James Hinley
@jimmyhinley.bsky.social
Father of 4, fisherman, birder with a busy career in construction
Bluethroat at South Gare this afternoon Showed well once re-found. Feels late in the year for one, happy it showed up. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social
November 16, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Bluethroat at South Gare this afternoon Showed well once re-found. Feels late in the year for one, happy it showed up. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social
Another Urban Mega find by @ianfoster1971.bsky.social with the Slavonian Grebe in Middlesbrough Docks today. Guillemot also. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social
November 15, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Another Urban Mega find by @ianfoster1971.bsky.social with the Slavonian Grebe in Middlesbrough Docks today. Guillemot also. @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social
Olive-backed Pipit today at South Gare. Much better views for me this time compared with the Hartlepool bird a couple years back. Great stuff
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
November 8, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Olive-backed Pipit today at South Gare. Much better views for me this time compared with the Hartlepool bird a couple years back. Great stuff
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
These two Velvet Scoter had a brief flight into Middlesbrough earlier before drifting back downstream with the tide. Well picked up by @ianfoster1971.bsky.social , another urban mega!
Also 3 Long-tailed Ducks flew up river into Middlesbrough! @teesbirds.bsky.social
Also 3 Long-tailed Ducks flew up river into Middlesbrough! @teesbirds.bsky.social
October 26, 2025 at 11:25 AM
These two Velvet Scoter had a brief flight into Middlesbrough earlier before drifting back downstream with the tide. Well picked up by @ianfoster1971.bsky.social , another urban mega!
Also 3 Long-tailed Ducks flew up river into Middlesbrough! @teesbirds.bsky.social
Also 3 Long-tailed Ducks flew up river into Middlesbrough! @teesbirds.bsky.social
The superb Pallas’s Warbler at Trow Quarry this afternoon was a long overdue lifer for me. Also 2 YBW. Thanks to the finder @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social
October 19, 2025 at 2:53 PM
The superb Pallas’s Warbler at Trow Quarry this afternoon was a long overdue lifer for me. Also 2 YBW. Thanks to the finder @teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social
Recent birds at Albert Park. The Casp gull was a boro tick, great find by Ian Foster
October 13, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Recent birds at Albert Park. The Casp gull was a boro tick, great find by Ian Foster
Not wanting to miss out on the Dotterel action, I decided on a quick trip up the Northumberland coast this evening to Druridge Ponds. @teesbirds.bsky.social
May 6, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Not wanting to miss out on the Dotterel action, I decided on a quick trip up the Northumberland coast this evening to Druridge Ponds. @teesbirds.bsky.social
Menorca 6: Rain just before dawn and S’ly winds, I visited the SE point of Alcafaur. On the cliffs, a peregrine watched on and some Balearic Shearwaters passed. Plenty of Thekla’s about and I was pleased to find a moustached warbler which was singing and briefly showing from some nearby bushes.
April 25, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Menorca 6: Rain just before dawn and S’ly winds, I visited the SE point of Alcafaur. On the cliffs, a peregrine watched on and some Balearic Shearwaters passed. Plenty of Thekla’s about and I was pleased to find a moustached warbler which was singing and briefly showing from some nearby bushes.
Menorca 5: A visit to Punta Nati (the NW point of the island) produced plenty of thekla’s &, gtr short-toed lark (one of which was snatched mid air by an Eleonora’s, an incredible sight!), tawny pipits and corn buntings. A pair of Egyptian Vultures and a distant harrier sp. made it a special visit
April 21, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Menorca 5: A visit to Punta Nati (the NW point of the island) produced plenty of thekla’s &, gtr short-toed lark (one of which was snatched mid air by an Eleonora’s, an incredible sight!), tawny pipits and corn buntings. A pair of Egyptian Vultures and a distant harrier sp. made it a special visit
Menorca 4: Son Parc wetlands
Access to a viewable position was a challenge. Worth it though, with 4 Ferruginous Duck, a Western Swamphen and woodchat shrike the highlights. No pics, as SD card has somehow gone missing, so here’s a booted eagle and Italian wall lizard instead!
Access to a viewable position was a challenge. Worth it though, with 4 Ferruginous Duck, a Western Swamphen and woodchat shrike the highlights. No pics, as SD card has somehow gone missing, so here’s a booted eagle and Italian wall lizard instead!
April 19, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Menorca 4: Son Parc wetlands
Access to a viewable position was a challenge. Worth it though, with 4 Ferruginous Duck, a Western Swamphen and woodchat shrike the highlights. No pics, as SD card has somehow gone missing, so here’s a booted eagle and Italian wall lizard instead!
Access to a viewable position was a challenge. Worth it though, with 4 Ferruginous Duck, a Western Swamphen and woodchat shrike the highlights. No pics, as SD card has somehow gone missing, so here’s a booted eagle and Italian wall lizard instead!
