Andy Appleton
@andyappleton.bsky.social
Birder, Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
Coot, just one, but that’s infinitely more than I had at Dunorlan Park in 2025.
Also noted: at least 35 Moorhens around the same island where there was a very small area of unfrozen water. -5c
20 species by 8am. I may have seen more if I could have waited until sunrise…
#TunbridgeWells
Also noted: at least 35 Moorhens around the same island where there was a very small area of unfrozen water. -5c
20 species by 8am. I may have seen more if I could have waited until sunrise…
#TunbridgeWells
January 6, 2026 at 8:18 AM
Coot, just one, but that’s infinitely more than I had at Dunorlan Park in 2025.
Also noted: at least 35 Moorhens around the same island where there was a very small area of unfrozen water. -5c
20 species by 8am. I may have seen more if I could have waited until sunrise…
#TunbridgeWells
Also noted: at least 35 Moorhens around the same island where there was a very small area of unfrozen water. -5c
20 species by 8am. I may have seen more if I could have waited until sunrise…
#TunbridgeWells
I popped out this morning before a slightly stressful day of work. 6 new birds for the year - Red Kite the best.
Finished with pizza in the frozen snow this evening.
Finished with pizza in the frozen snow this evening.
January 2, 2026 at 9:38 PM
I popped out this morning before a slightly stressful day of work. 6 new birds for the year - Red Kite the best.
Finished with pizza in the frozen snow this evening.
Finished with pizza in the frozen snow this evening.
64 species at Whetsted GP’s, 42 at Haysden. 70 in total today.
4 White-front’s at Whetsted & 2 at Haysden probably the best - unless the duck I found in fading light on Haysden Lake was Lesser Scaup 🤔
13 Goosander & 6 Mandarin Haysden, 2 Goldeneye Whetsted the best if the rest.
#KentBirding
4 White-front’s at Whetsted & 2 at Haysden probably the best - unless the duck I found in fading light on Haysden Lake was Lesser Scaup 🤔
13 Goosander & 6 Mandarin Haysden, 2 Goldeneye Whetsted the best if the rest.
#KentBirding
January 1, 2026 at 6:09 PM
64 species at Whetsted GP’s, 42 at Haysden. 70 in total today.
4 White-front’s at Whetsted & 2 at Haysden probably the best - unless the duck I found in fading light on Haysden Lake was Lesser Scaup 🤔
13 Goosander & 6 Mandarin Haysden, 2 Goldeneye Whetsted the best if the rest.
#KentBirding
4 White-front’s at Whetsted & 2 at Haysden probably the best - unless the duck I found in fading light on Haysden Lake was Lesser Scaup 🤔
13 Goosander & 6 Mandarin Haysden, 2 Goldeneye Whetsted the best if the rest.
#KentBirding
My best UK birds this year were both at Dungeness and, as Owen notes, they were both new birds for the area.
Both were also conveniently vocal although the Zitting Cisticola showed rather better than the EBW (though still wasn’t very easy).
Happy New Year everyone!
Both were also conveniently vocal although the Zitting Cisticola showed rather better than the EBW (though still wasn’t very easy).
Happy New Year everyone!
December 31, 2025 at 9:36 PM
My best UK birds this year were both at Dungeness and, as Owen notes, they were both new birds for the area.
Both were also conveniently vocal although the Zitting Cisticola showed rather better than the EBW (though still wasn’t very easy).
Happy New Year everyone!
Both were also conveniently vocal although the Zitting Cisticola showed rather better than the EBW (though still wasn’t very easy).
Happy New Year everyone!
Reposted by Andy Appleton
A big surprise in my garden today, a Lesser Whitethroat sp! As for separating it to a race, after spending time looking at images online and reading various papers, I've come to the conclusion that it's above my pay grade. Lots more images still to edit.
#UKBirding
#kentbirding
#UKBirding
#kentbirding
December 31, 2025 at 6:38 PM
A big surprise in my garden today, a Lesser Whitethroat sp! As for separating it to a race, after spending time looking at images online and reading various papers, I've come to the conclusion that it's above my pay grade. Lots more images still to edit.
#UKBirding
#kentbirding
#UKBirding
#kentbirding
Great Northern Diver Ramsgate Harbour mouth currently
#KentBirding
#KentBirding
December 31, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Great Northern Diver Ramsgate Harbour mouth currently
#KentBirding
#KentBirding
Local birding has seemed like hard work at times this year. 3 new birds for Dunorlan Park with Wheatear, Crossbill and Great Black-backed Gull and a reasonable count of 43 Moorhen on 16 December.
