The Backward Birder
@backwardbirder.bsky.social
Old-fashioned birder. Member of The Irregulars. Lover of Wild places and wildlife. Reliably twenty years behind the times.
Also on Twitter {yes, it's still that to me} There's a blog out there somewhere, too...
Also on Twitter {yes, it's still that to me} There's a blog out there somewhere, too...
And so it rained. And rained. And rained. This was not forecast, btw. 'Slight chance of a light shower', they said. This was not slight or light or anything but sustained. Oh well, only a fool goes up on t'Moor without waterproofs, & I am not that {Usually 😉}
Did make the waxcaps look extra purdy
😍🍄
Did make the waxcaps look extra purdy
😍🍄
November 11, 2025 at 9:11 PM
And so it rained. And rained. And rained. This was not forecast, btw. 'Slight chance of a light shower', they said. This was not slight or light or anything but sustained. Oh well, only a fool goes up on t'Moor without waterproofs, & I am not that {Usually 😉}
Did make the waxcaps look extra purdy
😍🍄
Did make the waxcaps look extra purdy
😍🍄
A LOT of Golden Plover were flying about overhead in a swirling mass of sub-flocks that occasionally came together. Had to be at least 400. Odd groups came a bit lower, like these;
November 11, 2025 at 9:11 PM
A LOT of Golden Plover were flying about overhead in a swirling mass of sub-flocks that occasionally came together. Had to be at least 400. Odd groups came a bit lower, like these;
Saturday was a day of two halves.
After a morning of sunshine and Dartford Warblers, this double delight over Holne Lee was the herald of that which was to come.
🌈🌧️
Still, it looked pretty 🙃
After a morning of sunshine and Dartford Warblers, this double delight over Holne Lee was the herald of that which was to come.
🌈🌧️
Still, it looked pretty 🙃
November 11, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Saturday was a day of two halves.
After a morning of sunshine and Dartford Warblers, this double delight over Holne Lee was the herald of that which was to come.
🌈🌧️
Still, it looked pretty 🙃
After a morning of sunshine and Dartford Warblers, this double delight over Holne Lee was the herald of that which was to come.
🌈🌧️
Still, it looked pretty 🙃
Looked at the sea at the Nose, as it was blowier than expected: timed count gave 180 auks {176 Razorbills, 4 Guillemots. No Puffins!}, 3 Gannets, 3 Kittiwakes, & 1 Common Gull in 10 mins. A party of 10+ scoter got past as I was getting the scope out, a Med Gull also passed.
This fly{?} best pic.!
🦉🦟
This fly{?} best pic.!
🦉🦟
November 9, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Looked at the sea at the Nose, as it was blowier than expected: timed count gave 180 auks {176 Razorbills, 4 Guillemots. No Puffins!}, 3 Gannets, 3 Kittiwakes, & 1 Common Gull in 10 mins. A party of 10+ scoter got past as I was getting the scope out, a Med Gull also passed.
This fly{?} best pic.!
🦉🦟
This fly{?} best pic.!
🦉🦟
After finding not much at the Nose 1st thing, I tried for Slav{s} from Cockwood Crossing.
The 🌧️ kindly waited until after the 11th hour, the grebes were less helpful 😔
More helpful was the @warrenbirding.bsky.social Garganey, who flew through my field of view while I was scanning the duck masses!
😄🦉
The 🌧️ kindly waited until after the 11th hour, the grebes were less helpful 😔
More helpful was the @warrenbirding.bsky.social Garganey, who flew through my field of view while I was scanning the duck masses!
😄🦉
November 9, 2025 at 9:51 PM
After finding not much at the Nose 1st thing, I tried for Slav{s} from Cockwood Crossing.
The 🌧️ kindly waited until after the 11th hour, the grebes were less helpful 😔
More helpful was the @warrenbirding.bsky.social Garganey, who flew through my field of view while I was scanning the duck masses!
