NotPhilCarter.bsky.social
@notphilcarter.bsky.social
All round good egg. Has been likened to a young George Clooney.
Pinned
An almost birdless slog around the patch was finally rewarded when a distant airplane turned out to be a White-tailed Eagle. Unfortunately stayed rather distant but never mind, a full fat patch tick.
#HytheLagoons
#EssexBirding
#HytheLagoons
#EssexBirding
October 12, 2025 at 3:40 PM
An almost birdless slog around the patch was finally rewarded when a distant airplane turned out to be a White-tailed Eagle. Unfortunately stayed rather distant but never mind, a full fat patch tick.
#HytheLagoons
#EssexBirding
#HytheLagoons
#EssexBirding
The last 2 young Swallows finally fledged at work this morning.
Bonne chance.
Bonne chance.
September 19, 2025 at 8:59 AM
The last 2 young Swallows finally fledged at work this morning.
Bonne chance.
Bonne chance.
Checking out every Cormorant paid off when one turned into a Glossy Ibis as it flew over work.
#HytheLagoons
#HytheLagoons
September 18, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Checking out every Cormorant paid off when one turned into a Glossy Ibis as it flew over work.
#HytheLagoons
#HytheLagoons
10 years ago today on patch, I almost trod on a Corncrake. It's moments like that that have kept me going again and againand again. Sometimes I wish it'd never bloody happened.
#HytheLagoons
#HytheLagoons
September 15, 2025 at 4:48 PM
10 years ago today on patch, I almost trod on a Corncrake. It's moments like that that have kept me going again and againand again. Sometimes I wish it'd never bloody happened.
#HytheLagoons
#HytheLagoons
Convolvulus Hawkmoth, a 1st for the garden.
September 12, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Convolvulus Hawkmoth, a 1st for the garden.
Actually a few birds about. Best of which were Spotted Flycatcher (less than annual), 2 Whinchat (previously annual but less so recently), 2 Yellow Wagtails (seen annually but not usually by me 😄) and Coal Tit (again, less than annual).
Amazing what a bit of rain can do
#HytheLagoons #EssexBirding
Amazing what a bit of rain can do
#HytheLagoons #EssexBirding
August 30, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Actually a few birds about. Best of which were Spotted Flycatcher (less than annual), 2 Whinchat (previously annual but less so recently), 2 Yellow Wagtails (seen annually but not usually by me 😄) and Coal Tit (again, less than annual).
Amazing what a bit of rain can do
#HytheLagoons #EssexBirding
Amazing what a bit of rain can do
#HytheLagoons #EssexBirding
This evening's totals.
1 Robin
2 Lesser Whitethroat, heard only
2 Wren, heard only
1 Blue Tit, heard only
And that's it.
I wish I was joking, I really do.
On the plus side, thankfully few seagulls.
#HytheLagoons #EssexBirding
1 Robin
2 Lesser Whitethroat, heard only
2 Wren, heard only
1 Blue Tit, heard only
And that's it.
I wish I was joking, I really do.
On the plus side, thankfully few seagulls.
#HytheLagoons #EssexBirding
August 28, 2025 at 5:05 PM
This evening's totals.
1 Robin
2 Lesser Whitethroat, heard only
2 Wren, heard only
1 Blue Tit, heard only
And that's it.
I wish I was joking, I really do.
On the plus side, thankfully few seagulls.
#HytheLagoons #EssexBirding
1 Robin
2 Lesser Whitethroat, heard only
2 Wren, heard only
1 Blue Tit, heard only
And that's it.
I wish I was joking, I really do.
On the plus side, thankfully few seagulls.
