The Backward Birder
@backwardbirder.bsky.social
Old-fashioned birder. Member of The Irregulars. Lover of Wild places and wildlife. Reliably twenty years behind the times.
Also on Twitter {yes, it's still that to me} There's a blog out there somewhere, too...
Also on Twitter {yes, it's still that to me} There's a blog out there somewhere, too...
Pinned
You deserve something to look at, as I once again haven't uploaded my photos yet {This is getting to be a habit}. So perhaps something Special?
One from the Vaults, I hope you like it;
🤩
One from the Vaults, I hope you like it;
🤩
Saturday was a day of two halves.
After a morning of sunshine and Dartford Warblers, this double delight over Holne Lee was the herald of that which was to come.
🌈🌧️
Still, it looked pretty 🙃
After a morning of sunshine and Dartford Warblers, this double delight over Holne Lee was the herald of that which was to come.
🌈🌧️
Still, it looked pretty 🙃
November 11, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Saturday was a day of two halves.
After a morning of sunshine and Dartford Warblers, this double delight over Holne Lee was the herald of that which was to come.
🌈🌧️
Still, it looked pretty 🙃
After a morning of sunshine and Dartford Warblers, this double delight over Holne Lee was the herald of that which was to come.
🌈🌧️
Still, it looked pretty 🙃
After finding not much at the Nose 1st thing, I tried for Slav{s} from Cockwood Crossing.
The 🌧️ kindly waited until after the 11th hour, the grebes were less helpful 😔
More helpful was the @warrenbirding.bsky.social Garganey, who flew through my field of view while I was scanning the duck masses!
😄🦉
The 🌧️ kindly waited until after the 11th hour, the grebes were less helpful 😔
More helpful was the @warrenbirding.bsky.social Garganey, who flew through my field of view while I was scanning the duck masses!
😄🦉
November 9, 2025 at 9:51 PM
After finding not much at the Nose 1st thing, I tried for Slav{s} from Cockwood Crossing.
The 🌧️ kindly waited until after the 11th hour, the grebes were less helpful 😔
More helpful was the @warrenbirding.bsky.social Garganey, who flew through my field of view while I was scanning the duck masses!
😄🦉
The 🌧️ kindly waited until after the 11th hour, the grebes were less helpful 😔
More helpful was the @warrenbirding.bsky.social Garganey, who flew through my field of view while I was scanning the duck masses!
😄🦉
Text from @shiphaybirder.bsky.social {🎩} had me pulling a 180° from a trip to t'Moor for a full-fat genuine Patch Tick at the Nose today...
Dartford Warbler!! 🤩
✔️🦉
After showing well but just too quick for a photo on arrival, the influence of the Dread Artefact later gave me these;
Dartford Warbler!! 🤩
✔️🦉
After showing well but just too quick for a photo on arrival, the influence of the Dread Artefact later gave me these;
November 8, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Text from @shiphaybirder.bsky.social {🎩} had me pulling a 180° from a trip to t'Moor for a full-fat genuine Patch Tick at the Nose today...
Dartford Warbler!! 🤩
✔️🦉
After showing well but just too quick for a photo on arrival, the influence of the Dread Artefact later gave me these;
Dartford Warbler!! 🤩
✔️🦉
After showing well but just too quick for a photo on arrival, the influence of the Dread Artefact later gave me these;
11 Redwing flew NE over work this lunchtime.
These are my first Redwing of the Autumn... What?!?
😲😵🤯
🦉
These are my first Redwing of the Autumn... What?!?
😲😵🤯
🦉
November 6, 2025 at 7:38 PM
11 Redwing flew NE over work this lunchtime.
These are my first Redwing of the Autumn... What?!?
😲😵🤯
🦉
These are my first Redwing of the Autumn... What?!?
😲😵🤯
🦉
Waxcap Wednesday!
Nose waxcaps are showing up, so I am putting them up.
😁🍄
1/ Blackening and the white ones, Snowy and Cedarwood.
I am a big Blackening fan, second only to Parrot in my book, so they get double-picced.
Nose waxcaps are showing up, so I am putting them up.
😁🍄
1/ Blackening and the white ones, Snowy and Cedarwood.
I am a big Blackening fan, second only to Parrot in my book, so they get double-picced.
November 5, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Waxcap Wednesday!
Nose waxcaps are showing up, so I am putting them up.