43 is also the number of species noted there this morning - 3 Ravens the best.
43 is also the number of species noted there this morning - 3 Ravens the best.
December 30, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Local birding has seemed like hard work at times this year. 3 new birds for Dunorlan Park with Wheatear, Crossbill and Great Black-backed Gull and a reasonable count of 43 Moorhen on 16 December.
43 is also the number of species noted there this morning - 3 Ravens the best.
43 is also the number of species noted there this morning - 3 Ravens the best.
A few random orchid pic’s from England in 2025.
The highlights were probably from Kent: three alba Lady Orchids, 95 Bee Orchids on one roundabout and some pretty cool Late Spider’s.
We enjoyed a few other orchids while out of the county.
#orchids
The highlights were probably from Kent: three alba Lady Orchids, 95 Bee Orchids on one roundabout and some pretty cool Late Spider’s.
We enjoyed a few other orchids while out of the county.
#orchids
December 29, 2025 at 6:57 PM
A few random orchid pic’s from England in 2025.
The highlights were probably from Kent: three alba Lady Orchids, 95 Bee Orchids on one roundabout and some pretty cool Late Spider’s.
We enjoyed a few other orchids while out of the county.
#orchids
The highlights were probably from Kent: three alba Lady Orchids, 95 Bee Orchids on one roundabout and some pretty cool Late Spider’s.
We enjoyed a few other orchids while out of the county.
#orchids
2025 was a quieter year for Odonata for me but the Vagrant Emperors at Carlton Marshes made for a good day out in Suffolk with a bonus Red-veined Darter - which I still haven’t seen in Kent.
The weekend in southCumbria, north Lancashire & West Yorkshire provided bits including Black Darter.
The weekend in southCumbria, north Lancashire & West Yorkshire provided bits including Black Darter.
December 28, 2025 at 5:35 PM
2025 was a quieter year for Odonata for me but the Vagrant Emperors at Carlton Marshes made for a good day out in Suffolk with a bonus Red-veined Darter - which I still haven’t seen in Kent.
The weekend in southCumbria, north Lancashire & West Yorkshire provided bits including Black Darter.
The weekend in southCumbria, north Lancashire & West Yorkshire provided bits including Black Darter.
Butterflies from 2025 included my first Large Tortoiseshells.
I chose somewhere further north for a birthday weekend away to include some High Brown Fritillary action and a small number of Northern Brown Argus.
Back in Kent it’s always good to see Heath Fritillaries when passing.
#Butterflies
I chose somewhere further north for a birthday weekend away to include some High Brown Fritillary action and a small number of Northern Brown Argus.
Back in Kent it’s always good to see Heath Fritillaries when passing.
#Butterflies
December 27, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Butterflies from 2025 included my first Large Tortoiseshells.
I chose somewhere further north for a birthday weekend away to include some High Brown Fritillary action and a small number of Northern Brown Argus.
Back in Kent it’s always good to see Heath Fritillaries when passing.
#Butterflies
I chose somewhere further north for a birthday weekend away to include some High Brown Fritillary action and a small number of Northern Brown Argus.
Back in Kent it’s always good to see Heath Fritillaries when passing.
#Butterflies
Memories:
27/12 has provided Scops Owl🦉- Broadstairs (2024), my first Iceland Gull (Felixstowe, 1986), my first Lesser Scaup (Lechlade, 1994) and Northern Harrier (Titchwell, 2010).
Boxing Day best birds: Spur-winged Plover 😲 at Dungeness (1997) & Brunnich’s Guillemot, Portland Harbour (2013).
27/12 has provided Scops Owl🦉- Broadstairs (2024), my first Iceland Gull (Felixstowe, 1986), my first Lesser Scaup (Lechlade, 1994) and Northern Harrier (Titchwell, 2010).
Boxing Day best birds: Spur-winged Plover 😲 at Dungeness (1997) & Brunnich’s Guillemot, Portland Harbour (2013).
December 27, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Memories:
27/12 has provided Scops Owl🦉- Broadstairs (2024), my first Iceland Gull (Felixstowe, 1986), my first Lesser Scaup (Lechlade, 1994) and Northern Harrier (Titchwell, 2010).
