David Bradley
@sciencebase.com
Science Writer | Wildlife Photographer | Singer-Songwriter
#Science #NatureMatters #UKBirding #TeamMoth #Guitar
#Science #NatureMatters #UKBirding #TeamMoth #Guitar
Confession time...distant "Linnet" in a tree at RSPB Fowlmere this morning, the sighting of which I gave to the RSPB rep, somehow morphed in-camera on our way home to reveal itself as a Redpoll.
It's obvious from this snap, but from the pre-flight views not so much, the flush of blush confusled me.
It's obvious from this snap, but from the pre-flight views not so much, the flush of blush confusled me.
January 31, 2026 at 5:37 PM
Confession time...distant "Linnet" in a tree at RSPB Fowlmere this morning, the sighting of which I gave to the RSPB rep, somehow morphed in-camera on our way home to reveal itself as a Redpoll.
It's obvious from this snap, but from the pre-flight views not so much, the flush of blush confusled me.
It's obvious from this snap, but from the pre-flight views not so much, the flush of blush confusled me.
Of the winter thrushes there were hundreds of Fieldfare and a few Redwing at RSPB Fowlmere this morning. Several Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush too, and of course Blackbirds. #Turdus
Missing Ring Ouzel from the British list
Missing Ring Ouzel from the British list
January 31, 2026 at 4:35 PM
Of the winter thrushes there were hundreds of Fieldfare and a few Redwing at RSPB Fowlmere this morning. Several Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush too, and of course Blackbirds. #Turdus
Missing Ring Ouzel from the British list
Missing Ring Ouzel from the British list
January 29, 2026 at 10:13 PM
Couple of Cranes at one of our local ex-gravelpits. They were calling at each other the whole we walked around the site. A little bit of posturing, but I assume it's bonding rather than full-on courting at this point in the season. #UKBirding
This species is thriving locally these days, 100+ birds
This species is thriving locally these days, 100+ birds
January 29, 2026 at 10:01 PM
Couple of Cranes at one of our local ex-gravelpits. They were calling at each other the whole we walked around the site. A little bit of posturing, but I assume it's bonding rather than full-on courting at this point in the season. #UKBirding
This species is thriving locally these days, 100+ birds
This species is thriving locally these days, 100+ birds
A bird that we have seen lots of times, unlike the Crossbill but, this one came quite close #Wren #UKBirding
January 25, 2026 at 7:32 PM
A bird that we have seen lots of times, unlike the Crossbill but, this one came quite close #Wren #UKBirding
We'd not seen Crossbill until yesterday and then three turn up all at once at SWT Lackford Lakes. Here's the male, I didn't get a snap of the two females, unfortunately #UKBirding #Lifer
January 25, 2026 at 6:38 PM
We'd not seen Crossbill until yesterday and then three turn up all at once at SWT Lackford Lakes. Here's the male, I didn't get a snap of the two females, unfortunately #UKBirding #Lifer
Worth saying that we've known that birds are descended from dinosaurs since ~1868
January 23, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Worth saying that we've known that birds are descended from dinosaurs since ~1868
We're lucky to have lots of Red Kite locally, some fly over our house quite low, but most of them are active close to the nearby landfill. Here's one landing right next to the spot on which another had chosen to sunbathe this morning #UKBirding
January 17, 2026 at 5:15 PM
We're lucky to have lots of Red Kite locally, some fly over our house quite low, but most of them are active close to the nearby landfill. Here's one landing right next to the spot on which another had chosen to sunbathe this morning #UKBirding
When I posted my photo of a Nuthatch that had turned up on our patch (quite a rarity for this village), it got more likes than any other photo I'd ever posted on Insta, no idea why... #UKBirding
The bird was about 40 feet above my head, so this is massively zoomed and cropped and not the clearest
The bird was about 40 feet above my head, so this is massively zoomed and cropped and not the clearest
January 15, 2026 at 5:18 PM
When I posted my photo of a Nuthatch that had turned up on our patch (quite a rarity for this village), it got more likes than any other photo I'd ever posted on Insta, no idea why... #UKBirding
The bird was about 40 feet above my head, so this is massively zoomed and cropped and not the clearest
The bird was about 40 feet above my head, so this is massively zoomed and cropped and not the clearest
When will you post your spring/summer safari cruise dates? Hoping to be there in May for a trip and a chance to see the WTEs and the Ospreys again
January 9, 2026 at 1:21 PM
When will you post your spring/summer safari cruise dates? Hoping to be there in May for a trip and a chance to see the WTEs and the Ospreys again
I need to fix up my old telescope and cross my fingers for at least one clear night while Jupiter is so close...