😁🍄
1/ Blackening and the white ones, Snowy and Cedarwood.
I am a big Blackening fan, second only to Parrot in my book, so they get double-picced.
Nose waxcaps are showing up, so I am putting them up.
😁🍄
1/ Blackening and the white ones, Snowy and Cedarwood.
I am a big Blackening fan, second only to Parrot in my book, so they get double-picced.
Sunday Continues.
Having to be in town, I naturally had a look at Haldon Pier, where despite the high tide, there were no Purple Sands roosting, though there were 2 busily foraging amongst the boulders 😃
Later, there were at least 3 more on East Shag {the coolly-stratified rock off Meadfoot Beach}
🦉
Having to be in town, I naturally had a look at Haldon Pier, where despite the high tide, there were no Purple Sands roosting, though there were 2 busily foraging amongst the boulders 😃
Later, there were at least 3 more on East Shag {the coolly-stratified rock off Meadfoot Beach}
🦉
November 4, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Sunday Continues.
Having to be in town, I naturally had a look at Haldon Pier, where despite the high tide, there were no Purple Sands roosting, though there were 2 busily foraging amongst the boulders 😃
Later, there were at least 3 more on East Shag {the coolly-stratified rock off Meadfoot Beach}
🦉
Having to be in town, I naturally had a look at Haldon Pier, where despite the high tide, there were no Purple Sands roosting, though there were 2 busily foraging amongst the boulders 😃
Later, there were at least 3 more on East Shag {the coolly-stratified rock off Meadfoot Beach}
🦉
Sunday about the Patch & having failed to find BlackRed at the Nose {passing @shiphaybirder.bsky.social on my way out, who of course did..🙄}, I gave the coastal cover a going-over for warblers of a hopefully stripey nature.
What did I find? Well, have a look for yourselves;
🦉
What did I find? Well, have a look for yourselves;
🦉
November 3, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Sunday about the Patch & having failed to find BlackRed at the Nose {passing @shiphaybirder.bsky.social on my way out, who of course did..🙄}, I gave the coastal cover a going-over for warblers of a hopefully stripey nature.
What did I find? Well, have a look for yourselves;
🦉
What did I find? Well, have a look for yourselves;
🦉
Friday's photos.
{You may wish to approach with caution, the following thread contains seawatching photos by me.. 😱🤢}
🌊🔭
1/ Some pretty scenery. The changing weather from Glonk Corner;
{You may wish to approach with caution, the following thread contains seawatching photos by me.. 😱🤢}
🌊🔭
1/ Some pretty scenery. The changing weather from Glonk Corner;
November 1, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Friday's photos.
{You may wish to approach with caution, the following thread contains seawatching photos by me.. 😱🤢}
🌊🔭
1/ Some pretty scenery. The changing weather from Glonk Corner;
{You may wish to approach with caution, the following thread contains seawatching photos by me.. 😱🤢}
🌊🔭
1/ Some pretty scenery. The changing weather from Glonk Corner;
Hope's Nose 0750-1405. Less rain, lots of birds! Timed counts as Gannets, Kittis, & auks passing in big numbers at all ranges; 1341 in 1st 10mins 😵
3 Sooty, 1 Balearic, 2 Manx, 1 Stormy, 1 Little Gull, 2 Pom, 10 Arctic Skua, 1 GND {landed S of Ore St.}, 5 C Scoter, 8 Med Gull, breaching ABF Tuna!
🦉🐟
3 Sooty, 1 Balearic, 2 Manx, 1 Stormy, 1 Little Gull, 2 Pom, 10 Arctic Skua, 1 GND {landed S of Ore St.}, 5 C Scoter, 8 Med Gull, breaching ABF Tuna!
🦉🐟
October 31, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Hope's Nose 0750-1405. Less rain, lots of birds! Timed counts as Gannets, Kittis, & auks passing in big numbers at all ranges; 1341 in 1st 10mins 😵
3 Sooty, 1 Balearic, 2 Manx, 1 Stormy, 1 Little Gull, 2 Pom, 10 Arctic Skua, 1 GND {landed S of Ore St.}, 5 C Scoter, 8 Med Gull, breaching ABF Tuna!
🦉🐟
3 Sooty, 1 Balearic, 2 Manx, 1 Stormy, 1 Little Gull, 2 Pom, 10 Arctic Skua, 1 GND {landed S of Ore St.}, 5 C Scoter, 8 Med Gull, breaching ABF Tuna!