Boxing Day best birds: Spur-winged Plover 😲 at Dungeness (1997) & Brunnich’s Guillemot, Portland Harbour (2013).
27/12 has provided Scops Owl🦉- Broadstairs (2024), my first Iceland Gull (Felixstowe, 1986), my first Lesser Scaup (Lechlade, 1994) and Northern Harrier (Titchwell, 2010).
Boxing Day best birds: Spur-winged Plover 😲 at Dungeness (1997) & Brunnich’s Guillemot, Portland Harbour (2013).
On this day 2024 news broke and I was out of door.
32 minutes later I was on site, Frank was there already. He will be greatly missed on the Kent birding scene.
32 minutes later I was on site, Frank was there already. He will be greatly missed on the Kent birding scene.
December 24, 2025 at 7:55 PM
On this day 2024 news broke and I was out of door.
32 minutes later I was on site, Frank was there already. He will be greatly missed on the Kent birding scene.
32 minutes later I was on site, Frank was there already. He will be greatly missed on the Kent birding scene.
Treecreeper noted at half the sites visited today. I didn’t really expect to see them at the dentist or WH Smith’s - which was most traumatic as it’s no longer called that. 60 years of my life changed 😟
Woolworths closed 17 years ago, now this. May as well close the town 😢
5 Little Grebe best.
Woolworths closed 17 years ago, now this. May as well close the town 😢
5 Little Grebe best.
December 20, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Treecreeper noted at half the sites visited today. I didn’t really expect to see them at the dentist or WH Smith’s - which was most traumatic as it’s no longer called that. 60 years of my life changed 😟
Woolworths closed 17 years ago, now this. May as well close the town 😢
5 Little Grebe best.
Woolworths closed 17 years ago, now this. May as well close the town 😢
5 Little Grebe best.
Tawny Owl the best at Dunorlan Park, #TunbridgeWells early this morning - and some good colours before the sun rose.
A good count of at least 43 Moorhen yesterday morning (but still no Coot this year).
A good count of at least 43 Moorhen yesterday morning (but still no Coot this year).
December 17, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Tawny Owl the best at Dunorlan Park, #TunbridgeWells early this morning - and some good colours before the sun rose.
A good count of at least 43 Moorhen yesterday morning (but still no Coot this year).
A good count of at least 43 Moorhen yesterday morning (but still no Coot this year).
I’m not quite sure why I searched for well over four hours for the Yellow-browed Warbler to show but I did, and it did. A ten minute performance about 2:30pm.
Also Little Egret, Grey Wagtail, Little Grebe and a presumed Otter along the River Lark, Mildenhall (Suffolk).
Also Little Egret, Grey Wagtail, Little Grebe and a presumed Otter along the River Lark, Mildenhall (Suffolk).
December 13, 2025 at 2:39 PM
I’m not quite sure why I searched for well over four hours for the Yellow-browed Warbler to show but I did, and it did. A ten minute performance about 2:30pm.
Also Little Egret, Grey Wagtail, Little Grebe and a presumed Otter along the River Lark, Mildenhall (Suffolk).
Also Little Egret, Grey Wagtail, Little Grebe and a presumed Otter along the River Lark, Mildenhall (Suffolk).
After a silly busy week (with another looming) I thought I’d remember back to some good times earlier this year when @traceyappleton.bsky.social and I spent a week on the beautiful island of #Rhodes
It wasn’t warm but it was brilliant!
We went specifically for orchids but saw other stuff too.
It wasn’t warm but it was brilliant!
We went specifically for orchids but saw other stuff too.
December 12, 2025 at 8:03 PM
After a silly busy week (with another looming) I thought I’d remember back to some good times earlier this year when @traceyappleton.bsky.social and I spent a week on the beautiful island of #Rhodes
It wasn’t warm but it was brilliant!
We went specifically for orchids but saw other stuff too.
It wasn’t warm but it was brilliant!
We went specifically for orchids but saw other stuff too.
There may not be enough water in #TunbridgeWells but there was no shortage of Lapwings - well, 80 or so.
A female Blackcap was also a surprise in Dunorlan Park especially as they didn’t even hang on into October this year.
I avoided birding the water treatment works today 🤭
#KentBirding
A female Blackcap was also a surprise in Dunorlan Park especially as they didn’t even hang on into October this year.
