Mike Holley
@mikeholley.bsky.social
Worcestershire based birder and odonata-er.
Foggy start to a decent morning at #uptonwarren. Notables Moors: fem Goldeneye, 13 Snipe, 5 Curlew (all unringed), mobile GWE, Stonechat pair, Sailing Pool: 5 Little Egret, GWE. Hen Brook: Kingfisher and 2 Water Rail showing well. Flashes: 119 Lapwing, 3 Snipe, 2 Stonchat. #WorcsBirds
November 8, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Foggy start to a decent morning at #uptonwarren. Notables Moors: fem Goldeneye, 13 Snipe, 5 Curlew (all unringed), mobile GWE, Stonechat pair, Sailing Pool: 5 Little Egret, GWE. Hen Brook: Kingfisher and 2 Water Rail showing well. Flashes: 119 Lapwing, 3 Snipe, 2 Stonchat. #WorcsBirds
6 juv and 4 adult Whooper Swans at #Grimley rounded off a decent week’s birding. Other notables from this morning: 4 Stonechat on north causeway, 11+ Common Snipe, 2 GWE, 4 Little Egret, Goosander over north, plus the usuals. #WorcsBirds
October 25, 2025 at 3:58 PM
6 juv and 4 adult Whooper Swans at #Grimley rounded off a decent week’s birding. Other notables from this morning: 4 Stonechat on north causeway, 11+ Common Snipe, 2 GWE, 4 Little Egret, Goosander over north, plus the usuals. #WorcsBirds
A Dunlin, 5 Curlew, 6 Snipe and 3 Otters were among the highlights at #uptonwarren Moors today 7.30 to 11.00. Other notables: 48 Lapwing, Water Rail, Stonechat, Buzzard thru low, Green Woodpecker. 5 Little Egret was the best at the Sailing Pool. Dipped on the Rock Pipit at the Flashes. #WorcsBirds
October 17, 2025 at 1:40 PM
A Dunlin, 5 Curlew, 6 Snipe and 3 Otters were among the highlights at #uptonwarren Moors today 7.30 to 11.00. Other notables: 48 Lapwing, Water Rail, Stonechat, Buzzard thru low, Green Woodpecker. 5 Little Egret was the best at the Sailing Pool. Dipped on the Rock Pipit at the Flashes. #WorcsBirds
Best of Grimley 08:30-11:30. CLP: 3 Stonechat, 11 House Martin thru, 3 Snipe, 71 Lapwing, Sparrowhawk on west shore. CF: 2 Green Sand, 100+ mixed Finch flock including Redpoll. Wildgoose: Marsh Tit, GWE, Treecreeper, Green & Great Spot Woodpeckers. GWE was the only Egret seen anywhere. #WorcsBirds
October 15, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Best of Grimley 08:30-11:30. CLP: 3 Stonechat, 11 House Martin thru, 3 Snipe, 71 Lapwing, Sparrowhawk on west shore. CF: 2 Green Sand, 100+ mixed Finch flock including Redpoll. Wildgoose: Marsh Tit, GWE, Treecreeper, Green & Great Spot Woodpeckers. GWE was the only Egret seen anywhere. #WorcsBirds
2nd WeBS count at Bittell this morning. Good variety of waterfowl across the reservoirs and pools, albeit most of which were on the south section of the Lower reservoir. The main Upper reservoir was quiet, with no waders present during the count, and two GWE as the only notable. #WorcsBirds
October 13, 2025 at 12:42 PM
2nd WeBS count at Bittell this morning. Good variety of waterfowl across the reservoirs and pools, albeit most of which were on the south section of the Lower reservoir. The main Upper reservoir was quiet, with no waders present during the count, and two GWE as the only notable. #WorcsBirds
Finished the morning at #Grimley, where the highlights 10:00 to 12:00 were CLP: Green Sand, 2 Kingfisher, 2 Little Egret, 78 Lapwing. CF: 20+ Mipits. Wildgoose: GWE, 4 Little Egret. Wigeon count across CLP and CF up to 89. Species seen on CLP and CF was affected by separate disturbances. #WorcsBirds
