Mark D
@seaskywatch.bsky.social
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)
(Header: Balearic and Manx Shearwaters 05/08/25)
Brixham breakwater: 5 Great Northern Divers (incl this juv/1w), the ever obliging adult Med Gull, and 3 Purple Sandpipers. Further towards Berry Head quite a few Common Gulls feeding with Gannets over Harbour Porpoises
December 11, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Brixham breakwater: 5 Great Northern Divers (incl this juv/1w), the ever obliging adult Med Gull, and 3 Purple Sandpipers. Further towards Berry Head quite a few Common Gulls feeding with Gannets over Harbour Porpoises
Walking up to Turf from Powderham this boat came past heading for the LC Tern, we quickly set up scope on tern as sure it would be spooked. And yes they did just that😡 in front of many birders. LCT flew off and boat headed back down past us. Here they are, well ****** done😡😡!
December 10, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Walking up to Turf from Powderham this boat came past heading for the LC Tern, we quickly set up scope on tern as sure it would be spooked. And yes they did just that😡 in front of many birders. LCT flew off and boat headed back down past us. Here they are, well ****** done😡😡!
Wow just seen how far down this massive low drags up from!
December 7, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Wow just seen how far down this massive low drags up from!
Back to Cockwood today as my views of a distant 'orange-billed' Tern weren't great and certainly inconclusive on 03/12. But today though distantly perched it did one circuit our way and gave great in-flight scope views. A few quick shots with a 400mm lens. Happy I've seen Lesser Crested Tern👍
December 5, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Back to Cockwood today as my views of a distant 'orange-billed' Tern weren't great and certainly inconclusive on 03/12. But today though distantly perched it did one circuit our way and gave great in-flight scope views. A few quick shots with a 400mm lens. Happy I've seen Lesser Crested Tern👍
Well a few record shots, this is the female Merlin on Exminster Marshes 03/12/25. A tiny fullcrop, only a 400mm lens, but you can see what it is!
December 5, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Well a few record shots, this is the female Merlin on Exminster Marshes 03/12/25. A tiny fullcrop, only a 400mm lens, but you can see what it is!
Teign Est am, 2 juv/1w Spoonbills ( different from the 3 five weeks ago). Also single Avocet
December 4, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Teign Est am, 2 juv/1w Spoonbills ( different from the 3 five weeks ago). Also single Avocet
Sometimes Mr& Mrs Great Spot turn up together on our sunflower hearts. There is also a pair of Blackcaps and a Firecrest in the garden this week!
December 3, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Sometimes Mr& Mrs Great Spot turn up together on our sunflower hearts. There is also a pair of Blackcaps and a Firecrest in the garden this week!
Can't really get excited by dubious Geese, but this White-fronted (juv/1w flavirostris) flew past with its carrier flock of feral Canadas at Slapton today, also several Firecrests, Chiffchaff!
November 26, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Can't really get excited by dubious Geese, but this White-fronted (juv/1w flavirostris) flew past with its carrier flock of feral Canadas at Slapton today, also several Firecrests, Chiffchaff!
Six Purple Sandpipers Brxham breakwater, also the presumed returning ad Med Gull
November 23, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Six Purple Sandpipers Brxham breakwater, also the presumed returning ad Med Gull
Drake and f-type Ring-neckedDucks (with drake Tufted) spooked by anglers Beesands Ley 21/11/25 . Thanks to
@sheldonbirds.bsky.social
@sheldonbirds.bsky.social
November 22, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Drake and f-type Ring-neckedDucks (with drake Tufted) spooked by anglers Beesands Ley 21/11/25 . Thanks to
@sheldonbirds.bsky.social
@sheldonbirds.bsky.social
Yesterday at Beesands Ley, there's always some idiots that think rules don't apply to them! May be fishermen quietly in the reeds at the side is tolerable, but you can imagine the effect of these two (in their new kit) - as per photo of all the ducks clearing off to Slapton!
November 22, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Yesterday at Beesands Ley, there's always some idiots that think rules don't apply to them! May be fishermen quietly in the reeds at the side is tolerable, but you can imagine the effect of these two (in their new kit) - as per photo of all the ducks clearing off to Slapton!
Nice to see a good run of 52+ Fulmars today past Berry head. As we get into winter, always hope for a 'dark' one, or even super 'double dark'.