I avoided birding the water treatment works today 🤭
#KentBirding
December 2, 2025 at 8:25 PM
There may not be enough water in #TunbridgeWells but there was no shortage of Lapwings - well, 80 or so.
A female Blackcap was also a surprise in Dunorlan Park especially as they didn’t even hang on into October this year.
I avoided birding the water treatment works today 🤭
#KentBirding
A female Blackcap was also a surprise in Dunorlan Park especially as they didn’t even hang on into October this year.
I avoided birding the water treatment works today 🤭
#KentBirding
We swung by Seahouses where this duck was in the harbour in failing light yesterday afternoon.
A hybrid Eider x Mallard by all accounts. It was with c.10 Eider.
A mid-morning Woodcock flying beside us for a short distance somewhere on the A702 was the only other noteworthy ‘on the way home’ bird.
A hybrid Eider x Mallard by all accounts. It was with c.10 Eider.
A mid-morning Woodcock flying beside us for a short distance somewhere on the A702 was the only other noteworthy ‘on the way home’ bird.
December 2, 2025 at 5:58 PM
We swung by Seahouses where this duck was in the harbour in failing light yesterday afternoon.
A hybrid Eider x Mallard by all accounts. It was with c.10 Eider.
A mid-morning Woodcock flying beside us for a short distance somewhere on the A702 was the only other noteworthy ‘on the way home’ bird.
A hybrid Eider x Mallard by all accounts. It was with c.10 Eider.
A mid-morning Woodcock flying beside us for a short distance somewhere on the A702 was the only other noteworthy ‘on the way home’ bird.
Some mixed weather in the Lake District this weekend but great to see some snow on Sunday morning.
December 2, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Some mixed weather in the Lake District this weekend but great to see some snow on Sunday morning.
A chilly and quick, for me, walk round Dunorlan Park this morning as the mist rose and the frost lay yielded 29 bird species including a small number of Lesser Redpolls.
#TunbridgeWells
#TunbridgeWells
November 26, 2025 at 1:44 PM
A chilly and quick, for me, walk round Dunorlan Park this morning as the mist rose and the frost lay yielded 29 bird species including a small number of Lesser Redpolls.
#TunbridgeWells
#TunbridgeWells
November 23, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Spring has sprung, although the Black-headed Gulls were standing on a thin layer of ice at Dunorlan Park first thing this morning.
#TunbridgeWells
#TunbridgeWells
November 22, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Spring has sprung, although the Black-headed Gulls were standing on a thin layer of ice at Dunorlan Park first thing this morning.
#TunbridgeWells
#TunbridgeWells
A very late Swallow with damaged tail streamer over #TunbridgeWells sewage works this afternoon.
There’s plenty of insect food available still.
There’s plenty of insect food available still.
November 15, 2025 at 3:36 PM
A very late Swallow with damaged tail streamer over #TunbridgeWells sewage works this afternoon.
There’s plenty of insect food available still.
There’s plenty of insect food available still.
I was hoping for a better experience when I eventually got my first Crossbill for patch but there we go: two heading south - picked up calling - I got on to a back-end murky silhouette view as they disappeared off.
Half a dozen Siskins too - and Woodpigeons heading somewhere.
Half a dozen Siskins too - and Woodpigeons heading somewhere.
November 15, 2025 at 9:00 AM
I was hoping for a better experience when I eventually got my first Crossbill for patch but there we go: two heading south - picked up calling - I got on to a back-end murky silhouette view as they disappeared off.
Half a dozen Siskins too - and Woodpigeons heading somewhere.
Half a dozen Siskins too - and Woodpigeons heading somewhere.
Reposted by Andy Appleton
After a disappointing Seawatch this morning, and after arriving at the Obs, we found that the Pallas’s Warbler rung on Sunday had been caught again in the moat, always worth a photo.
@dungenessbirdobs.bsky.social
#birds
#birding
#kentbirding
#ukbitding
@dungenessbirdobs.bsky.social
#birds
#birding
#kentbirding
#ukbitding
November 11, 2025 at 8:13 PM
After a disappointing Seawatch this morning, and after arriving at the Obs, we found that the Pallas’s Warbler rung on Sunday had been caught again in the moat, always worth a photo.
@dungenessbirdobs.bsky.social
#birds
#birding
#kentbirding
#ukbitding
@dungenessbirdobs.bsky.social
#birds
#birding
#kentbirding
#ukbitding