October 10, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Finished the morning at #Grimley, where the highlights 10:00 to 12:00 were CLP: Green Sand, 2 Kingfisher, 2 Little Egret, 78 Lapwing. CF: 20+ Mipits. Wildgoose: GWE, 4 Little Egret. Wigeon count across CLP and CF up to 89. Species seen on CLP and CF was affected by separate disturbances. #WorcsBirds
Started a morning’s birding at Clifton. Notables from 6:30 to 09:30: GWE, 8 Little Egret, and a large, mobile finch flock in the southern sunflower fields, including Redpoll. An 800+ flock of (mostly) Greylag and Canada Geese dominated the pits. Photo: 3 of 23+ Egyptian Geese present. #WorcsBirds
October 10, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Started a morning’s birding at Clifton. Notables from 6:30 to 09:30: GWE, 8 Little Egret, and a large, mobile finch flock in the southern sunflower fields, including Redpoll. An 800+ flock of (mostly) Greylag and Canada Geese dominated the pits. Photo: 3 of 23+ Egyptian Geese present. #WorcsBirds
A dawn start at #Grimley CLP paid off with 2 Cattle Egret on the west shore, and the Glossy Ibis and 2 GWE over north as they left the roost. A BlackWit dropped onto the west shore. Marsh Tit and a late Spotfly were the star birds at Wildgoose to round off a decent 6 hours birding. #WorcsBirds
October 6, 2025 at 2:14 PM
A dawn start at #Grimley CLP paid off with 2 Cattle Egret on the west shore, and the Glossy Ibis and 2 GWE over north as they left the roost. A BlackWit dropped onto the west shore. Marsh Tit and a late Spotfly were the star birds at Wildgoose to round off a decent 6 hours birding. #WorcsBirds
A Pink-footed Goose and a GWE were the highlights at #uptonwarren Moors from this morning’s wind and early rain. c75 Lapwing was the best from the usual others. At the Flashes, 4 Curlew still and cracking views this Green Woodpecker foraging in front of the Avocet hide. #WorcsBirds
October 4, 2025 at 11:24 AM
A Pink-footed Goose and a GWE were the highlights at #uptonwarren Moors from this morning’s wind and early rain. c75 Lapwing was the best from the usual others. At the Flashes, 4 Curlew still and cracking views this Green Woodpecker foraging in front of the Avocet hide. #WorcsBirds
2 Ringed Plover on the east shore of CLP were the highlight at #Grimley from 06:30 to 09:15. Best of the rest at CLP / CF - Common Sand, 3 Little Egret over, 78 Lapwing, 2 Stonechat, Sparrowhawk thru, 2 Egyptian. CF: Wigeon numbers building with 28 on north pit. Also later, GWE at WG #WorcsBirds
October 3, 2025 at 12:56 PM
2 Ringed Plover on the east shore of CLP were the highlight at #Grimley from 06:30 to 09:15. Best of the rest at CLP / CF - Common Sand, 3 Little Egret over, 78 Lapwing, 2 Stonechat, Sparrowhawk thru, 2 Egyptian. CF: Wigeon numbers building with 28 on north pit. Also later, GWE at WG #WorcsBirds
Decent morning at #Grimley. Best of 8.30 to 12.30. CLP: Ringed Plover, Common Sand, 5 Snipe, 2 GWE, 6 Little Egret, Water Rail, 75+ Lapwing, Stonechat, Kingfisher, 2 Goldcrest. Church Farm: Common Sand, 15+ Swallow, Mipits. Wildgoose: Green Sand. Island Pool: Stonechat, 3 Little Egret. #WorcsBirds
September 29, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Decent morning at #Grimley. Best of 8.30 to 12.30. CLP: Ringed Plover, Common Sand, 5 Snipe, 2 GWE, 6 Little Egret, Water Rail, 75+ Lapwing, Stonechat, Kingfisher, 2 Goldcrest. Church Farm: Common Sand, 15+ Swallow, Mipits. Wildgoose: Green Sand. Island Pool: Stonechat, 3 Little Egret. #WorcsBirds
One of two Roe Deer on the North Moors at #uptonwarren this morning.