🦉🐟
With a mix of inspiration & determination, I went up on t'Moor in search of more Ouzels.
I found lots of sideways drizzle...
Lunch in the lee of a nice wall was enlivened by a visitor, however.
After 📷 was taken, this 1w Sparrowhawk came zooming towards me & zipped over the wall just to my left 😲😍
🦉
I found lots of sideways drizzle...
Lunch in the lee of a nice wall was enlivened by a visitor, however.
After 📷 was taken, this 1w Sparrowhawk came zooming towards me & zipped over the wall just to my left 😲😍
🦉
![Look at those feets!
1cy Sparrowhawk - probably a male - on a post in the dizzle, Dartmoor.
After I took this he came zooming towards me at zero feet, popping over the wall I was sat by, 3.5m to my left {yes, I got up and measured]
Wowzer!](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:j23gq7jqlrngio4l7qyblr4j/bafkreifya2esmm372vujyg3cvsflodfxrokkveca6nvopsy3rnfmantk6i@jpeg)
October 28, 2025 at 7:34 PM
With a mix of inspiration & determination, I went up on t'Moor in search of more Ouzels.
I found lots of sideways drizzle...
Lunch in the lee of a nice wall was enlivened by a visitor, however.
After 📷 was taken, this 1w Sparrowhawk came zooming towards me & zipped over the wall just to my left 😲😍
🦉
I found lots of sideways drizzle...
Lunch in the lee of a nice wall was enlivened by a visitor, however.
After 📷 was taken, this 1w Sparrowhawk came zooming towards me & zipped over the wall just to my left 😲😍
🦉
Nose 1st thing Sunday; some vismig, most notably a {non-landing} Brambling, though not the numbers elsewhere, as per.
Bluefin Tuna were evident well out in what turned into a very spread feeding event, with 2 Arctic Skuas attracted to the 00's of Kittiwakes & Gannets.
This chap posed nicely!
🦉
Bluefin Tuna were evident well out in what turned into a very spread feeding event, with 2 Arctic Skuas attracted to the 00's of Kittiwakes & Gannets.
This chap posed nicely!
🦉
October 27, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Nose 1st thing Sunday; some vismig, most notably a {non-landing} Brambling, though not the numbers elsewhere, as per.
Bluefin Tuna were evident well out in what turned into a very spread feeding event, with 2 Arctic Skuas attracted to the 00's of Kittiwakes & Gannets.
This chap posed nicely!
🦉
Bluefin Tuna were evident well out in what turned into a very spread feeding event, with 2 Arctic Skuas attracted to the 00's of Kittiwakes & Gannets.
This chap posed nicely!
🦉
Patch today with again nothing astounding to report - though sunshine & strong wind is not exactly helpful weather.! - now that Firecrests are routine {still going 😲 at that}.
Technical issues are sort-of sorted, so here is something new to show;
Lilac Fibrecap!
🍄
{What?!? Fungi are funky. 🙃}
Technical issues are sort-of sorted, so here is something new to show;
Lilac Fibrecap!
🍄
{What?!? Fungi are funky. 🙃}
October 25, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Patch today with again nothing astounding to report - though sunshine & strong wind is not exactly helpful weather.! - now that Firecrests are routine {still going 😲 at that}.
Technical issues are sort-of sorted, so here is something new to show;
Lilac Fibrecap!
🍄
{What?!? Fungi are funky. 🙃}
Technical issues are sort-of sorted, so here is something new to show;
Lilac Fibrecap!
🍄
{What?!? Fungi are funky. 🙃}
Patch Patrol this morning & with overnight clear skies there was little moving; handful of standard passerines, best a Stock Dove. H Nose with @shiphaybirder.bsky.social & most notable 10+ C Scoter near the Oysterbeds.
Bishop's Walk had Tit & 'crest bands. Still no Divers on or over the sea... 😕
🦉
Bishop's Walk had Tit & 'crest bands. Still no Divers on or over the sea... 😕
🦉
October 24, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Patch Patrol this morning & with overnight clear skies there was little moving; handful of standard passerines, best a Stock Dove. H Nose with @shiphaybirder.bsky.social & most notable 10+ C Scoter near the Oysterbeds.
