Joe Sargent
@joesargent.bsky.social
Mardy northerner stuck down south complaining about all the birds he dips.
For my artwork, check my insta: joesargeart
For my artwork, check my insta: joesargeart
Fascinating turn that my mum found my old diary for our Cali & Florida trips where I noted all birds we saw. Apparently skimmer, black-footed albatross and frigatebird are all on my life list! And sooty shearwater last year wasn't actually a lifer!
February 8, 2026 at 8:21 PM
Fascinating turn that my mum found my old diary for our Cali & Florida trips where I noted all birds we saw. Apparently skimmer, black-footed albatross and frigatebird are all on my life list! And sooty shearwater last year wasn't actually a lifer!
Throwback to when I got published in the Daily Mirror with a fake agony aunt letter
February 8, 2026 at 4:35 PM
Throwback to when I got published in the Daily Mirror with a fake agony aunt letter
Walk round Buttermere usually pretty birdless. Managed a giant flock of fieldfares, tufted ducks, 3 goosanders, common gulls, a singing dipper on the lakeside, and, amazingly 90% sure a bloody MERLIN flew overhead and across the lake (jackdaw-sized, falcon-shaped, all brown). My first 1 in years
February 2, 2026 at 2:39 PM
Walk round Buttermere usually pretty birdless. Managed a giant flock of fieldfares, tufted ducks, 3 goosanders, common gulls, a singing dipper on the lakeside, and, amazingly 90% sure a bloody MERLIN flew overhead and across the lake (jackdaw-sized, falcon-shaped, all brown). My first 1 in years
FINALLY seen my first coal tit of the year. 2 days ago got my first siskins. Both in my parents' garden which is always swarming with my birds. Always several siskins on the feeders despite no conifers around
February 1, 2026 at 10:17 AM
FINALLY seen my first coal tit of the year. 2 days ago got my first siskins. Both in my parents' garden which is always swarming with my birds. Always several siskins on the feeders despite no conifers around
Reposted by Joe Sargent
Tears of joy! SCOTLAND HAS JUST PASSED SWIFT BRICKS INTO LAW unanimously!
4 years of asking England & Scotland sorts it in a month led by ACE MARK RUSKELL MSP ♥️The RELIEF is unreal! Tell England to follow 🏴by emailing PlanningPolicyConsultation@communities.gov.uk now!WOOP!
4 years of asking England & Scotland sorts it in a month led by ACE MARK RUSKELL MSP ♥️The RELIEF is unreal! Tell England to follow 🏴by emailing PlanningPolicyConsultation@communities.gov.uk now!WOOP!
January 27, 2026 at 9:26 PM
Tears of joy! SCOTLAND HAS JUST PASSED SWIFT BRICKS INTO LAW unanimously!
4 years of asking England & Scotland sorts it in a month led by ACE MARK RUSKELL MSP ♥️The RELIEF is unreal! Tell England to follow 🏴by emailing PlanningPolicyConsultation@communities.gov.uk now!WOOP!
4 years of asking England & Scotland sorts it in a month led by ACE MARK RUSKELL MSP ♥️The RELIEF is unreal! Tell England to follow 🏴by emailing PlanningPolicyConsultation@communities.gov.uk now!WOOP!
Every ebird checklist in England should be read with the assumption that there were also at least 45 woodpigeons present.
January 26, 2026 at 9:53 AM
Every ebird checklist in England should be read with the assumption that there were also at least 45 woodpigeons present.
On episode 1 of season 5 Stranger Things. Eurasian wren singing in the background. May have to stop there. Completely broke my immersion
January 21, 2026 at 4:50 PM
On episode 1 of season 5 Stranger Things. Eurasian wren singing in the background. May have to stop there. Completely broke my immersion
Nice to get some rain for a change
January 19, 2026 at 2:57 PM
Nice to get some rain for a change
Seen marsh tit and crested tit this year but not coal tit 😂 Heard quite a few singing though
January 19, 2026 at 9:43 AM
Seen marsh tit and crested tit this year but not coal tit 😂 Heard quite a few singing though
Nice to get some rain for a change
January 18, 2026 at 3:08 PM
Nice to get some rain for a change
Family jaunt at Old Sneed Park Nature Reserve and Bishops Knoll Wood got me 1 male sprawk, 2 buzzards behaving like sprawks in the woods, stock dove pair (1 in song and display flight) and even a firecrest!