September 27, 2025 at 11:52 AM
One of two Roe Deer on the North Moors at #uptonwarren this morning.
No apologies for another photo of one of the Glossy Ibis at Croome. The low water level in the lake is providing plenty of feeding opportunities for them. #WorcsBirds
September 26, 2025 at 6:00 AM
No apologies for another photo of one of the Glossy Ibis at Croome. The low water level in the lake is providing plenty of feeding opportunities for them. #WorcsBirds
Cracking views of the four juvenile Glossy Ibis as they foraged at Croome today, this one just a few feet away on the edge of the lake. #WorcsBirds
September 25, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Cracking views of the four juvenile Glossy Ibis as they foraged at Croome today, this one just a few feet away on the edge of the lake. #WorcsBirds
Went back to Croome this afternoon where the four juvenile Glossy Ibis showed really well, foraging in the channel off the lake. #WorcsBirds
September 25, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Went back to Croome this afternoon where the four juvenile Glossy Ibis showed really well, foraging in the channel off the lake. #WorcsBirds
Dropped into Grimley late morning where I was amazed to see a group of NINE GWEs on CLP, a personal record in the UK. Other notables at CLP: Ringed Plover (photo), Common Sand, 4 Little Egret, 70+ flighty Lapwing, Kestrel, close encounter with a Green Woodpecker on the causeway. #WorcsBirds
September 24, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Dropped into Grimley late morning where I was amazed to see a group of NINE GWEs on CLP, a personal record in the UK. Other notables at CLP: Ringed Plover (photo), Common Sand, 4 Little Egret, 70+ flighty Lapwing, Kestrel, close encounter with a Green Woodpecker on the causeway. #WorcsBirds
Started the day at Clifton Pits where the Long-tailed Duck eventually showed well. 2 Green Sand were the only wader, 28+ adult and juv Greenfinch in the sunflower field was an encouraging sight for this Red list bird. Dropped into Coombe, where I somehow dipped on the 4 Glossy Ibis 😟. #WorcsBirds
September 24, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Started the day at Clifton Pits where the Long-tailed Duck eventually showed well. 2 Green Sand were the only wader, 28+ adult and juv Greenfinch in the sunflower field was an encouraging sight for this Red list bird. Dropped into Coombe, where I somehow dipped on the 4 Glossy Ibis 😟. #WorcsBirds
Reposted by Mike Holley
1/ The Wintering Waterbird Indicator, published in the Wild Bird Indicators publication today by Defra, is based on the trends of wintering populations of 46 waterbird species or races since 1975/76.
📖: www.gov.uk/government/s...
#Ornithology #UKBirding
📖: www.gov.uk/government/s...
#Ornithology #UKBirding
September 23, 2025 at 12:58 PM
1/ The Wintering Waterbird Indicator, published in the Wild Bird Indicators publication today by Defra, is based on the trends of wintering populations of 46 waterbird species or races since 1975/76.
📖: www.gov.uk/government/s...
#Ornithology #UKBirding
📖: www.gov.uk/government/s...