#HytheLagoons #EssexBirding
Totals AM
Finches 1 Gold
Buntings 0
Chats 2 Robin
Thrushes 0
Tits 5 Blue
Warblers 2 Whitethroat 3 Lesser 1 Chiffchaff
Waders 6 Redshank 1 Curlew 2 Lapwing
Raptors 1 Buzzard 1 Kestrel
Starlings 0
Pipits 0
Wagtails 0
Hirundines 1 Swallow
Seagulls A few unfortunately
#HytheLagoons #essexbirding
Finches 1 Gold
Buntings 0
Chats 2 Robin
Thrushes 0
Tits 5 Blue
Warblers 2 Whitethroat 3 Lesser 1 Chiffchaff
Waders 6 Redshank 1 Curlew 2 Lapwing
Raptors 1 Buzzard 1 Kestrel
Starlings 0
Pipits 0
Wagtails 0
Hirundines 1 Swallow
Seagulls A few unfortunately
#HytheLagoons #essexbirding
August 25, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Totals AM
Finches 1 Gold
Buntings 0
Chats 2 Robin
Thrushes 0
Tits 5 Blue
Warblers 2 Whitethroat 3 Lesser 1 Chiffchaff
Waders 6 Redshank 1 Curlew 2 Lapwing
Raptors 1 Buzzard 1 Kestrel
Starlings 0
Pipits 0
Wagtails 0
Hirundines 1 Swallow
Seagulls A few unfortunately
#HytheLagoons #essexbirding
Finches 1 Gold
Buntings 0
Chats 2 Robin
Thrushes 0
Tits 5 Blue
Warblers 2 Whitethroat 3 Lesser 1 Chiffchaff
Waders 6 Redshank 1 Curlew 2 Lapwing
Raptors 1 Buzzard 1 Kestrel
Starlings 0
Pipits 0
Wagtails 0
Hirundines 1 Swallow
Seagulls A few unfortunately
#HytheLagoons #essexbirding
Spent a bit of time listening to Sham 69 this evening.... which was nice.
August 10, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Spent a bit of time listening to Sham 69 this evening.... which was nice.
Had that first "What the feck is that...oh, a Reed Warbler up a tree" moment of the autumn this morning. Plenty of other warblers too with Whitethroats and Lessers everywhere, a scattering of Reeds, Chiffchaffs and a single Willow Warbler.
#HytheLagoons #essexbirding
#HytheLagoons #essexbirding
August 10, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Had that first "What the feck is that...oh, a Reed Warbler up a tree" moment of the autumn this morning. Plenty of other warblers too with Whitethroats and Lessers everywhere, a scattering of Reeds, Chiffchaffs and a single Willow Warbler.
#HytheLagoons #essexbirding
#HytheLagoons #essexbirding
After the amount of adults that were around earlier in the year I'm a little disappointed to find only the one Elephant caterpillar in the garden.
August 3, 2025 at 4:25 PM
After the amount of adults that were around earlier in the year I'm a little disappointed to find only the one Elephant caterpillar in the garden.
August 3, 2025 at 12:22 PM
More than a dozen butterflies of 5 species on the buddleia. Ok, so it may not quite be a return to the 70s but it is not far the total for the whole of last year.
July 6, 2025 at 10:57 AM
More than a dozen butterflies of 5 species on the buddleia. Ok, so it may not quite be a return to the 70s but it is not far the total for the whole of last year.
Horror Clowns are Dickheads has just made me spit my beer. A good start.
#halfmanhalfbiscuit
#halfmanhalfbiscuit
June 13, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Horror Clowns are Dickheads has just made me spit my beer. A good start.
#halfmanhalfbiscuit
#halfmanhalfbiscuit
Stand down everyone, I finally saw a House Martin today. What.A.Bird!✅
June 9, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Stand down everyone, I finally saw a House Martin today. What.A.Bird!✅
No matter how much I expect it, the first sight of the lagoon completely devoid of water really gets me down.
I'm sure birding used to make me happy. Seems a long time ago.
#HytheLagoons
I'm sure birding used to make me happy. Seems a long time ago.
#HytheLagoons
June 9, 2025 at 5:28 PM
No matter how much I expect it, the first sight of the lagoon completely devoid of water really gets me down.
