Colin Holter
@bostalbirder.bsky.social
Birding for 40 years in my native Sussex & beyond (especially fond of NW Scotland & the Islands).
Partial to a bit of seawatching.
All photos my own (RX10iv/OM1ii).
Partial to a bit of seawatching.
All photos my own (RX10iv/OM1ii).
Very local Great Grey Shrike just down the road on Beeding Brooks this morning was my first for a couple of years, a particularly obliging bird perching up, flycatching & hunting on the ground.
Thanks to @matt-eade24.bsky.social for posting his Dads sighting yesterday afternoon.
#UKBirding
Thanks to @matt-eade24.bsky.social for posting his Dads sighting yesterday afternoon.
#UKBirding
November 13, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Very local Great Grey Shrike just down the road on Beeding Brooks this morning was my first for a couple of years, a particularly obliging bird perching up, flycatching & hunting on the ground.
Thanks to @matt-eade24.bsky.social for posting his Dads sighting yesterday afternoon.
#UKBirding
Thanks to @matt-eade24.bsky.social for posting his Dads sighting yesterday afternoon.
#UKBirding
Quiet afternoon around Knepp Southern Block. 8 of the sedentary White Storks flew over & appeared to drop down possibly to roost + what looked suspiciously like a Beaver chewn stick in a mass of branches at the outflow of the Hammer Pond - but possibly outwith the Beaver enclosure fence I think?
November 11, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Quiet afternoon around Knepp Southern Block. 8 of the sedentary White Storks flew over & appeared to drop down possibly to roost + what looked suspiciously like a Beaver chewn stick in a mass of branches at the outflow of the Hammer Pond - but possibly outwith the Beaver enclosure fence I think?
Some of the birds at Pagham Harbour RSPB yesterday; a flight of Pintail & Brent geese (good numbers of juvs in family groups - easily told from adults by pale edged feathers on upper wings). Also a Peregrine perched on top of the very tall comms mast at the Ferry, there's often one up there...
November 8, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Some of the birds at Pagham Harbour RSPB yesterday; a flight of Pintail & Brent geese (good numbers of juvs in family groups - easily told from adults by pale edged feathers on upper wings). Also a Peregrine perched on top of the very tall comms mast at the Ferry, there's often one up there...
Yesterday I sat & watched the changing light on Chichester Cathedral from Church Norton benches, Pagham Hbr RSPB as the tide rose & the birds in the harbour moved around...sounds of waders, Brent etc.
I must have spent many hours sitting here watching & listening over the years...wonderful place.
I must have spent many hours sitting here watching & listening over the years...wonderful place.
November 8, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Yesterday I sat & watched the changing light on Chichester Cathedral from Church Norton benches, Pagham Hbr RSPB as the tide rose & the birds in the harbour moved around...sounds of waders, Brent etc.
I must have spent many hours sitting here watching & listening over the years...wonderful place.
I must have spent many hours sitting here watching & listening over the years...wonderful place.
Another day, another couple of Bramblings in a West Sussex woodland edge, marginally better photo than last time.
I do hope this winter will see an influx of them!
#UKBirding
I do hope this winter will see an influx of them!
#UKBirding
November 8, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Another day, another couple of Bramblings in a West Sussex woodland edge, marginally better photo than last time.
I do hope this winter will see an influx of them!
#UKBirding
I do hope this winter will see an influx of them!
#UKBirding
Spent some time in downland woods deep in West Sussex on a grey & gloomy afternoon...very quiet, but delighted to hear, then see, my first 2 Bramblings of the winter (a couple of ropey record shots attached). Later 3 Gt.White Egrets out on Amberley Wildbrooks but curiously no ducks!
#UKBirding
#UKBirding
November 6, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Spent some time in downland woods deep in West Sussex on a grey & gloomy afternoon...very quiet, but delighted to hear, then see, my first 2 Bramblings of the winter (a couple of ropey record shots attached). Later 3 Gt.White Egrets out on Amberley Wildbrooks but curiously no ducks!
#UKBirding
#UKBirding
Probable 1st winter Isabelline/Daurian Shrike put on a good show catching a variety of insects just up the road @SussexWildlife Woods Mill today. Always just a little distant for photos but terrific scope views.
#ukbirding
#ukbirding
October 27, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Probable 1st winter Isabelline/Daurian Shrike put on a good show catching a variety of insects just up the road @SussexWildlife Woods Mill today. Always just a little distant for photos but terrific scope views.
#ukbirding
#ukbirding
Little Owl near the downs this morning - not an easy bird to see locally these days...
#ukbirding
#ukbirding
October 15, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Little Owl near the downs this morning - not an easy bird to see locally these days...