Meanwhile, a photo I took with my phone through the telescope
Meanwhile, a photo I took with my phone through the telescope
January 8, 2026 at 11:45 AM
I need to fix up my old telescope and cross my fingers for at least one clear night while Jupiter is so close...
Meanwhile, a photo I took with my phone through the telescope
Meanwhile, a photo I took with my phone through the telescope
Whooper Swan at Sundown.
Incidentally, the w is silent...in the word Whooper, obvs
#UKBirding WWT Welney, 2026-01-02
Incidentally, the w is silent...in the word Whooper, obvs
#UKBirding WWT Welney, 2026-01-02
January 6, 2026 at 1:47 PM
Whooper Swan at Sundown.
Incidentally, the w is silent...in the word Whooper, obvs
#UKBirding WWT Welney, 2026-01-02
Incidentally, the w is silent...in the word Whooper, obvs
#UKBirding WWT Welney, 2026-01-02
Fluffed up and Framed
Stonechat, one of several at WWT Welney darting about between hides and trying not to succumb to the icy chill on 2nd Jan #UKBirding
Stonechat, one of several at WWT Welney darting about between hides and trying not to succumb to the icy chill on 2nd Jan #UKBirding
January 5, 2026 at 5:43 PM
Fluffed up and Framed
Stonechat, one of several at WWT Welney darting about between hides and trying not to succumb to the icy chill on 2nd Jan #UKBirding
Stonechat, one of several at WWT Welney darting about between hides and trying not to succumb to the icy chill on 2nd Jan #UKBirding
I was going to nickname this one Wesley...
January 5, 2026 at 12:23 PM
I was going to nickname this one Wesley...
Spot the Snipe...
...a lot easier when they're wading in the water than when they're waddling in the weeds
#UKBirding
...a lot easier when they're wading in the water than when they're waddling in the weeds
#UKBirding
January 5, 2026 at 12:17 PM
Spot the Snipe...
...a lot easier when they're wading in the water than when they're waddling in the weeds
#UKBirding
...a lot easier when they're wading in the water than when they're waddling in the weeds
#UKBirding
Whooper Swan at WWT Welney, one of the injured birds that no longer migrate. Looking mighty peeved at the Pochards, Mallards, and Tufted Ducks frantically feeding around it #UKBirding
January 3, 2026 at 1:41 PM
Whooper Swan at WWT Welney, one of the injured birds that no longer migrate. Looking mighty peeved at the Pochards, Mallards, and Tufted Ducks frantically feeding around it #UKBirding
Garden TrailCam has mainly picked up rat (1x), cat (4x), Mrs Sciencebase (1x), Sciencebase Jr (1x), Postie (1x), Me....and....and...yes Fox (1x backend). 19h45! Pleased with that (the camera's auto-clock seems to be an hour fast though and no way to fix)
December 31, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Garden TrailCam has mainly picked up rat (1x), cat (4x), Mrs Sciencebase (1x), Sciencebase Jr (1x), Postie (1x), Me....and....and...yes Fox (1x backend). 19h45! Pleased with that (the camera's auto-clock seems to be an hour fast though and no way to fix)
I may well light up tonight, just in case #teamMoth
But, closing in on yearend with a total of 9000 moths of 344 species recorded, 40 of those new for garden this year, including Goat Moth, Striped Hawk-moth, Kent Black Arches etc, best year for a while
But, closing in on yearend with a total of 9000 moths of 344 species recorded, 40 of those new for garden this year, including Goat Moth, Striped Hawk-moth, Kent Black Arches etc, best year for a while
December 22, 2025 at 3:30 PM
I may well light up tonight, just in case #teamMoth
But, closing in on yearend with a total of 9000 moths of 344 species recorded, 40 of those new for garden this year, including Goat Moth, Striped Hawk-moth, Kent Black Arches etc, best year for a while