I'm sure birding used to make me happy. Seems a long time ago.
#HytheLagoons
I'm sure birding used to make me happy. Seems a long time ago.
#HytheLagoons
When I tell non-birders that I haven't seen a House Martin this year they seem to grasp just how drastically the population must have dwindled. A lot of birders on the other hand, immediately tell me where I can see some, as if me ticking them off in my I-Spy book of birds is the important issue.
June 8, 2025 at 6:59 AM
When I tell non-birders that I haven't seen a House Martin this year they seem to grasp just how drastically the population must have dwindled. A lot of birders on the other hand, immediately tell me where I can see some, as if me ticking them off in my I-Spy book of birds is the important issue.
17 Swifts screaming over the garden which is the biggest flock I've seen this year. Sad.
#essexbirding
#essexbirding
June 1, 2025 at 11:10 AM
17 Swifts screaming over the garden which is the biggest flock I've seen this year. Sad.
#essexbirding
#essexbirding
This silly fecker flew into a window today. A little rest in a bush and flew away strongly. And yes, I do have arthritic hands.
May 25, 2025 at 5:36 PM
This silly fecker flew into a window today. A little rest in a bush and flew away strongly. And yes, I do have arthritic hands.
Ooh, look what I just found in the loft.
Unfortunately, it no longer fits.
It's punk innit!
Unfortunately, it no longer fits.
It's punk innit!
May 18, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Ooh, look what I just found in the loft.
Unfortunately, it no longer fits.
It's punk innit!
Unfortunately, it no longer fits.
It's punk innit!
Green Hairstreak in the garden just now. Only had less than handful in the 28 years we've lived here.
May 11, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Green Hairstreak in the garden just now. Only had less than handful in the 28 years we've lived here.
There's only so much "Yes, it is lovely but we could do with a bit of rain" I can muster before I shout "NO IT F*CKING ISN'T!" and kick someone's head in.
That's what cloudless blue skies do to me.
Obviously, the next time I hear "Isn't it lovely?", I'll nod, smile and die a little bit more inside.
That's what cloudless blue skies do to me.
Obviously, the next time I hear "Isn't it lovely?", I'll nod, smile and die a little bit more inside.
May 10, 2025 at 2:54 PM
There's only so much "Yes, it is lovely but we could do with a bit of rain" I can muster before I shout "NO IT F*CKING ISN'T!" and kick someone's head in.
That's what cloudless blue skies do to me.
Obviously, the next time I hear "Isn't it lovely?", I'll nod, smile and die a little bit more inside.
That's what cloudless blue skies do to me.
Obviously, the next time I hear "Isn't it lovely?", I'll nod, smile and die a little bit more inside.
2nd week in May and, as becoming the norm, a total lack of hirundines.
Rather depressing.
#HytheLagoons
Rather depressing.
#HytheLagoons
May 10, 2025 at 10:41 AM
2nd week in May and, as becoming the norm, a total lack of hirundines.
Rather depressing.
#HytheLagoons
Rather depressing.
#HytheLagoons
LRP, 11 Greenshank, 3 Avocets, pair of Tufties (year tick) and Water Rail on the lagoon. 50 Mallard have appeared from somewhere, more than double the usual amount.
Garden Warbler still.
#HytheLagoons
#essexbirding
Garden Warbler still.
#HytheLagoons
#essexbirding
May 7, 2025 at 5:52 PM
LRP, 11 Greenshank, 3 Avocets, pair of Tufties (year tick) and Water Rail on the lagoon. 50 Mallard have appeared from somewhere, more than double the usual amount.
Garden Warbler still.
#HytheLagoons
#essexbirding
Garden Warbler still.
#HytheLagoons
#essexbirding
Blimey, the Essex Bird Report is chunky this year, must be all my records from The Hythe!
May 7, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Blimey, the Essex Bird Report is chunky this year, must be all my records from The Hythe!