#ukbirding
#ukbirding
Out & about in W.Sussex yesterday; 7 sp. of raptors incl. Peregrines, a Merlin, & the now well established pair of White-tailed Eagles. Disturbed from their usual tree by farmers on quad-bikes, one gave me a splendidly close flypast...
the eagle with the sunlit eye...mightily impressive!
#UKBirding
the eagle with the sunlit eye...mightily impressive!
#UKBirding
October 9, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Out & about in W.Sussex yesterday; 7 sp. of raptors incl. Peregrines, a Merlin, & the now well established pair of White-tailed Eagles. Disturbed from their usual tree by farmers on quad-bikes, one gave me a splendidly close flypast...
the eagle with the sunlit eye...mightily impressive!
#UKBirding
the eagle with the sunlit eye...mightily impressive!
#UKBirding
Several hours at Cissbury Ring this morning; dozens of Chiffchaffs & a fairly late Whinchat. Many more House Martins than Swallows passing through now, also a Dartford Warbler in the gorse.
Nearby, 150+ Corn Buntings in conservation strips - they really do make such a difference!
#UKBirding
Nearby, 150+ Corn Buntings in conservation strips - they really do make such a difference!
#UKBirding
October 2, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Several hours at Cissbury Ring this morning; dozens of Chiffchaffs & a fairly late Whinchat. Many more House Martins than Swallows passing through now, also a Dartford Warbler in the gorse.
Nearby, 150+ Corn Buntings in conservation strips - they really do make such a difference!
#UKBirding
Nearby, 150+ Corn Buntings in conservation strips - they really do make such a difference!
#UKBirding
A trip over to farthest East Sussex on Monday to see an American Golden Plover near Jury's Gap; a striking bird amongst roosting Golden Plovers, then found a Buff-breasted Sandpiper in the same field!
2 vagrant American waders in a small ploughed field in East Sussex!
#ukbirding
2 vagrant American waders in a small ploughed field in East Sussex!
#ukbirding
September 26, 2025 at 3:11 PM
A trip over to farthest East Sussex on Monday to see an American Golden Plover near Jury's Gap; a striking bird amongst roosting Golden Plovers, then found a Buff-breasted Sandpiper in the same field!
2 vagrant American waders in a small ploughed field in East Sussex!
#ukbirding
2 vagrant American waders in a small ploughed field in East Sussex!
#ukbirding
A Bonxie (Gt.Skua) stood for 4.5h on one of the offshore rocks at Pendeen Watch today, trailing what looked to be a calamitously damaged left wing, I was getting a little fearful for it's future when it suddenly upped & flew away seemingly not hampered by it at all.
#seabirds
#cornwallbirding
#seabirds
#cornwallbirding
September 7, 2025 at 8:21 PM
A Bonxie (Gt.Skua) stood for 4.5h on one of the offshore rocks at Pendeen Watch today, trailing what looked to be a calamitously damaged left wing, I was getting a little fearful for it's future when it suddenly upped & flew away seemingly not hampered by it at all.
#seabirds
#cornwallbirding
#seabirds
#cornwallbirding
Start of our week in West Cornwall; yesterday, my 1st Black Kite in the UK over Bartinney Downs, West Penwith - nice!
Later at Nanjulian, my 1st Choughs this year, always a joy to see (& hear), such joyously garrulous birds, not a cowpat left unexplored for miles!
#ukbirding
#cornwallbirding
Later at Nanjulian, my 1st Choughs this year, always a joy to see (& hear), such joyously garrulous birds, not a cowpat left unexplored for miles!
#ukbirding
#cornwallbirding
September 7, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Start of our week in West Cornwall; yesterday, my 1st Black Kite in the UK over Bartinney Downs, West Penwith - nice!
Later at Nanjulian, my 1st Choughs this year, always a joy to see (& hear), such joyously garrulous birds, not a cowpat left unexplored for miles!
#ukbirding
#cornwallbirding
Later at Nanjulian, my 1st Choughs this year, always a joy to see (& hear), such joyously garrulous birds, not a cowpat left unexplored for miles!
#ukbirding
#cornwallbirding
On our way from Sussex to Cornwall yesterday, stopped at Hayling Oysterbeds early on & enjoyed terrific views of this rather splendid juv. Grey Phalarope + later on Salisbury Plain 7 rather distant male Gt.Bustards but just too far away to make any attempt at photographing them.
#ukbirding
#ukbirding
September 6, 2025 at 7:45 PM
On our way from Sussex to Cornwall yesterday, stopped at Hayling Oysterbeds early on & enjoyed terrific views of this rather splendid juv. Grey Phalarope + later on Salisbury Plain 7 rather distant male Gt.Bustards but just too far away to make any attempt at photographing them.
#ukbirding
#ukbirding
Migrating Spotted Flycatchers, Redstarts & Whinchats passing through the Sussex downs in numbers this week on their way south - possibly the best time of year to be up on top of the downs.
