Robert Kelsh
@robertkelsh.bsky.social
Birder, Moth-er, and other natural history
Reposted by Robert Kelsh
Rarity finders: Black-faced Bunting in East Yorkshire
A quiet late-autumn visit to Spurn took a dramatic turn for Andy Mears when a 'dull Reed Bunting' at Middle Camp slowly revealed itself to be something far rarer:
A quiet late-autumn visit to Spurn took a dramatic turn for Andy Mears when a 'dull Reed Bunting' at Middle Camp slowly revealed itself to be something far rarer:
Rarity finders: Black-faced Bunting in East Yorkshire
A quiet late-autumn visit to Spurn took a dramatic turn for Andy Mears when a 'dull Reed Bunting' at Middle Camp slowly revealed itself to be something far rarer.
bit.ly
November 21, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Rarity finders: Black-faced Bunting in East Yorkshire
A quiet late-autumn visit to Spurn took a dramatic turn for Andy Mears when a 'dull Reed Bunting' at Middle Camp slowly revealed itself to be something far rarer:
A quiet late-autumn visit to Spurn took a dramatic turn for Andy Mears when a 'dull Reed Bunting' at Middle Camp slowly revealed itself to be something far rarer:
Reposted by Robert Kelsh
Sorry for the late news, ridiculously busy first couple of hours so not had time to post a photo of the Black-faced Bunting trapped in the Crown Estate Field on the first net round of the day - ta to Duncan Walbridge for this pic
November 6, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Sorry for the late news, ridiculously busy first couple of hours so not had time to post a photo of the Black-faced Bunting trapped in the Crown Estate Field on the first net round of the day - ta to Duncan Walbridge for this pic
Reposted by Robert Kelsh
We have just launched our projects for #phd studentships starting in Sept 26 🙌
⏰Application deadline: Midday, Wed 3 Dec 25
Come and see the (wide!) range of #bioscience projects 👉 tinyurl.com/3m9um286
⏰Application deadline: Midday, Wed 3 Dec 25
Come and see the (wide!) range of #bioscience projects 👉 tinyurl.com/3m9um286
November 4, 2025 at 4:01 PM
We have just launched our projects for #phd studentships starting in Sept 26 🙌
⏰Application deadline: Midday, Wed 3 Dec 25
Come and see the (wide!) range of #bioscience projects 👉 tinyurl.com/3m9um286
⏰Application deadline: Midday, Wed 3 Dec 25
Come and see the (wide!) range of #bioscience projects 👉 tinyurl.com/3m9um286
Thanks for letting me know, Bob...a great bird, especially for campus!
Black redstart back on Bath University campus distracting me from my work again! @bristolbirding.bsky.social
November 4, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Thanks for letting me know, Bob...a great bird, especially for campus!
Trip to Isle of Wight for Sylvie's birthday turns out to have been superbly planned. Calshott Great-tailed Grackle looking lovely in the sun!
November 2, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Trip to Isle of Wight for Sylvie's birthday turns out to have been superbly planned. Calshott Great-tailed Grackle looking lovely in the sun!
Reposted by Robert Kelsh
Today was the funeral of Richard Parry the creator of Pilning Wetland. He sadly passed away suddenly last month. I first met him in 2005 when he purchased the ex MOD rifle range and he told me about his ambition to create a wetland. Well through his hard work he certainly created a special place.
October 22, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Today was the funeral of Richard Parry the creator of Pilning Wetland. He sadly passed away suddenly last month. I first met him in 2005 when he purchased the ex MOD rifle range and he told me about his ambition to create a wetland. Well through his hard work he certainly created a special place.
Fabulous find, Andy!
After a dawn raid on the Point, this little beauty was cowering in the buckthorn on my birding walk back, not far south of the Breach at Spurn. Thomas Willoughby’s brilliant pic. Bird of a lifetime. A British tick as well 😂
October 21, 2025 at 6:22 AM
Fabulous find, Andy!
Reposted by Robert Kelsh
Turning our backs on the Climate Change Act is turning our backs on the future.
Scrapping it would be a reckless retreat from climate leadership, threatening both our seas and the UK’s green economy 🌍🌊🔽
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Scrapping it would be a reckless retreat from climate leadership, threatening both our seas and the UK’s green economy 🌍🌊🔽
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
October 2, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Turning our backs on the Climate Change Act is turning our backs on the future.
Scrapping it would be a reckless retreat from climate leadership, threatening both our seas and the UK’s green economy 🌍🌊🔽
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Scrapping it would be a reckless retreat from climate leadership, threatening both our seas and the UK’s green economy 🌍🌊🔽
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
2 each of Whinchat and Wheatear, and 8 Golden Plover, on Salisbury Plain (Everleigh) this morning. Also 7 species butterflies, including Wall Brown, Common Blue and v worn Small Copper
September 21, 2025 at 3:39 PM
2 each of Whinchat and Wheatear, and 8 Golden Plover, on Salisbury Plain (Everleigh) this morning. Also 7 species butterflies, including Wall Brown, Common Blue and v worn Small Copper
Great time at Cheddar after work today. Still present, in lovely light: 5 Glossy Ibis, 3 Grey and 1 Red-necked Phalaropes, 7 Curlew Sandpipers, 3 Ruff and 21 Dunlin @birdguides.bsky.social
September 19, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Great time at Cheddar after work today. Still present, in lovely light: 5 Glossy Ibis, 3 Grey and 1 Red-necked Phalaropes, 7 Curlew Sandpipers, 3 Ruff and 21 Dunlin @birdguides.bsky.social
Reposted by Robert Kelsh
Reposted by Robert Kelsh
Wonderful news this evening! A pair of Montagu's Harrier has bred at a secret location in England this summer, the RSPB has announced:
Montagu's Harrier pair successfully breeds in England
A pair of Montagu's Harrier, Britain’s rarest breeding bird, have successfully raised four chicks at a secret site in England, the first UK nesting success since 2019. Monitored by the RSPB and a farmer, the rare birds' return offers hope for the species' future in Britain.