😄🦉
The 🌧️ kindly waited until after the 11th hour, the grebes were less helpful 😔
More helpful was the @warrenbirding.bsky.social Garganey, who flew through my field of view while I was scanning the duck masses!
😄🦉
Text from @shiphaybirder.bsky.social {🎩} had me pulling a 180° from a trip to t'Moor for a full-fat genuine Patch Tick at the Nose today...
Dartford Warbler!! 🤩
✔️🦉
After showing well but just too quick for a photo on arrival, the influence of the Dread Artefact later gave me these;
Dartford Warbler!! 🤩
✔️🦉
After showing well but just too quick for a photo on arrival, the influence of the Dread Artefact later gave me these;
November 8, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Text from @shiphaybirder.bsky.social {🎩} had me pulling a 180° from a trip to t'Moor for a full-fat genuine Patch Tick at the Nose today...
Dartford Warbler!! 🤩
✔️🦉
After showing well but just too quick for a photo on arrival, the influence of the Dread Artefact later gave me these;
Dartford Warbler!! 🤩
✔️🦉
After showing well but just too quick for a photo on arrival, the influence of the Dread Artefact later gave me these;
2/ More on offer, oh yes!
Waxcap Wednesday - courtesy of the Nose last weekend - also gives you Butter, Scarlet, Slimy, and Fibrous. {How appetising.! 🤨}
🍄
Waxcap Wednesday - courtesy of the Nose last weekend - also gives you Butter, Scarlet, Slimy, and Fibrous. {How appetising.! 🤨}
🍄
November 5, 2025 at 8:48 PM
2/ More on offer, oh yes!
Waxcap Wednesday - courtesy of the Nose last weekend - also gives you Butter, Scarlet, Slimy, and Fibrous. {How appetising.! 🤨}
🍄
Waxcap Wednesday - courtesy of the Nose last weekend - also gives you Butter, Scarlet, Slimy, and Fibrous. {How appetising.! 🤨}
🍄
Waxcap Wednesday!
Nose waxcaps are showing up, so I am putting them up.
😁🍄
1/ Blackening and the white ones, Snowy and Cedarwood.
I am a big Blackening fan, second only to Parrot in my book, so they get double-picced.
Nose waxcaps are showing up, so I am putting them up.
😁🍄
1/ Blackening and the white ones, Snowy and Cedarwood.
I am a big Blackening fan, second only to Parrot in my book, so they get double-picced.
November 5, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Waxcap Wednesday!
Nose waxcaps are showing up, so I am putting them up.
😁🍄
1/ Blackening and the white ones, Snowy and Cedarwood.
I am a big Blackening fan, second only to Parrot in my book, so they get double-picced.
Nose waxcaps are showing up, so I am putting them up.
😁🍄
1/ Blackening and the white ones, Snowy and Cedarwood.
I am a big Blackening fan, second only to Parrot in my book, so they get double-picced.
After failing at the Nose, I didn't find any BlackReds around the café end, either. This dear little psychopath might have had something to do with that...
😟
Robin: "Give me a sammich or I'll chin yer"
{Coffee was good, though 😇☕}
😟
Robin: "Give me a sammich or I'll chin yer"
{Coffee was good, though 😇☕}
November 4, 2025 at 8:35 PM
After failing at the Nose, I didn't find any BlackReds around the café end, either. This dear little psychopath might have had something to do with that...
😟
Robin: "Give me a sammich or I'll chin yer"
{Coffee was good, though 😇☕}
😟
Robin: "Give me a sammich or I'll chin yer"
{Coffee was good, though 😇☕}
Sunday Continues.
Having to be in town, I naturally had a look at Haldon Pier, where despite the high tide, there were no Purple Sands roosting, though there were 2 busily foraging amongst the boulders 😃
Later, there were at least 3 more on East Shag {the coolly-stratified rock off Meadfoot Beach}
🦉
Having to be in town, I naturally had a look at Haldon Pier, where despite the high tide, there were no Purple Sands roosting, though there were 2 busily foraging amongst the boulders 😃
Later, there were at least 3 more on East Shag {the coolly-stratified rock off Meadfoot Beach}
🦉
November 4, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Sunday Continues.
