Stewart
@stewchat.bsky.social
Northumbrian Birder, Naturalist, fan of Ennion, RARichardson, Busby, Jarvis, McCanch, Wallace, Watkins-Pitchford and rarest of all, Notebook users... Local Patcher on the Northumberland coast.
Pinned
A bit late with the 2025 #NotebookAnnual this time.
Anyway, here are a few from my #Sketchbook from across the year. My only new bird, was the fantastic Pechora Pipit at South Shields.What will 2026 bring...
#birdart #Northumberland ##FieldNotes #Sketchbooks
Anyway, here are a few from my #Sketchbook from across the year. My only new bird, was the fantastic Pechora Pipit at South Shields.What will 2026 bring...
#birdart #Northumberland ##FieldNotes #Sketchbooks
Last night 7pm -1.5° I counted 9+ geometers on the wing on an exposed stretch of farmland road. . By midnight the temp had risen to 3.5°. It wonder if they could sense it was on the up?
One looked like a Winter Moth the others larger, more silvery? Maybe Early Moth or Northern Winter? #teammoth
One looked like a Winter Moth the others larger, more silvery? Maybe Early Moth or Northern Winter? #teammoth
January 9, 2026 at 9:52 AM
Last night 7pm -1.5° I counted 9+ geometers on the wing on an exposed stretch of farmland road. . By midnight the temp had risen to 3.5°. It wonder if they could sense it was on the up?
One looked like a Winter Moth the others larger, more silvery? Maybe Early Moth or Northern Winter? #teammoth
One looked like a Winter Moth the others larger, more silvery? Maybe Early Moth or Northern Winter? #teammoth
Loved the Siberia books. I got to see one of his Grey Plover skins in the Hancock back room some years back, complete with handwritten label from one of his Siberia expeditions. And birders on Shetland call it 'work'...😁
Indoor Meeting:
Weds 14th January 2026,
Author Paul Hobson takes us thro the life and time of pioneering Victorian ornithologist & Sheffield steel baron Henry Seebohm
7.15pm LT2 The Diamond
Weds 14th January 2026,
Author Paul Hobson takes us thro the life and time of pioneering Victorian ornithologist & Sheffield steel baron Henry Seebohm
7.15pm LT2 The Diamond
January 5, 2026 at 11:09 PM
Loved the Siberia books. I got to see one of his Grey Plover skins in the Hancock back room some years back, complete with handwritten label from one of his Siberia expeditions. And birders on Shetland call it 'work'...😁
Reposted by Stewart
Corncrake in a Herts reedbed in January? Hope we’re not missing a young Allen’s gallinule or something (2 v recently in Europe). Or maybe just a confused bird from Norfolk reintro program?
January 5, 2026 at 1:50 PM
Corncrake in a Herts reedbed in January? Hope we’re not missing a young Allen’s gallinule or something (2 v recently in Europe). Or maybe just a confused bird from Norfolk reintro program?
January 5, 2026 at 10:59 AM
The thing about birding in a freeze in Northumberland is that alot of birds move out. Things like Pipits, Wagtails, larks, snow bunts, Golden Plover, wildfowl etc head SW and don't come back til spring passage so the weeks after the freeze here are often quiet.
January 4, 2026 at 8:39 PM
The thing about birding in a freeze in Northumberland is that alot of birds move out. Things like Pipits, Wagtails, larks, snow bunts, Golden Plover, wildfowl etc head SW and don't come back til spring passage so the weeks after the freeze here are often quiet.
Reposted by Stewart
Hooded Mergansers at New Hythe lakes today. Female (left) = brown eye + yellow in bill; male (right) = yellow eye and black bill. Presumably frozen out of smaller lake/pond somewhere. Unringed, fully-winged and confiding... @rarebirder.bsky.social @kentishplover.bsky.social #KentBirding #UKRareBirds
January 4, 2026 at 7:35 PM
Hooded Mergansers at New Hythe lakes today. Female (left) = brown eye + yellow in bill; male (right) = yellow eye and black bill. Presumably frozen out of smaller lake/pond somewhere. Unringed, fully-winged and confiding... @rarebirder.bsky.social @kentishplover.bsky.social #KentBirding #UKRareBirds
Boulmer like the Arctic this morn. -2° with wind chill on top. Male Black Redstart out on the seaweed, a female Merlin didn't look too good as it hopped along the ground below a fence line , Little Egret S plus 21 Song Thrushes on 300 mtrs of beach.
