Andy Mears
@andyfmears.bsky.social
Somerset birder with an itinerant habit
Another ‘what just happened!?’ Moment. Incredible local knowledge allowed us to see this roosting Zig-zag Heron at Limoncocha… with @stevepreddy.bsky.social and @robertkelsh.bsky.social Two flew in as it got dark (apparently) and we saw it in the spotlight in full dark. Marcelo’s pic👌
January 5, 2026 at 6:28 PM
Another ‘what just happened!?’ Moment. Incredible local knowledge allowed us to see this roosting Zig-zag Heron at Limoncocha… with @stevepreddy.bsky.social and @robertkelsh.bsky.social Two flew in as it got dark (apparently) and we saw it in the spotlight in full dark. Marcelo’s pic👌
A few pics from our terrific guide, Marcelo Quipo, over the last week… with @stevepreddy.bsky.social and @robertkelsh.bsky.social
December 27, 2025 at 12:17 AM
A few pics from our terrific guide, Marcelo Quipo, over the last week… with @stevepreddy.bsky.social and @robertkelsh.bsky.social
Simply amazing day in Ecuador yesterday with Marcelo, @stevepreddy.bsky.social, @robertkelsh.bsky.social and Rodrigo (and Angel helped us earlier). One of those occasions when the experience far exceeded the hype.
December 22, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Simply amazing day in Ecuador yesterday with Marcelo, @stevepreddy.bsky.social, @robertkelsh.bsky.social and Rodrigo (and Angel helped us earlier). One of those occasions when the experience far exceeded the hype.
Terrific at Long Drove nr Ham Wall today:
The smart new drake Ring-necked Duck still (thanks @glastobirder.bsky.social).
The duller drake RND still.
The drake Scaup still.
And a Garganey.
Good numbers of Wigeon, Pochard and Shoveler, plus a few Pintail.
The smart new drake Ring-necked Duck still (thanks @glastobirder.bsky.social).
The duller drake RND still.
The drake Scaup still.
And a Garganey.
Good numbers of Wigeon, Pochard and Shoveler, plus a few Pintail.
December 14, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Terrific at Long Drove nr Ham Wall today:
The smart new drake Ring-necked Duck still (thanks @glastobirder.bsky.social).
The duller drake RND still.
The drake Scaup still.
And a Garganey.
Good numbers of Wigeon, Pochard and Shoveler, plus a few Pintail.
The smart new drake Ring-necked Duck still (thanks @glastobirder.bsky.social).
The duller drake RND still.
The drake Scaup still.
And a Garganey.
Good numbers of Wigeon, Pochard and Shoveler, plus a few Pintail.
December 14, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Terrific at Long Drove nr Ham Wall today:
The smart new drake Ring-necked Duck still (thanks @glastobirder.bsky.social).
The duller drake RND still.
The drake Scaup still.
And a Garganey.
Good numbers of Wigeon, Pochard and Shoveler, plus a few Pintail.
The smart new drake Ring-necked Duck still (thanks @glastobirder.bsky.social).
The duller drake RND still.
The drake Scaup still.
And a Garganey.
Good numbers of Wigeon, Pochard and Shoveler, plus a few Pintail.
1. Watched a female Peregrine today isolate a Teal from a flying flock on the Avalon Marshes. The Teal dived into a lake to evade the falcon, which doggedly flew round waiting to pounce when the duck came up for air.
December 12, 2025 at 4:09 PM
1. Watched a female Peregrine today isolate a Teal from a flying flock on the Avalon Marshes. The Teal dived into a lake to evade the falcon, which doggedly flew round waiting to pounce when the duck came up for air.
Reposted by Andy Mears
Walking up to Turf from Powderham this boat came past heading for the LC Tern, we quickly set up scope on tern as sure it would be spooked. And yes they did just that😡 in front of many birders. LCT flew off and boat headed back down past us. Here they are, well ****** done😡😡!
December 10, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Walking up to Turf from Powderham this boat came past heading for the LC Tern, we quickly set up scope on tern as sure it would be spooked. And yes they did just that😡 in front of many birders. LCT flew off and boat headed back down past us. Here they are, well ****** done😡😡!
The Glossy Ibis dropped in to Catcott Lows at 4.18, seemingly from a westerly direction
December 10, 2025 at 4:22 PM
The Glossy Ibis dropped in to Catcott Lows at 4.18, seemingly from a westerly direction
Firecrest at the NE Shapwick Heath car park this morning
December 10, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Firecrest at the NE Shapwick Heath car park this morning
Loads of birds from VP1, Ham Wall, inc 1 Ruff. 2m Ring-necked Duck still, Decoy (and still no sign of the mysterious female).
December 8, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Loads of birds from VP1, Ham Wall, inc 1 Ruff. 2m Ring-necked Duck still, Decoy (and still no sign of the mysterious female).
