Tom Lowe
@saloplarus.bsky.social
Gulls, Geese, Goshawks, Aurora, Astronomy and everything else in the sky. #lookup
#salopobs - the unofficial bird observatory in the heart of Shropshire 😏
#salopobs - the unofficial bird observatory in the heart of Shropshire 😏
Pinned
Tom Lowe
@saloplarus.bsky.social
· Apr 19
Wow. Went out hoping the damp easterlies might produce a Black Tern, and found a BLACK KITE 💥 The first for #shropshirebirding hanging over Wood Lane landfill with 5 Red Kites, on view constantly for 2hrs! Absolutely awesome
I've taken on a couple of new WeBS @webs-gsmp.bsky.social sites this autumn, one hasn't been counted in my lifetime and the other was my childhood patch. Both had Great Egrets this weekend, unthinkable back in their/my day! #shropshirebirding @btobirds.bsky.social
November 10, 2025 at 7:50 PM
I've taken on a couple of new WeBS @webs-gsmp.bsky.social sites this autumn, one hasn't been counted in my lifetime and the other was my childhood patch. Both had Great Egrets this weekend, unthinkable back in their/my day! #shropshirebirding @btobirds.bsky.social
A few glances outside #salopobs whilst getting ready for school and work confirmed today was another big pigeon day. I counted 5,400 heading SW in some massive flocks 0740-0750, but then we had to go 😟 What could have been... #vismig #ukbirding
November 10, 2025 at 12:12 PM
A few glances outside #salopobs whilst getting ready for school and work confirmed today was another big pigeon day. I counted 5,400 heading SW in some massive flocks 0740-0750, but then we had to go 😟 What could have been... #vismig #ukbirding
A flood of 44,110 Woodpigeons past #salopobs this morning was a new site and county record, and almost overwhelming at times. 5 Egyptian Geese high east were a bit of a surprise #vismig #ukbirding
November 8, 2025 at 9:39 PM
A flood of 44,110 Woodpigeons past #salopobs this morning was a new site and county record, and almost overwhelming at times. 5 Egyptian Geese high east were a bit of a surprise #vismig #ukbirding
It was great to spend a few days in the west Norfolk wildlands recently, with spectacular numbers and variety of birds #landscaperecovery #ukbirding
November 7, 2025 at 9:08 PM
It was great to spend a few days in the west Norfolk wildlands recently, with spectacular numbers and variety of birds #landscaperecovery #ukbirding
Flock of 21 Whoopers went WNW past us in Lincs this morning on a direct line from Welney to the Ribble... #migration #climatechange #ukbirding
November 7, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Flock of 21 Whoopers went WNW past us in Lincs this morning on a direct line from Welney to the Ribble... #migration #climatechange #ukbirding
Masterful use of the headwind by one of today's Sunk Island Hen Harriers #loveautumn #ukbirding
November 4, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Masterful use of the headwind by one of today's Sunk Island Hen Harriers #loveautumn #ukbirding
Woodpigeons on the move again on this beautiful sunny morning: 18,800 flew SW at #salopobs along with 1,240 Starlings, Chaffinches, Skylarks and a few more thrushes #loveautumn #vismig #ukbirding
November 2, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Woodpigeons on the move again on this beautiful sunny morning: 18,800 flew SW at #salopobs along with 1,240 Starlings, Chaffinches, Skylarks and a few more thrushes #loveautumn #vismig #ukbirding
Lots of colourful circles in the sky over #Shropshire today. Lunar halo and fireworks over Church Stretton and a late afternoon rainbow over the Wrekin #atmosphericoptics #ukweather #stormhour
November 1, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Lots of colourful circles in the sky over #Shropshire today. Lunar halo and fireworks over Church Stretton and a late afternoon rainbow over the Wrekin #atmosphericoptics #ukweather #stormhour
Reposted by Tom Lowe
Cackling Goose at Nerabus, Islay this afternoon. Very dark brown and nice little gular stripe fits tavernii?
November 1, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Cackling Goose at Nerabus, Islay this afternoon. Very dark brown and nice little gular stripe fits tavernii?
Reposted by Tom Lowe
The cruelty of bird migration laid bare at Cley this morning as a tired Woodcock reached the end of its sea crossing to be met by a hungry Peregrine. Knocked into the water the Woodcock ultimately succumbed to the rough breakers while the Peregrine left with just a tail feather. #NorfolkBirding
October 26, 2025 at 4:26 PM
The cruelty of bird migration laid bare at Cley this morning as a tired Woodcock reached the end of its sea crossing to be met by a hungry Peregrine. Knocked into the water the Woodcock ultimately succumbed to the rough breakers while the Peregrine left with just a tail feather. #NorfolkBirding
Another great #salopobs morning with 61 species recorded including 💥19,120💥 Woodpigeons SW, 2 Great Egrets, Brambling +225 Chaffinches, 79 Fieldfares, 2,310 LBBGs... ebird.org/checklist/S2... #vismig #ukbirding
October 26, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Another great #salopobs morning with 61 species recorded including 💥19,120💥 Woodpigeons SW, 2 Great Egrets, Brambling +225 Chaffinches, 79 Fieldfares, 2,310 LBBGs... ebird.org/checklist/S2... #vismig #ukbirding
Reposted by Tom Lowe
Yay. Priceless. The right column at the right time. And a gleefully English two fingers to the haters.
