Drew Lyness
@djlbirding.bsky.social
Norfolk birder usually found patching or volunteering in the Mid-Yare Valley (TG40). Views are my own.
Whooper Swan have been a scarce bird in the mid-Yare Valley over the last decade or so, therefore very pleased to find these two at Limpenhoe Marshes this afternoon. #NorfolkBirding
November 8, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Whooper Swan have been a scarce bird in the mid-Yare Valley over the last decade or so, therefore very pleased to find these two at Limpenhoe Marshes this afternoon. #NorfolkBirding
Great weekend in Sussex celebrating a friend's 30th birthday. Some wildlife highlights of finding a Vagrant Emperor at Beachy Head plus many, many Firecrest! Also twitched the Isabelline-type Shrike on the way home. #SussexBirding
October 26, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Great weekend in Sussex celebrating a friend's 30th birthday. Some wildlife highlights of finding a Vagrant Emperor at Beachy Head plus many, many Firecrest! Also twitched the Isabelline-type Shrike on the way home. #SussexBirding
Great to drop in on the Brown Shrike at Upper Hollesley Common on Friday on the way down south. It was still attracting plenty of admirers. #SuffolkBirding
October 26, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Great to drop in on the Brown Shrike at Upper Hollesley Common on Friday on the way down south. It was still attracting plenty of admirers. #SuffolkBirding
A rather sad one as this Gannet flew in off sea at Cromer last week while tangled in rope! It circled the church there before heading south-east. This same bird was later brought into the Runham Wildlife Rescue Centre! Hopefully it's stay there was short and successful. #NorfolkBirding #Birds
October 20, 2025 at 7:15 PM
A rather sad one as this Gannet flew in off sea at Cromer last week while tangled in rope! It circled the church there before heading south-east. This same bird was later brought into the Runham Wildlife Rescue Centre! Hopefully it's stay there was short and successful. #NorfolkBirding #Birds
Very entertaining watching a couple of first-winter Caspian Gull around Cromer Pier last week. This one was scrapping for leftovers from visitors that had been crabbing. #NorfolkBirding
October 20, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Very entertaining watching a couple of first-winter Caspian Gull around Cromer Pier last week. This one was scrapping for leftovers from visitors that had been crabbing. #NorfolkBirding
A quieter sea-watch off Cromer this morning, where a single Black Guillemot and a Little Gull were the highlights, before an amble around Beeston Regis that held a few common migrants like Brambling and Chiffchaff. Anyone else noticed Rock Pipit everywhere along the coast this year? #NorfolkBirding
October 15, 2025 at 4:26 PM
A quieter sea-watch off Cromer this morning, where a single Black Guillemot and a Little Gull were the highlights, before an amble around Beeston Regis that held a few common migrants like Brambling and Chiffchaff. Anyone else noticed Rock Pipit everywhere along the coast this year? #NorfolkBirding
A week off in North Norfolk with @sophgoesbirding.bsky.social, so far featured Dusky, Barred and YB Warblers, Ruddy Shelduck and an arrival of classic autumn migrants like Brambling and Redwing. Also a strong passage of ducks out at sea including Velvet Scoter, Eider and Goosander. #NorfolkBirding
October 14, 2025 at 4:51 PM
A week off in North Norfolk with @sophgoesbirding.bsky.social, so far featured Dusky, Barred and YB Warblers, Ruddy Shelduck and an arrival of classic autumn migrants like Brambling and Redwing. Also a strong passage of ducks out at sea including Velvet Scoter, Eider and Goosander. #NorfolkBirding
Unexpected surprise encountering a Ruddy Duck distantly at Abberton Reservoir yesterday during a work team away day! I wonder whether this is the same bird that was in Lowestoft a couple of weeks ago? Was hard to pick out in the masses of wildfowl and Coot. #EssexBirding
October 2, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Unexpected surprise encountering a Ruddy Duck distantly at Abberton Reservoir yesterday during a work team away day! I wonder whether this is the same bird that was in Lowestoft a couple of weeks ago? Was hard to pick out in the masses of wildfowl and Coot. #EssexBirding
The first-winter Isabelline / Red-tailed Shrike at Happisburgh showed very nicely for me and @sophgoesbirding.bsky.social late afternoon in the gardens behind the beach car park. Hides well in the buddliea at times. #NorfolkBirding
September 30, 2025 at 5:19 PM
The first-winter Isabelline / Red-tailed Shrike at Happisburgh showed very nicely for me and @sophgoesbirding.bsky.social late afternoon in the gardens behind the beach car park. Hides well in the buddliea at times. #NorfolkBirding
