Paul Baker
@bakerboybirding.bsky.social
Based in south Essex. Enjoy twitching (BOU 500+) as well as local patch birding.
I like to spend time birding in Norfolk, too.
Easily distracted by mammals (esp cetaceans), reptiles, amphibians & butterflies.
No politics on here, just wildlife!
I like to spend time birding in Norfolk, too.
Easily distracted by mammals (esp cetaceans), reptiles, amphibians & butterflies.
No politics on here, just wildlife!
A few phonepics of the Black-faced Bunting at Spurn this afternoon.
It spent much of it's time behaving like a Lancy as it skulked in the dunes and was constantly eating wild grass seed.
#RareBirdsUK
It spent much of it's time behaving like a Lancy as it skulked in the dunes and was constantly eating wild grass seed.
#RareBirdsUK
October 21, 2025 at 10:02 PM
A few phonepics of the Black-faced Bunting at Spurn this afternoon.
It spent much of it's time behaving like a Lancy as it skulked in the dunes and was constantly eating wild grass seed.
#RareBirdsUK
It spent much of it's time behaving like a Lancy as it skulked in the dunes and was constantly eating wild grass seed.
#RareBirdsUK
Black-faced Bunting striking a pose at Spurn this afternoon
#RareBirdsUK
#RareBirdsUK
October 21, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Black-faced Bunting striking a pose at Spurn this afternoon
#RareBirdsUK
#RareBirdsUK
Lovely to see a pair of Wall Brown butterflies still lingering in my garden today.
They took a particular interest in this dandelion where the male posed briefly 🦋
They took a particular interest in this dandelion where the male posed briefly 🦋
September 15, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Lovely to see a pair of Wall Brown butterflies still lingering in my garden today.
They took a particular interest in this dandelion where the male posed briefly 🦋
They took a particular interest in this dandelion where the male posed briefly 🦋
Had a much anticipated garden tick today in the shape of two Wasp Spiders.
Also in the garden, two Wall Browns, Common Blue, Hobby, and a late Swift after the showers.
Also in the garden, two Wall Browns, Common Blue, Hobby, and a late Swift after the showers.
September 4, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Had a much anticipated garden tick today in the shape of two Wasp Spiders.
Also in the garden, two Wall Browns, Common Blue, Hobby, and a late Swift after the showers.
Also in the garden, two Wall Browns, Common Blue, Hobby, and a late Swift after the showers.
The Bank Vole, under my garden timber pile, initially relied on camouflage and keeping still.
August 23, 2025 at 7:24 PM
The Bank Vole, under my garden timber pile, initially relied on camouflage and keeping still.
Highlights from moving the timber pile in my garden to a new location just 6ft away.
Bank Vole, 6 Slow-worms, 3 Common Lizards all hiding underneath.
Bank Vole, 6 Slow-worms, 3 Common Lizards all hiding underneath.
August 23, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Highlights from moving the timber pile in my garden to a new location just 6ft away.
Bank Vole, 6 Slow-worms, 3 Common Lizards all hiding underneath.
Bank Vole, 6 Slow-worms, 3 Common Lizards all hiding underneath.
I've not posted on here for a while.
Rescued a Willow Emerald Damselfly from inside my south Essex house again.
Incredibly, this is the 16th individual over the last six years that I've found either inside my house or trying to enter my house!
More than half my sightings here are from indoors 🤷♂️
Rescued a Willow Emerald Damselfly from inside my south Essex house again.
Incredibly, this is the 16th individual over the last six years that I've found either inside my house or trying to enter my house!
More than half my sightings here are from indoors 🤷♂️
August 18, 2025 at 11:53 AM
I've not posted on here for a while.
Rescued a Willow Emerald Damselfly from inside my south Essex house again.
Incredibly, this is the 16th individual over the last six years that I've found either inside my house or trying to enter my house!
More than half my sightings here are from indoors 🤷♂️
Rescued a Willow Emerald Damselfly from inside my south Essex house again.
Incredibly, this is the 16th individual over the last six years that I've found either inside my house or trying to enter my house!
More than half my sightings here are from indoors 🤷♂️
A lovely Barn Owl filmed through my upstairs double glazing this afternoon, in gorgeous light along the Crouch. Endearing head movements, too! I was also able to see a metal ring on its leg.
The Ruddy Shelduck was still present on Blue House Farm as was another Barn Owl.
#essexBirding
The Ruddy Shelduck was still present on Blue House Farm as was another Barn Owl.
#essexBirding
March 24, 2025 at 7:18 PM
A lovely Barn Owl filmed through my upstairs double glazing this afternoon, in gorgeous light along the Crouch. Endearing head movements, too! I was also able to see a metal ring on its leg.
The Ruddy Shelduck was still present on Blue House Farm as was another Barn Owl.