#ukbirding
#ukbirding
August 31, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Migrating Spotted Flycatchers, Redstarts & Whinchats passing through the Sussex downs in numbers this week on their way south - possibly the best time of year to be up on top of the downs.
#ukbirding
#ukbirding
I think this is a f/imm. Southern Hawker, we've had several around our small wildlife pond in the garden recently - impressive beasts!
I sometimes wonder how the world must appear to a dragonfly? Very different to how we perceive it for sure!
#dragonflies
I sometimes wonder how the world must appear to a dragonfly? Very different to how we perceive it for sure!
#dragonflies
August 25, 2025 at 10:33 AM
I think this is a f/imm. Southern Hawker, we've had several around our small wildlife pond in the garden recently - impressive beasts!
I sometimes wonder how the world must appear to a dragonfly? Very different to how we perceive it for sure!
#dragonflies
I sometimes wonder how the world must appear to a dragonfly? Very different to how we perceive it for sure!
#dragonflies
Wheatears & Whinchats on downs above Steyning this morning. The Whinchats often allowing a closer approach with the strong glary sunlight behind them - I quite like the resulting slightly washed out contre-jour effect + a Snipe flying N over the parched top of the downs was a surprise.
#ukbirding
#ukbirding
August 22, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Wheatears & Whinchats on downs above Steyning this morning. The Whinchats often allowing a closer approach with the strong glary sunlight behind them - I quite like the resulting slightly washed out contre-jour effect + a Snipe flying N over the parched top of the downs was a surprise.
#ukbirding
#ukbirding
Early this morning up on downs between Steyning & Cissbury; 40+ Yellow Wagtails around fences & cattle + 4 lovely Whinchats, always a pleasure to see as they head south as summer slowly turns to autumn.
#ukbirding
#ukbirding
August 17, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Early this morning up on downs between Steyning & Cissbury; 40+ Yellow Wagtails around fences & cattle + 4 lovely Whinchats, always a pleasure to see as they head south as summer slowly turns to autumn.
#ukbirding
#ukbirding
I'd never really noticed how effective these 2 red "eyespots" are on Painted Lady butterflies, perhaps enough to make any would be predators pause & think twice?
#butterflies
#butterflies
August 17, 2025 at 1:56 PM
I'd never really noticed how effective these 2 red "eyespots" are on Painted Lady butterflies, perhaps enough to make any would be predators pause & think twice?
#butterflies
#butterflies
....but quite quiet on the bird front; Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Whitethroats & Blackcaps passing along hedges where orange hawthorn berries are turning red, blackberries ripening on brambles with reddening leaves, Swallows over harvested stubble fields....signs of oncoming autumn.
August 3, 2025 at 11:31 AM
....but quite quiet on the bird front; Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Whitethroats & Blackcaps passing along hedges where orange hawthorn berries are turning red, blackberries ripening on brambles with reddening leaves, Swallows over harvested stubble fields....signs of oncoming autumn.
Lots of butterflies up on local downland this morning; Gatekeepers, Common Blues, Chalkhill Blue, Dingy Skipper - some looking a bit worn as summer feels like it's starting to fade....
August 3, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Lots of butterflies up on local downland this morning; Gatekeepers, Common Blues, Chalkhill Blue, Dingy Skipper - some looking a bit worn as summer feels like it's starting to fade....
Enjoyed spending some time watching the Common Terns at Rye Harbour on a grey day last week.
#ukbirding
#seabirds
#ukbirding
#seabirds
July 21, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Enjoyed spending some time watching the Common Terns at Rye Harbour on a grey day last week.
#ukbirding
#seabirds
#ukbirding
#seabirds
July 21, 2025 at 2:10 PM
A privilege to get such exceptionally close views of this rather beautiful Wood Sandpiper in East Sussex earlier this week.
#UKBirding
#UKBirding
July 19, 2025 at 11:47 AM
A privilege to get such exceptionally close views of this rather beautiful Wood Sandpiper in East Sussex earlier this week.
#UKBirding
#UKBirding
Increasingly I find myself drawn to & humbled by the majesty & utter wildness of the sea (& all the birds that live out their lives in it's vastness).
Heard a quote from Claude Debussy today on Radio 3, "The sea. The thing in nature that best puts you in your place"....spot on!
#seabirds
Heard a quote from Claude Debussy today on Radio 3, "The sea. The thing in nature that best puts you in your place"....spot on!
#seabirds
July 15, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Increasingly I find myself drawn to & humbled by the majesty & utter wildness of the sea (& all the birds that live out their lives in it's vastness).
Heard a quote from Claude Debussy today on Radio 3, "The sea. The thing in nature that best puts you in your place"....spot on!
#seabirds
Heard a quote from Claude Debussy today on Radio 3, "The sea. The thing in nature that best puts you in your place"....spot on!
#seabirds