Having to be in town, I naturally had a look at Haldon Pier, where despite the high tide, there were no Purple Sands roosting, though there were 2 busily foraging amongst the boulders 😃
Later, there were at least 3 more on East Shag {the coolly-stratified rock off Meadfoot Beach}
🦉
Having to be in town, I naturally had a look at Haldon Pier, where despite the high tide, there were no Purple Sands roosting, though there were 2 busily foraging amongst the boulders 😃
Later, there were at least 3 more on East Shag {the coolly-stratified rock off Meadfoot Beach}
🦉
Sunday about the Patch & having failed to find BlackRed at the Nose {passing @shiphaybirder.bsky.social on my way out, who of course did..🙄}, I gave the coastal cover a going-over for warblers of a hopefully stripey nature.
What did I find? Well, have a look for yourselves;
🦉
What did I find? Well, have a look for yourselves;
🦉
November 3, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Sunday about the Patch & having failed to find BlackRed at the Nose {passing @shiphaybirder.bsky.social on my way out, who of course did..🙄}, I gave the coastal cover a going-over for warblers of a hopefully stripey nature.
What did I find? Well, have a look for yourselves;
🦉
What did I find? Well, have a look for yourselves;
🦉
4/ Ducks!
Common Scoters passed in ones and two, I tried to shoot them wherever possible in case of something interesting📷. One female skimmed just outside the Lead Stone and had to be papped.
🦉
Common Scoters passed in ones and two, I tried to shoot them wherever possible in case of something interesting📷. One female skimmed just outside the Lead Stone and had to be papped.
🦉
November 1, 2025 at 7:35 PM
4/ Ducks!
Common Scoters passed in ones and two, I tried to shoot them wherever possible in case of something interesting📷. One female skimmed just outside the Lead Stone and had to be papped.
🦉
Common Scoters passed in ones and two, I tried to shoot them wherever possible in case of something interesting📷. One female skimmed just outside the Lead Stone and had to be papped.
🦉
3/ Gulls!
Tried shooting every Med Gull that came close enough. Some came very close, so you can even see what they are... 😲
🦉
Tried shooting every Med Gull that came close enough. Some came very close, so you can even see what they are... 😲
🦉
November 1, 2025 at 7:35 PM
3/ Gulls!
Tried shooting every Med Gull that came close enough. Some came very close, so you can even see what they are... 😲
🦉
Tried shooting every Med Gull that came close enough. Some came very close, so you can even see what they are... 😲
🦉
2/ On to the birds!
Here we have the skuas {well, the ones close enough to try for and that I actually hit in something approaching focus, anyway..😞}
We have here a Pom and three Arctics, a light an intermediate and two dark morphs, and all of those are not necessarily in that order. 🙃
🦉
Here we have the skuas {well, the ones close enough to try for and that I actually hit in something approaching focus, anyway..😞}
We have here a Pom and three Arctics, a light an intermediate and two dark morphs, and all of those are not necessarily in that order. 🙃
🦉
November 1, 2025 at 7:35 PM
2/ On to the birds!
Here we have the skuas {well, the ones close enough to try for and that I actually hit in something approaching focus, anyway..😞}
We have here a Pom and three Arctics, a light an intermediate and two dark morphs, and all of those are not necessarily in that order. 🙃
🦉
Here we have the skuas {well, the ones close enough to try for and that I actually hit in something approaching focus, anyway..😞}
We have here a Pom and three Arctics, a light an intermediate and two dark morphs, and all of those are not necessarily in that order. 🙃
🦉
Friday's photos.
{You may wish to approach with caution, the following thread contains seawatching photos by me.. 😱🤢}
🌊🔭
1/ Some pretty scenery. The changing weather from Glonk Corner;
{You may wish to approach with caution, the following thread contains seawatching photos by me.. 😱🤢}
🌊🔭
1/ Some pretty scenery. The changing weather from Glonk Corner;
November 1, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Friday's photos.
