Apparently 240,000 Woodpigeons were counted this morning heading SW over Newport . I was at Dunster beach between dawn and 10.30 - didn’t record a single Woodpigeon in off the sea ! Only bird I picked up offshore was a Great White Egret which did make landfall ! #somerserbirding
November 8, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Apparently 240,000 Woodpigeons were counted this morning heading SW over Newport . I was at Dunster beach between dawn and 10.30 - didn’t record a single Woodpigeon in off the sea ! Only bird I picked up offshore was a Great White Egret which did make landfall ! #somerserbirding
Dunster beach-660 Chaffinches, going east in small groups ,flock of 500 Starlings came in off sea just after dawn .Plus 30 Siskins , 2 Song Thrush, a Blackcap , 8 Stonechat, 70 Skylarks — still no Redwing/ Fieldfares- where are they ?#somersetbirding
November 6, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Dunster beach-660 Chaffinches, going east in small groups ,flock of 500 Starlings came in off sea just after dawn .Plus 30 Siskins , 2 Song Thrush, a Blackcap , 8 Stonechat, 70 Skylarks — still no Redwing/ Fieldfares- where are they ?#somersetbirding
Reposted by Roy Kelly
This has received no publicity but is damning. A clear explanation of why this type of reintroduction is not just a distraction and a waste of resources but is ACTIVELY HARMFUL to conservation. Environmental journalists please note and please publicise.
operationturtledove.org/captive-rele...
operationturtledove.org/captive-rele...
Operation Turtle Dove’s view on the release of captive-bred Turtle Doves as a conservation measure - Operation Turtle Dove
Operation Turtle Dove is a science-led conservation partnership working to reverse the decline of Turtle Doves in the UK by restoring habitat and addressing key threats. Learn why captive-bred release...
operationturtledove.org
September 21, 2025 at 5:43 AM
This has received no publicity but is damning. A clear explanation of why this type of reintroduction is not just a distraction and a waste of resources but is ACTIVELY HARMFUL to conservation. Environmental journalists please note and please publicise.
operationturtledove.org/captive-rele...
operationturtledove.org/captive-rele...
Still high water level at Durleigh reservoir, singles of GW Egret and Greenshank #somersetbirding
August 30, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Still high water level at Durleigh reservoir, singles of GW Egret and Greenshank #somersetbirding
Flock of 37 Cattle Egrets around cattle ! On Curry Moor #somersetbirds
August 23, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Flock of 37 Cattle Egrets around cattle ! On Curry Moor #somersetbirds
Reposted by Roy Kelly
Wood Sandpiper this morning at Cheddar Reservoir.
August 19, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Wood Sandpiper this morning at Cheddar Reservoir.
Reposted by Roy Kelly
I do like going rogue and getting lost among the backstreets and alleyways in old towns:
What I found in Whitstable yesterday #2:
An in the window pop-up display on the sad history of 'Sparrow Clubs'. Still some when I was young, but had forgotten about them, had me reading up lots last night.
What I found in Whitstable yesterday #2:
An in the window pop-up display on the sad history of 'Sparrow Clubs'. Still some when I was young, but had forgotten about them, had me reading up lots last night.
July 13, 2025 at 7:06 AM
I do like going rogue and getting lost among the backstreets and alleyways in old towns:
What I found in Whitstable yesterday #2:
An in the window pop-up display on the sad history of 'Sparrow Clubs'. Still some when I was young, but had forgotten about them, had me reading up lots last night.
What I found in Whitstable yesterday #2:
An in the window pop-up display on the sad history of 'Sparrow Clubs'. Still some when I was young, but had forgotten about them, had me reading up lots last night.
“Screaming “ flock of c40 Swifts over my Wellington garden , plus Red Kite just drifted N, and four different Woodpigeons carrying nesting material - all seem to be enjoying the fine weather !
June 30, 2025 at 2:46 PM
“Screaming “ flock of c40 Swifts over my Wellington garden , plus Red Kite just drifted N, and four different Woodpigeons carrying nesting material - all seem to be enjoying the fine weather !
www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2523877... I presume this is “old news “ , even though it’s on the Somerset Gazette website today !
Rare bird spotted in Somerset country park
A photographer managed to snap a picture of rare bird described as a “scarce visitor” to Britain.
www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk
June 14, 2025 at 1:37 PM
www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2523877... I presume this is “old news “ , even though it’s on the Somerset Gazette website today !
Dartford Warbler in the Sampford Point area, unfortunately just over the border in Devon , just my 2nd sighting here in 15 years #somersetbirding
May 29, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Dartford Warbler in the Sampford Point area, unfortunately just over the border in Devon , just my 2nd sighting here in 15 years #somersetbirding
Still no sign of any House Martins at traditional nesting sites in Wellington #somersetbirding
May 16, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Still no sign of any House Martins at traditional nesting sites in Wellington #somersetbirding
Reposted by Roy Kelly
Perhaps oddly, birders sometimes talk of time in the field as being 'a slog' or 'hard work '...
Well, like most people I am familiar with hard work, and this - despite total lack of migrants - is not it. 😄
Cogden Beach.
#DorsetBirds
Well, like most people I am familiar with hard work, and this - despite total lack of migrants - is not it. 😄
Cogden Beach.