Bishop's Walk had Tit & 'crest bands. Still no Divers on or over the sea... 😕
🦉
Bishop's Walk had Tit & 'crest bands. Still no Divers on or over the sea... 😕
🦉
Hope's Nose today was dizzlier than forecast and I unexpectedly ran out of time before the good weather ended, though most passage was early on.
That said, holding on for 'just five more minutes' paid off with a Bonxie!
🦉
1/
That said, holding on for 'just five more minutes' paid off with a Bonxie!
🦉
1/
![Adult winter plumage Mediterranean Gulls, tripping the light fantastic.
Three passed, with four more [including a 1w and 2w] attending the slick.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:j23gq7jqlrngio4l7qyblr4j/bafkreidlg3tnhtgeix5elllwkc25w4p4wzloho5olo3lmbmr2llfzky4pm@jpeg)
October 19, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Hope's Nose today was dizzlier than forecast and I unexpectedly ran out of time before the good weather ended, though most passage was early on.
That said, holding on for 'just five more minutes' paid off with a Bonxie!
🦉
1/
That said, holding on for 'just five more minutes' paid off with a Bonxie!
🦉
1/
Emsworthy yesterday morning was busy with birders.. and thrushes!
😄
First up, we have some scenery, and an actual shot of an actual Ring Ouzel!!
🦉
😄
First up, we have some scenery, and an actual shot of an actual Ring Ouzel!!
🦉
October 18, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Emsworthy yesterday morning was busy with birders.. and thrushes!
😄
First up, we have some scenery, and an actual shot of an actual Ring Ouzel!!
🦉
😄
First up, we have some scenery, and an actual shot of an actual Ring Ouzel!!
🦉
Also while out berry-scouting, I found my first waxcaps of the year!
😁
At one of the Bronze Age pounds up the Avon valley; typical well rained but also drained site.
🍄
😁
At one of the Bronze Age pounds up the Avon valley; typical well rained but also drained site.
🍄
October 16, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Also while out berry-scouting, I found my first waxcaps of the year!
😁
At one of the Bronze Age pounds up the Avon valley; typical well rained but also drained site.
🍄
😁
At one of the Bronze Age pounds up the Avon valley; typical well rained but also drained site.
🍄
Ok, here's a Challenge for you!
🤔
Bird exiting at speed from the valley below Avon Dam yesterday.
There are GoldStars and Kudos on offer for anyone who gets it right {there are degrees of right, btw}
{Oh, and @shiphaybirder.bsky.social is disqualified as he already knows! 😛}
🤔
Bird exiting at speed from the valley below Avon Dam yesterday.
There are GoldStars and Kudos on offer for anyone who gets it right {there are degrees of right, btw}
{Oh, and @shiphaybirder.bsky.social is disqualified as he already knows! 😛}
October 12, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Ok, here's a Challenge for you!
🤔
Bird exiting at speed from the valley below Avon Dam yesterday.
There are GoldStars and Kudos on offer for anyone who gets it right {there are degrees of right, btw}
{Oh, and @shiphaybirder.bsky.social is disqualified as he already knows! 😛}
🤔
Bird exiting at speed from the valley below Avon Dam yesterday.
There are GoldStars and Kudos on offer for anyone who gets it right {there are degrees of right, btw}
{Oh, and @shiphaybirder.bsky.social is disqualified as he already knows! 😛}
You deserve some content {that isn't gulls or fungi 🙄}, so here are three days' worth of up-far-too-early-in-the-mornings;
🙃
🙃
October 11, 2025 at 11:34 PM
You deserve some content {that isn't gulls or fungi 🙄}, so here are three days' worth of up-far-too-early-in-the-mornings;
🙃
🙃
::Whispers:: Lammergeier.....
😏
😏
October 8, 2025 at 6:22 PM
::Whispers:: Lammergeier.....
😏
😏
Circumstances led to a weekend patrolling the Patch. Migrants passing despite frisky weather included Mipits, Skylarks + a lone House Martin on Sat. 2 Wheatear @ the Nose, 4+ Com Dolphin N of it.
Today & looking more inland a scattering of Chiffs + a Grey Wagtail near Meadfoot.
Firecrests all over!🦉
Today & looking more inland a scattering of Chiffs + a Grey Wagtail near Meadfoot.
Firecrests all over!🦉
October 5, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Circumstances led to a weekend patrolling the Patch. Migrants passing despite frisky weather included Mipits, Skylarks + a lone House Martin on Sat. 2 Wheatear @ the Nose, 4+ Com Dolphin N of it.