@bristolbirding.bsky.social
(did not expect a firecrest this early on my UK list!)
@bristolbirding.bsky.social
(did not expect a firecrest this early on my UK list!)
January 17, 2026 at 3:33 PM
Family jaunt at Old Sneed Park Nature Reserve and Bishops Knoll Wood got me 1 male sprawk, 2 buzzards behaving like sprawks in the woods, stock dove pair (1 in song and display flight) and even a firecrest!
@bristolbirding.bsky.social
(did not expect a firecrest this early on my UK list!)
@bristolbirding.bsky.social
(did not expect a firecrest this early on my UK list!)
Been itching to get to New Passage to see the 16 white-fronted geese providing close views. Of course when I finally go there were only 3, basically as distant as they are at Slimbridge 😂 The curse lives into 2026 🙌🙌
January 10, 2026 at 6:22 PM
Been itching to get to New Passage to see the 16 white-fronted geese providing close views. Of course when I finally go there were only 3, basically as distant as they are at Slimbridge 😂 The curse lives into 2026 🙌🙌
Forgot to bring my binoculars to Dyrham Park but did see 4 little grebe on the ornamental pond and a green woodpecker. Plus redwings on the berries
January 10, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Forgot to bring my binoculars to Dyrham Park but did see 4 little grebe on the ornamental pond and a green woodpecker. Plus redwings on the berries
A snowy walk where I actually saw my first snipe of the year flying very clumsily at height.
Think it must have been woodcocks I saw this morning
Think it must have been woodcocks I saw this morning
January 5, 2026 at 3:09 PM
A snowy walk where I actually saw my first snipe of the year flying very clumsily at height.
Think it must have been woodcocks I saw this morning
Think it must have been woodcocks I saw this morning
Question for more experienced birders: when snipes fly at height is it more relaxed than their manic wingbeats and swerving when flushed? Saw 3 long-beaked birds flying very steadily at height over some fields. More likely to be woodcocks?
January 5, 2026 at 1:41 PM
Question for more experienced birders: when snipes fly at height is it more relaxed than their manic wingbeats and swerving when flushed? Saw 3 long-beaked birds flying very steadily at height over some fields. More likely to be woodcocks?
Driving for 2 hours, sent off the motorway by satnav into a foot of snow before turning around. Stuck in France. At least we have a place to stay 😂 £80 worse off from changing the tunnel booking.
Plus side, maybe saw my first ever woodcocks flying high over a snowy field above the car
Plus side, maybe saw my first ever woodcocks flying high over a snowy field above the car
January 5, 2026 at 1:37 PM
Driving for 2 hours, sent off the motorway by satnav into a foot of snow before turning around. Stuck in France. At least we have a place to stay 😂 £80 worse off from changing the tunnel booking.
Plus side, maybe saw my first ever woodcocks flying high over a snowy field above the car
Plus side, maybe saw my first ever woodcocks flying high over a snowy field above the car
Still in France since the start of the year. My target for 2026 will be 150 species. Need to be realistic with a 6-month-old! Went for a walk in the woods today. Saw firecrest, marsh tit and crested tit. 3 difficult species to find in the UK so making the most of my time here!
January 3, 2026 at 6:56 PM
Still in France since the start of the year. My target for 2026 will be 150 species. Need to be realistic with a 6-month-old! Went for a walk in the woods today. Saw firecrest, marsh tit and crested tit. 3 difficult species to find in the UK so making the most of my time here!
Here's to everyone with better year lists than mine! 😂
I got some great lifers this year: Jack snipe, RN grebe, spot sand, sooty shearwater, lesser scaup, RF falcon.