November 11, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Nice to see a good run of 52+ Fulmars today past Berry head. As we get into winter, always hope for a 'dark' one, or even super 'double dark'.
The seasons are out of phase, Blackthorn flowering at Slapton while there are sloes on othe bushes!??
November 8, 2025 at 5:21 PM
The seasons are out of phase, Blackthorn flowering at Slapton while there are sloes on othe bushes!??
Slapton Ley (higher Ley Street Gate end), 4 Great White Egrets roosting.
Start Pt 3 Black Redstarts (2 f/imm type, one m)
Start Pt 3 Black Redstarts (2 f/imm type, one m)
November 8, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Slapton Ley (higher Ley Street Gate end), 4 Great White Egrets roosting.
Start Pt 3 Black Redstarts (2 f/imm type, one m)
Start Pt 3 Black Redstarts (2 f/imm type, one m)
One of the Great Northern Divers was sat on the sea, smart jus coming out of breeding plumage, also some Common Dolphins, this was the later close group.
November 5, 2025 at 1:55 PM
One of the Great Northern Divers was sat on the sea, smart jus coming out of breeding plumage, also some Common Dolphins, this was the later close group.
Berry Hd 0700-1100: Leach's Storm-petrel (10:20), 2 Manx, juv Arctic Tern, 16k Kittiwakes, 27 Med Gulls, 35 Cn Gulls, c6,000 Razorbill/Guillemot, juv (pale type) Pomarine Skua, 5 Arctic, 5 Bonxie, 2 GN Diver, Red-t Diver, c20 Cn Dolphin, 4 H Porpoise, 2 ABF Tuna with @clennonvalley.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Berry Hd 0700-1100: Leach's Storm-petrel (10:20), 2 Manx, juv Arctic Tern, 16k Kittiwakes, 27 Med Gulls, 35 Cn Gulls, c6,000 Razorbill/Guillemot, juv (pale type) Pomarine Skua, 5 Arctic, 5 Bonxie, 2 GN Diver, Red-t Diver, c20 Cn Dolphin, 4 H Porpoise, 2 ABF Tuna with @clennonvalley.bsky.social
Not many people photograph Leach's off Devon. This was from a boat I used to work on, taken 20/10/2011
November 4, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Not many people photograph Leach's off Devon. This was from a boat I used to work on, taken 20/10/2011
Walking home through the lanes both Vetch and Violets either late or early flowering!
October 29, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Walking home through the lanes both Vetch and Violets either late or early flowering!
What a grand lass! This is Mr 'whitespot' he's seven plus years old now. Survivor of many a cat attempt, sometimes he may disappear for couple of weeks, but I'm always relieved when I see him again. The white spot is always there after every moult! And he usually breeds in or aroung the garden.
October 25, 2025 at 8:26 AM
What a grand lass! This is Mr 'whitespot' he's seven plus years old now. Survivor of many a cat attempt, sometimes he may disappear for couple of weeks, but I'm always relieved when I see him again. The white spot is always there after every moult! And he usually breeds in or aroung the garden.
Dead Common Dolphin Slapton Sands, already registered. Looks quite in good condition.
October 20, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Dead Common Dolphin Slapton Sands, already registered. Looks quite in good condition.
Experiencing a mini-influx of Song Thrushes in the garden, often this 1st wave of thrushes brings a few Ring Ouzels (but not in our garden, yet only a couple of miles away on the moor).
October 17, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Experiencing a mini-influx of Song Thrushes in the garden, often this 1st wave of thrushes brings a few Ring Ouzels (but not in our garden, yet only a couple of miles away on the moor).
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna and their Garfish prey, South Devon
October 8, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna and their Garfish prey, South Devon
ID help please? This caterpillar was wandering along the tide line of the Dart, pretty smart!
October 1, 2025 at 8:00 PM
ID help please? This caterpillar was wandering along the tide line of the Dart, pretty smart!
So this young Osprey lingers into October, off soon?
October 1, 2025 at 7:58 PM
So this young Osprey lingers into October, off soon?
A continental feel or a changing Britains?! Both Glossy Ibis and Cattle Egrets at West Charleton Marsh 18/09/25
September 19, 2025 at 8:19 AM
A continental feel or a changing Britains?! Both Glossy Ibis and Cattle Egrets at West Charleton Marsh 18/09/25