bit.ly
July 29, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Wonderful news this evening! A pair of Montagu's Harrier has bred at a secret location in England this summer, the RSPB has announced:
Reposted by Robert Kelsh
📢Open for registration📢
Our FREE PhD #biosicence Taster Summer School🙌
Try out a 3wk SELF-PACED mini-PhD #datascience project
Working as interdisciplinary teams, supported by our friendly student mentors😊
🗓️Virtual 23 Jun-11 Jul🗓️
Register today👉https://shorturl.at/IxKn6
Our FREE PhD #biosicence Taster Summer School🙌
Try out a 3wk SELF-PACED mini-PhD #datascience project
Working as interdisciplinary teams, supported by our friendly student mentors😊
🗓️Virtual 23 Jun-11 Jul🗓️
Register today👉https://shorturl.at/IxKn6
May 9, 2025 at 1:56 PM
📢Open for registration📢
Our FREE PhD #biosicence Taster Summer School🙌
Try out a 3wk SELF-PACED mini-PhD #datascience project
Working as interdisciplinary teams, supported by our friendly student mentors😊
🗓️Virtual 23 Jun-11 Jul🗓️
Register today👉https://shorturl.at/IxKn6
Our FREE PhD #biosicence Taster Summer School🙌
Try out a 3wk SELF-PACED mini-PhD #datascience project
Working as interdisciplinary teams, supported by our friendly student mentors😊
🗓️Virtual 23 Jun-11 Jul🗓️
Register today👉https://shorturl.at/IxKn6
Reposted by Robert Kelsh
Happy 99th birthday to the man who gave voice to the wild. 🎉
Sir David Attenborough, thank you for a lifetime dedicated to the natural world, and for sharing its story with wisdom, wonder, and grace.
You've inspired generations to fall in love with nature.
Sir David Attenborough, thank you for a lifetime dedicated to the natural world, and for sharing its story with wisdom, wonder, and grace.
You've inspired generations to fall in love with nature.
May 8, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Happy 99th birthday to the man who gave voice to the wild. 🎉
Sir David Attenborough, thank you for a lifetime dedicated to the natural world, and for sharing its story with wisdom, wonder, and grace.
You've inspired generations to fall in love with nature.
Sir David Attenborough, thank you for a lifetime dedicated to the natural world, and for sharing its story with wisdom, wonder, and grace.
You've inspired generations to fall in love with nature.
Reposted by Robert Kelsh
Ring-necked Duck, NE corner of Noah's Lake
April 5, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Ring-necked Duck, NE corner of Noah's Lake
Reposted by Robert Kelsh
Brilliant views of the very dapper Ring-necked Duck just past the Ham Wall railway bridge still, down to 30m
March 17, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Brilliant views of the very dapper Ring-necked Duck just past the Ham Wall railway bridge still, down to 30m
Reposted by Robert Kelsh
11+ hawfinches feeding in yews by west entrance of Fountains Abbey 12.50pm @nybirdnews.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social
March 3, 2025 at 1:40 PM
11+ hawfinches feeding in yews by west entrance of Fountains Abbey 12.50pm @nybirdnews.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social
2 f Long tailed duck, 2 f Common Scoter, 2Blacknecked Grebe 3GNDiver, Ferrybridge
March 1, 2025 at 6:03 PM
2 f Long tailed duck, 2 f Common Scoter, 2Blacknecked Grebe 3GNDiver, Ferrybridge
Black Restart at Chesil Beach by Cove House Inn @birdguides.bsky.social @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social
February 9, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Black Restart at Chesil Beach by Cove House Inn @birdguides.bsky.social @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social
Reposted by Robert Kelsh
"It was found that 85% of the tracked dogs were walked off-lead in the breeding season despite signage requesting owners not to let their pets run free due to ground-nesting birds. At Snelsmore Common, Berkshire, more than 90% of the site was disturbed by dogs, reducing its conservation value"
A tracking study has found that dogs walked off-lead cause significantly more disturbance on lowland heaths than pets kept on the lead:
Dog-tracking study reveals disturbance to lowland heaths
Researchers tracked dogs on heathland sites, showing off-lead walking can reduce conservation value.
bit.ly
January 22, 2025 at 6:31 PM
"It was found that 85% of the tracked dogs were walked off-lead in the breeding season despite signage requesting owners not to let their pets run free due to ground-nesting birds. At Snelsmore Common, Berkshire, more than 90% of the site was disturbed by dogs, reducing its conservation value"
Reposted by Robert Kelsh
An amazing patch lifer. Ross's Gull this afternoon from S. Shields Pier. A few secs of slomo showing off its wedge shaped tail and pink underside. Sheer class. #NEbirding #UKbirding
January 8, 2025 at 3:47 PM
An amazing patch lifer. Ross's Gull this afternoon from S. Shields Pier. A few secs of slomo showing off its wedge shaped tail and pink underside. Sheer class. #NEbirding #UKbirding
Hawfinch in Kilmersdon church yard... With bonus Peregrine on church!
December 30, 2024 at 9:28 AM
Hawfinch in Kilmersdon church yard... With bonus Peregrine on church!
Siberian Chiffchaff showing v well at Compton Dando STW this morning
December 27, 2024 at 10:41 AM
Siberian Chiffchaff showing v well at Compton Dando STW this morning