#Ornithology #UKBirding
Decent day at WWT Slimbridge: 2 Glossy Ibis, Curlew Sand with 11 Ruff, 3+ Spotshank, 3+ BarWit, Greenshank through on South Lake, 8 Curlew, 20+ BlackWit, 10+ Redshank, 3 Snipe, 30+ Ringed Plover, Dunlin through on estuary and 10 over Rushy, 2 Crane through, 4 Spoonbill over on M5. #GlosBirds
September 22, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Decent day at WWT Slimbridge: 2 Glossy Ibis, Curlew Sand with 11 Ruff, 3+ Spotshank, 3+ BarWit, Greenshank through on South Lake, 8 Curlew, 20+ BlackWit, 10+ Redshank, 3 Snipe, 30+ Ringed Plover, Dunlin through on estuary and 10 over Rushy, 2 Crane through, 4 Spoonbill over on M5. #GlosBirds
2 Whinchat on Church Farm were the highlight at Grimley this morning. Other notables 6.00 to 11.30 - CLP: 2 Stonechat (photo), GWE, 15 Little Egret first thing, usual Common Sand, Kingfisher, Kestrel. Also at CF: Redshank heard but couldn’t locate on any pool, GWE over. #WorcsBirds
September 20, 2025 at 12:37 PM
2 Whinchat on Church Farm were the highlight at Grimley this morning. Other notables 6.00 to 11.30 - CLP: 2 Stonechat (photo), GWE, 15 Little Egret first thing, usual Common Sand, Kingfisher, Kestrel. Also at CF: Redshank heard but couldn’t locate on any pool, GWE over. #WorcsBirds
Today’s forecasted morning of rain sadly failed to materialise. Started the day at #uptonwarren where the best was 2 Snipe, Common Sand, 71 Lapwing, Kingfisher, 2 eclipse Wigeon. Moved to Grimley CLP / CF for Dunlin through, GWE, Common Sand, 2 Little Egret, 2 Common Tern, Yellow Wag. #WorcsBirds
September 17, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Today’s forecasted morning of rain sadly failed to materialise. Started the day at #uptonwarren where the best was 2 Snipe, Common Sand, 71 Lapwing, Kingfisher, 2 eclipse Wigeon. Moved to Grimley CLP / CF for Dunlin through, GWE, Common Sand, 2 Little Egret, 2 Common Tern, Yellow Wag. #WorcsBirds
2 eclipse Wigeon were new in at #uptonwarren Moors this morning. Water levels up across the reserve, quiet despite the promising conditions. Best of the rest 6.45 to 10.15 - Moors: Snipe, Little Egret briefly, Kingfisher, hirundines through including 40+ House Martin. Flashes: 2 Curlew. #WorcsBirds
September 15, 2025 at 10:26 AM
2 eclipse Wigeon were new in at #uptonwarren Moors this morning. Water levels up across the reserve, quiet despite the promising conditions. Best of the rest 6.45 to 10.15 - Moors: Snipe, Little Egret briefly, Kingfisher, hirundines through including 40+ House Martin. Flashes: 2 Curlew. #WorcsBirds
Popped into the western pools at Throckmorton on the way back from Grimley, for a last view of the Temminck’s. Not present when I arrived, it dropped in briefly but spent most of the time hard up against the south bank, partly obscured. It then flew, climbed high and departed south. #WorcsBirds
September 13, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Popped into the western pools at Throckmorton on the way back from Grimley, for a last view of the Temminck’s. Not present when I arrived, it dropped in briefly but spent most of the time hard up against the south bank, partly obscured. It then flew, climbed high and departed south. #WorcsBirds
Oversleeping meant a late start at Grimley - and missing the Ibis again. Another candidate for the 2025 “Should’ve, Would’ve, Could’ve” list. Nothing new from the overnight rain: GWE, 7 Little Egret, Snipe, Kestrel, Green WP were best of a couple of hours around a quietish CLP and CF. #WorcsBirds
September 13, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Oversleeping meant a late start at Grimley - and missing the Ibis again. Another candidate for the 2025 “Should’ve, Would’ve, Could’ve” list. Nothing new from the overnight rain: GWE, 7 Little Egret, Snipe, Kestrel, Green WP were best of a couple of hours around a quietish CLP and CF. #WorcsBirds