Mark Hawkes
@grafhamwbirder.bsky.social
Birding Grafham Water from Aug 1997 (236 for the patch) | WeBS counter | Cambs List 302 (233 self-found) | Former County Recorder | terrible photographer
A misty Grafham Water at dawn. Emerging from the murk were flocks of 5+3 Brent Goose, 3 Common Scoters and a Great Northern Diver @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding
November 15, 2025 at 10:19 AM
A misty Grafham Water at dawn. Emerging from the murk were flocks of 5+3 Brent Goose, 3 Common Scoters and a Great Northern Diver @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding
Any spot in a storm! 💨 The overhanging roof at Mander cafe once again providing shelter at Grafham Water 3-4pm. An incredible flock of 90+ Little Gulls east, followed by 7 more a little later. Smashing previous site highest count (52) @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #ukbirding
November 14, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Any spot in a storm! 💨 The overhanging roof at Mander cafe once again providing shelter at Grafham Water 3-4pm. An incredible flock of 90+ Little Gulls east, followed by 7 more a little later. Smashing previous site highest count (52) @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #ukbirding
Sunrise at Grafham Water for today’s @webs-gsmp.bsky.social count. Highlight from my section was 2 Great N Divers, 3 Caspian Gulls and a Fox and a Heron having a stare-off! @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #ukbirding
November 9, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Sunrise at Grafham Water for today’s @webs-gsmp.bsky.social count. Highlight from my section was 2 Great N Divers, 3 Caspian Gulls and a Fox and a Heron having a stare-off! @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #ukbirding
10 Common Scoters thru Grafham Water 0730 (my 3rd seaduck in <24hrs). Also Red-n Grebe found by RMP. Other highlights; Med Gull, Peregrine, 3 Caspian’s, 5 Whooper’s, Brambling and this grey Coot (for its 2nd winter) Water level still low! @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #ukbirding
November 8, 2025 at 3:51 PM
10 Common Scoters thru Grafham Water 0730 (my 3rd seaduck in <24hrs). Also Red-n Grebe found by RMP. Other highlights; Med Gull, Peregrine, 3 Caspian’s, 5 Whooper’s, Brambling and this grey Coot (for its 2nd winter) Water level still low! @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #ukbirding
Pleased to find 3 R-b Mergs at Grafham Water this PM. They dropped in. Preened. Then flew off east. Then I found a drk Scaup whilst trying to relocate them! 5 Whooper’s also present & Brambling over @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #ukbirding
November 7, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Pleased to find 3 R-b Mergs at Grafham Water this PM. They dropped in. Preened. Then flew off east. Then I found a drk Scaup whilst trying to relocate them! 5 Whooper’s also present & Brambling over @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #ukbirding
Quick trips to Grafham Water, Ferry Meadows and Thorney today (between other appointments). Parakeets, Yellow-browed Warbler, Cranes and two (locally rare) Tree Sparrows @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
October 31, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Quick trips to Grafham Water, Ferry Meadows and Thorney today (between other appointments). Parakeets, Yellow-browed Warbler, Cranes and two (locally rare) Tree Sparrows @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
Ferruginous Duck at Brampton East Pit at 07.30 (first seen by @duerden.bsky.social on Sat). Appeared to be female (occasional pale eye appearance prob the sun catching eye?). If definitely a female, probably long-stayer of dubious origin @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #ukbirding
October 27, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Ferruginous Duck at Brampton East Pit at 07.30 (first seen by @duerden.bsky.social on Sat). Appeared to be female (occasional pale eye appearance prob the sun catching eye?). If definitely a female, probably long-stayer of dubious origin @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #ukbirding
Family of four Whooper Swans at Grafham Water this morning from Valley Creek hide @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding @birdguides.bsky.social
October 26, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Family of four Whooper Swans at Grafham Water this morning from Valley Creek hide @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding @birdguides.bsky.social
81 sp. recorded at Grafham Water this morning; no sign of yday Harrier, but juv Merlin through (#168 for the year here, or #169 with Harrier sp.), 3 Whooper’s through (2+1), 2 Glossy Ibis, 2 RCP, 2 Brambling, 2 Ruff @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #ukbirding
October 25, 2025 at 2:31 PM
81 sp. recorded at Grafham Water this morning; no sign of yday Harrier, but juv Merlin through (#168 for the year here, or #169 with Harrier sp.), 3 Whooper’s through (2+1), 2 Glossy Ibis, 2 RCP, 2 Brambling, 2 Ruff @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #ukbirding
Frustrated!!! Very distant juvenile Harrier watched moving west across north shore of Grafham Water this evening. Everything screamed Pallid but it was too brief & distant to confirm. Seen by Matthew Rodgers and myself. 2 Glossy Ibis again this PM @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
October 24, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Frustrated!!! Very distant juvenile Harrier watched moving west across north shore of Grafham Water this evening. Everything screamed Pallid but it was too brief & distant to confirm. Seen by Matthew Rodgers and myself. 2 Glossy Ibis again this PM @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
Two Glossy Ibis at Littless Creek, Grafham Water 2.15pm (found by Nigel Butler). A long-awaited Grafham Water tick for me (#237). And 167 for the year @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social
October 21, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Two Glossy Ibis at Littless Creek, Grafham Water 2.15pm (found by Nigel Butler). A long-awaited Grafham Water tick for me (#237). And 167 for the year @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social
A Brambling (or 2) over Grafham Water first thing brings me to 166 species on the patch so far this year. Also a vocal Curlew doing circuits of the reservoir @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
October 18, 2025 at 3:04 PM
A Brambling (or 2) over Grafham Water first thing brings me to 166 species on the patch so far this year. Also a vocal Curlew doing circuits of the reservoir @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
Pleased to find this Jack Snipe at Grafham Water this afternoon (only the 5th time I’ve seen this species here). Also happy to find 5 Common Scoters @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #ukbirding #cambirds
October 17, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Pleased to find this Jack Snipe at Grafham Water this afternoon (only the 5th time I’ve seen this species here). Also happy to find 5 Common Scoters @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #ukbirding #cambirds
Two terrible record shots of distant species at Grafham Water today. Whooper Swan & Rock Pipit. The former being a site year tick for me (#164) @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding
October 6, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Two terrible record shots of distant species at Grafham Water today. Whooper Swan & Rock Pipit. The former being a site year tick for me (#164) @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding
A couple of hours at Grafham Water this afternoon result in zero seabirds, but seeing and hearing this Battle of Britain Memorial Flight was great. They actually passed over twice!
