Phil Woollen
@philwoollen.bsky.social
Birder, twitcher, ringer, biologist, devoted husband & granddad to four gorgeous grandchildren
The pond opposite our house is just beginning to fill up after being completely dry all summer. I can just see the water for 1st time since spring. These 2 Wigeon just dropped in! #ukbirding #patchbirding #pwc2025
November 14, 2025 at 2:17 PM
The pond opposite our house is just beginning to fill up after being completely dry all summer. I can just see the water for 1st time since spring. These 2 Wigeon just dropped in! #ukbirding #patchbirding #pwc2025
Just picked this up from the framers and hung it on my study wall. A beautiful drawing from an original photo of the Siberian Rubythroat I found on Fetlar in 2019. Thanks to @ruths-portraits.bsky.social for doing such a beautiful commission for me #ukbirding
November 14, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Just picked this up from the framers and hung it on my study wall. A beautiful drawing from an original photo of the Siberian Rubythroat I found on Fetlar in 2019. Thanks to @ruths-portraits.bsky.social for doing such a beautiful commission for me #ukbirding
German colour ringed Curlew back @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social for its 2nd winter & having a good preen. 1st seen in November 2024 #birdringing #birdbanding
November 13, 2025 at 6:37 PM
German colour ringed Curlew back @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social for its 2nd winter & having a good preen. 1st seen in November 2024 #birdringing #birdbanding
This young female Goldcrest was ringed on 15th Oct @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social and recaptured a week or so ago. We recaptured it again today. Very unusual to have one staying almost a month. It’s put on 0.1g! #birdringing #birdbanding
November 13, 2025 at 4:19 PM
This young female Goldcrest was ringed on 15th Oct @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social and recaptured a week or so ago. We recaptured it again today. Very unusual to have one staying almost a month. It’s put on 0.1g! #birdringing #birdbanding
Female Kestrel drying off in the November sunshine @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social this morning #ukbirding
November 13, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Female Kestrel drying off in the November sunshine @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social this morning #ukbirding
Merlin off the west side of @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social this morning. We later found the remains of a Ringed Plover that had presumably killed
November 13, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Merlin off the west side of @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social this morning. We later found the remains of a Ringed Plover that had presumably killed
Some vis Mig from the garden this morning. Fieldfare, Redwing, Skylark & Siskin so far. My 1st Redwing locally. They’re late here #ukbirding
November 6, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Some vis Mig from the garden this morning. Fieldfare, Redwing, Skylark & Siskin so far. My 1st Redwing locally. They’re late here #ukbirding
Oystercatcher numbers building up @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social. High tide today meant many roosting on Hilbre as usual
spots on Middle Eye covered by the sea
spots on Middle Eye covered by the sea
November 5, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Oystercatcher numbers building up @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social. High tide today meant many roosting on Hilbre as usual
spots on Middle Eye covered by the sea
spots on Middle Eye covered by the sea
A Merlin flew past @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social at high tide heading towards Point of Ayr. It spooked all the roosting waders as it flew west
November 5, 2025 at 5:16 PM
A Merlin flew past @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social at high tide heading towards Point of Ayr. It spooked all the roosting waders as it flew west
3 of the 5 Purple Sandpipers roosting on the east side of @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social over the high tide today
November 5, 2025 at 2:12 PM
3 of the 5 Purple Sandpipers roosting on the east side of @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social over the high tide today
Six Purple Sandpipers @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social this morning including this bird that flew in off the sea and landed on the old lifeboat slipway as I was sitting at the north end ! #ukbirding
November 5, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Six Purple Sandpipers @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social this morning including this bird that flew in off the sea and landed on the old lifeboat slipway as I was sitting at the north end ! #ukbirding
A great read for anyone with an interest in the UK bird observatory network
The long overdue 2024 BOC News is now published online at
tinyurl.com/BOC-News-2024
Some amazing images and stories from around the Observatory network and a memoriam for the late Steve Wing.
tinyurl.com/BOC-News-2024
Some amazing images and stories from around the Observatory network and a memoriam for the late Steve Wing.
November 3, 2025 at 8:54 PM
A great read for anyone with an interest in the UK bird observatory network
Only two moths in the garden trap this morning. Pine Carpet and this Green-brindled Crescent (I hope!). New for me and the garden #teammoth #cheshiremoths
November 3, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Only two moths in the garden trap this morning. Pine Carpet and this Green-brindled Crescent (I hope!). New for me and the garden #teammoth #cheshiremoths
Pleased to see our 1st Purple Sandpiper of the winter @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social this morning. They seem to be late arriving here this year
November 1, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Pleased to see our 1st Purple Sandpiper of the winter @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social this morning. They seem to be late arriving here this year
Stormy start to the morning @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social and a F4 wsw. Unsurprisingly no new birds in but plenty of waders around the island
November 1, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Stormy start to the morning @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social and a F4 wsw. Unsurprisingly no new birds in but plenty of waders around the island
Sad to hear of the death of Chris Thorne in latest copy of BTO Lifecycle magazine. He was ringer in charge of Wicken Fen ringing group when I started as a trainee ringer there in 1976 #birdringing #birdbanding
November 1, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Sad to hear of the death of Chris Thorne in latest copy of BTO Lifecycle magazine. He was ringer in charge of Wicken Fen ringing group when I started as a trainee ringer there in 1976 #birdringing #birdbanding
There have been few gulls around locally so far this year but local farmer started ploughing maize stubble y’day. Heavy rain here and looking out bedroom window saw a few gulls congregating on field behind house. Checked them out & found this winter plumaged Med Gull! #ukbirding #cheshirebirding
November 1, 2025 at 8:11 AM
There have been few gulls around locally so far this year but local farmer started ploughing maize stubble y’day. Heavy rain here and looking out bedroom window saw a few gulls congregating on field behind house. Checked them out & found this winter plumaged Med Gull! #ukbirding #cheshirebirding
Back in Grovesnor Park, Chester this morning trying to add to Moorhen colour marking scheme. Forgot it was half term so to much disturbance. Did see H23 & H24 who’d left the pond but are now back! #birdringing
October 31, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Back in Grovesnor Park, Chester this morning trying to add to Moorhen colour marking scheme. Forgot it was half term so to much disturbance. Did see H23 & H24 who’d left the pond but are now back! #birdringing
Put the moth trap out last night more in hope than expectation. Surprised to catch a new species for me & the garden. Lobster Moth! #cheshiremoths #teammoth
October 31, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Put the moth trap out last night more in hope than expectation. Surprised to catch a new species for me & the garden. Lobster Moth! #cheshiremoths #teammoth
Kestrel drying out in the warmth of the early morning sunshine on the slate roof of one of the old buildings @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social
October 30, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Kestrel drying out in the warmth of the early morning sunshine on the slate roof of one of the old buildings @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social
A quiet morning @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social but 3 Brambling & a good number of Skylarks over were signs migration hasn’t stopped yet! 353 Pale-bellied Brent geese around the island today as well.
#ukbirding #birdobservatory
#ukbirding #birdobservatory
October 30, 2025 at 10:50 AM
A quiet morning @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social but 3 Brambling & a good number of Skylarks over were signs migration hasn’t stopped yet! 353 Pale-bellied Brent geese around the island today as well.
#ukbirding #birdobservatory
#ukbirding #birdobservatory
Following on from my Little Owl heard from the garden last week there were a pair dueting as darkness fell this evening. Fantastic to hear them again after several blank years
October 29, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Following on from my Little Owl heard from the garden last week there were a pair dueting as darkness fell this evening. Fantastic to hear them again after several blank years