#Lowcarbonbirding #LocalPatch #Northumberland
#Lowcarbonbirding #LocalPatch #Northumberland
January 4, 2026 at 4:11 PM
Boulmer like the Arctic this morn. -2° with wind chill on top. Male Black Redstart out on the seaweed, a female Merlin didn't look too good as it hopped along the ground below a fence line , Little Egret S plus 21 Song Thrushes on 300 mtrs of beach.
#Lowcarbonbirding #LocalPatch #Northumberland
#Lowcarbonbirding #LocalPatch #Northumberland
Reposted by Stewart
Just about to board a long haul flight and airline being difficult about the weight of my hand luggage which is mostly #birdinggear Makes me think I need a lightweight superzoom bridge camera to cut weight for such trips.
What’s the best option that balances weight:performance these days?
What’s the best option that balances weight:performance these days?
January 4, 2026 at 12:26 AM
Just about to board a long haul flight and airline being difficult about the weight of my hand luggage which is mostly #birdinggear Makes me think I need a lightweight superzoom bridge camera to cut weight for such trips.
What’s the best option that balances weight:performance these days?
What’s the best option that balances weight:performance these days?
Reposted by Stewart
A colleague has found a somewhat convincing candidate for Urtica membranacea on her #NewYearPlantHunt. Potentially a NCR if so! Flattened male flower stems, two stipules at each node and looking just a little 'different'. Does anyone have experience with this one? 😶 @bsbibotany.bsky.social
January 3, 2026 at 11:20 AM
A colleague has found a somewhat convincing candidate for Urtica membranacea on her #NewYearPlantHunt. Potentially a NCR if so! Flattened male flower stems, two stipules at each node and looking just a little 'different'. Does anyone have experience with this one? 😶 @bsbibotany.bsky.social
A bit late with the 2025 #NotebookAnnual this time.
Anyway, here are a few from my #Sketchbook from across the year. My only new bird, was the fantastic Pechora Pipit at South Shields.What will 2026 bring...
#birdart #Northumberland ##FieldNotes #Sketchbooks
Anyway, here are a few from my #Sketchbook from across the year. My only new bird, was the fantastic Pechora Pipit at South Shields.What will 2026 bring...
#birdart #Northumberland ##FieldNotes #Sketchbooks
January 3, 2026 at 11:18 AM
A bit late with the 2025 #NotebookAnnual this time.
Anyway, here are a few from my #Sketchbook from across the year. My only new bird, was the fantastic Pechora Pipit at South Shields.What will 2026 bring...
#birdart #Northumberland ##FieldNotes #Sketchbooks
Anyway, here are a few from my #Sketchbook from across the year. My only new bird, was the fantastic Pechora Pipit at South Shields.What will 2026 bring...
#birdart #Northumberland ##FieldNotes #Sketchbooks
Meanwhile, 300 yards S ,Ben had Glauc, GND, 9 Little Auks and a Woodcock. I should have left the car....
A short seawatch in a squally blizzard this morning had 1 Little Auk N and nothing else! But after a 2025 Little Auk blank, it'll do.
#Lowcarbonbirding #LocalPatch #Northumberland
#Lowcarbonbirding #LocalPatch #Northumberland
January 3, 2026 at 10:58 AM
Meanwhile, 300 yards S ,Ben had Glauc, GND, 9 Little Auks and a Woodcock. I should have left the car....
A short seawatch in a squally blizzard this morning had 1 Little Auk N and nothing else! But after a 2025 Little Auk blank, it'll do.
#Lowcarbonbirding #LocalPatch #Northumberland
#Lowcarbonbirding #LocalPatch #Northumberland
January 3, 2026 at 10:48 AM
A short seawatch in a squally blizzard this morning had 1 Little Auk N and nothing else! But after a 2025 Little Auk blank, it'll do.
#Lowcarbonbirding #LocalPatch #Northumberland
#Lowcarbonbirding #LocalPatch #Northumberland
Reposted by Stewart
What a way to start the year on my local patch. Landed on the beach for a few minutes then flew off west.
January 1, 2026 at 12:12 PM
What a way to start the year on my local patch. Landed on the beach for a few minutes then flew off west.
Reposted by Stewart
First day of the year, and first post op day out birding. Decided not to chase Tundras but visit local patch. Very quiet until a pinkie Gull turned up on the beach. How do you motivate yourself after a Ross's Gull sits within 20 feet of you on the first day of January!
January 1, 2026 at 1:37 PM
First day of the year, and first post op day out birding. Decided not to chase Tundras but visit local patch. Very quiet until a pinkie Gull turned up on the beach. How do you motivate yourself after a Ross's Gull sits within 20 feet of you on the first day of January!
