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notphilcarter.bsky.social
NotPhilCarter.bsky.social
@notphilcarter.bsky.social
All round good egg. Has been likened to a young George Clooney.
Pinned
Another day, another Ruff. This one a very handsome chap.
#essexbirding #HytheLagoons
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
October 12, 2025 at 3:40 PM
The last 2 young Swallows finally fledged at work this morning.
Bonne chance.
September 19, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Checking out every Cormorant paid off when one turned into a Glossy Ibis as it flew over work.
#HytheLagoons
September 18, 2025 at 8:23 AM
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
September 15, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Convolvulus Hawkmoth, a 1st for the garden.
September 12, 2025 at 7:15 PM
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
August 30, 2025 at 10:44 AM
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
August 28, 2025 at 5:05 PM
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
August 25, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Spent a bit of time listening to Sham 69 this evening.... which was nice.
August 10, 2025 at 7:04 PM
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
August 10, 2025 at 9:26 AM
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
Visited the patch this morning and didn't return depressed. Result!
#HytheLagoons #essexbirding
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
Horror Clowns are Dickheads has just made me spit my beer. A good start.
#halfmanhalfbiscuit
June 13, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Stand down everyone, I finally saw a House Martin today. What.A.Bird!✅
June 9, 2025 at 7:27 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
June 9, 2025 at 5:28 PM
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
17 Swifts screaming over the garden which is the biggest flock I've seen this year. Sad.
#essexbirding
June 1, 2025 at 11:10 AM
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
Ooh, look what I just found in the loft.
Unfortunately, it no longer fits.
It's punk innit!
May 18, 2025 at 1:10 PM
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
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.
May 10, 2025 at 2:54 PM
2nd week in May and, as becoming the norm, a total lack of hirundines.
Rather depressing.
#HytheLagoons
May 10, 2025 at 10:41 AM
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
May 7, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Blimey, the Essex Bird Report is chunky this year, must be all my records from The Hythe!
May 7, 2025 at 5:11 PM