Menorca 3: Son Bou Wetlands
A circular route ended up being a 3hr walk through a ravine when I realised some of the path was impassable. Beautiful place, with highlights being Tawny Pipit, Gtr Flamingo, B-W Stilt, Turtle Dove, Marsh Harrier, Greenshank & Glossy Ibis
A circular route ended up being a 3hr walk through a ravine when I realised some of the path was impassable. Beautiful place, with highlights being Tawny Pipit, Gtr Flamingo, B-W Stilt, Turtle Dove, Marsh Harrier, Greenshank & Glossy Ibis
April 18, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Menorca 3: Son Bou Wetlands
A circular route ended up being a 3hr walk through a ravine when I realised some of the path was impassable. Beautiful place, with highlights being Tawny Pipit, Gtr Flamingo, B-W Stilt, Turtle Dove, Marsh Harrier, Greenshank & Glossy Ibis
A circular route ended up being a 3hr walk through a ravine when I realised some of the path was impassable. Beautiful place, with highlights being Tawny Pipit, Gtr Flamingo, B-W Stilt, Turtle Dove, Marsh Harrier, Greenshank & Glossy Ibis
Menorca 2: S’albufera des Grau. A visit to this spectacular location resulted in an osprey at dawn and a distant Kentish plover and amongst the usual wildfowl. A Zitting Cisticola also landed near the watchpoint. En route back to the car, a Golden Oriole called twice and was briefly seen in flight.
April 16, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Menorca 2: S’albufera des Grau. A visit to this spectacular location resulted in an osprey at dawn and a distant Kentish plover and amongst the usual wildfowl. A Zitting Cisticola also landed near the watchpoint. En route back to the car, a Golden Oriole called twice and was briefly seen in flight.
Menorca 1: A nice trail through shrub and along the coast near the villa at Cala en Porter has provided Alpine Swift, Blue Rock Thrush, Hoopoe, Spotless starling, Stone Curlew (at dusk) and Raven overhead, amongst the usual suspects. A Scops Owl has regularly called after dark.
April 16, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Menorca 1: A nice trail through shrub and along the coast near the villa at Cala en Porter has provided Alpine Swift, Blue Rock Thrush, Hoopoe, Spotless starling, Stone Curlew (at dusk) and Raven overhead, amongst the usual suspects. A Scops Owl has regularly called after dark.
Eider on the River Tees near transporter this evening. A new boro tick for me, thanks to @ianfoster1971.bsky.social and @teesbirds.bsky.social for finding / relocating 👍
March 25, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Eider on the River Tees near transporter this evening. A new boro tick for me, thanks to @ianfoster1971.bsky.social and @teesbirds.bsky.social for finding / relocating 👍
Drake Shoveler, Albert Park this morning, along with two drake goosander @teesbirds.bsky.social #NEbirding
January 19, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Drake Shoveler, Albert Park this morning, along with two drake goosander @teesbirds.bsky.social #NEbirding
Great to catch up with the Long-tailed duck yesterday on the tees. After dipping one last year, it was good to tick this one off for boro.
Further upstream at the barrage, a seal has been enjoying some easy pickings recently….
#NEbirding
Further upstream at the barrage, a seal has been enjoying some easy pickings recently….
#NEbirding
January 18, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Great to catch up with the Long-tailed duck yesterday on the tees. After dipping one last year, it was good to tick this one off for boro.
Further upstream at the barrage, a seal has been enjoying some easy pickings recently….
#NEbirding
Further upstream at the barrage, a seal has been enjoying some easy pickings recently….
#NEbirding
Reposted by James Hinley
Average day off work… literally thousands of quality wildfowl included 2 drake Smew, Beans, White-fronts, Barnacles and Brents. Plus the biggest flock of Shore Larks I’ve ever seen, Hen Harrier… oh, and this fella… pic courtesy of Chris Bell 😊
January 17, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Average day off work… literally thousands of quality wildfowl included 2 drake Smew, Beans, White-fronts, Barnacles and Brents. Plus the biggest flock of Shore Larks I’ve ever seen, Hen Harrier… oh, and this fella… pic courtesy of Chris Bell 😊
Great to see the American Buff-bellied Pipit at Ross Sands, Northumberland earlier today. Not the best photo as only caught it skulking a bit before it took flight.
Also 2x distant Redhead Smew at Widdrington Moor lake on the way home.
Also 2x distant Redhead Smew at Widdrington Moor lake on the way home.
January 12, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Great to see the American Buff-bellied Pipit at Ross Sands, Northumberland earlier today. Not the best photo as only caught it skulking a bit before it took flight.
Also 2x distant Redhead Smew at Widdrington Moor lake on the way home.
Also 2x distant Redhead Smew at Widdrington Moor lake on the way home.
A couple of lifers….fantastic views of the Druridge Bay White-billed diver followed by more distant views of the South Shields Ross’s Gull.
January 9, 2025 at 6:46 PM
A couple of lifers….fantastic views of the Druridge Bay White-billed diver followed by more distant views of the South Shields Ross’s Gull.
Shoveler and wigeon at Maze Park, Boro side @teesbirds.bsky.social
January 8, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Shoveler and wigeon at Maze Park, Boro side @teesbirds.bsky.social
The river tees grayling were playing ball in the freezing conditions this morning, the net decided to freeze though….
January 4, 2025 at 8:13 PM
The river tees grayling were playing ball in the freezing conditions this morning, the net decided to freeze though….
Some highlights of 2024, a year which has included 19 lifers from the North East.
Have also ended up with 120 Boro ticks for 2024, falling short of my best 123. Some plans for 2025 including a couple of trips abroad….
Have also ended up with 120 Boro ticks for 2024, falling short of my best 123. Some plans for 2025 including a couple of trips abroad….
December 29, 2024 at 5:42 PM
Some highlights of 2024, a year which has included 19 lifers from the North East.
Have also ended up with 120 Boro ticks for 2024, falling short of my best 123. Some plans for 2025 including a couple of trips abroad….
Have also ended up with 120 Boro ticks for 2024, falling short of my best 123. Some plans for 2025 including a couple of trips abroad….