Alan Harris
@alanharrisbirdart.bsky.social
Bird artist, Rye Meads RG devotee
Reposted by Alan Harris
Every birder – beginner or expert – comes across birds that are tricky to identify.
Improve your knowledge and understanding of confusion species with this top ID guide.
Buy now from the BirdGuides Bookshop: https://bit.ly/47lD8CK
#birdguides #birding #birdwatch #birds #giftideasbirds #giftideas
Improve your knowledge and understanding of confusion species with this top ID guide.
Buy now from the BirdGuides Bookshop: https://bit.ly/47lD8CK
#birdguides #birding #birdwatch #birds #giftideasbirds #giftideas
November 19, 2025 at 5:30 AM
Every birder – beginner or expert – comes across birds that are tricky to identify.
Improve your knowledge and understanding of confusion species with this top ID guide.
Buy now from the BirdGuides Bookshop: https://bit.ly/47lD8CK
#birdguides #birding #birdwatch #birds #giftideasbirds #giftideas
Improve your knowledge and understanding of confusion species with this top ID guide.
Buy now from the BirdGuides Bookshop: https://bit.ly/47lD8CK
#birdguides #birding #birdwatch #birds #giftideasbirds #giftideas
Same here in east Herts. So far we have ringed over 630, our previous best was 411 (and that was last year). Nice to have a bird 'on the up' #Hertsbirds #UKbirding
September 30, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Same here in east Herts. So far we have ringed over 630, our previous best was 411 (and that was last year). Nice to have a bird 'on the up' #Hertsbirds #UKbirding
I agree it is a Common Whitethroat for the reasons you state. Leg pinkish too (not grey). Taken in June so rather worn and dull. #UKbirding
September 28, 2025 at 8:28 AM
I agree it is a Common Whitethroat for the reasons you state. Leg pinkish too (not grey). Taken in June so rather worn and dull. #UKbirding
That is a well known phenomenon -the closer you get to a Shelduck the smaller it gets............#ukbirding
September 26, 2025 at 8:54 AM
That is a well known phenomenon -the closer you get to a Shelduck the smaller it gets............#ukbirding
Beautiful 'acredula' type Willow Warbler caught and ringed today at Rye Meads, Herts (birds lacking yellow can occur in any population but predominately in the north and east). #ukbirding #hertsbirds
September 8, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Beautiful 'acredula' type Willow Warbler caught and ringed today at Rye Meads, Herts (birds lacking yellow can occur in any population but predominately in the north and east). #ukbirding #hertsbirds
Just started with them - I am THE distant House Martin detectorist now!!! (I was thinking they'd gone extinct). #UKbirding
September 2, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Just started with them - I am THE distant House Martin detectorist now!!! (I was thinking they'd gone extinct). #UKbirding
Indeed I will. 😀
August 19, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Indeed I will. 😀
That's a great plumage stage youv'e captured there
July 19, 2025 at 5:19 PM
That's a great plumage stage youv'e captured there
Got the same, I think I accidently imported them from Cornwall some years ago. They are proper annoying, sometimes my house is like Miss Havershams................
July 19, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Got the same, I think I accidently imported them from Cornwall some years ago. They are proper annoying, sometimes my house is like Miss Havershams................
Early morning ringing session at Rye Meads enlivened by a fly over Night Heron! That completes my self found heron patch list - Bittern, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Squacco, Little Bittern, Little, Cattle and Great Egrets! It has taken fifty-one years, but.... quite chuffed really. #UKbirding
July 17, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Early morning ringing session at Rye Meads enlivened by a fly over Night Heron! That completes my self found heron patch list - Bittern, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Squacco, Little Bittern, Little, Cattle and Great Egrets! It has taken fifty-one years, but.... quite chuffed really. #UKbirding
Excellent. I have been waiting patiently to ring one up at Rye Meads, but no luck yet ! (three pairs breeding this year).