{You may wish to approach with caution, the following thread contains seawatching photos by me.. 😱🤢}
🌊🔭
1/ Some pretty scenery. The changing weather from Glonk Corner;
{You may wish to approach with caution, the following thread contains seawatching photos by me.. 😱🤢}
🌊🔭
1/ Some pretty scenery. The changing weather from Glonk Corner;
Bugger! Forgot to include this, my first diver of the Autumn.
🤦
Moulting {adult?} Great Northern Diver, South past the Nose and into the Bay on Sunday.
🦉
🤦
Moulting {adult?} Great Northern Diver, South past the Nose and into the Bay on Sunday.
🦉
October 29, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Bugger! Forgot to include this, my first diver of the Autumn.
🤦
Moulting {adult?} Great Northern Diver, South past the Nose and into the Bay on Sunday.
🦉
🤦
Moulting {adult?} Great Northern Diver, South past the Nose and into the Bay on Sunday.
🦉
With a mix of inspiration & determination, I went up on t'Moor in search of more Ouzels.
I found lots of sideways drizzle...
Lunch in the lee of a nice wall was enlivened by a visitor, however.
After 📷 was taken, this 1w Sparrowhawk came zooming towards me & zipped over the wall just to my left 😲😍
🦉
I found lots of sideways drizzle...
Lunch in the lee of a nice wall was enlivened by a visitor, however.
After 📷 was taken, this 1w Sparrowhawk came zooming towards me & zipped over the wall just to my left 😲😍
🦉
![Look at those feets!
1cy Sparrowhawk - probably a male - on a post in the dizzle, Dartmoor.
After I took this he came zooming towards me at zero feet, popping over the wall I was sat by, 3.5m to my left {yes, I got up and measured]
Wowzer!](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:j23gq7jqlrngio4l7qyblr4j/bafkreifya2esmm372vujyg3cvsflodfxrokkveca6nvopsy3rnfmantk6i@jpeg)
October 28, 2025 at 7:34 PM
With a mix of inspiration & determination, I went up on t'Moor in search of more Ouzels.
I found lots of sideways drizzle...
Lunch in the lee of a nice wall was enlivened by a visitor, however.
After 📷 was taken, this 1w Sparrowhawk came zooming towards me & zipped over the wall just to my left 😲😍
🦉
I found lots of sideways drizzle...
Lunch in the lee of a nice wall was enlivened by a visitor, however.
After 📷 was taken, this 1w Sparrowhawk came zooming towards me & zipped over the wall just to my left 😲😍
🦉
Also for myself an @shiphaybirder.bsky.social; 3+ Harbour Porpoise to N, & 5 Grey Seal hauled out on Thatcher Rock. This Common Sandpiper flew out from Hope Cove to the Lead Stone, you can just see it! {Maybe}
😆🦉
{Vismig no.s will be on the blog directly...}
😆🦉
{Vismig no.s will be on the blog directly...}
October 27, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Also for myself an @shiphaybirder.bsky.social; 3+ Harbour Porpoise to N, & 5 Grey Seal hauled out on Thatcher Rock. This Common Sandpiper flew out from Hope Cove to the Lead Stone, you can just see it! {Maybe}
😆🦉
{Vismig no.s will be on the blog directly...}
😆🦉
{Vismig no.s will be on the blog directly...}
Nose 1st thing Sunday; some vismig, most notably a {non-landing} Brambling, though not the numbers elsewhere, as per.
Bluefin Tuna were evident well out in what turned into a very spread feeding event, with 2 Arctic Skuas attracted to the 00's of Kittiwakes & Gannets.
This chap posed nicely!
🦉
Bluefin Tuna were evident well out in what turned into a very spread feeding event, with 2 Arctic Skuas attracted to the 00's of Kittiwakes & Gannets.
This chap posed nicely!
🦉
October 27, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Nose 1st thing Sunday; some vismig, most notably a {non-landing} Brambling, though not the numbers elsewhere, as per.
