Andy Firth
@andyfirth.bsky.social
Mainly patch birder, Sandbach Flashes Cheshire for 25 years, now in County Durham, birding Saltholme, Castle Lake and Low Barns when time allows.Try to bird Flamborough and the Isles of Scilly one week each year when possible.
Water Pipit and Bittern from Phil Stead hide, Saltholme RSPB 14:35. @teesbirds.bsky.social. Bittern on and off for the last 10 minutes.
October 31, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Water Pipit and Bittern from Phil Stead hide, Saltholme RSPB 14:35. @teesbirds.bsky.social. Bittern on and off for the last 10 minutes.
A real geography lesson for me today, travelled to South Gare for my WEBS count to find the access road closed. No problem I’ll park in Redcar and walk both ways. Knackered, a Little Stint was with the roosting waders. Not one person (or dog) was nice. @teesbirds.bsky.social
October 19, 2025 at 3:51 PM
A real geography lesson for me today, travelled to South Gare for my WEBS count to find the access road closed. No problem I’ll park in Redcar and walk both ways. Knackered, a Little Stint was with the roosting waders. Not one person (or dog) was nice. @teesbirds.bsky.social
With a British list of roughly 385 after 35 plus years birding I’m hardly “hardcore” but today’s Mourning Dove on my regular(ish) Scilly holiday was special, summed up wonderfully on the local what’s app group by an islander. Not quite as epic as the Swift but it will do.
October 9, 2025 at 6:05 PM
With a British list of roughly 385 after 35 plus years birding I’m hardly “hardcore” but today’s Mourning Dove on my regular(ish) Scilly holiday was special, summed up wonderfully on the local what’s app group by an islander. Not quite as epic as the Swift but it will do.
Lovely mix of waders in soggy conditions at Castle Lake with black tailed godwit, ringed plover, dunlin, curlew sand, common sand, ruff and spotted redshank all present.
September 20, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Lovely mix of waders in soggy conditions at Castle Lake with black tailed godwit, ringed plover, dunlin, curlew sand, common sand, ruff and spotted redshank all present.
A nice mix of waders still at Castle Lake NR with Spotted Redshank and five Curlew Sandpipers still. As usual the birds were pretty distant. @durhambirdclub.bsky.social
September 8, 2025 at 5:03 PM
A nice mix of waders still at Castle Lake NR with Spotted Redshank and five Curlew Sandpipers still. As usual the birds were pretty distant. @durhambirdclub.bsky.social
Green and Wood Sandpipers, RSPB Saltholme earlier today. @teesbirds.bsky.social
July 24, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Green and Wood Sandpipers, RSPB Saltholme earlier today. @teesbirds.bsky.social
Green, Wood Sandpiper and Little Stint still RSBP Saltholme, 15:00. @teesbirds.bsky.social
July 24, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Green, Wood Sandpiper and Little Stint still RSBP Saltholme, 15:00. @teesbirds.bsky.social
Three Whimbrel over Saltholme Pools hide RSPB Saltholme, Garganey still present @teesbirds.bsky.social
July 19, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Three Whimbrel over Saltholme Pools hide RSPB Saltholme, Garganey still present @teesbirds.bsky.social
Wood Sandpiper in front of Saltholme Pools hide, RSPB Saltholme. @teesbirds.bsky.social
June 21, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Wood Sandpiper in front of Saltholme Pools hide, RSPB Saltholme. @teesbirds.bsky.social
Just completed reading this book, really enjoyed it, what a garden list!
June 20, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Just completed reading this book, really enjoyed it, what a garden list!
Gradually learning some of the ornithological history of the county I now call home, purchased this rather magnificent publication via the @durhambirdclub.bsky.social its a few years old but should keep me busy for many months. £10 what a bargain.
June 15, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Gradually learning some of the ornithological history of the county I now call home, purchased this rather magnificent publication via the @durhambirdclub.bsky.social its a few years old but should keep me busy for many months. £10 what a bargain.
Managed to get species 99, Tree Sparrow and 100, Pintail for my RSPB Saltholme list this morning on my 17th visit since moving to the north east in late March, weekends/ bank holidays only. Not managed a Saltholme twitch yet but I’m sure that will come!
May 18, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Managed to get species 99, Tree Sparrow and 100, Pintail for my RSPB Saltholme list this morning on my 17th visit since moving to the north east in late March, weekends/ bank holidays only. Not managed a Saltholme twitch yet but I’m sure that will come!