A wholesome day at RSPB Strumpshaw Fen that included attending the annual volunteer thank you event. A pleasure to be part of the team of such wonderful and dedicated people! #NorfolkBirding #Nature #Wildlife
September 26, 2025 at 5:48 PM
A wholesome day at RSPB Strumpshaw Fen that included attending the annual volunteer thank you event. A pleasure to be part of the team of such wonderful and dedicated people! #NorfolkBirding #Nature #Wildlife
A few shots from patch yesterday. Swallowtail still on the wing at Strumpshaw Fen, and lots of waders passing through Buckenham too. #NorfolkBirding
August 31, 2025 at 8:58 AM
A few shots from patch yesterday. Swallowtail still on the wing at Strumpshaw Fen, and lots of waders passing through Buckenham too. #NorfolkBirding
A top lunchtime bonus courtesy of the @btobirds.bsky.social Nunnery Lakes Reserve - a juv Purple Heron! It's a skittish bird but gave some quality flight views at times. A great excuse to take a break from the desk. #NorfolkBirding
August 12, 2025 at 4:59 PM
A top lunchtime bonus courtesy of the @btobirds.bsky.social Nunnery Lakes Reserve - a juv Purple Heron! It's a skittish bird but gave some quality flight views at times. A great excuse to take a break from the desk. #NorfolkBirding
A lovely sunny day at Winterton Dunes with @sophgoesbirding.bsky.social where there may have been a shortage of migrant birds (an understatement) but still a couple of smart Lesser Emperor Dragonfly and a juv Caspian Gull to see. Bring on autumn! #NorfolkBirding 😎
August 10, 2025 at 6:18 PM
A lovely sunny day at Winterton Dunes with @sophgoesbirding.bsky.social where there may have been a shortage of migrant birds (an understatement) but still a couple of smart Lesser Emperor Dragonfly and a juv Caspian Gull to see. Bring on autumn! #NorfolkBirding 😎
Patching has been relatively quiet in the mid-Yare Valley recently (aside from finding a small flock of Wood Sandpiper a couple of weeks ago) but the insects have been brilliant! So many Swallowtail at Strumpshaw today and a fantastic Hummingbird Hawkmoth too. #NorfolkBirding
August 9, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Patching has been relatively quiet in the mid-Yare Valley recently (aside from finding a small flock of Wood Sandpiper a couple of weeks ago) but the insects have been brilliant! So many Swallowtail at Strumpshaw today and a fantastic Hummingbird Hawkmoth too. #NorfolkBirding
I'm meant to be flying to India today for a birding holiday, but sadly fell victim to their awful e-visa system (😔). To cheer me up, I'll reflect on a great experience last weekend with @sophgoesbirding.bsky.social when we spent a night at the wonderful yet stormy Whipsnade Zoo! Lucky to have her! 😊
July 23, 2025 at 10:33 AM
I'm meant to be flying to India today for a birding holiday, but sadly fell victim to their awful e-visa system (😔). To cheer me up, I'll reflect on a great experience last weekend with @sophgoesbirding.bsky.social when we spent a night at the wonderful yet stormy Whipsnade Zoo! Lucky to have her! 😊
Going to #GlobalBirdfair?
➡️ Sat 12 July (10am) - Plover Lecture Stage - 'Scarcities & Swallowtails: Celebrating 50 years of RSPB Strumpshaw Fen'.
✅ Learn about this amazing reserve, now in its 50th year, from the perspective of its most addicted patch-birder... me! #birds #NorfolkBirding 😎
➡️ Sat 12 July (10am) - Plover Lecture Stage - 'Scarcities & Swallowtails: Celebrating 50 years of RSPB Strumpshaw Fen'.
✅ Learn about this amazing reserve, now in its 50th year, from the perspective of its most addicted patch-birder... me! #birds #NorfolkBirding 😎
July 8, 2025 at 6:34 AM
Going to #GlobalBirdfair?
➡️ Sat 12 July (10am) - Plover Lecture Stage - 'Scarcities & Swallowtails: Celebrating 50 years of RSPB Strumpshaw Fen'.
✅ Learn about this amazing reserve, now in its 50th year, from the perspective of its most addicted patch-birder... me! #birds #NorfolkBirding 😎
➡️ Sat 12 July (10am) - Plover Lecture Stage - 'Scarcities & Swallowtails: Celebrating 50 years of RSPB Strumpshaw Fen'.
✅ Learn about this amazing reserve, now in its 50th year, from the perspective of its most addicted patch-birder... me! #birds #NorfolkBirding 😎
As always, RSPB Minsmere was quality for @sophgoesbirding.bsky.social and I yesterday where we were treated to not one, not two, but three (!) Roseate Tern, a couple of which displayed high over our heads and out to sea. Also 9 Spotshank and an adorable Green-eyed Flower Bee! #SuffolkBirding 😎
June 22, 2025 at 8:55 AM
As always, RSPB Minsmere was quality for @sophgoesbirding.bsky.social and I yesterday where we were treated to not one, not two, but three (!) Roseate Tern, a couple of which displayed high over our heads and out to sea. Also 9 Spotshank and an adorable Green-eyed Flower Bee! #SuffolkBirding 😎
Going to #GlobalBirdfair?