Reposted by Andy Mears
Back to Cockwood today as my views of a distant 'orange-billed' Tern weren't great and certainly inconclusive on 03/12. But today though distantly perched it did one circuit our way and gave great in-flight scope views. A few quick shots with a 400mm lens. Happy I've seen Lesser Crested Tern👍
December 5, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Back to Cockwood today as my views of a distant 'orange-billed' Tern weren't great and certainly inconclusive on 03/12. But today though distantly perched it did one circuit our way and gave great in-flight scope views. A few quick shots with a 400mm lens. Happy I've seen Lesser Crested Tern👍
Levels birding so far today: 2f Goldeneye Noah’s, good views of Water Pipit Ham Wall Vp1, Firecrest at the Canada Farm parking, and the 2m Ring-necked Ducks at Decoy (yesterday’s reported female a bird-news typo I assume)
December 3, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Levels birding so far today: 2f Goldeneye Noah’s, good views of Water Pipit Ham Wall Vp1, Firecrest at the Canada Farm parking, and the 2m Ring-necked Ducks at Decoy (yesterday’s reported female a bird-news typo I assume)
The latest BB is now online and ’in the post’. I just wanted to say that these two brilliant photos feature, and they were taken by my good friend Gary Thoburn (not by me). Not sure why the credit slipped the net.
December 2, 2025 at 8:42 AM
The latest BB is now online and ’in the post’. I just wanted to say that these two brilliant photos feature, and they were taken by my good friend Gary Thoburn (not by me). Not sure why the credit slipped the net.
The Black-necked Grebe is still at Cheddar Res today
December 1, 2025 at 3:52 PM
The Black-necked Grebe is still at Cheddar Res today
Ring-necked Duck still, Blagdon lodge
November 30, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Ring-necked Duck still, Blagdon lodge
The 2 smart male Ring-necked Ducks are still at Decoy, Shapwick. Blackcap too. Otherwise, f Goosander on Noah’s and 25 Blackwit at Ham Wall.
November 26, 2025 at 1:42 PM
The 2 smart male Ring-necked Ducks are still at Decoy, Shapwick. Blackcap too. Otherwise, f Goosander on Noah’s and 25 Blackwit at Ham Wall.
Green-winged Teal showing from Bernard King hide, Chew. Looking north so light good but quite distant. Head looks great.
November 23, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Green-winged Teal showing from Bernard King hide, Chew. Looking north so light good but quite distant. Head looks great.
2 ad and 1 juv Whooper Swan in fields south of Westhay NNR car park👍
November 21, 2025 at 3:28 PM
2 ad and 1 juv Whooper Swan in fields south of Westhay NNR car park👍
Ring-necked Duck still, Blagdon Lodge
November 21, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Ring-necked Duck still, Blagdon Lodge
The 2 adult male Ring-necked Ducks are showing well at Decoy, Shapwick today and both looking pretty dapper
November 20, 2025 at 1:34 PM
The 2 adult male Ring-necked Ducks are showing well at Decoy, Shapwick today and both looking pretty dapper
Drakes of Scaup and Ring-necked Duck at Long Drove, nr Ham Wall today. This is the RND from Sharpham moved a short distance and now developing paler flanks.
November 19, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Drakes of Scaup and Ring-necked Duck at Long Drove, nr Ham Wall today. This is the RND from Sharpham moved a short distance and now developing paler flanks.
Ring-necked Duck still at Blagdon along with a Blackwit and a few Dunlin (no BN Grebe though). 7 Whoopers at Herons Green, Chew, plus 3 Goosander and a juv Peregrine around the lake.
November 18, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Ring-necked Duck still at Blagdon along with a Blackwit and a few Dunlin (no BN Grebe though). 7 Whoopers at Herons Green, Chew, plus 3 Goosander and a juv Peregrine around the lake.
Here’s the new viewing platform halfway along the south side of Stockland Marsh, Steart. 1f Goosander there today. 2 Little Stint still on a busy Otterhampton.
November 17, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Here’s the new viewing platform halfway along the south side of Stockland Marsh, Steart. 1f Goosander there today. 2 Little Stint still on a busy Otterhampton.
A Knot at Herons Green, Chew today. Still a few Whoopers around the lake, and an Avocet at Herriott’s End found by Bri.
November 15, 2025 at 11:58 AM
A Knot at Herons Green, Chew today. Still a few Whoopers around the lake, and an Avocet at Herriott’s End found by Bri.
The drake Ring-necked Duck is showing nicely at Decoy today, Shapwick. Pretty smart, unlike the other 1 or 2 that are around…
November 13, 2025 at 2:14 PM
The drake Ring-necked Duck is showing nicely at Decoy today, Shapwick. Pretty smart, unlike the other 1 or 2 that are around…