John Bowler
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tireebirder.bsky.social
John Bowler
@tireebirder.bsky.social
Life-long birder - Tiree-based but sometimes elsewhere
Siberian Chiffchaff new in the Balephuil, Tiree garden this morning #BirdingScotland

@patchbirding.bsky.social
November 11, 2025 at 11:30 AM
1 of 4 Woodcock lurking in the Balephuil, Tiree garden just now, also a a couple of Blackcaps there still and 16 Long-tailed Tits #BirdingScotland
@patchbirding.bsky.social
November 10, 2025 at 1:34 PM
First chance to get back to Loch a' Phuill, Tiree this pm after hernia op last weekend - no sign of any Buffleheads but 1CY Lesser Scaup still present in amongst 50 Tufted Duck there #BirdingScotland

@patchbirding.bsky.social
November 9, 2025 at 4:09 PM
No Pallas's Warbler yet in the Balephuill, Tiree garden but it's still busy with visitors from the mainland including 16 Long-tailed Tits today #BirdingScotland
@patchbirding.bsky.social
November 7, 2025 at 5:09 PM
A few bits and pieces in the Balephuil, Tiree garden recently: Brambling yesterday (with 20 Long-tailed Tits) and a Chiffchaff today, plus 2 Blackcaps and 5 Fieldfares #BirdingScotland
@patchbirding.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 2:25 PM
1cy Lesser Scaup new at Loch a' Phuill, Tiree this afternoon, replacing the 1cy Greater Scaup that was there on Wednesday
@patchbirding.bsky.social #BirdingScotland

@birdguides.bsky.social
October 31, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Terrible record shot of a Blue Tit in the garden at Balephuil, Tiree today - an unprecedented 4th species of tit to grace the garden this month #BirdingScotland
@patchbirding.bsky.social
October 30, 2025 at 5:23 PM
4 scarce birds beginning with "C" around, Tiree today: Coot at Loch an Eilein (FOY for the 3km patch), Carrion Crow at Sorobaidh Bay, Todd's Canada Goose at Kenovay & 2 Coal Tit at Scarinish. Also 16 Long-tailed Tit at Balephuil
@patchbirding.bsky.social #BirdingScotland
October 27, 2025 at 4:57 PM
A big pipit flicking around in the trees in the Balephuil, Tiree garden this morning turned out to be a Rock Pipit! - the first record for this wooded garden - it was flushed away by a Robin
@patchbirding.bsky.social #BirdingScotland
October 24, 2025 at 9:03 AM
No sign of yesterday's Hume's Warbler at Balephuil #Tiree today but the Todd's Canada Goose was amongst the Barnacle Geese at Ruaig and a drake Scaup was new at Loch an Eilein
#BirdingScotland

@patchbirding.bsky.social
October 22, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Finally a poor record shot of the elusive Hume's Leaf Warbler at Balephuil, Tiree this afternoon #BirdingScotland
October 21, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Hume's Leaf Warbler showing intermittently in the gardens at Balephuil, Tiree this afternoon (with ca 25 Blackcap, 2+ Chiffchaff, 3+ Goldcrest and 6 Long-tailed Tit) but giving little away for the camera so far... @patchbirding.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #BirdingScotland
October 21, 2025 at 2:42 PM
One of two Blue Tits near Heylipol Church, Tiree today - completing the set of the four common tit species this autumn on the island (for the first time ever!)
@patchbirding.bsky.social
October 18, 2025 at 4:51 PM
The warbler-fest continued at Balephuil, Tiree today including 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 1 Siberian Chiffchaff (pic), 2 Willow Warblers (pic), 7+ Blackcap, 4+ Chiffchaff and 5 Goldcrest - also 6 Long-tailed Tits still #BirdingScotland
@patchbirding.bsky.social
October 17, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Todd's-type Canada Goose new with the Barnies at Balephetrish, Tiree today - also the juv White-rumped Sandpiper still at Balephetrish Bay, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler at Balephuil & 12 Long-tailed Tits new at Vaul #BirdingScotland
@patchbirding.bsky.social
October 15, 2025 at 6:06 PM
A flock of 15 Long-tailed Tits joined the party at Balephuil, Tiree this afternoon - it felt like a mainland wood with final tallies of 2 Great Tits, 9 Coal Tits, a Treecreeper, 6 Goldcrests, 43 Fieldfare & 2 Dunnocks, as well as 2 Yellow-browed Warblers #BirdingScotland
@patchbirding.bsky.social
October 14, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Big arrival at Balephuil, Tiree this am: 2 Yellow-browed Warblers, 9 Coal Tit (record count), 1 Great Tit, 12 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Treecreeper #PatchGold, 28 Fieldfare, 120 Redwing, 7 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler & 6 Goldcrest #BirdingScotland #PWC2025
October 14, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Great Tit #PatchGold! in the Balephuil, Tiree garden today, also 2 Coal Tit still, plus an arrival of 2 Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 6 Blackcap, 2 Dunnock & 21 Chaffinch, also Slavonian Grebe at Loch a' Phuill #BirdingScotland
@patchbirding.bsky.social
October 13, 2025 at 8:27 AM
A few other scarcities over the last few days since Storm Amy on Tiree - an influx of at least 6 Coal Tits, a 1cy Med Gull at Barrapol (6th) & at least 5 lingering juv Curlew Sands (still 3 today at Balephetrish Bay) - also a Brambling yesterday #BirdingScotland

@patchbirding.bsky.social
October 9, 2025 at 4:45 PM
No internet until now on Tiree since Storm Amy... Juv White-rumped Sandpiper still at Balephetrish Bay today (been there since 6th & at Vaul Bay on 4th) with 2nd juv at Hough Bay on 6th per @theodec97.bsky.social #BirdingScotland

@patchbirding.bsky.social
October 9, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Spotted Flycatcher still lingering in the gardens at Balephuil, Tiree today and joined there by one each of Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler & Goldcrest #BirdingScotland
@patchbirding.bsky.social
October 1, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Tiree recently: 1 Curlew Sandpiper at Kenovay today & a Lapland Bunting at Sandaig yesterday, also Spotted Flycatcher & Chiffchaff at Balephuil, 10+ Ruff still & several scattered Pinkfeet #BirdingScotland
@birdguides.bsky.social
@patchbirding.bsky.social
September 29, 2025 at 4:07 PM
As well as record numbers of Curlew Sandpipers & bumper counts of Ruff & Black-tailed Godwit, September 2025 has also seen flocks of hundreds of Snipe on Tiree - many of which, like this one, are still here #BirdingScotland
@patchbirding.bsky.social
September 24, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Tiree's White Stork was ringed in a barn-roof nest in central Scania, Sweden on 14/6, it moved to Norway (nr Trondheim) on 10/8 (with 60+ storks) & remained in Norway until at least 8/9. Info from Petter Albinson, Storkprojektet. @birdguides.bsky.social @patchbirding.bsky.social #BirdingScotland
September 19, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Looks like the Tiree White Stork is actually from Sweden, rather than Knepp - details to follow #BirdingScotland
@birdguides.bsky.social

@patchbirding.bsky.social
September 18, 2025 at 2:30 PM