Graham Devine
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devine1974.bsky.social
Graham Devine
@devine1974.bsky.social
Trying to be the best person I can be. Reader, listener and birder
With nights drawing in and birding hours depleting, I watched this last night. I enjoyed watching new birders engaging in birdwatching in a tech enabled way. I also enjoyed how they weaved into the narrative, searching question around the ethics of what birders do #birds

youtu.be/zl-wAqplQAo?...
LISTERS: A Glimpse Into Extreme Birdwatching
YouTube video by owen reiser
youtu.be
September 21, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Straight from the office to South Huish this evening.

2 Grey Phalaropes showed well along the waters edge.

First time I have seen them being waders as all my other sightings have been on the sea

First time I’ve seen legs!

✅209

#birds
September 16, 2025 at 6:30 PM
In some pretty challenging conditions and a brief window in the rain this afternoon visited Bolt Tail

Sabine’s Gull, a Great Shearwater and half a dozen Balearic Shearwaters the best of it.

A Knot and 17 Barwits at South Milton before hand.
#birds
September 14, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Used my stay over in St Ives last night to make time to visit Ryan’s Field, Hayle.

Good numbers of birds on the marsh today, escaping the high tide

Spoonbill, Curlew Sand, Ruff & Knot the highlights amongst the regular species. Knot was a year tick and also to my surprise was Spoonbill.
#birds
September 12, 2025 at 10:47 AM
So, never give up, I used the opportunity of a black tie dinner in St Ives to try again at Siblyback. Pec. Sandpiper & Baird’s Sandpiper as well as Wheatear, Peregrine, Ruff and Curlew Sand #birds
September 11, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Sometimes, it just doesn’t work. A race to Siblyback after work to arrive in time to find the wader flock that may of held Pectoral Sandpiper and Baird’s Sandpiper. No sooner had I got close enough to scope them then the heavens opened. It made impossible to positively id any small waders. #birds
September 9, 2025 at 8:45 PM
A few weeks ago I arranged to take a friend to try and see Osprey. Then for the first bird we get bins onto, an Osprey! Flying down the Tavy to fish in the Tamar before heading off to eat the catch on a pylon behind the rail bridge. Sometimes the place, the tides and the dates make your luck #birds
September 7, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Back from Spain this afternoon. Went out for bread and milk. Caught up with the Juv. Rose Coloured Starling in Wembury. The first time I have seen 200 species in a year and still 4 months left! #birds
September 6, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Reposted by Graham Devine
Calling South West #birders

The BTO South West Conference is coming up, and it looks like a really interesting day

Talks about locally important species by local and @btobirds.bsky.social speakers - & I'll be there speaking about #Wildlife Gardening

More here: www.bto.org/our-work/eve...
September 4, 2025 at 9:50 AM
In the mountains of Andalucía, for my early walk. Booted Eagle, Crossbill, Crested Tit, Dartford Warbler & Hoopoe made for a change from the estuarine species of a few days ago. I was interested how vocal Booted Eagle was, their calls carrying across the wooded slopes was distinct. #birds
September 4, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Reposted by Graham Devine
How gorgeous is the wryneck currently at Exeter? Lifer yesterday and what a little beauty! It was a lot smaller than I expected! #ukbirding
September 1, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Early start to get to Guadlahore Marsh in Malaga. Well worth it for Gull Billed Tern at roost woke and left as soon as sun came up. Greater Flamingo, Temmicks Stint, Little Bittern and two very smart White-Headed Duck all really great to see, in total some 52 species recorded in 2 hours #birds#spain
September 2, 2025 at 9:15 AM
After two days of being close to but not able to get to Turf Locks at Exminster. I made the dash this afternoon to catch the confiding Wryneck which showed well on the short grass either side of the lock gates. #birds ✅199🫣
August 29, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Trip to Reading to pick up my son from Reading Festival. Stopped at Ham Wall which was so quiet, I was hoping for Hobby but local’s inform me this is now a scare passage bird. Better luck at RSPB Winterbourne Down, 8 Stone Curlew was ✅ 198 for 2025 #birds
August 25, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Stint seeking this morning. Blaxton was a blank at dawn, but a race to South Milton to beat the beachgoers was rewarded by a brace of Little Stint
a host of migrants also present; BT Godwit, Curlew Sandpiper, Ruff, Wheatear, 3 Yellow Wags #birds
August 23, 2025 at 8:09 AM
What’s not to like about a slow-mo Hummingbird Hawkmoth feeding on the Buddliea today.

#moths
August 21, 2025 at 9:43 PM
After dropping my son and his friends to the Reading Festival today, I took advantage on the way home to pop into Frensham Great Pool. It was pretty quiet but saw the juvenile Black Tern busy over the water. 196 ✅
#birds
August 20, 2025 at 6:10 PM
South Milton car park was jammed packed when arrived just after 8pm this evening.

Found the one free parking space and was rewarded with good views of the Wood Sandpiper that has been on site since yesterday

After a quiet spell the year list ticks upwards once more 195 ✅ #birds
August 12, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Had to head higher up in elevation and off patch this evening to track down ✅ 194 of 2025. A walk around Soussons on Dartmoor delivered with great views of Whinchat #birds
July 7, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Reposted by Graham Devine
Spotted next to two recently dug ponds/mini lakes in Cambridge. Feels like the city council may have listened to @davegoulson.bsky.social 🙂
June 24, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Off patch today in Lincolnshire. Change of biosphere brings different species. Lesser Whitethroat and a Marsh Harrier both additions to this years list. A Savi’s Warbler singing from the top of the reeds a lifer. Along with barn owl and tree sparrow a great pre breakfast walk. #rimacnnr #birds
June 21, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Reposted by Graham Devine
I know it's hot, but please don't let your dog swim if you have treated it with a spot-on flea treatment in the last 28 days
www.dailymail.co.uk/video/news/v...
Video: Dogs cool off in Hampstead Heath pool during UK heat wave | Daily Mail Online
A passerby captures footage of dogs trying to cool off by playing in Hampstead Heath pool in London, as a heat wave hits the United Kingdom, sending temperatures to record levels.
www.dailymail.co.uk
June 20, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Reposted by Graham Devine
Berry Head: a few of the likely 7-10 Risso’s Dolphin very early this morning. There was also one large, almost complete white, probably adult individual in with what I’d estimate were mostly adolescence individuals
June 20, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Never a dull moment #patchbirding finding a spotted flycatcher to keep me company whilst I mowed the outfield as flushed plenty of invertebrates into its waiting bill. #birds
June 19, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Out #patchbirding tonight to see my 189th species of bird for 2025

Nightjar churring and flying around me for a couple of wonderful moments #birds
June 16, 2025 at 10:15 PM