Really struggle at times with distance and light when birding from the Pool hide at RSPB Saltholme, the best I could do of this morning’s Curlew Sandpiper. @teesbirds.bsky.social
May 17, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Really struggle at times with distance and light when birding from the Pool hide at RSPB Saltholme, the best I could do of this morning’s Curlew Sandpiper. @teesbirds.bsky.social
Four Turnstones RSPB Saltholme from Saltholme Pools hide @teesbirds.bsky.social
May 17, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Four Turnstones RSPB Saltholme from Saltholme Pools hide @teesbirds.bsky.social
Two Egyptian Geese RSPB Saltholme from Saltholme Pools hide @teesbirds.bsky.social
May 17, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Two Egyptian Geese RSPB Saltholme from Saltholme Pools hide @teesbirds.bsky.social
Curlew Sandpiper with 15 Dunlin from Saltholme Pools hide, RSBP Saltholme @teesbirds.bsky.social
May 17, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Curlew Sandpiper with 15 Dunlin from Saltholme Pools hide, RSBP Saltholme @teesbirds.bsky.social
Not really doing them justice but video of the four Wood Sandpipers RSPB Saltholme. @teesbirds.bsky.social
May 11, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Not really doing them justice but video of the four Wood Sandpipers RSPB Saltholme. @teesbirds.bsky.social
Bittern “boomed” on four occasions earlier from Haverton watchpoint, Saltholme RSPB. @teesbirds.bsky.social
May 5, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Bittern “boomed” on four occasions earlier from Haverton watchpoint, Saltholme RSPB. @teesbirds.bsky.social
My 11th visit to RSPB Saltholme since moving to the North-East on 21st March, species list on 89 with Rook the latest, really enjoying the birding even though the locals tell me it’s a bit “static” currently. The most “record shot”Spotted Redshank in history still present. @teesbirds.bsky.social
April 27, 2025 at 3:53 PM
My 11th visit to RSPB Saltholme since moving to the North-East on 21st March, species list on 89 with Rook the latest, really enjoying the birding even though the locals tell me it’s a bit “static” currently. The most “record shot”Spotted Redshank in history still present. @teesbirds.bsky.social
Ring Ouzel Haverton gate, Saltholme @teesbirds.bsky.social
April 21, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Ring Ouzel Haverton gate, Saltholme @teesbirds.bsky.social
Wheatear and Yellow Wagtail Saltholme RSPB, no sound of yesterdays Grasshopper Warbler @teesbirds.bsky.social
April 13, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Wheatear and Yellow Wagtail Saltholme RSPB, no sound of yesterdays Grasshopper Warbler @teesbirds.bsky.social
Moving home and starting a new job hasn’t been conducive to birding but another visit to the RSPB Saltholme reserve gave 53 species in a couple of hours, can’t see me getting bored of the Avocets anytime soon. #TeesBirds #ukbirding
April 6, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Moving home and starting a new job hasn’t been conducive to birding but another visit to the RSPB Saltholme reserve gave 53 species in a couple of hours, can’t see me getting bored of the Avocets anytime soon. #TeesBirds #ukbirding
A desperately needed break from the house moving chaos gave me some time at Saltholme RSPB, hopefully one of my new local(ish) patches, the good thing about a change of patch, everything is new #TeesBirds.
March 26, 2025 at 2:07 PM
A desperately needed break from the house moving chaos gave me some time at Saltholme RSPB, hopefully one of my new local(ish) patches, the good thing about a change of patch, everything is new #TeesBirds.
Pending the usual stuff when moving house my 27 years patch birding at Sandbach Flashes is likely coming to an end.194 species(eBird), 250 WEBS counts,met great people,loved it.I remember running for Great Egret as a patch tick, see them most visits now. #patchbirding @sandbachflashes.bsky.social
March 9, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Pending the usual stuff when moving house my 27 years patch birding at Sandbach Flashes is likely coming to an end.194 species(eBird), 250 WEBS counts,met great people,loved it.I remember running for Great Egret as a patch tick, see them most visits now. #patchbirding @sandbachflashes.bsky.social
A couple of hours at Elton Hall Flash, Sandbach. Three Little Egrets flew over which is a decent count even though they are common enough. Six Black-tailed Godwits still around with a single Green Sandpiper. #patchbirding #ukbirding
March 4, 2025 at 4:11 PM
A couple of hours at Elton Hall Flash, Sandbach. Three Little Egrets flew over which is a decent count even though they are common enough. Six Black-tailed Godwits still around with a single Green Sandpiper. #patchbirding #ukbirding