Ben Collins-Smith
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bc-s.bsky.social
Ben Collins-Smith
@bc-s.bsky.social
Kent birder
A few birds from the last few days of my Northern Peru tour; White-winged Guan, Lesser Nighthawk & Tumbes Chat-Tyrant #birding #Peru
September 29, 2025 at 3:40 PM
A few birds from the last few days of my Northern Peru tour; White-winged Guan, Lesser Nighthawk & Tumbes Chat-Tyrant #birding #Peru
September 29, 2025 at 3:37 PM
We’re lucky to have a colpa (clay lick) at Hoja Nueva which allows us to see some of the parrots at close range. Red-and-green Macaws are by far the most common with 30+ pairs. Scarlet, Blue-and-yellow, Chestnut-fronted and Red-bellied have been limited to a few pairs each
September 19, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Halfway through my stay with Hoja Nueva, near Puerto Maldonado, volunteering with their research, rehab and rewilding efforts. Some of the mammals on show daily below; Bolivian Red Howler Monkey, Saddle-back Tamarin & Brown-throated Sloth #conservation #peru
September 16, 2025 at 4:12 PM
🇵🇪 #Peru day 1 - explored the parks and bars of Lima, stumbled into a few birds too - photos of Belcher’s Gull, Blue-grey Tanager, Long-tailed Mockingbird & Saffron Finch #birding
September 7, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Spotted Crake showed well for 40 minutes at New Downs, Sandwich this morning, albeit in poor light. Was lucky to connect with the 3 Dotterel at St Margaret’s on the way home before the flew south over the road #kentbirding
August 30, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Snuck off from the family holiday for half a day of birding in Albania with @ajcollinssmith_. Connected with our two targets of Sombre Tit (2) and Western Rock Nuthatch (5+) near Gjirokastër. Supporting cast of 20+ Golden Oriole, Lesser Grey Shrike, Blue Rock Thrush #birding
August 22, 2025 at 7:25 PM
The last 3 times I’ve been out of the country @dungenessbirdobs.bsky.social has had Eastern & Western Bonelli’s Warblers and Iberian Chiff. I’m off to Albania tomorrow so if anyone fancies finding a rare warbler, you know where to go… #kentbirding
August 15, 2025 at 5:32 PM
The Pectoral Sandpiper was still in the SE corner of the ARC pit at Dungeness this morning. Also, Peregrine, Cuckoo, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Avocet & 4 GWE feeding in front of the hide #kentbirding
August 7, 2025 at 6:39 AM
Margate to Broadstairs this morning: Leucistic Herring Gull still in Margate Harbour, Peregrine, Wheatear, 2 Fulmar, Curlew & Whimbrel #kentbirding
August 2, 2025 at 9:48 AM
River Medway from Tonbridge to Rochester: 8 hours, 49km, 62k steps, 8 pubs, no bins but 49 bird species inc. fem. Mandarin, 6 Kingfisher, GSW nest, Reed Bunt, Yellowhammer #kentbirding
May 31, 2025 at 8:50 PM
🇪🇪 Estonia day 6 - caught up with Booted Warbler and Lesser Spotted Eagle today, bringing our final trip list to 172 species. Photos of some of the observation towers #birding
May 27, 2025 at 6:53 PM
🇪🇪 Estonia days 4 & 5 - travelled south and east to try for some warbler targets. 3 River, 5 Blyth’s Reed, 8+ Marsh Warbler around Tartu. Also Golden Eagle, Corncrake, Penduline Tit, Golden Oriole were highlights @ajcollinssmith.bsky.social #birding
May 26, 2025 at 2:28 PM
🇪🇪 Estonia day 3 - explored some bogs and mature woodland this morning. A couple of Citrine Wags helped ease the blow whilst waiting to get towed in the afternoon 😂 also Honey Buzzard & Grasshopper Warbler #birding
May 24, 2025 at 4:13 PM
🇪🇪 Estonia day 2 - whole day birding Matsalu Bay & surrounding areas. 100s of GWE, 7+ WTE, 3 Montagu’s Harrier, Red-breasted, Pied & Spotted Flys, LEO & dozens of Icterines #birding
May 23, 2025 at 7:30 PM
🇪🇪 Day 1 of Estonia with @ajcollinssmith.bsky.social - birded the NW of the country with 94 species so far inc. Icterine, Marsh, Savi’s & Great Reed Warblers, Golden Oriole, Rosefinch, Black Tern, loads of Little Gulls, Whinchats etc.
May 22, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Reposted by Ben Collins-Smith
Good to see u again today Ben. A great wader morning with Whimbrels, Turnstones, Sanderlings, Dunlins & Grey Plovers moving up channel, followed by 2 Curlew Sandpipers at Kerton Road Pit (thanks for the heads up), 34+ Barwits, 2 Common Sandpipers, 3 Ringed Plovers, 1 Knot, 2 Redshank & Common Tern.
May 10, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Dungeness sea watch 05:40-09:10: 3 Poms, 1 Arctic Skua, 6 Velvet & 100 Common Scoter, 3 Little, 2 Black, Sandwich & Common Terns, 3 diver species & some waders moving up the channel. Black Redstart and 2 Wheatear on the beach #kentbirding
May 10, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Tight schedule but good morning of twitching. Spotted Sand @ Grafham, Great Reed Warbler, male and female Red-footed Falcons @ Ouse Fen & Blue-winged Teal @ Rainham on the way home.
May 3, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Reposted by Ben Collins-Smith
2 Hoopoe at farm by Little Dartmouth
April 11, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Sunrise at Hoylake.

Had the Black Scoter all to ourselves this morning.

#cheshirebirding
March 15, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Lovely still evening at Chetney Marshes with @ajcollinssmith.bsky.social. 58 species including 5+ Short-eared and 2 Barn Owl, 10+ Marsh Harrier, c2300 Starling into roost #kentbirding
March 5, 2025 at 6:40 PM
A drizzly Blean Woods this afternoon: 1 female LSW, Marsh Tit, Bullfinch, Firecrest. A male Hen Harrier was a surprise as it flew over the car just outside Chilham #kentbirding
February 8, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Hundreds of finches and buntings in Marden this afternoon. 100 Chaffinch, 100 Linnet, 80+ Yellowhammer, 70+ Reed Bunting, 2 Brambling and this brief Hawfinch
#ukbirding #kentbirding
February 1, 2025 at 6:19 PM
The Spectacled Eider did the honourable thing and stuck around for us this morning. Celebratory 11am beer with @mardenmark.bsky.social @desertwarbler.bsky.social @andyappleton.bsky.social
January 25, 2025 at 10:59 AM