➡️ Sat 12 July (10am) - Plover Lecture Stage - 'Scarcities & Swallowtails: Celebrating 50 years of RSPB Strumpshaw Fen'.
✅ Learn about this amazing reserve, now in its 50th year, from the perspective of its most addicted patch-birder... me! #birds #NorfolkBirding 😎
➡️ Sat 12 July (10am) - Plover Lecture Stage - 'Scarcities & Swallowtails: Celebrating 50 years of RSPB Strumpshaw Fen'.
✅ Learn about this amazing reserve, now in its 50th year, from the perspective of its most addicted patch-birder... me! #birds #NorfolkBirding 😎
June 19, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Going to #GlobalBirdfair?
➡️ Sat 12 July (10am) - Plover Lecture Stage - 'Scarcities & Swallowtails: Celebrating 50 years of RSPB Strumpshaw Fen'.
✅ Learn about this amazing reserve, now in its 50th year, from the perspective of its most addicted patch-birder... me! #birds #NorfolkBirding 😎
➡️ Sat 12 July (10am) - Plover Lecture Stage - 'Scarcities & Swallowtails: Celebrating 50 years of RSPB Strumpshaw Fen'.
✅ Learn about this amazing reserve, now in its 50th year, from the perspective of its most addicted patch-birder... me! #birds #NorfolkBirding 😎
Well then, what do we think of this? Very exciting to find my first ever mid-Yare Valley Smew this afternoon which (being unringed, fully winged and wary) looks the part, aside from the fact it's June!!! Stranger things have happened though a brilliant bird all the same. #NorfolkBirding 😄
June 14, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Well then, what do we think of this? Very exciting to find my first ever mid-Yare Valley Smew this afternoon which (being unringed, fully winged and wary) looks the part, aside from the fact it's June!!! Stranger things have happened though a brilliant bird all the same. #NorfolkBirding 😄
I may have been a 'zero hero' for the BTO Woodlark survey, but last night's Nightjar survey was a different ball game entirely with seven churring males! Also incredible to see several Silver-studded Blue Butterfly communal roosts. #NorfolkBirding 😲
@btobirds.bsky.social @norfolknats.bsky.social
@btobirds.bsky.social @norfolknats.bsky.social
June 13, 2025 at 10:23 AM
I may have been a 'zero hero' for the BTO Woodlark survey, but last night's Nightjar survey was a different ball game entirely with seven churring males! Also incredible to see several Silver-studded Blue Butterfly communal roosts. #NorfolkBirding 😲
@btobirds.bsky.social @norfolknats.bsky.social
@btobirds.bsky.social @norfolknats.bsky.social
One of my favourite lunchtime wildlife encounters for a while as this young Grass Snake swam over a sluice ditch in front of me at RSPB Strumpshaw Fen. 😍
June 11, 2025 at 2:07 PM
One of my favourite lunchtime wildlife encounters for a while as this young Grass Snake swam over a sluice ditch in front of me at RSPB Strumpshaw Fen. 😍
A spot of dusk birding in the mid-Yare Valley featured a couple of drake Garganey and some fantastic Glow Worm action! #NorfolkBirding 🤩
June 9, 2025 at 10:14 PM
A spot of dusk birding in the mid-Yare Valley featured a couple of drake Garganey and some fantastic Glow Worm action! #NorfolkBirding 🤩
A dose of RSPB Strumpshaw Fen doing what it does best today, featuring Osprey and fan favourites of Otter, Bittern, Swallowtail, Bearded Tit, Kingfisher and a gorgeous Common Lizard. The reserve was the busiest I've ever seen it, but lots of happy visitors! #NorfolkBirding 😄
June 8, 2025 at 7:24 PM
A dose of RSPB Strumpshaw Fen doing what it does best today, featuring Osprey and fan favourites of Otter, Bittern, Swallowtail, Bearded Tit, Kingfisher and a gorgeous Common Lizard. The reserve was the busiest I've ever seen it, but lots of happy visitors! #NorfolkBirding 😄
Still plenty of Swallowtail action at RSPB Strumpshaw Fen today, despite the weather. Was on the reserve all of 30 seconds when @sophgoesbirding.bsky.social spotted this one on the nectar garden. Also exciting to find a pale-morph male Honey Buzzard over! #NorfolkBirding
June 7, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Still plenty of Swallowtail action at RSPB Strumpshaw Fen today, despite the weather. Was on the reserve all of 30 seconds when @sophgoesbirding.bsky.social spotted this one on the nectar garden. Also exciting to find a pale-morph male Honey Buzzard over! #NorfolkBirding
Ridiculous views of a Bittern at RSPB Minsmere from Island Mere last Saturday. It later went on to skewer and eat an adult Moorhen! #SuffolkBirding 😲
June 6, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Ridiculous views of a Bittern at RSPB Minsmere from Island Mere last Saturday. It later went on to skewer and eat an adult Moorhen! #SuffolkBirding 😲