Alan Ball
@alanball101.bsky.social
Nature, especially birds, with owls and raptors in particular. South Lincolnshire
Its the poorest year for owls thus year due to lack of food, and I have ringed only a hundred of each of Barn Owls and Kestrels. So a big surprise on the Humber Bank this week to find 6 Barn Owl and 4 Kestrel chicks in the same nestbox ...and with uneaten prey items too!
June 26, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Its the poorest year for owls thus year due to lack of food, and I have ringed only a hundred of each of Barn Owls and Kestrels. So a big surprise on the Humber Bank this week to find 6 Barn Owl and 4 Kestrel chicks in the same nestbox ...and with uneaten prey items too!
All three Peregrine chicks have now fledged at St Wulframs Church, Grantham.
June 21, 2025 at 7:41 AM
All three Peregrine chicks have now fledged at St Wulframs Church, Grantham.
Checking our Little Owl boxes today and was surprised to find 7 eggs, as it's a very poor breeding year,....then found there were two females in the box (photo shows both with brood patches) Polygyny is very rare in Little Owls.
May 12, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Checking our Little Owl boxes today and was surprised to find 7 eggs, as it's a very poor breeding year,....then found there were two females in the box (photo shows both with brood patches) Polygyny is very rare in Little Owls.
One for you @djrlincsbirder.bsky.social
Though very common around Shetland, this smart looking Red-throated Diver is the only leucistic individual I've ever encountered. #SuperSeabirdSunday #YellBirding #Shetland
May 11, 2025 at 8:07 AM
One for you @djrlincsbirder.bsky.social
These Raven chicks in south Lincolnshire today were nearly 80 metres up a communications tower !
April 15, 2025 at 1:28 PM
These Raven chicks in south Lincolnshire today were nearly 80 metres up a communications tower !
Earliest ever Willow Warbler for me in my Sleaford gardem this morning @lincsbirding.bsky.social
March 31, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Earliest ever Willow Warbler for me in my Sleaford gardem this morning @lincsbirding.bsky.social
Nice change of scenery today in neighbouring Yorkshire... we dont get Red Grouse in Lincolnshire.
March 10, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Nice change of scenery today in neighbouring Yorkshire... we dont get Red Grouse in Lincolnshire.
Bit warmer a year ago today in the Gambia, whilst getting these photos of Blue-cheeked and Little Bee-eaters.
January 18, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Bit warmer a year ago today in the Gambia, whilst getting these photos of Blue-cheeked and Little Bee-eaters.
Good start to 2025 with a Water Rail ringed at Marston STW... the 18th of this autumn/winter.
January 2, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Good start to 2025 with a Water Rail ringed at Marston STW... the 18th of this autumn/winter.
Just received details of one of our Siskins, ringed at Bourne Wood in April, thst was caught in the Russian Federation just 9 days later.
November 28, 2024 at 9:21 PM
Just received details of one of our Siskins, ringed at Bourne Wood in April, thst was caught in the Russian Federation just 9 days later.
The 16th Water Rail ringed at Marston STW this autumn. Only around a hundred are ringed annually in the UK.
November 22, 2024 at 3:08 PM
The 16th Water Rail ringed at Marston STW this autumn. Only around a hundred are ringed annually in the UK.
It has been a record autumn for ringing Water Rails (13) and Moorhen (18) at Marston whilst targetting Moorhen for the colour-ringing scheme. Grey Wagtail this morning also.
November 15, 2024 at 12:00 PM
It has been a record autumn for ringing Water Rails (13) and Moorhen (18) at Marston whilst targetting Moorhen for the colour-ringing scheme. Grey Wagtail this morning also.
I know it's mild, but was not expecting to see our male Peregrine nest "scraping" this afternoon at Grantham.
October 30, 2024 at 5:21 PM
I know it's mild, but was not expecting to see our male Peregrine nest "scraping" this afternoon at Grantham.
