Medmerry car park just before going down to the Stilt Pool to see the Least Sandpiper.
4th April 2025
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Gary Watton @garywatton.bsky.social · Apr 8

This is just one of about forty Red Kites feeding on worms in a Berkshire field being ploughed. It was a spectacular experience watching them from behind a fallen tree.
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Gary Watton @garywatton.bsky.social · Apr 3

Nice to see the Little Ringed Plovers returning to a local country park only 5 mins from our home in Hampshire ❤️
#ukbirding

Gary Watton @garywatton.bsky.social · Mar 9

Serin at Restharrow Scrape, Sandwich Bay on Friday morning (7th March). Perched in the small tree by the first hide soaking up the emerging sunlight early morning.
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Gary Watton @garywatton.bsky.social · Jan 12

Jack Snipe, Lemsford Springs this afternoon. Always a good place to see one or two when it is freezing @rspb.bsky.social
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Gary Watton @garywatton.bsky.social · Jan 9

Red Necked Grebe showing well this afternoon at Denham Quarry. It was feeding on small Roach and was at the southern end of the lake, not too far out at all.
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Gary Watton @garywatton.bsky.social · Jan 9

Saw a pair of Bearded Reedlings eating grit from the paths to the hides at RSPB Greylake last week. Most interesting is the male's black eyes instead of the normal yellow. Apparently these unusual sightings go back to the 1960's so it is debatable whether bird flu is the cause.
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Gary Watton @garywatton.bsky.social · Jan 9

Visited RSPB Greylake last week after seeing the Least Sandpiper at Steart Marshes. Had wonderful views of a Merlin which is the best I've ever had of this bird.
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Gary Watton @garywatton.bsky.social · Jan 1

Bearded Reedling at Elmley yesterday. Saw several which made the 5 mile round trip on foot via the seawall public footpath worthwhile, as Elmley was closed. The wind made photography tricky!
Happy New Year!
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