#essexBirding
The Ruddy Shelduck was still present on Blue House Farm as was another Barn Owl.
#essexBirding
Ruddy Shelduck still on Blue House Farm today at range from my house a mile away.
Barn Owl also showing at the bottom of the garden.
Barn Owl also showing at the bottom of the garden.
March 20, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Ruddy Shelduck still on Blue House Farm today at range from my house a mile away.
Barn Owl also showing at the bottom of the garden.
Barn Owl also showing at the bottom of the garden.
Ruddy Shelduck still present today and yesterday on Blue House Farm as viewed from my house, one mile away! 🔭
#essexBirding
#essexBirding
March 12, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Ruddy Shelduck still present today and yesterday on Blue House Farm as viewed from my house, one mile away! 🔭
#essexBirding
#essexBirding
Lovely few hours this morning in north Norfolk.
2 Firecrest & Treecreeper nr Sheringham.
3 Dartford Warblers, Stonechats, Mistle Thrush, Siskin, Y'hammer, Red Kites on the Heath.
SibeChiff at Walsey.
Glossy Ibis, Ruff & 7 Lsr Whitefronts at Stiffkey.
Goshawk nr Holt 😊
#NorfolkBirding
2 Firecrest & Treecreeper nr Sheringham.
3 Dartford Warblers, Stonechats, Mistle Thrush, Siskin, Y'hammer, Red Kites on the Heath.
SibeChiff at Walsey.
Glossy Ibis, Ruff & 7 Lsr Whitefronts at Stiffkey.
Goshawk nr Holt 😊
#NorfolkBirding
March 2, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Lovely few hours this morning in north Norfolk.
2 Firecrest & Treecreeper nr Sheringham.
3 Dartford Warblers, Stonechats, Mistle Thrush, Siskin, Y'hammer, Red Kites on the Heath.
SibeChiff at Walsey.
Glossy Ibis, Ruff & 7 Lsr Whitefronts at Stiffkey.
Goshawk nr Holt 😊
#NorfolkBirding
2 Firecrest & Treecreeper nr Sheringham.
3 Dartford Warblers, Stonechats, Mistle Thrush, Siskin, Y'hammer, Red Kites on the Heath.
SibeChiff at Walsey.
Glossy Ibis, Ruff & 7 Lsr Whitefronts at Stiffkey.
Goshawk nr Holt 😊
#NorfolkBirding
More highlights of the distant Ruddy Shelduck on Blue House Farm bird this morning from my house.
Short-eared Owl & Barn Owl this evening, too.
#essexBirding
Short-eared Owl & Barn Owl this evening, too.
#essexBirding
February 26, 2025 at 7:47 PM
More highlights of the distant Ruddy Shelduck on Blue House Farm bird this morning from my house.
Short-eared Owl & Barn Owl this evening, too.
#essexBirding
Short-eared Owl & Barn Owl this evening, too.
#essexBirding
A Ruddy Shelduck, distantly on Blue House Farm, was a most welcome addition to the house list this morning.
Also present were 2 Barn Owls, a Short-eared Owl, 24 Pintail, 3 Avocets, and a Marsh Harrier.
#essexBirding
Also present were 2 Barn Owls, a Short-eared Owl, 24 Pintail, 3 Avocets, and a Marsh Harrier.
#essexBirding
February 24, 2025 at 5:42 PM
A Ruddy Shelduck, distantly on Blue House Farm, was a most welcome addition to the house list this morning.
Also present were 2 Barn Owls, a Short-eared Owl, 24 Pintail, 3 Avocets, and a Marsh Harrier.
#essexBirding
Also present were 2 Barn Owls, a Short-eared Owl, 24 Pintail, 3 Avocets, and a Marsh Harrier.
#essexBirding
Yellow Warbler at New Hythe today.
Eventually gave itself up to the crowd at 11am.
#kentbirding
#rarebirdsuk
Eventually gave itself up to the crowd at 11am.
#kentbirding
#rarebirdsuk
December 26, 2024 at 4:43 PM
Yellow Warbler at New Hythe today.
Eventually gave itself up to the crowd at 11am.
#kentbirding
#rarebirdsuk
Eventually gave itself up to the crowd at 11am.
#kentbirding
#rarebirdsuk
Hen Harrier this afternoon at Wallasea, although the best bird was the Dartford Warbler found yesterday by @richiegannon.bsky.social
Remarkably, there appears to be a second Dartford Warbler on the island today!
2 Great White Egrets, Greenshank & 4 Marsh Harriers also present.
#essexBirding
Remarkably, there appears to be a second Dartford Warbler on the island today!