Bluefin Tuna were evident well out in what turned into a very spread feeding event, with 2 Arctic Skuas attracted to the 00's of Kittiwakes & Gannets.
This chap posed nicely!
🦉
Bluefin Tuna were evident well out in what turned into a very spread feeding event, with 2 Arctic Skuas attracted to the 00's of Kittiwakes & Gannets.
This chap posed nicely!
🦉
Patch today with again nothing astounding to report - though sunshine & strong wind is not exactly helpful weather.! - now that Firecrests are routine {still going 😲 at that}.
Technical issues are sort-of sorted, so here is something new to show;
Lilac Fibrecap!
🍄
{What?!? Fungi are funky. 🙃}
Technical issues are sort-of sorted, so here is something new to show;
Lilac Fibrecap!
🍄
{What?!? Fungi are funky. 🙃}
October 25, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Patch today with again nothing astounding to report - though sunshine & strong wind is not exactly helpful weather.! - now that Firecrests are routine {still going 😲 at that}.
Technical issues are sort-of sorted, so here is something new to show;
Lilac Fibrecap!
🍄
{What?!? Fungi are funky. 🙃}
Technical issues are sort-of sorted, so here is something new to show;
Lilac Fibrecap!
🍄
{What?!? Fungi are funky. 🙃}
Nobody likes my waxcaps, don't know what they did that was so bad. 🤷
It's not going to stop me, have a couple more from Emsworthy 😛
🍄
It's not going to stop me, have a couple more from Emsworthy 😛
🍄
October 23, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Nobody likes my waxcaps, don't know what they did that was so bad. 🤷
It's not going to stop me, have a couple more from Emsworthy 😛
🍄
It's not going to stop me, have a couple more from Emsworthy 😛
🍄
Hope's Nose today was dizzlier than forecast and I unexpectedly ran out of time before the good weather ended, though most passage was early on.
That said, holding on for 'just five more minutes' paid off with a Bonxie!
🦉
1/
That said, holding on for 'just five more minutes' paid off with a Bonxie!
🦉
1/
![Adult winter plumage Mediterranean Gulls, tripping the light fantastic.
Three passed, with four more [including a 1w and 2w] attending the slick.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:j23gq7jqlrngio4l7qyblr4j/bafkreidlg3tnhtgeix5elllwkc25w4p4wzloho5olo3lmbmr2llfzky4pm@jpeg)
October 19, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Hope's Nose today was dizzlier than forecast and I unexpectedly ran out of time before the good weather ended, though most passage was early on.
That said, holding on for 'just five more minutes' paid off with a Bonxie!
🦉
1/
That said, holding on for 'just five more minutes' paid off with a Bonxie!
🦉
1/
3/ Sometimes, the birds will come to you.
Rarely with the light, though..
🤷🦉
Rarely with the light, though..
🤷🦉
October 18, 2025 at 5:36 PM
3/ Sometimes, the birds will come to you.
Rarely with the light, though..
🤷🦉
Rarely with the light, though..
🤷🦉
2/ Getting close to thrushes is not easy. Here's a sequence of photos, taken without and with zoom, showing how far back from the subjects my typical photos are taken.
🦉
🦉
October 18, 2025 at 5:34 PM
2/ Getting close to thrushes is not easy. Here's a sequence of photos, taken without and with zoom, showing how far back from the subjects my typical photos are taken.
🦉
🦉
Emsworthy yesterday morning was busy with birders.. and thrushes!
😄
First up, we have some scenery, and an actual shot of an actual Ring Ouzel!!
🦉
😄
First up, we have some scenery, and an actual shot of an actual Ring Ouzel!!
🦉
October 18, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Emsworthy yesterday morning was busy with birders.. and thrushes!
😄
First up, we have some scenery, and an actual shot of an actual Ring Ouzel!!
🦉
😄
First up, we have some scenery, and an actual shot of an actual Ring Ouzel!!
🦉