Jack Bucknall
@whitleybirder.bsky.social
Northumberland Birder, NUFC Fan. Mainly patch birding at St. Mary's Island, plus annual trips to the Outer Hebrides.
WOW! A mobile Glossy Ibis at SMI Wetland this evening — first record for the site and only the second record for North Tyneside! Sadly, it was only around a matter of moments before moving south, but has been seen several times since. Well played @lurkymclurkface.bsky.social! #NEBirding
September 30, 2025 at 5:46 PM
WOW! A mobile Glossy Ibis at SMI Wetland this evening — first record for the site and only the second record for North Tyneside! Sadly, it was only around a matter of moments before moving south, but has been seen several times since. Well played @lurkymclurkface.bsky.social! #NEBirding
Well, I didn't expect to see one of these today - Pechora Pipit at South Shields this afternoon. A very tough bird to see, and showed mainly in flight, but it did show well on a couple of occasions... a proper mainland mega, and a lifer for me. #UKBirding #NEBirding
September 21, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Well, I didn't expect to see one of these today - Pechora Pipit at South Shields this afternoon. A very tough bird to see, and showed mainly in flight, but it did show well on a couple of occasions... a proper mainland mega, and a lifer for me. #UKBirding #NEBirding
Reflecting on an unforgettable trip to Peru, with the final leg of our visit being centred around the mighty Amazon River. Exotic birds, stunning scenery and a new continent well and truly ticked off! 214 lifers all told - not bad for a ‘non-birding trip’… #Peru
September 2, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Reflecting on an unforgettable trip to Peru, with the final leg of our visit being centred around the mighty Amazon River. Exotic birds, stunning scenery and a new continent well and truly ticked off! 214 lifers all told - not bad for a ‘non-birding trip’… #Peru
A wonder of the world, and bucket list birds… it’s been a mind-blowing 48 hours around Machu Picchu!
August 19, 2025 at 7:50 PM
A wonder of the world, and bucket list birds… it’s been a mind-blowing 48 hours around Machu Picchu!
Day 8 in Peru, and we are at the stunning Hotel Pakaritampu in Ollantaytambo, and the famous Hummingbird garden didn’t let me down! Two endemics in Bearded Mountaineer and Giant Hummingbird, plus White-bellied Hummingbird and Black-tailed Trainbearer. Machu Picchu next… #Peru
August 17, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Day 8 in Peru, and we are at the stunning Hotel Pakaritampu in Ollantaytambo, and the famous Hummingbird garden didn’t let me down! Two endemics in Bearded Mountaineer and Giant Hummingbird, plus White-bellied Hummingbird and Black-tailed Trainbearer. Machu Picchu next… #Peru
Yesterday, we visited Chonta Canyon to see the mighty Andean Condors, which gave absolutely stunning views from the viewpoint. Incredibly impressive birds up close - more bucket list stuff! #Peru
August 15, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Yesterday, we visited Chonta Canyon to see the mighty Andean Condors, which gave absolutely stunning views from the viewpoint. Incredibly impressive birds up close - more bucket list stuff! #Peru
Peru trip off to a brilliant start, with two days in Lima exploring the city and checking out the wildlife. The standout highlight was visiting the Inca Tern colony on Lima pier, incredible birds and real bucket list stuff! 25 lifers so far, plenty quality on offer. Cusco next… #Peru #Seabirds
August 12, 2025 at 7:33 PM
The adventure is underway - the next two weeks will be spent touring Southern Peru! Whilst my wife informs me it’s officially a ‘non-birding holiday’ (whatever one of those is!) I’m sure there’ll be plenty to look at…
August 10, 2025 at 10:03 AM
The adventure is underway - the next two weeks will be spent touring Southern Peru! Whilst my wife informs me it’s officially a ‘non-birding holiday’ (whatever one of those is!) I’m sure there’ll be plenty to look at…
A couple of hours from sunrise at St. Mary’s was very productive this morning, with a Marsh Harrier in-off the sea and west at 06:45, closely followed by a female Merlin that darted through the waders and continued south. Two local yearticks in as many minutes - autumn is here! #NEBirding #UKBirding
August 6, 2025 at 7:23 AM
A couple of hours from sunrise at St. Mary’s was very productive this morning, with a Marsh Harrier in-off the sea and west at 06:45, closely followed by a female Merlin that darted through the waders and continued south. Two local yearticks in as many minutes - autumn is here! #NEBirding #UKBirding
Top afternoon on the North Tyneside coast, starting with my first Roseate Terns of the year at Tynemouth on the rising tide, followed by a Little Tern feeding between the piers (never an easy species to connect with locally) and ended with the cracking adult Curlew Sand at SMI. #NEBirding #UKBirding
July 23, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Top afternoon on the North Tyneside coast, starting with my first Roseate Terns of the year at Tynemouth on the rising tide, followed by a Little Tern feeding between the piers (never an easy species to connect with locally) and ended with the cracking adult Curlew Sand at SMI. #NEBirding #UKBirding
A county tick, giving mega views, in the middle of Whitley Bay - what's not to like!! Sensational display from the Black-crowned Night Heron in Marden Quarry this evening. #NEBirding #UKBirding
July 14, 2025 at 8:00 PM
A county tick, giving mega views, in the middle of Whitley Bay - what's not to like!! Sensational display from the Black-crowned Night Heron in Marden Quarry this evening. #NEBirding #UKBirding
After a number of fruitless searches so far this summer, I was delighted to finally find a singing Quail locally last night! #NEBirding #UKBirding
July 11, 2025 at 7:03 AM
After a number of fruitless searches so far this summer, I was delighted to finally find a singing Quail locally last night! #NEBirding #UKBirding
Some Turkey pics from a few weeks back - the first couple of days were spent in the Aladaglar Mountains with some very special species. Shown here are Radde's Accentor, Red-fronted Serin, White-winged Snowfinch and Horned (Shore) Lark.