2 Great White Egrets, Greenshank & 4 Marsh Harriers also present.
#essexBirding
November 2, 2024 at 10:01 PM
Hen Harrier this afternoon at Wallasea, although the best bird was the Dartford Warbler found yesterday by @richiegannon.bsky.social
Remarkably, there appears to be a second Dartford Warbler on the island today!
2 Great White Egrets, Greenshank & 4 Marsh Harriers also present.
#essexBirding
Remarkably, there appears to be a second Dartford Warbler on the island today!
2 Great White Egrets, Greenshank & 4 Marsh Harriers also present.
#essexBirding
Local mega this evening with a Bittern doing two pre-roost flights around Bowers Marsh.
First found y'day morning by GO.
Photos from y'day evening by TJB.
#essexBirding
First found y'day morning by GO.
Photos from y'day evening by TJB.
#essexBirding
October 28, 2024 at 6:52 PM
Local mega this evening with a Bittern doing two pre-roost flights around Bowers Marsh.
First found y'day morning by GO.
Photos from y'day evening by TJB.
#essexBirding
First found y'day morning by GO.
Photos from y'day evening by TJB.
#essexBirding
Great Grey Shrike this afternoon at 4pm.
Viewed from West Canvey Marsh looking across the creek to Bowers Marsh, so always distant.
My first local one since 2007!
#essexBirding
Viewed from West Canvey Marsh looking across the creek to Bowers Marsh, so always distant.
My first local one since 2007!
#essexBirding
October 15, 2024 at 5:41 PM
Great Grey Shrike this afternoon at 4pm.
Viewed from West Canvey Marsh looking across the creek to Bowers Marsh, so always distant.
My first local one since 2007!
#essexBirding
Viewed from West Canvey Marsh looking across the creek to Bowers Marsh, so always distant.
My first local one since 2007!
#essexBirding
Loving the comparison photos between your LtSkua & mine off Canvey yesterday!
October 3, 2024 at 10:20 PM
Loving the comparison photos between your LtSkua & mine off Canvey yesterday!
Superb afternoon at Canvey Point today. 12:00 - 16:45.
1 juv Long-tailed Skua
2 Sabine's Gulls (inc 1 adult)
1 Manx Shearwater
7 Arctic Skuas
2 Little Gulls (ad & 1st-w)
2 Arctic Terns
11 Gannets
5 Pintail
2 Peregrine
1 Wall Brown
#essexBirding
1 juv Long-tailed Skua
2 Sabine's Gulls (inc 1 adult)
1 Manx Shearwater
7 Arctic Skuas
2 Little Gulls (ad & 1st-w)
2 Arctic Terns
11 Gannets
5 Pintail
2 Peregrine
1 Wall Brown
#essexBirding
October 2, 2024 at 5:19 PM
Superb afternoon at Canvey Point today. 12:00 - 16:45.
1 juv Long-tailed Skua
2 Sabine's Gulls (inc 1 adult)
1 Manx Shearwater
7 Arctic Skuas
2 Little Gulls (ad & 1st-w)
2 Arctic Terns
11 Gannets
5 Pintail
2 Peregrine
1 Wall Brown
#essexBirding
1 juv Long-tailed Skua
2 Sabine's Gulls (inc 1 adult)
1 Manx Shearwater
7 Arctic Skuas
2 Little Gulls (ad & 1st-w)
2 Arctic Terns
11 Gannets
5 Pintail
2 Peregrine
1 Wall Brown
#essexBirding
No photos of the skulking PLLW this morning, but it was great to have this Hummingbird Hawkmoth this evening in my south Essex garden.
I wonder if it'll be my last one of the year...
Check out the feeding action in slow-mo 😍
#essexBirding
I wonder if it'll be my last one of the year...
Check out the feeding action in slow-mo 😍
#essexBirding
September 28, 2024 at 6:40 PM
No photos of the skulking PLLW this morning, but it was great to have this Hummingbird Hawkmoth this evening in my south Essex garden.
I wonder if it'll be my last one of the year...
Check out the feeding action in slow-mo 😍
#essexBirding
I wonder if it'll be my last one of the year...
Check out the feeding action in slow-mo 😍
#essexBirding
An excellent Essex record.
#essexBirding
#essexBirding
September 22, 2024 at 3:49 PM
An excellent Essex record.
#essexBirding
#essexBirding
And another, 'make of that what you will' sighting from Essex yesterday! Ortolan Bunting?
#essexBirding
#essexBirding
September 21, 2024 at 12:45 PM
And another, 'make of that what you will' sighting from Essex yesterday! Ortolan Bunting?
#essexBirding
#essexBirding
It's on @birdguides.bsky.social as still present!
September 21, 2024 at 11:50 AM
It's on @birdguides.bsky.social as still present!
Make of this what you will 🤷
#essexBirding
#essexBirding
September 21, 2024 at 8:25 AM
Make of this what you will 🤷
#essexBirding
#essexBirding