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Mike Pollard @mikepnature.bsky.social · 1d

Another visit to Flint Castle on the Dee Estuary this afternoon.
Very pleasantly surprised to find 14 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers. Some were feeding in a group of up to 7, others mixed in with Dunlin, Knot and Redshank. Really good autumn for them. #birdingwales @birdsinwales.bsky.social

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Mike Pollard @mikepnature.bsky.social · 2d

Three species of heron searching for food on the falling tide this afternoon, on the Dee Estuary near Flint Castle. @birdsinwales.bsky.social #birdingwales

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Mike Pollard @mikepnature.bsky.social · 2d

thanks - had to be quick!!

Mike Pollard @mikepnature.bsky.social · 2d

thanks, couldn't quite believe they were flying along the beach so close!

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Mike Pollard @mikepnature.bsky.social · 2d

thanks 😀

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Mike Pollard @mikepnature.bsky.social · 3d

Rewarding seawatch at Point of Ayr this morning, with a single Leach’s Petrel and 3 Arctic Skuas including these two very dark chocolate brown juveniles. Beautiful markings. Glad I had my camera at the ready when they flew along the beach. #birdingwales @birdsinwales.bsky.social

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Mike Pollard @mikepnature.bsky.social · 7d

A highlight of my recent trip to Scotland were huge numbers of newly arrived Pink-footed Geese and a Snow Goose near Loch of Strathbeg. Good numbers of Barnacle Geese too. Heavily cropped image!

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Mike Pollard @mikepnature.bsky.social · 8d

Fungi season in the garden, including Parrot Waxcap. ID by Seek App. @cofnod.org.uk

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Mike Pollard @mikepnature.bsky.social · 11d

Spending a few days birding in Scotland. Fab day at Musselburgh on Thursday with brill views of the juvenile Marsh Sandpiper and nice range of waders and sea duck. A couple of Roe Deer wandered across the pools too!

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Mike Pollard @mikepnature.bsky.social · 15d

Sunrise on the Great Orme this morning ☀️ #northwales

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Mike Pollard @mikepnature.bsky.social · 16d

Great light for photography this morning and a very large flock of #Goldfinches at Connah's Quay nature reserve were busy feeding on Burdock and Teasel seeds. @birdsinwales.bsky.social #birdingWales

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Mike Pollard @mikepnature.bsky.social · 18d

Chuffed to find a Grey Phalarope at Point of Ayr this morning, feeding in shallow water along the shoreline at high tide.
Also my first three Pink-footed Geese of autumn, a drake Eider, and juvenile Curlew Sandpiper. #birdingWales @birdsinwales.bsky.social

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Mike Pollard @mikepnature.bsky.social · 21d

Juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper showing nicely at the Clwyd Estuary this morning, present for a few days now. Also a Black Tern, briefly, flying up the river. Other juvenile waders included two Bart-tailed Godwits and five Knot. #birdingWales
@birdsinwales.bsky.social

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Mike Pollard @mikepnature.bsky.social · 22d

Exciting seawatch from Splash Point, Rhyl this morning produced my first 3 Leach's Petrels in NE Wales; supporting cast incl. Arctic Skuas. app.bto.org/birdtrack/pu...
& nice to see an adult (top) and juvenile Greenshank feeding together @ Clwyd Estuary #birdingWales @birdsinwales.bsky.social

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Mike Pollard @mikepnature.bsky.social · 29d

Seems to be good numbers of juvenile waders this autumn - noticeably more than last year- including Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits. This juvenile flew close by West Hide at Connah's Quay today.

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Mike Pollard @mikepnature.bsky.social · Sep 7

Juvenile Sandwich Tern Yellow E98 at Rhos Point on Friday - has travelled down from Forvie NNR, Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire where it was ringed as a chick on 28 June. @birdsinwales.bsky.social #birdingWales @btocymru.bsky.social

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Mike Pollard @mikepnature.bsky.social · Aug 21

One of two juvenile Little Stints on the beach at Gronant Dunes this morning. Really nice to see the first tranche of young waders arriving along the North Wales coast in the past few days. #birdingWales @birdsinwales.bsky.social

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Mike Pollard @mikepnature.bsky.social · Aug 20

A rare foray by a Grey Squirrel onto mudflats at the Dee Estuary earlier this week. Soon realised it's mistake!

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Mike Pollard @mikepnature.bsky.social · Aug 18

Eleven Spoonbills feeding and roosting on the Dee Estuary at Parkgate this morning. Most appear to be young birds and one adult with a white Darvic ring NCCT - Ringed at Ventjagersplaten, just south of Rotterdam, Netherlands, in June 2022 as a chick (info: Dee Estuary Birding’s August newsletter).

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Mike Pollard @mikepnature.bsky.social · Aug 17

moulted!!

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Mike Pollard @mikepnature.bsky.social · Aug 17

Adult Knot moult at Connah's Quay nature reserve this morning - wing moult in progress whilst still retaining beautiful apricot breeding plumage on breast and belly. Many others have already mounted into grey winter plumage. @birdsinwales.bsky.social #birdingWales

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Mike Pollard @mikepnature.bsky.social · Aug 17

Small Tortoiseshell butterflies are getting quite numerous this week, which is heartening to see. At least seven on a white Buddleia in the garden this morning. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @northwaleswt.bsky.social

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Mike Pollard @mikepnature.bsky.social · Aug 15

Nice to see a juvenile Curlew feeding around the saltmarsh pools at Connah's Quay Nature Reserve this morning. Bill still quite short, and neat buffish feathers. #BirdingWales @curlewaction.bsky.social @birdsinwales.bsky.social

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Mike Pollard @mikepnature.bsky.social · Aug 8

2024 NE Wales Bird Report now available to download from @cofnod.org.uk Big thank you to all contributors. Majority of records via @birdtrack.bsky.social.
@birdsinwales.bsky.social @btocymru.bsky.social @rspbcymru.bsky.social

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Mike Pollard @mikepnature.bsky.social · Jul 25

Pristine female Brimstone nectaring on Agapanthus today 😊. A new species for the garden. Seems to be scarce in NE Wales. Also first Gatekeepers of the year and 18 Peacocks on the Buddleia.
@savebutterflies.bsky.social

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