David Roche
@papaybirder.bsky.social
Patch birder based on Papa Westray, Orkney
Reposted by David Roche
More gull watching today and I came across this apparent Great Black-backed Gull x Herring Gull hybrid. A real brute! #WestrayBirding
January 26, 2026 at 2:54 PM
More gull watching today and I came across this apparent Great Black-backed Gull x Herring Gull hybrid. A real brute! #WestrayBirding
Reposted by David Roche
Imagine your house falls down one day and it's because a load of parakeets have been systematically eating your mortar
Parakeets feeding on Welwyn barn wall display Amazonian behaviour
Ornithologist Jack Baddams says the video is "really cool".
www.bbc.co.uk
January 19, 2026 at 2:04 PM
Imagine your house falls down one day and it's because a load of parakeets have been systematically eating your mortar
Adult Glaucous Gull at Backaskaill this morning, attracted to the Minke Whale that washed up freshly dead on 29th November #OrkneyBirding Little Gull and Velvet Scoter both still in the sound
January 18, 2026 at 3:35 PM
Adult Glaucous Gull at Backaskaill this morning, attracted to the Minke Whale that washed up freshly dead on 29th November #OrkneyBirding Little Gull and Velvet Scoter both still in the sound
A nice double yesterday with this Little Gull and a drake Velvet Scoter in the Sound. Single drake on 31st Jan last year, the only record of what is often a difficult island bird #PWC2026 #OrkneyBirding Hen Harrier through the living room window this afternoon
January 17, 2026 at 3:33 PM
A nice double yesterday with this Little Gull and a drake Velvet Scoter in the Sound. Single drake on 31st Jan last year, the only record of what is often a difficult island bird #PWC2026 #OrkneyBirding Hen Harrier through the living room window this afternoon
Reposted by David Roche
January 14, 2026 at 9:08 PM
Reposted by David Roche
🚨JOB OPENING🚨
We are looking to employ a housekeeper for the 2026 season, part or full time roles available! Accommodation at the observatory included. For more information and to apply please contact alison@nrbo.co.uk
Please share!
We are looking to employ a housekeeper for the 2026 season, part or full time roles available! Accommodation at the observatory included. For more information and to apply please contact alison@nrbo.co.uk
Please share!
January 8, 2026 at 8:55 PM
🚨JOB OPENING🚨
We are looking to employ a housekeeper for the 2026 season, part or full time roles available! Accommodation at the observatory included. For more information and to apply please contact alison@nrbo.co.uk
Please share!
We are looking to employ a housekeeper for the 2026 season, part or full time roles available! Accommodation at the observatory included. For more information and to apply please contact alison@nrbo.co.uk
Please share!
One of three Woodcock today, plus a 2nd winter Med Gull through the South Wick. Two Glaucous Gulls in the North Wick Sunday and a 1st winter Iceland Gull there on Monday #PWC2026
January 8, 2026 at 2:11 PM
One of three Woodcock today, plus a 2nd winter Med Gull through the South Wick. Two Glaucous Gulls in the North Wick Sunday and a 1st winter Iceland Gull there on Monday #PWC2026
170 for the Papay year list from an island total of 174. RNDuck, *Taiga Bean Geese, Buff breasted Sand, two Pecs, *White-rumped and *Baird's Sandpipers, Bonaparte's Gull, *Brown Shrike, 4 Wryneck, Bluethroat, Greenish Warbler, 3 Barred Warbler, RBFly *Firecrest and *Pallas's Warbler (* patch ticks)
December 31, 2025 at 1:45 PM
170 for the Papay year list from an island total of 174. RNDuck, *Taiga Bean Geese, Buff breasted Sand, two Pecs, *White-rumped and *Baird's Sandpipers, Bonaparte's Gull, *Brown Shrike, 4 Wryneck, Bluethroat, Greenish Warbler, 3 Barred Warbler, RBFly *Firecrest and *Pallas's Warbler (* patch ticks)
Strong contender for most unexpected record of the year. Female Pochard (a scarce enough island bird at the best of times) amongst the Eider and Long tailed Duck in Papa Sound, around the Vestness Salmon cages!