July 3, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Excellent. I have been waiting patiently to ring one up at Rye Meads, but no luck yet ! (three pairs breeding this year).
They are both drakes, yes?
July 2, 2025 at 3:00 PM
They are both drakes, yes?
That 'wingbar' will be short lived I think - he's dropped his greater coverts as part of the annual moult exposing pale secondary bases (some primaries gone too?)
June 10, 2025 at 10:28 AM
That 'wingbar' will be short lived I think - he's dropped his greater coverts as part of the annual moult exposing pale secondary bases (some primaries gone too?)
I was watching two just fledged Groppers only last night.
I can't tell you if the male has starting singing again cos I've gone a bit deef.........(I never heard him in the first place!)
I can't tell you if the male has starting singing again cos I've gone a bit deef.........(I never heard him in the first place!)
June 7, 2025 at 12:51 PM
I was watching two just fledged Groppers only last night.
I can't tell you if the male has starting singing again cos I've gone a bit deef.........(I never heard him in the first place!)
I can't tell you if the male has starting singing again cos I've gone a bit deef.........(I never heard him in the first place!)
They often 're-sing' for a short period between broods (hello Dan).
June 6, 2025 at 9:39 PM
They often 're-sing' for a short period between broods (hello Dan).
Looks like the same bird to me. P6 has distinctive (unique) damage to tip. #ukbirding
June 3, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Looks like the same bird to me. P6 has distinctive (unique) damage to tip. #ukbirding
Thanks for the information Tom. I'll be giving it some more thought no doubt.
May 25, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Thanks for the information Tom. I'll be giving it some more thought no doubt.
Hello Tom, I would love to understand why the consensus is hybrid BWT x Shoveler? (I think it is a Cinnamon Teal)? #birdhybrids
May 25, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Hello Tom, I would love to understand why the consensus is hybrid BWT x Shoveler? (I think it is a Cinnamon Teal)? #birdhybrids
Brilliant to see the left leg ringed Bittern at Lakenheath today, still going strong #ukbirding
May 21, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Brilliant to see the left leg ringed Bittern at Lakenheath today, still going strong #ukbirding
And the Rye Meads weekend birding just got better with a Temminck's Stint found by Matt Wallace, a real beauty (the bird..not..no hang on, I'm digging a hole here) #ukbirding
May 18, 2025 at 3:03 PM
And the Rye Meads weekend birding just got better with a Temminck's Stint found by Matt Wallace, a real beauty (the bird..not..no hang on, I'm digging a hole here) #ukbirding
Early start surveying paid dividends with Cattle Egret, Great White Egret and an Arctic Tern through Rye Meads. Had to wait til lunchtime to complete the trio of Egrets. A full on day of tit ringing followed with a total 175 including five Chiffchaff chicks. (I am very tired) #ukbirding
May 17, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Early start surveying paid dividends with Cattle Egret, Great White Egret and an Arctic Tern through Rye Meads. Had to wait til lunchtime to complete the trio of Egrets. A full on day of tit ringing followed with a total 175 including five Chiffchaff chicks. (I am very tired) #ukbirding
Looks to have hatched rather than been predated😊#Ukbirding
April 20, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Looks to have hatched rather than been predated😊#Ukbirding
I think it is North Thames Gull Group?
#UKbirding
#UKbirding
April 17, 2025 at 2:33 PM
I think it is North Thames Gull Group?
#UKbirding
#UKbirding
None singing (so far) at Rye Meads, Herts. 18 to zero in nine years #ukbirding
April 3, 2025 at 2:55 PM
None singing (so far) at Rye Meads, Herts. 18 to zero in nine years #ukbirding
East Kent for the weekend. Unexpected Jack Snipe flushed from the tideline at Folkstone Warren.
March 31, 2025 at 8:59 AM
East Kent for the weekend. Unexpected Jack Snipe flushed from the tideline at Folkstone Warren.