But, closing in on yearend with a total of 9000 moths of 344 species recorded, 40 of those new for garden this year, including Goat Moth, Striped Hawk-moth, Kent Black Arches etc, best year for a while
Spent quite a bit of time with this beautiful Kingfisher back in the halcyon days of summer. Funnily enough, the etymology of its scientific name Alcedo atthis, essentially means Halcyon beauty. Atthis being Sappho's favourite on Lesbos
#UKBirding
#UKBirding
December 22, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Spent quite a bit of time with this beautiful Kingfisher back in the halcyon days of summer. Funnily enough, the etymology of its scientific name Alcedo atthis, essentially means Halcyon beauty. Atthis being Sappho's favourite on Lesbos
#UKBirding
#UKBirding
So, cheeky pint or two with the son-in-law while the others are at a "solstice" yoga session, get back, check the lamp - LBAM and Dark Chestnut (NFY) #teamMoth
December 21, 2025 at 9:17 PM
So, cheeky pint or two with the son-in-law while the others are at a "solstice" yoga session, get back, check the lamp - LBAM and Dark Chestnut (NFY) #teamMoth
Don't think I've ever seen a Shoveler from this angle before, I didn't realise their bills were shaped quite look this when seen from below! #UKBirding
December 21, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Don't think I've ever seen a Shoveler from this angle before, I didn't realise their bills were shaped quite look this when seen from below! #UKBirding
Mrs Sciencebase found a Lge YU larva among the leeks she harvested from the allotment this pm, which was nice. And, next to the trap this evening, first Winter Moth of the season #teamMoth #mothsMatter
December 20, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Mrs Sciencebase found a Lge YU larva among the leeks she harvested from the allotment this pm, which was nice. And, next to the trap this evening, first Winter Moth of the season #teamMoth #mothsMatter
The seemingly random trail of Christmas lights I hung in our front garden actually plotted the precise path taken by a December Moth as it carefully avoided the trap in the back garden #teamMoth
December 16, 2025 at 7:51 AM
The seemingly random trail of Christmas lights I hung in our front garden actually plotted the precise path taken by a December Moth as it carefully avoided the trap in the back garden #teamMoth
Lots of Red Kite locally and we're miles from any of the reintro/feeding sites...but we do have a dump, which they and thousands of gulls love
December 14, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Lots of Red Kite locally and we're miles from any of the reintro/feeding sites...but we do have a dump, which they and thousands of gulls love
The Starlings are gathering locally and doing their thing, murmurating to confuse raptors. About 12000 of them in this flock, hoping to see numbers up in the hundreds of thousands again by March/April.
Narrated video and extended transcript on my site #UKBirding
www.sciencebase.com/science-blog...
Narrated video and extended transcript on my site #UKBirding
www.sciencebase.com/science-blog...
December 13, 2025 at 10:33 AM
The Starlings are gathering locally and doing their thing, murmurating to confuse raptors. About 12000 of them in this flock, hoping to see numbers up in the hundreds of thousands again by March/April.
Narrated video and extended transcript on my site #UKBirding
www.sciencebase.com/science-blog...
Narrated video and extended transcript on my site #UKBirding
www.sciencebase.com/science-blog...