October 25, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Yay. Priceless. The right column at the right time. And a gleefully English two fingers to the haters.
A magical morning at #salopobs (even though I overslept 🤦🏻♂️) with 4 Whoopers SE (obs yeartick 128), a Great Egret high south, 10,060 Woodies, 20 Crossbills, double Gos 😍 ebird.org/checklist/S2... #loveautumn #vismig #ukbirding
October 24, 2025 at 12:24 PM
A magical morning at #salopobs (even though I overslept 🤦🏻♂️) with 4 Whoopers SE (obs yeartick 128), a Great Egret high south, 10,060 Woodies, 20 Crossbills, double Gos 😍 ebird.org/checklist/S2... #loveautumn #vismig #ukbirding
Finally a clear spell and two comets from the garden! Comet C/2025 A6 Lemmon🍋 looking great near Arcturus in the west, and the slightly less inspiring Comet C/2025 R2 Swan🦢 near the Milky Way #comet #astrophotography
October 23, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Finally a clear spell and two comets from the garden! Comet C/2025 A6 Lemmon🍋 looking great near Arcturus in the west, and the slightly less inspiring Comet C/2025 R2 Swan🦢 near the Milky Way #comet #astrophotography
It's Woodpigeon time again! Great morning at #salopobs headlined by 10,460 Woodies heading SW along with the first Brambling of the year and 248 Chaffinches. 2,520 LBBGs out of roost tried to distract, and the juv Gos looked as overwhelmed as I felt! ebird.org/checklist/S2... #ukbirding #vismig
October 22, 2025 at 1:33 PM
It's Woodpigeon time again! Great morning at #salopobs headlined by 10,460 Woodies heading SW along with the first Brambling of the year and 248 Chaffinches. 2,520 LBBGs out of roost tried to distract, and the juv Gos looked as overwhelmed as I felt! ebird.org/checklist/S2... #ukbirding #vismig
Checked in on the country's largest LBBG roost last night as 9,380 poured onto The Mere, #Ellesmere at dusk along with a handful of accompaniments. Great to engage with fascinated passers-by too 😍 #lovegulls #shropshirebirding #ukbirding
October 22, 2025 at 6:24 AM
Checked in on the country's largest LBBG roost last night as 9,380 poured onto The Mere, #Ellesmere at dusk along with a handful of accompaniments. Great to engage with fascinated passers-by too 😍 #lovegulls #shropshirebirding #ukbirding
Failed to intercept the Northern Bottlenose Whale in the Humber off Immingham today. Had to make do with a Shag #lincsbirding #humberbirds
October 19, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Failed to intercept the Northern Bottlenose Whale in the Humber off Immingham today. Had to make do with a Shag #lincsbirding #humberbirds
All the 8s... 18/8 to the MV today of which TEN were Figure of Eights, a record count of this declining moth #salopmoths #teammoth #vc40
October 18, 2025 at 10:17 AM
All the 8s... 18/8 to the MV today of which TEN were Figure of Eights, a record count of this declining moth #salopmoths #teammoth #vc40
Figure of 72 on the wall by the mothtrap just now! (that's 9 x Figure of 8!) #salopmoths #teammoth
October 17, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Figure of 72 on the wall by the mothtrap just now! (that's 9 x Figure of 8!) #salopmoths #teammoth
Found Shangri-larid on the Shropshire Cheshire border today. A tired migrant Jack Snipe tried to distract us from the 3,000 LBBGs and 8+YLGs, before handing the baton to 1,231 Pinks 🤩 #gullsandgeese #shropshirebirding #ukbirding
October 17, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Found Shangri-larid on the Shropshire Cheshire border today. A tired migrant Jack Snipe tried to distract us from the 3,000 LBBGs and 8+YLGs, before handing the baton to 1,231 Pinks 🤩 #gullsandgeese #shropshirebirding #ukbirding
Merveille du Jour playing dead by the mothtrap this evening. Natural selection at its best #salopmoths #teammoth
October 15, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Merveille du Jour playing dead by the mothtrap this evening. Natural selection at its best #salopmoths #teammoth
Merlin, Snipe and a handful of Redwings flew in off the sea at Rossall this morning, some of the latter absolutely exhausted, maybe having overshot and come back? #migration #lancsbirding #ukbirding
October 14, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Merlin, Snipe and a handful of Redwings flew in off the sea at Rossall this morning, some of the latter absolutely exhausted, maybe having overshot and come back? #migration #lancsbirding #ukbirding
A bird-filled day on the Fylde started well with a Black-throated Diver close in off Fleetwood, and ended with 5,000 Pinks (27% juvs in a sample of 318) and 56 Whooper Swans #lancsbirding #ukbirding
October 13, 2025 at 7:32 PM
A bird-filled day on the Fylde started well with a Black-throated Diver close in off Fleetwood, and ended with 5,000 Pinks (27% juvs in a sample of 318) and 56 Whooper Swans #lancsbirding #ukbirding
Cappuccino for Tom was the highlight of 18/10 to the MV this morning. Love the viking/antelope horns #salopmoths #teammoth
October 11, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Cappuccino for Tom was the highlight of 18/10 to the MV this morning. Love the viking/antelope horns #salopmoths #teammoth