Henry Cook
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hcbirding.bsky.social
Henry Cook
@hcbirding.bsky.social
2.9K followers 1.4K following 2.6K posts
Birder, naturalist, conservationist, hodophile. Views mine.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/8327273@N08/albums/

🌍 Suffolk, UK
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hcbirding.bsky.social
The immature shrike at North Warren RSPB. Identification of birds this age to species is not often possible, but a suite of features visible suggest Daurian Shrike (Lanius isabellinus) in this case IMHO - comments in alt text #RareBirdsUK #SuffolkBirding #UKBirding
A shrike, a predatory passerine, sits on a bramble stem amongst bracken and bramble. It is a small, sandy-coloured bird with a darker mask behind the eye and a hooked bill. Features supporting Daurian Shrike as an identification for this bird include: extensive buffy flanks stretching from rear flanks to ear coverts, coverts weren't very dark, crown concolorous with upperparts, rusty red tail throughout, weak brown ear covert mask, almost non-existent supercilium and limited markings on the crown.
November 16, 2025 at 8:47 PM
hcbirding.bsky.social
This Pallas's Warbler at Landguard Bird Observatory showed inside the compound the other day. #SuffolkBirding #UKBirding 🪶
November 16, 2025 at 9:49 AM
hcbirding.bsky.social
Staggeringly beautiful colours from the Silver Birches during the golden hour at #RSPBLakenheathFen
November 6, 2025 at 4:10 PM
hcbirding.bsky.social
A Red-legged Partridge from #RSPBLakenheathFen yesterday. Not a regular bird on the reserve. #SuffolkBirding #UKBirding
A game bird faces left. It has a plump brown body with flank striping going on, red bill and white supercillium.
November 5, 2025 at 6:56 AM
hcbirding.bsky.social
Cetti's Warblers never perch up in the open! #UKBirding
November 1, 2025 at 6:33 PM
hcbirding.bsky.social
Whilst unloading the moth trap at #RSPBLakenheathFen I was thoroughly distracted by this Ichnuemon Wasp, which I think is Eutanyacra picta, with only 1 confirmed UK record on the NBN atlas! #PSL #PanSpeciesListing
A parasitic wasp with white-banded black and orange abdomen, plus yellow and black legs and antennae.
October 31, 2025 at 8:08 PM
hcbirding.bsky.social
Check out the ovipositor on that! A sizeable Dolichomitus wasp seen at #RSPBLakenheathFen today.
A large parasitic wasp perches on a log
October 28, 2025 at 9:46 PM
hcbirding.bsky.social
Captured this fly-by from a second-winter Mediterranean Gull on Bryher, Isles of Scilly. Maybe not as pure white-winged as an adult but still a very smart plumage #UKBirding #IoSBirding #IslesofScillyBirding
A second-winter Mediterranean Gull flies past in front of brown rocks and the sea below
October 26, 2025 at 9:27 AM
hcbirding.bsky.social
Lots of these Large Willow Aphids (Tuberolachnus salignus) roosting on willow branches at #RSPBLakenheathFen lately
A large aphid and several smaller ones on a branch
October 24, 2025 at 7:02 AM
hcbirding.bsky.social
Whilst so intently looking for doves on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, last week we enjoyed superb views of this European Turtle Dove @sophieshrike.bsky.social #IoSBirding #IslesofScillyBirding #UKBirding
A small dove with orange-fringed upperparts and a buff-brown head and chest, with a characteristic black and white barred neck pattern of this species perches on a log with a background of a green Coprosma bush
October 19, 2025 at 3:19 PM
hcbirding.bsky.social
Strong autumn feeling at #RSPBLakenheathFen yesterday with Woodlark, Brambling and hundreds of Redwings over. #SuffolkBirding #UKBirding
A cobweb is made more visible with dew, and a sunrise in the background
October 17, 2025 at 8:18 AM
hcbirding.bsky.social
Couldn't believe it when we found a Death's-head Hawkmoth caterpillar on the Isles of Scilly. A serious wildlife ambition achieved! @sophieshrike.bsky.social #TeamMoth
A large green caterpillar clings upside down under a branch
October 12, 2025 at 5:47 PM
hcbirding.bsky.social
It's not a trip to the Isles of Scilly without a Longstones cream tea. Tried the Devonian method today, such a heathen but it works! Followed by the Holy Vale experience, replete with Yellow-browed Warbler and Firecrests. #UKBirding #IoSBirding
A cream 'tea' with a hot chocolate instead The mysterious elms of Holy Vale and the narrow track that follows the valley.