My year listing was cut short in June when a much more important lifer arrived: my beautiful daughter
I got some great lifers this year: Jack snipe, RN grebe, spot sand, sooty shearwater, lesser scaup, RF falcon.
My year listing was cut short in June when a much more important lifer arrived: my beautiful daughter
December 31, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Here's to everyone with better year lists than mine! 😂
I got some great lifers this year: Jack snipe, RN grebe, spot sand, sooty shearwater, lesser scaup, RF falcon.
My year listing was cut short in June when a much more important lifer arrived: my beautiful daughter
I got some great lifers this year: Jack snipe, RN grebe, spot sand, sooty shearwater, lesser scaup, RF falcon.
My year listing was cut short in June when a much more important lifer arrived: my beautiful daughter
Reposted by Joe Sargent
What a memorable year, with so many amazing birding experience! My final count is 237 and my favourite is the red-flanked bluetail! A couple of my favourite experiences are:
Nightjars with @andy-1963.bsky.social
Ring necked parakeets in London
Puffins in skomer
Red-necked phalarope at spurn
Nightjars with @andy-1963.bsky.social
Ring necked parakeets in London
Puffins in skomer
Red-necked phalarope at spurn
December 31, 2025 at 5:22 PM
What a memorable year, with so many amazing birding experience! My final count is 237 and my favourite is the red-flanked bluetail! A couple of my favourite experiences are:
Nightjars with @andy-1963.bsky.social
Ring necked parakeets in London
Puffins in skomer
Red-necked phalarope at spurn
Nightjars with @andy-1963.bsky.social
Ring necked parakeets in London
Puffins in skomer
Red-necked phalarope at spurn
Those whitefronts and penduline tits on Severnside just need to stay around till 6th Jan for me 😭
One would be a lifer. One would just be cool to see from up close
One would be a lifer. One would just be cool to see from up close
December 30, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Those whitefronts and penduline tits on Severnside just need to stay around till 6th Jan for me 😭
One would be a lifer. One would just be cool to see from up close
One would be a lifer. One would just be cool to see from up close
Verrrry distant fulmars off the coast of Fécamp brings my year list to 166 (crazy that I saw Manx and sooty shearwater before fulmar). Not bad given I basically did no birdwatching June to October and no big holidays abroad. No auks. Only 1 tern species. No med gulls. Not a big year for seabirds.
December 27, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Verrrry distant fulmars off the coast of Fécamp brings my year list to 166 (crazy that I saw Manx and sooty shearwater before fulmar). Not bad given I basically did no birdwatching June to October and no big holidays abroad. No auks. Only 1 tern species. No med gulls. Not a big year for seabirds.
Went for my first walk along Aust to Pilning Wetland for months last week and saw nothing notable of interest. This week when I'm in France, 3 (!!) penduline tits show up there. Nice to know the curse is still very much in effect
December 23, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Went for my first walk along Aust to Pilning Wetland for months last week and saw nothing notable of interest. This week when I'm in France, 3 (!!) penduline tits show up there. Nice to know the curse is still very much in effect
Marsh tit, firecrest, goldcrest and chaffinch alongside blue and great tit on a very miserable walk in the Bois-Guillaume woods. Still no black, middle or lesser spotted woodpeckers in all my visits to Normandy
December 21, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Marsh tit, firecrest, goldcrest and chaffinch alongside blue and great tit on a very miserable walk in the Bois-Guillaume woods. Still no black, middle or lesser spotted woodpeckers in all my visits to Normandy
How do we improve wildlife and ecology education. A salt marsh = a great place to train 3 dogs, apparently!
December 16, 2025 at 1:01 PM
How do we improve wildlife and ecology education. A salt marsh = a great place to train 3 dogs, apparently!
Finally have a day to myself tomorrow AND the weather looks good. Absolutely NOTHING reported locally 😂 thinking I may just play PlayStation and draw or go to IKEA
December 15, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Finally have a day to myself tomorrow AND the weather looks good. Absolutely NOTHING reported locally 😂 thinking I may just play PlayStation and draw or go to IKEA