Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Will Jobbins @will-j.bsky.social · 2d

A water rail - swimming! At @maplelodgereserve.bsky.social on Saturday.

#birding #birds #ukwildlife #wildlife @colnevalley.bsky.social

2 7

Will Jobbins @will-j.bsky.social · 8d

Always lovely to spend an afternoon with the kingfishers at @maplelodgereserve.bsky.social. This female was out fishing immediately after the rain on Sunday.

Plus bonus migrant hawker dragonfly pic.

#birdwatching #ukbirding #kingfisher #dragonfly #odonata @colnevalley.bsky.social

1 2 9

Will Jobbins @will-j.bsky.social · 28d

Grumpy crayfish...

1

Will Jobbins @will-j.bsky.social · 28d

September @webs-gsmp.bsky.social survey done. So many ducks! Tufties, pochards, shoveller, gadwall etc. Above average numbers. Also 2 green sandpipers passing through.

Algae has now died back slightly & water improved. At least 1 grumpy crayfish has survived... #birding #birdwatching #ukwildlife

1 2

Will Jobbins @will-j.bsky.social · Aug 20

@btoengland.bsky.social WeBS survey recently at @hertswildlifetrust.bsky.social Broadwater Lake. Low water level with algae/oxygen issues judging by many dead crayfish. Bird numbers very good, presumably enjoying the buffet. Fishing activity from herons, egrets, cormorants & remaining common terns.

1 3

Will Jobbins @will-j.bsky.social · Jul 21

Finally managed to catch up with the young kingfishers at the marvellous @maplelodgersrve.bsky.social on a (very) wet Saturday morning. I *think* these are two different juveniles.

#birds #britishbirds #birdwatching #ukwildlife #kingfisher #wildlifephotography

2 14

Will Jobbins @will-j.bsky.social · Jun 22

Beaut small copper coming over all amorous with my orange watch strap 🥰

#ukbutterflies #wildlife

3

Will Jobbins @will-j.bsky.social · Jun 13

White-tailed eagles on the Isle of Mull last week. Spectacular!

#birdwatching #birds #nature

5

Will Jobbins @will-j.bsky.social · May 30

Also one of our many cuckoos in the @colnevalley.bsky.social

1 1

Will Jobbins @will-j.bsky.social · May 30

May WeBS done. Common terns are back 🥰

The big news; in 2024 4 oystercatchers were prospecting this site but didn’t nest or breed. Imagine my delight to see a chick last weekend! Probable first for Broadwater(?).

@hertswildlifetrust.bsky.social
@colnevalley.bsky.social
@btobirds.bsky.social

1 1 2

Will Jobbins @will-j.bsky.social · May 14

Another gratuitous barn owl pic.

#birds #owl #wildlife

5

Will Jobbins @will-j.bsky.social · May 5

Soggy cormorant at @maplelodgersrve.bsky.social #birds @colnevalley.bsky.social

3 8

Will Jobbins @will-j.bsky.social · Apr 22

This bittern at @rspbengland.bsky.social Minsmere on Sunday emerged from the reeds and paraded around in front of 20-odd shocked birders with all the confidence of a Parisian catwalk model. Quite a treat!

#birds #ukbirding @birdguides.bsky.social #suffolkbirds #suffolkwildlife

1 14

Will Jobbins @will-j.bsky.social · Apr 7

Grass snake (subadult I think) swimming at @maplelodgersrve.bsky.social at the weekend.

Swam right across open water under the gaze of a cormorant. I willed it across all the way, with apologies to the cormorant.

1 2

Will Jobbins @will-j.bsky.social · Mar 26

WeBS done last week at Broadwater Lake. Plenty of winter ducks still around; tufties, shoveller, pochard.

The great relief was the return of Canada & greylag geese, as they've been worryingly sparse this winter.

@btobirds.bsky.social @hertswildlifetrust.bsky.social @colnevalley.bsky.social

1 3

Will Jobbins @will-j.bsky.social · Mar 21

“Why does a silly bird go on saying "chiff-chaff" all day long? Is it happiness or hiccups?” - AA Milne.

1

Will Jobbins @will-j.bsky.social · Mar 8

Barn owl in south Bucks yesterday at dusk (Denham area) with a ring (that I can’t read).

@borgowl.bsky.social @colnevalley.bsky.social

2 2 3

Will Jobbins @will-j.bsky.social · Jan 21

Pleasure! I do WeBS and woodcock survey nearby also 😊

1 1

Will Jobbins @will-j.bsky.social · Jan 21

Winter Gull Survey completed on Sunday evening on the Denham/Harefield gravel pits. Very low numbers indeed, just a handful of BH gulls.

Luckily the red-necked grebe was still around to entertain me as the sun sank behind the cement works. @btobirds.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

1 1 9

Will Jobbins @will-j.bsky.social · Jan 9

Red-necked grebe today at Harefield No4 gravel pit.

9/1/2025, 1230, TQ 05414 86494. Easily found, just walk down the West Bank from the bridge, past the slightly-amused fishermen.

@birdguides.bsky.social

2 5

Will Jobbins @will-j.bsky.social · Dec 30

Beautiful #watervole at @rspb.bsky.social #Minsmere at the weekend.

2

Will Jobbins @will-j.bsky.social · Dec 19

Thanks!

1

Will Jobbins @will-j.bsky.social · Dec 19

Hi, yes please :)

1 1

Will Jobbins @will-j.bsky.social · Dec 18

Apparently there’s a thing called #festivedailyrobin, so here’s one from SW Herts at the weekend.

#birds #birdlife #ukwildlife

1 5

Will Jobbins @will-j.bsky.social · Dec 10

Thanks Dave!