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Mark D

@seaskywatch.bsky.social

270 followers 210 following 250 posts

Interested in all #wildlife, but #seabirds, #raptors and #cetaceans are my favourites. Many hours spent #seawatching at home and abroad. (Header: Balearic and Manx Shearwaters 05/08/25)

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Mark D @seaskywatch.bsky.social · 7h

Budget Nikon z50ii but decent Z400 4.5 lens (both 2nd hand). You still with Nikon?!

Mark D @seaskywatch.bsky.social · 7h

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna and their Garfish prey, South Devon

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Mark D @seaskywatch.bsky.social · 4d

A brilliant day wish I could get dow! And then there was what was seen off Estaca today!!!

Steve Rogers 🟰🟰 @runnelstone.bsky.social · 4d

Pendeen Watch 7:30-13:30

1 Corys Shearwater
264 Great
496 Sooty
2 Balearic
6 Leach’s
260 Euro SP
19 Grey Phal
6 Sabine’s
64 Bonxie
70 Arctic Skua
3 Pomarine (video)
1 Long-tailed Skua
34 Sandwich Tern
41 Arctic

c. 25 birders.

#cornwallbirding #ukbirding

Mark D @seaskywatch.bsky.social · 4d

Interesting how low Balearic numbers are often this time of year is the N Cornwall peak, largely gone from Devon waters - every year is different!

Mark D @seaskywatch.bsky.social · 4d

Did you weigh, fantastic sharks!🦈

Mark D @seaskywatch.bsky.social · 7d

Thanks Paul👍

Mark D @seaskywatch.bsky.social · 7d

ID help please? This caterpillar was wandering along the tide line of the Dart, pretty smart!

Mark D @seaskywatch.bsky.social · 7d

So this young Osprey lingers into October, off soon?

Osprey juv with fish river Dart, Bow Creek

Mark D @seaskywatch.bsky.social · 7d

Dart Estuary, Bow creek juv female Osprey caught fish.

Mark D @seaskywatch.bsky.social · 9d

Pelagic out of Brixham yesterday was very quiet! Highlights distant Pom skua, 3 Med Gulls, 2 Common Gulls, Sandwich Tern although lots of Kittiwakes. On the Breakwater jetty a returning Purple Sandpiper

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Mark D @seaskywatch.bsky.social · 10d

Fantastic and gutting as we arrived about 20 mins too late🤨

Mark D @seaskywatch.bsky.social · 12d

Dart Estuary near Bow Creek. 2 juv Ospreys one caught fish

Mark D @seaskywatch.bsky.social · 12d

Had to pass Bide yesterday, so dropped onto Maer Lake, amazed to see 3 Great White Egrets! Also 5 Med Gulls, Curlew, 6+ Lapwings, many Teal and far too many Canada Geese

Mark D @seaskywatch.bsky.social · 15d

Driving home from Widecombe (Dartmoor) last night a Nightjar/Nighthawk
flew in front of cars headlights for a while. Quite a dark looking bird with quite pointed wings and only small white flashes in wings, thin tail . Looked more Nighthawk!

Mark D @seaskywatch.bsky.social · 18d

Despite seeing over 24000 Balearics off Devon over the years, never one like this before. Plumage was very pale brown/grey uppers with just a slight ghosting of the normal plumage - underwing , belly etc.

Mark D @seaskywatch.bsky.social · 18d

Berry Head pretty quiet but standout bird was a leucistic Balearic Shearwater. Also c20 Balearic, Manx, 8 Arctic Skua, Bonxie, 9 Sandwich Terns. Also some ABF Tuna boils and jumping individuals. With @jacob-wood.bsky.social

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Mark D @seaskywatch.bsky.social · 19d

A continental feel or a changing Britains?! Both Glossy Ibis and Cattle Egrets at West Charleton Marsh 18/09/25

Mark D @seaskywatch.bsky.social · 20d

Actually 8 cattle egrets and different from WCM

Mark D @seaskywatch.bsky.social · 20d

Slapton: 5 Cattle Egrets, 16+ Med Gulls

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Mark D @seaskywatch.bsky.social · 20d

West Charleston marsh ( like spain!) , Glossy Ibis (same bird as Frogmore Creek 06/08) and 8 Cattle Egrets.

Mark D @seaskywatch.bsky.social · 20d

Start Pt: Balearic 31
Manx 72
Common t 3
Sooty 4
Sandwich 5
0730-1000
Also Hobby and Convolvulus Hawmoth(grounded)

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Mark D @seaskywatch.bsky.social · 21d

Start Pt 0730-1430: 24 Great Shearwaters, 11 Sooty, 43 Balearic, 730 Manx, 12 Fulmar, 6 Med Gulls, 3 Common Tern, Arctic Tern, 6 Sandwich Terns, Whimbrel, Puffin, 9 Common Scoter, ABF Tuna

Mark D @seaskywatch.bsky.social · 23d

Balearics picking up at last!

Mark D @seaskywatch.bsky.social · 23d

The sunrise at Berry Head yesterday, it promised much and delivered many Balearics. Once upon a time 654 would be a Devon record but not so these days, with our changing climate and seas!

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Mark D @seaskywatch.bsky.social · 24d

Berry Head record went earlier in the summer with a passage count of nearly 2000. We had record numbers with an estimated 2,500-3,000 between Berry Head and Start Point.