#DorsetBirds
May 6, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Perhaps oddly, birders sometimes talk of time in the field as being 'a slog' or 'hard work '...
Well, like most people I am familiar with hard work, and this - despite total lack of migrants - is not it. 😄
Cogden Beach.
#DorsetBirds
Well, like most people I am familiar with hard work, and this - despite total lack of migrants - is not it. 😄
Cogden Beach.
#DorsetBirds
Curry Moor-5 Cattle Egrets inbreeding plumage - still very scarce here !, otherwise just a single Red Kite + usual sp. #somersetbirding
May 5, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Curry Moor-5 Cattle Egrets inbreeding plumage - still very scarce here !, otherwise just a single Red Kite + usual sp. #somersetbirding
Reposted by Roy Kelly
Homepage blog for @lundybirds.bsky.social updated with an account and photos of the dark-morph Booted Eagle that graced the island earlier this week, together with Golden Oriole & Woodchat Shrike, here: www.lundybirdobs.org.uk #UKBirding
Lundy Bird Observatory - Home
www.lundybirdobs.org.uk
May 3, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Homepage blog for @lundybirds.bsky.social updated with an account and photos of the dark-morph Booted Eagle that graced the island earlier this week, together with Golden Oriole & Woodchat Shrike, here: www.lundybirdobs.org.uk #UKBirding
Reposted by Roy Kelly
Great to see this technology working, will be interesting to see what the battery life is and what further data is received.
Exciting to receive our first Motus ‘ping’ of a recently tagged Jack Snipe on its return migration. After spending time in the #LDV it moved rather quickly across the North Sea and pinged three masts in Germany, and is the first German recovery of a BTO ringed Jack Snipe @yorkbirding.bsky.social
April 16, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Great to see this technology working, will be interesting to see what the battery life is and what further data is received.
Dunster beach - singles of Yellow and White Wagtail, 4 Wheatear, 1 Common Sand, singing Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler ,also two Jay flying west #somersetbirding
April 14, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Dunster beach - singles of Yellow and White Wagtail, 4 Wheatear, 1 Common Sand, singing Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler ,also two Jay flying west #somersetbirding
Adult Red kite circling over my Wellington garden #somersetbirding
April 1, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Adult Red kite circling over my Wellington garden #somersetbirding
First juvenile Woodpigeon of the year in garden , presumably means egg laid mid February .
March 27, 2025 at 5:26 PM
First juvenile Woodpigeon of the year in garden , presumably means egg laid mid February .
Reposted by Roy Kelly
Gratuitous video clip of the Wheatear from East Cliffs just now.
Think this is our second earliest ever Wheatear
Think this is our second earliest ever Wheatear
February 25, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Gratuitous video clip of the Wheatear from East Cliffs just now.
Think this is our second earliest ever Wheatear
Think this is our second earliest ever Wheatear
The waterfront in Buenos Aires ,just a few minutes from hotel ,birds galore !- Limpkin, Rufescent Tiger Heron ,Southern Screamer,Rosy -billed Pochard,White-tufted Grebe ,various hawks and caracaras plus numerous orioles ,flycatchers and parrots
February 17, 2025 at 9:05 AM
The waterfront in Buenos Aires ,just a few minutes from hotel ,birds galore !- Limpkin, Rufescent Tiger Heron ,Southern Screamer,Rosy -billed Pochard,White-tufted Grebe ,various hawks and caracaras plus numerous orioles ,flycatchers and parrots
Durleigh reservoir-3 Goldeneye -2 M/1 F #somersetbirds
February 13, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Durleigh reservoir-3 Goldeneye -2 M/1 F #somersetbirds
Reposted by Roy Kelly
Eastern Stonechat...DNA results back from the Stonechat that was found at Trimley Marshes early Nov, confirmed it to be Siberian Stonechat rather than Amur Stonechat that we all led to be believed it to be! #UKBirding #SuffolkBiridng
January 22, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Eastern Stonechat...DNA results back from the Stonechat that was found at Trimley Marshes early Nov, confirmed it to be Siberian Stonechat rather than Amur Stonechat that we all led to be believed it to be! #UKBirding #SuffolkBiridng
Reposted by Roy Kelly
2 Great Northern Divers fishing (successfully) this afternoon at Clatworthy reservoir. Arrived yesterday and seen by walkers, thanks to Roger Sedgbeer for passing it on. #somersetbirding
January 19, 2025 at 4:37 PM
2 Great Northern Divers fishing (successfully) this afternoon at Clatworthy reservoir. Arrived yesterday and seen by walkers, thanks to Roger Sedgbeer for passing it on. #somersetbirding
Tawny Owl - roadkill victim, Monkton Heathfield #somersetbirds
January 10, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Tawny Owl - roadkill victim, Monkton Heathfield #somersetbirds
Curry Moor - nothing unusual amongst 84 Mutes,224 Canada Geese+ Pintail,Shoveler ,9 Shelduck , Green Sand and Chiffchaff by dung heap near closed floodgates
January 10, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Curry Moor - nothing unusual amongst 84 Mutes,224 Canada Geese+ Pintail,Shoveler ,9 Shelduck , Green Sand and Chiffchaff by dung heap near closed floodgates