July 9, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Some Turkey pics from a few weeks back - the first couple of days were spent in the Aladaglar Mountains with some very special species. Shown here are Radde's Accentor, Red-fronted Serin, White-winged Snowfinch and Horned (Shore) Lark.
A juv Cuckoo near the wetland at SMI this evening, and four Med Gulls off the prom were both very welcome reminders that autumn is now just around the corner... #NEBirding #UKBirding
July 5, 2025 at 7:29 PM
A juv Cuckoo near the wetland at SMI this evening, and four Med Gulls off the prom were both very welcome reminders that autumn is now just around the corner... #NEBirding #UKBirding
Random bird of the day… just had an Avocet at Killingworth Lake! Only present for 5 minutes, circled the lake calling constantly, and repeatedly tried to land before flying off high north at 18:05. A site first? #NEBirding #UKBirding
July 2, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Random bird of the day… just had an Avocet at Killingworth Lake! Only present for 5 minutes, circled the lake calling constantly, and repeatedly tried to land before flying off high north at 18:05. A site first? #NEBirding #UKBirding
Radde’s Accentor from Demirkazik Tepe, one of our big targets in Turkey. We saw a minimum of seven birds around the viewpoint including recently fledged youngsters, and three singing males, often totally unfazed by our presence!
June 18, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Radde’s Accentor from Demirkazik Tepe, one of our big targets in Turkey. We saw a minimum of seven birds around the viewpoint including recently fledged youngsters, and three singing males, often totally unfazed by our presence!
One of the most memorable new birds of our trip to Turkey was Black-headed Bunting, and this exceptional male singing right beside the road was our first!
June 16, 2025 at 4:06 PM
One of the most memorable new birds of our trip to Turkey was Black-headed Bunting, and this exceptional male singing right beside the road was our first!
Our final day in Turkey is sadly at an end, and a fitting way to finish the trip by getting mega views of Kurdish Wheatear at Nemrut Dagi. A totally fantastic week of birding and company, finishing up on 35 lifers! Lots of photos to follow I’m sure…
June 12, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Our final day in Turkey is sadly at an end, and a fitting way to finish the trip by getting mega views of Kurdish Wheatear at Nemrut Dagi. A totally fantastic week of birding and company, finishing up on 35 lifers! Lots of photos to follow I’m sure…
We touched down in Turkey yesterday, and are very much looking forward to an action packed week of birding. A few lifers in the bag already such as Sombre Tit, Kruper’s Nuthatch, Black-headed Bunting etc, but tomorrow is the big one - operation Caspian Snowcock!
June 7, 2025 at 5:49 PM
We touched down in Turkey yesterday, and are very much looking forward to an action packed week of birding. A few lifers in the bag already such as Sombre Tit, Kruper’s Nuthatch, Black-headed Bunting etc, but tomorrow is the big one - operation Caspian Snowcock!
The curtain comes down on a very quiet May! An afternoon on Weetslade hill failed to produce the hoped-for Red Kite, but a Little Egret south over kept a slight bit of interest. Hopefully June produces a rarity or two… #NEBirding
May 31, 2025 at 5:18 PM
The curtain comes down on a very quiet May! An afternoon on Weetslade hill failed to produce the hoped-for Red Kite, but a Little Egret south over kept a slight bit of interest. Hopefully June produces a rarity or two… #NEBirding
So, that’s a wrap on the Scotland trip for another year! Magical as always, with all the regulars doing their bit, plus a self-found Surf Scoter at Balranald on Monday morning. Until next year…
May 17, 2025 at 6:42 PM
So, that’s a wrap on the Scotland trip for another year! Magical as always, with all the regulars doing their bit, plus a self-found Surf Scoter at Balranald on Monday morning. Until next year…
Our annual Scotland trip is underway, with a night in Strontian followed by four nights on Uist, before finishing up in Aviemore. Loads of quality on offer already, in a stunning setting and glorious sunshine - it’s good to be back!
May 10, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Our annual Scotland trip is underway, with a night in Strontian followed by four nights on Uist, before finishing up in Aviemore. Loads of quality on offer already, in a stunning setting and glorious sunshine - it’s good to be back!
Singing male Garden Warbler near Swallow Pond yesterday morning, never an easy bird to connect with in North Tyneside in spring. #NEBirding #UKBirding
May 9, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Singing male Garden Warbler near Swallow Pond yesterday morning, never an easy bird to connect with in North Tyneside in spring. #NEBirding #UKBirding
Long day in the field yesterday! Despite the weather not being overly conducive for a big total, I still finished up with 100 species across North Tyneside. Some good quality on offer inc Garganey, Cetti’s Warbler, Common Sand, Whimbrel and Arctic Tern to name a few. #NEBirding #UKBirding
May 4, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Long day in the field yesterday! Despite the weather not being overly conducive for a big total, I still finished up with 100 species across North Tyneside. Some good quality on offer inc Garganey, Cetti’s Warbler, Common Sand, Whimbrel and Arctic Tern to name a few. #NEBirding #UKBirding
I’m currently doing a North Tyneside big day, hoping to get somewhere near last year’s total of 104 species. This one wasn’t on the cards when I started the day however - smashing drake Garganey currently in Marden Quarry! #NEBirding #UKBirding
May 3, 2025 at 8:10 AM
I’m currently doing a North Tyneside big day, hoping to get somewhere near last year’s total of 104 species. This one wasn’t on the cards when I started the day however - smashing drake Garganey currently in Marden Quarry! #NEBirding #UKBirding