Thought I would just play mp3 of Bearded Tit at Marston on the off chance of one passing through! Very rare here, only a couple of records on 30 years. Will buy a lottery ticket for today!
October 29, 2024 at 10:17 AM
Thought I would just play mp3 of Bearded Tit at Marston on the off chance of one passing through! Very rare here, only a couple of records on 30 years. Will buy a lottery ticket for today!
The drake Mandarin on the river Slea, in Sleaford, is in excellent plumage now.
October 22, 2024 at 3:29 PM
The drake Mandarin on the river Slea, in Sleaford, is in excellent plumage now.
34 Years ago today.... Lincolnshire's 3rd ever Olive-backed Pipit caught and ringed at Seacroft Golf Course.
October 20, 2024 at 11:39 AM
34 Years ago today.... Lincolnshire's 3rd ever Olive-backed Pipit caught and ringed at Seacroft Golf Course.
Siberian Chiffchaff (tristis race) was unexpected at Marston STW this morning.
October 18, 2024 at 12:50 PM
Siberian Chiffchaff (tristis race) was unexpected at Marston STW this morning.
Rather smart Stonechat caught and ringed at Marston STW today.
October 11, 2024 at 3:20 PM
Rather smart Stonechat caught and ringed at Marston STW today.
Nice morning bird ringing at Marston STW. Meadow Pipits starting to move through, 2 Cetti's Warblers and Water Rail ringed among the commoner Sedge and Reed Warblers and Chiffchaffs.
September 16, 2024 at 4:27 PM
Nice morning bird ringing at Marston STW. Meadow Pipits starting to move through, 2 Cetti's Warblers and Water Rail ringed among the commoner Sedge and Reed Warblers and Chiffchaffs.
Two years ago today, this juv. Red-backed Shrike was ringed at Marston STW, Lincolnshire. It was the only one ringed in England in 2022, with two others in the UK (Fair Isle and Shetland). A real surprise find inland.
September 4, 2024 at 10:19 AM
Two years ago today, this juv. Red-backed Shrike was ringed at Marston STW, Lincolnshire. It was the only one ringed in England in 2022, with two others in the UK (Fair Isle and Shetland). A real surprise find inland.
First bird ringing session of the autumn at Anderby Creek, Lincs, this morning. First bird ringed was this smart Barred Warbler. Otherwise, it was eerily quiet despite an easterly wind.
August 31, 2024 at 3:56 PM
First bird ringing session of the autumn at Anderby Creek, Lincs, this morning. First bird ringed was this smart Barred Warbler. Otherwise, it was eerily quiet despite an easterly wind.
Female Peregrine at St Wulframs Church, Grantham at 10.00 this morning.
August 30, 2024 at 9:12 AM
Female Peregrine at St Wulframs Church, Grantham at 10.00 this morning.
35 Years sgo today, I ringed this Pectoral Sandpiper at Marston STW. It was seen in Herts a few days later and remains the only ringing recovery of this species involving the UK
August 28, 2024 at 7:10 AM
35 Years sgo today, I ringed this Pectoral Sandpiper at Marston STW. It was seen in Herts a few days later and remains the only ringing recovery of this species involving the UK
Just joined bsky.social so posting a couple of my favourite photos for introduction.....
Arabian Green Bee-eater is my avatar as it has my initials "AGB".
Recent photo of Peregrine from remote Hik camera at Grantham church that I monitor.
Arabian Green Bee-eater is my avatar as it has my initials "AGB".
Recent photo of Peregrine from remote Hik camera at Grantham church that I monitor.
August 25, 2024 at 7:01 PM
Just joined bsky.social so posting a couple of my favourite photos for introduction.....
Arabian Green Bee-eater is my avatar as it has my initials "AGB".
Recent photo of Peregrine from remote Hik camera at Grantham church that I monitor.
Arabian Green Bee-eater is my avatar as it has my initials "AGB".
Recent photo of Peregrine from remote Hik camera at Grantham church that I monitor.