October 12, 2025 at 2:13 PM
hcbirding.bsky.social
A Kestrel appeared in our garden on the #islesofScilly early morning, hunting moths around the moth trap #UKBirding #IoSBirding
A young Kestrel perches on branches of a conifer tree
October 11, 2025 at 12:50 PM
hcbirding.bsky.social
Great to see Least Adder's Tongue (Ophioglossum lusitanicum) on Wingletang Down, St Agnes! Must have walked past it lots of times in the past without realising 😅
@sophieshrike.bsky.social #WildflowerHour #BSBI
A single spike from a least adders tongue. It was barely 2cm tall.
October 10, 2025 at 6:08 AM
hcbirding.bsky.social
A slightly better shot of the Mourning Dove yesterday on St Agnes. Thanks to the landowner and birders for allowing and arranging access. This was not only a first for the Scillies but also a first for England! #UKBirding #RareBirdsUK #IoSBirding #IslesofScillyBirding
Mourning Dove stands on the ground, its back is facing with its head turned side on
October 10, 2025 at 5:14 AM
hcbirding.bsky.social
American Mourning Dove finally in the bag!!! 3 days of searching put to rest. Tiny little thing. #UKBirding #RareBirdsUK #IoSBirding #IslesofScillyBirding @sophieshrike.bsky.social
A rare dove sits on a wooden pallet amongst a polytunnel frame
October 9, 2025 at 11:06 AM
hcbirding.bsky.social
Another no-show from the American Mourning Dove on St Agnes so we paid homage to the long-staying Spotted Sandpiper before leaving #RareBirdsUK #UKBirding #IoSBirding #IslesofScillyBirding @sophieshrike.bsky.social
Spotted Sandpiper on a bed of seaweed
October 8, 2025 at 6:49 PM
hcbirding.bsky.social
No sign of the American Mourning Dove yesterday on St Agnes so we'll try again today. A Hoopoe was nice compensation though! @sophieshrike.bsky.social #IoSBirding #IslesofScillyBirding #UKBirding #RareBirdsUK
A Hoopoe, a tan bird with black and white stripes on the wings and a crest, stands on boulders
October 8, 2025 at 5:54 AM
hcbirding.bsky.social
The Red-necked Phalarope at St Gothian Sands NR capped off a good day around Cornwall before heading over to the Scillies #CornwallBirding #UKBirding @sophieshrike.bsky.social
Red-necked Phalarope, a small seabird with a fine bill, black cap and eye smudge
October 6, 2025 at 6:01 PM
hcbirding.bsky.social
An unexpectedly sunny walk down the legendary Nanquidno Valley, Cornwall, produced half a dozen Firecrests and a passage of Buzzards, but not the hoped for yank! @sophieshrike.bsky.social #UKBirding
Nanquidno Valley - with a blue sky, ivy-clad walls and a pine tree or two
October 6, 2025 at 5:44 PM
hcbirding.bsky.social
Early morning seawatch off Pendeen, Cornwall. Winds calmer following the storm but still tens of thousands of birds passing, mostly Razorbills #UKBirding @sophieshrike.bsky.social
Coastline looking north from Pendeen, Cornwall
October 6, 2025 at 8:23 AM
hcbirding.bsky.social
A chilly morning at #RSPBLakenheathFen with lots of birds fresh in. 2 Pintail, Ringed Plover, 2 Mistle Thrush, Meadow Pipits, Siskins and Reed Buntings on the move. @rspbengland.bsky.social @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social #UKBirding #SuffolkBirding
Fenland scene at RSPB Lakenheath Fen with open marsh, washland and Poplar plantations
September 30, 2025 at 7:32 AM
hcbirding.bsky.social
It's Giant Puffball season at #RPBLakenheathFen. Some are bigger than footballs! #FungiFriends #Fungi
A troop of Giant Puffballs, large spherical white, cream and brown fungi. They turn darker with age.
September 29, 2025 at 5:38 PM
hcbirding.bsky.social
Always nice to come across Vervain (Verbena officinalis). Related to the Porterweeds of the Americas, which are favourites of hummingbirds. Closest I might come to one of those here is the Hummingbird Hawkmoth! #Plant #Wildflower @bsbibotany.bsky.social
A narrow-stemmed plant with delicate lilac flowers.
September 19, 2025 at 8:43 AM