October 5, 2025 at 7:17 PM
A couple of hours at Grafham Water this afternoon result in zero seabirds, but seeing and hearing this Battle of Britain Memorial Flight was great. They actually passed over twice!
Fem/imm Scaup at Grafham Water this evening (1st of the year here), 8 species of wader and 2 Caspian Gulls (adult and 2nd-winter) @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding
October 3, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Fem/imm Scaup at Grafham Water this evening (1st of the year here), 8 species of wader and 2 Caspian Gulls (adult and 2nd-winter) @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding
Beautiful, foggy, sunrise at Grafham Water today. 3 Caspian Gulls the highlight from a quick visit. On Saturday I counted 113 Little Grebes - a new county record count @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding
September 29, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Beautiful, foggy, sunrise at Grafham Water today. 3 Caspian Gulls the highlight from a quick visit. On Saturday I counted 113 Little Grebes - a new county record count @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding
Thanks for sharing, Richard. One I’m sure @jonheath.bsky.social @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social will be interested to know about. Sounds like it coincided with the large national influx at that time.
Belated but very reliable news of a singing Hoopoe in Monks Wood in April. No other sightings afaik, but nobody was checking and no ornithologists were in the wood for much of spring. #ukbirding
@grafhamwbirder.bsky.social
@grafhamwbirder.bsky.social
September 29, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Thanks for sharing, Richard. One I’m sure @jonheath.bsky.social @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social will be interested to know about. Sounds like it coincided with the large national influx at that time.
Juvenile Grey Plover on Grafham Water Dam for 10mins this AM, then flew high NE @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social #ukbirding
September 27, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Juvenile Grey Plover on Grafham Water Dam for 10mins this AM, then flew high NE @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social #ukbirding
Non-atlantis hooded Yellow-legged Gull at Grafham Water this AM (been around a few weeks), also drk Common Scoter plus 3 Redwing & Rock Pipit over @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #ukbirding #gulls
September 25, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Non-atlantis hooded Yellow-legged Gull at Grafham Water this AM (been around a few weeks), also drk Common Scoter plus 3 Redwing & Rock Pipit over @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #ukbirding #gulls
Pleased to find this juv Little Stint at Maxey Pits, Cambs this evening. Been very few in the county this autumn. Lesser Yellowlegs still present too @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding
September 22, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Pleased to find this juv Little Stint at Maxey Pits, Cambs this evening. Been very few in the county this autumn. Lesser Yellowlegs still present too @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding
Juv Bonxie off Mander car park 07.00-07.35 at least, but mobile. The northerly winds produce again @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #ukbirding #ukrarebirds
September 22, 2025 at 7:19 AM
Juv Bonxie off Mander car park 07.00-07.35 at least, but mobile. The northerly winds produce again @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #ukbirding #ukrarebirds
Juv Gannet at Grafham Water, Camb 4-5pm, then flew off towards the dam. Been a few years since the last time I found one here (and this one’s my 6th ever here) @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social #ukbirding #ukrarebirds
September 21, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Juv Gannet at Grafham Water, Camb 4-5pm, then flew off towards the dam. Been a few years since the last time I found one here (and this one’s my 6th ever here) @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social #ukbirding #ukrarebirds
Personal totals from Pendeen 06.50-10.00; 9 Sabine’s Gulls (I missed 4 others), 6+ Grey Phals, 11 Balearic’s, Black Tern, 10 Bonxie, 21 Arctic Skuas, 20+ Arctic Tern, 3 Sooty Shears @cbwps.org.uk @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social #ukbirding
September 16, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Personal totals from Pendeen 06.50-10.00; 9 Sabine’s Gulls (I missed 4 others), 6+ Grey Phals, 11 Balearic’s, Black Tern, 10 Bonxie, 21 Arctic Skuas, 20+ Arctic Tern, 3 Sooty Shears @cbwps.org.uk @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social #ukbirding
That was some 13hours of seawatching!! By far my best ever. My brain in frazzled!! 🤪
Totals can be seen here;
ebird.org/checklist/S2...
@birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social @cbwps.org.uk #ukbirding #ukrarebird #seawatch
Totals can be seen here;
ebird.org/checklist/S2...
@birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social @cbwps.org.uk #ukbirding #ukrarebird #seawatch
September 15, 2025 at 7:29 PM
That was some 13hours of seawatching!! By far my best ever. My brain in frazzled!! 🤪
Totals can be seen here;
ebird.org/checklist/S2...
@birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social @cbwps.org.uk #ukbirding #ukrarebird #seawatch
Totals can be seen here;
ebird.org/checklist/S2...
@birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social @cbwps.org.uk #ukbirding #ukrarebird #seawatch