December 24, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Strong contender for most unexpected record of the year. Female Pochard (a scarce enough island bird at the best of times) amongst the Eider and Long tailed Duck in Papa Sound, around the Vestness Salmon cages!
Reposted by David Roche
Christmas can be an expensive time of year, so how about something for free?
The @scottishbirding.bsky.social and Scottish Birds Records Committee are hosting a FREE online conference over the evenings of February 24th to the 26th. Three talks per night and some real belters among them.
The @scottishbirding.bsky.social and Scottish Birds Records Committee are hosting a FREE online conference over the evenings of February 24th to the 26th. Three talks per night and some real belters among them.
December 18, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Christmas can be an expensive time of year, so how about something for free?
The @scottishbirding.bsky.social and Scottish Birds Records Committee are hosting a FREE online conference over the evenings of February 24th to the 26th. Three talks per night and some real belters among them.
The @scottishbirding.bsky.social and Scottish Birds Records Committee are hosting a FREE online conference over the evenings of February 24th to the 26th. Three talks per night and some real belters among them.
Another day of wintry showers, giving some impressive cloud formations out to the North. Been quiet for white winged gulls so far, so nice to find three adult Glaucous Gulls in the North Wick, before flying out towards Mull Head #BirdingOrkney #PWC2025
November 20, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Another day of wintry showers, giving some impressive cloud formations out to the North. Been quiet for white winged gulls so far, so nice to find three adult Glaucous Gulls in the North Wick, before flying out towards Mull Head #BirdingOrkney #PWC2025
Just a snapshot of the mass of gulls, feeding in the North Wick this morning. Adult Iceland Gull amongst them, two White billed Diver past Mull Head and a fly over calling Waxwing. Technically speaking, all outdone by a Papay mega flock of ten Rook! #BirdingOrkney
November 7, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Just a snapshot of the mass of gulls, feeding in the North Wick this morning. Adult Iceland Gull amongst them, two White billed Diver past Mull Head and a fly over calling Waxwing. Technically speaking, all outdone by a Papay mega flock of ten Rook! #BirdingOrkney
Reposted by David Roche
Lesser Scaups at Helston, Cornwall 5th Nov ‘25. Montage showing key primary and secondary bar colouration. Both male and female shown. Underwing shot also shows the white axillaries.
@bobbosisto.bsky.social
#cornwallbirding #birding #ukbirding
@bobbosisto.bsky.social
#cornwallbirding #birding #ukbirding
November 7, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Lesser Scaups at Helston, Cornwall 5th Nov ‘25. Montage showing key primary and secondary bar colouration. Both male and female shown. Underwing shot also shows the white axillaries.
@bobbosisto.bsky.social
#cornwallbirding #birding #ukbirding
@bobbosisto.bsky.social
#cornwallbirding #birding #ukbirding
And a wee bit of video as it fed along the dyke. Shame about the distinct lack of light! #OrkneyBirding
November 6, 2025 at 7:43 PM
And a wee bit of video as it fed along the dyke. Shame about the distinct lack of light! #OrkneyBirding
Since my time here, there have only been three species seen on Papay which I have missed. A difficult one to get back with a strong eastern bias to Orkney records, this was the last place I expected to claw back a Pallas's Warbler. The sweetest kind of patch tick #PWC2025 #OrkneyBirding
November 6, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Since my time here, there have only been three species seen on Papay which I have missed. A difficult one to get back with a strong eastern bias to Orkney records, this was the last place I expected to claw back a Pallas's Warbler. The sweetest kind of patch tick #PWC2025 #OrkneyBirding
Reposted by David Roche
5 Nov fireworks 💥 on Westray today! Not one, but two isle firsts! 🙅♂️ First up was Orkney's 11th Radde's Warbler (second this autumn and the latest ever recorded in the county) which was followed minutes later by a Firecrest - in the same bush! Pure #PatchGold! #PWC2025 #WestrayBirding
November 5, 2025 at 7:03 PM
5 Nov fireworks 💥 on Westray today! Not one, but two isle firsts! 🙅♂️ First up was Orkney's 11th Radde's Warbler (second this autumn and the latest ever recorded in the county) which was followed minutes later by a Firecrest - in the same bush! Pure #PatchGold! #PWC2025 #WestrayBirding
