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simonjohnno.bsky.social
@simonjohnno.bsky.social
Yorkshire born. Manchester based. Birder. Vis Migger. 🦆 social butterfly 🦋 🏳️‍🌈 vino lover 🍷
Still Baltic conditions at Elton res. 480 Pinkfeet, 96 Fieldfare, 167 redwing NW and 131 lapwing sw possible signs of cold weather movement. On the small patch of unfrozen water 12 gadwall, 9 goldeneye, 2 GCG & 9 little egret.
January 9, 2026 at 7:21 PM
Another freezing morning at Elton res with even parts of the river Irwell freezing over! Jack snipe in the feeding station stream the best. 5 snipe, 6 gadwall, 90 tufted, 30 teal, 2 goldeneye and 2 Cettis best of the rest #birds
January 6, 2026 at 11:12 AM
Ended the day with 72 species on the local Bury patch. Highlights being Curlew, Dipper, 30+ Siskin, Barn Owl, increase in wildfowl (Elton, springwater & Heston park) walked 11.5 miles #birds
January 4, 2026 at 9:02 PM
A very cold Elton res this morning! Increase in waterfowl with wigeon, 101 Teal, 6 shoveler, 5 Gadwall, 86 Tufted Duck, 12 Goldeneye, 18 Goosander, Little Grebe, 10 snipe, Woodcock, 48 Lapwing & 20 mute swan. The GWE & Cettis remain
January 4, 2026 at 2:19 PM
This one has been the best family support dog the last few weeks 💔 ❤️ #dogs
December 31, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Last bit of 2025 birding for me at Elton this am with a respectable 64 species !!

Woodcock, 2 snipe, 500+ lapwing Barn owl, buzzard, spahawk and kestrel, 6 gadwall, 2 shoveler, 30+ teal, GWE, 8 little egret, 2 Cetti’s warbler, water rail, 100+ Fieldfare, 200+ redwing

good birding for 2026
December 31, 2025 at 3:44 PM
They say that a man’s best friend is a dog! Well this one bucks the trend the best family support system after loosing our dad just before Xmas 😢
December 27, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Those puppy dog eyes 🥺❤️ #dogs
December 19, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Snoring her little socks off 💤 my little best buddy ❤️ #dogs
November 23, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Whooper Swans at heaton park res today.
October 5, 2025 at 4:31 PM
My first Pinkfeet of the autumn with 1000+ east over heaton park. Also Juv Arctic Tern, GWE, 400+ mpipits, 5 skylark, 24 Siskin, 100+ swallow all heading south
September 22, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Ever get that feeling you are being watched? #dogs
September 5, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Nice to get out of Manchester and see some birds yesterday Zitting cisticola and Black Stork both showed well. Really need to start keeping track of my UK list .. no idea what it’s on 🤷🏽
August 7, 2025 at 8:27 PM
When the weekend fun is still hitting hard 💤 #dogs
August 7, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Start of the evening Scoter watches. None tonight as think still a bit early. Had a juv little egret, 4 common tern, lapwing and teal at Elton res
July 11, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Kingfisher on heaton park res this morning. 3rd record in 20 years of watching there! Also Common Sand and 5 Little Ringed Plover
July 4, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Trip to spurn with a well behaved pooch today! Spoonbill, hobby, Peregrine, marsh harrier, Greenshank, common sand, Barwit, RT diver and sedge warblers everywhere!
May 5, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Nice to see some lapwing chicks at Elton res this morning. Also the first 7 swift , 3 shelduck, 5 LRP, 10 Whitethroat, 2 lesser whitethroat, 3 sedge warbler & 1 Gropper
April 26, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Elton this am. Redshank heard flying through, common Tern, 2 lesser Whitethroat, Gropper, 3 Whitethroat, 2 sedge warbler, 300 sand Martin, 60 swallow, 6 house Martin, snipe, lrp, 3 oystercather, 2 teal, 4 gadwall, 2 wheatear and 3 RN parakeet
April 21, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Baltic at Elton in a blasting NE wind. A cracking Osprey North at 10:25 saved the morning. 266 Sand Martin, house Martin, 13 swallow and 91 meadow pipits north. Scaup still on the res. Blackcap and 3 willow warbler in the bushes
April 5, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Decent at Elton today. 18 Whooper swans departed north 7pm. 3 LRP, Barn,Tawny and Little owls. Scaup, 14 goldeneye, 2 little grebe, Greylag and 110 mpipits north
March 18, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Rock pipit at Elton this morning. Trickle of meadow pipits north along with 2 skylark and a redpoll. Sand Martin, Barn Owl, 9 Goldeneye and 4 Oyc present. 50+ Pinkfeet flew west. Few spahawk and buzzards about aswell
March 14, 2025 at 1:23 PM
51 Pinkfeet west at Elton this am. Also Barn & Little Owls, 115 Redwing, 2 oystercatcher, Siskin, woodcock, 3 RN parakeet and common buzzard highlights
March 2, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Enjoying some Manchester sunshine today ☀️
February 27, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Found a BONXIE on the local patch in Bury today! In Feb! Mind blown 🤯
February 9, 2025 at 9:20 PM