Reposted by Stewart
Wishing our members and all birders visiting Northumberland a bird-filled 2026.
If you have outstanding records for 2025 please submit to our county recorder Tim Dean as soon as possible (t.r.dean@btinternet.com).
NTBC are supporting the International Swan Census in Jan - details on website.
If you have outstanding records for 2025 please submit to our county recorder Tim Dean as soon as possible (t.r.dean@btinternet.com).
NTBC are supporting the International Swan Census in Jan - details on website.
December 31, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Wishing our members and all birders visiting Northumberland a bird-filled 2026.
If you have outstanding records for 2025 please submit to our county recorder Tim Dean as soon as possible (t.r.dean@btinternet.com).
NTBC are supporting the International Swan Census in Jan - details on website.
If you have outstanding records for 2025 please submit to our county recorder Tim Dean as soon as possible (t.r.dean@btinternet.com).
NTBC are supporting the International Swan Census in Jan - details on website.
Reposted by Stewart
A year birding the Herne Bay Downs area. A review @ hernebaydownsbirding.blogspot.com. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding #UKbirding
December 30, 2025 at 9:13 PM
A year birding the Herne Bay Downs area. A review @ hernebaydownsbirding.blogspot.com. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding #UKbirding
Bit of an end of year #LocalPatch round up. Not a classic....
Stewchat...: Local Patch End of Year 2025 share.google/xpEa6xobPvDL...
#Lowcarbonbirding #Northumberland
#UKBirding #NEBirding
Stewchat...: Local Patch End of Year 2025 share.google/xpEa6xobPvDL...
#Lowcarbonbirding #Northumberland
#UKBirding #NEBirding
Local Patch End of Year 2025
As the end of 2025 approaches we always like to appraise how the birding has gone and for me that means, in particular, my local patch. As ...
share.google
December 30, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Bit of an end of year #LocalPatch round up. Not a classic....
Stewchat...: Local Patch End of Year 2025 share.google/xpEa6xobPvDL...
#Lowcarbonbirding #Northumberland
#UKBirding #NEBirding
Stewchat...: Local Patch End of Year 2025 share.google/xpEa6xobPvDL...
#Lowcarbonbirding #Northumberland
#UKBirding #NEBirding
Reposted by Stewart
My grandad said 'that's a funny looking robin' moments later is was looking at this magnificent red-flanked bluetail. Seen at nethy Bridge Scotland! The exact location is on birdguides!
December 29, 2025 at 5:36 PM
My grandad said 'that's a funny looking robin' moments later is was looking at this magnificent red-flanked bluetail. Seen at nethy Bridge Scotland! The exact location is on birdguides!
Reposted by Stewart
Young friend of mine has just found this in the Nethybridge area of Highland this morning. No further details as yet #ukbirding
December 29, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Young friend of mine has just found this in the Nethybridge area of Highland this morning. No further details as yet #ukbirding
Reposted by Stewart
After a blank this morning around St Benet's Abbey, we were a few minutes away, after the Great Shearwater (!), when Andrew Bloomfield text us to say the Black-winged Kite was back. And so it was! Brilliant performance, poor scope pix 😅 Superb👌
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#NorfolkBirding
#RareBirdsUK
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#NorfolkBirding
#RareBirdsUK
December 27, 2025 at 5:21 PM
After a blank this morning around St Benet's Abbey, we were a few minutes away, after the Great Shearwater (!), when Andrew Bloomfield text us to say the Black-winged Kite was back. And so it was! Brilliant performance, poor scope pix 😅 Superb👌
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#NorfolkBirding
#RareBirdsUK
@linnetincley.bsky.social
#NorfolkBirding
#RareBirdsUK
Reposted by Stewart
Excellent prolonged views of a Black-winged Kite this morning! #Norfolkbirding
December 28, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Excellent prolonged views of a Black-winged Kite this morning! #Norfolkbirding
Reposted by Stewart
My God @rspb.bsky.social The top 2 are beautifully illustrated but have Pine martens started hybridising with Weasels or Polecat-ferrets to produce the bottom monstrosity? #MustelidMurder
December 26, 2025 at 12:22 PM
My God @rspb.bsky.social The top 2 are beautifully illustrated but have Pine martens started hybridising with Weasels or Polecat-ferrets to produce the bottom monstrosity? #MustelidMurder
Northumberlands only Pied billed Grebe was found on Boxing Day 1992 by Ian Fisher and Mike Carr....it stayed for a couple of years...
December 26, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Northumberlands only Pied billed Grebe was found on Boxing Day 1992 by Ian Fisher and Mike Carr....it stayed for a couple of years...