Couple of hours before I needed to be back in the shop so left the Firecrest to check elsewhere. Walking back for more views and this Bonaparte's Gull has appeared above Cott (wasn't there on the walk up!) #BirdingOrkney #PWC2025 2nd for Papay and still only the 5th Orkney record
November 5, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Couple of hours before I needed to be back in the shop so left the Firecrest to check elsewhere. Walking back for more views and this Bonaparte's Gull has appeared above Cott (wasn't there on the walk up!) #BirdingOrkney #PWC2025 2nd for Papay and still only the 5th Orkney record
Had all but given up hope of a Papay Firecrest until @papayranger.bsky.social came to the rescue with this bird at Shorehouse. An Island tick and only the 2nd Papay record. Now 13 birds found within Orkney this autumn, there had only been 35 records prior to this year! #BirdingOrkney #PWC2025
November 5, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Had all but given up hope of a Papay Firecrest until @papayranger.bsky.social came to the rescue with this bird at Shorehouse. An Island tick and only the 2nd Papay record. Now 13 birds found within Orkney this autumn, there had only been 35 records prior to this year! #BirdingOrkney #PWC2025
A quick check of Holland this morning, when I suddenly realised that I was being watched... missed the male Bullfinch, but Black Redstart and three Greenfinch new in plus a very unseasonal Wood Sandpiper at Mull Head #OrkneyBirding #PWC2025
October 30, 2025 at 6:25 PM
A quick check of Holland this morning, when I suddenly realised that I was being watched... missed the male Bullfinch, but Black Redstart and three Greenfinch new in plus a very unseasonal Wood Sandpiper at Mull Head #OrkneyBirding #PWC2025
A pretty rare, entirely non bird related post but too good not to share. Last night in the Papay hostel, singing with Caroline Price and Stream of Sound. A fitting end to an inspiring week of singing workshops. Utterly joyous
October 29, 2025 at 9:41 AM
A pretty rare, entirely non bird related post but too good not to share. Last night in the Papay hostel, singing with Caroline Price and Stream of Sound. A fitting end to an inspiring week of singing workshops. Utterly joyous
Reposted by David Roche
I have a very bad feeling about this...
October 27, 2025 at 4:51 PM
I have a very bad feeling about this...
Single Little Auk past Mull Head this morning bringing up 170 for the island year list plus adult Iceland and 1st winter Glaucous Gulls #BirdingOrkney Can't see me adding much more (Waxwing or Mistle Thrush probably my best chance) but then again, autumn ain't over just yet...
October 26, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Single Little Auk past Mull Head this morning bringing up 170 for the island year list plus adult Iceland and 1st winter Glaucous Gulls #BirdingOrkney Can't see me adding much more (Waxwing or Mistle Thrush probably my best chance) but then again, autumn ain't over just yet...
Reposted by David Roche
Absolute beast of a female Northern Bullfinch this morning in Lerwick. #YellBirding #Shetland
October 26, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Absolute beast of a female Northern Bullfinch this morning in Lerwick. #YellBirding #Shetland
Of all the things that I thought I might find today, it's fair to say that a late October Dotterel wasn't one of them! Only my third Papay record (5th bird) but the first in autumn and my first juvenile anywhere since two on the beach at Snettisham back in 2005! #OrkneyBirding
October 23, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Of all the things that I thought I might find today, it's fair to say that a late October Dotterel wasn't one of them! Only my third Papay record (5th bird) but the first in autumn and my first juvenile anywhere since two on the beach at Snettisham back in 2005! #OrkneyBirding
Reposted by David Roche
Right, before you judge my photos, it was a last ditch attempt in near dark! Taken at 16000 iso, to be fair they are better than I was expecting! Found by a local resident outside his house on the road verge!
Northern Long tailed Tits are still a rare bird in UK. #shetlandbirding
Northern Long tailed Tits are still a rare bird in UK. #shetlandbirding
October 22, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Right, before you judge my photos, it was a last ditch attempt in near dark! Taken at 16000 iso, to be fair they are better than I was expecting! Found by a local resident outside his house on the road verge!
Northern Long tailed Tits are still a rare bird in UK. #shetlandbirding
Northern Long tailed Tits are still a rare bird in UK. #shetlandbirding