Today & looking more inland a scattering of Chiffs + a Grey Wagtail near Meadfoot.
Firecrests all over!🦉
Today & looking more inland a scattering of Chiffs + a Grey Wagtail near Meadfoot.
Firecrests all over!🦉
Bowling Green post-high tide yesterday was suddenly much livelier as a Pectoral Sandpiper appeared amongst the moulting waterbirds.!!
😃
Fortunately, despite being a bit flighty, it not only posed for pics, but stayed visible for a goodly twitch.
Result! 😁
Bonus - if brief - Glossy Ibis, too 🦉
😃
Fortunately, despite being a bit flighty, it not only posed for pics, but stayed visible for a goodly twitch.
Result! 😁
Bonus - if brief - Glossy Ibis, too 🦉
September 29, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Bowling Green post-high tide yesterday was suddenly much livelier as a Pectoral Sandpiper appeared amongst the moulting waterbirds.!!
😃
Fortunately, despite being a bit flighty, it not only posed for pics, but stayed visible for a goodly twitch.
Result! 😁
Bonus - if brief - Glossy Ibis, too 🦉
😃
Fortunately, despite being a bit flighty, it not only posed for pics, but stayed visible for a goodly twitch.
Result! 😁
Bonus - if brief - Glossy Ibis, too 🦉
Yesterday morning I spent about 2.5 hours at Cockwood Crossing, not seeing any sign of the previous day's Slavonian Grebe.
Bugger.
There was a nice Common Scoter to look at and the expected waterfowl and waders knocking about. Slightly vexed, I decided to go and sulk at Bowling Green for a bit...
🦉
Bugger.
There was a nice Common Scoter to look at and the expected waterfowl and waders knocking about. Slightly vexed, I decided to go and sulk at Bowling Green for a bit...
🦉
September 29, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Yesterday morning I spent about 2.5 hours at Cockwood Crossing, not seeing any sign of the previous day's Slavonian Grebe.
Bugger.
There was a nice Common Scoter to look at and the expected waterfowl and waders knocking about. Slightly vexed, I decided to go and sulk at Bowling Green for a bit...
🦉
Bugger.
There was a nice Common Scoter to look at and the expected waterfowl and waders knocking about. Slightly vexed, I decided to go and sulk at Bowling Green for a bit...
🦉
A post about fungi gets Likes?!?
😲
::Faints::
So maybe possibly you might like some more?
🥺
🍄
😲
::Faints::
So maybe possibly you might like some more?
🥺
🍄
September 26, 2025 at 6:04 PM
A post about fungi gets Likes?!?
😲
::Faints::
So maybe possibly you might like some more?
🥺
🍄
😲
::Faints::
So maybe possibly you might like some more?
🥺
🍄
Found while looking for fungi last weekend.
The scaly purple caps had me thinking of Violet Webcap {a rarity}, but on closer inspection it is - as always - a deceiver!
Amethyst Deceiver in this case.
Gorgeous things, despite being a little munched, and on my hoped-for list in their own right.
😁
🍄
The scaly purple caps had me thinking of Violet Webcap {a rarity}, but on closer inspection it is - as always - a deceiver!
Amethyst Deceiver in this case.
Gorgeous things, despite being a little munched, and on my hoped-for list in their own right.
😁
🍄
September 25, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Found while looking for fungi last weekend.
The scaly purple caps had me thinking of Violet Webcap {a rarity}, but on closer inspection it is - as always - a deceiver!
Amethyst Deceiver in this case.
Gorgeous things, despite being a little munched, and on my hoped-for list in their own right.
😁
🍄
The scaly purple caps had me thinking of Violet Webcap {a rarity}, but on closer inspection it is - as always - a deceiver!
Amethyst Deceiver in this case.
Gorgeous things, despite being a little munched, and on my hoped-for list in their own right.
😁
🍄
Wandering about Fernworthy the other day, I found fungi a bit thin on the ground {ho ho} and while birds were more evident - or at least noisier.! - they were also feeling more elusive.
Observe;
🍄🦉
Observe;
🍄🦉
September 22, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Wandering about Fernworthy the other day, I found fungi a bit thin on the ground {ho ho} and while birds were more evident - or at least noisier.! - they were also feeling more elusive.
Observe;
🍄🦉
Observe;
🍄🦉