Ian Hayes
@ianhayes.bsky.social
Birdwatcher, lister, sometime twitcher. Living on Somerset's Mendip Hills.
One of three Orca seen over a protracted period on our trip with @scillypelagics.bsky.social today.
Plus one of several hundred Great Sheerwaters. Also: 20+ Sooty Sheetwater, 6+ Bonxie. Pictures courtesy of @p-sharpe.bsky.social
Plus one of several hundred Great Sheerwaters. Also: 20+ Sooty Sheetwater, 6+ Bonxie. Pictures courtesy of @p-sharpe.bsky.social
October 15, 2025 at 4:56 PM
One of three Orca seen over a protracted period on our trip with @scillypelagics.bsky.social today.
Plus one of several hundred Great Sheerwaters. Also: 20+ Sooty Sheetwater, 6+ Bonxie. Pictures courtesy of @p-sharpe.bsky.social
Plus one of several hundred Great Sheerwaters. Also: 20+ Sooty Sheetwater, 6+ Bonxie. Pictures courtesy of @p-sharpe.bsky.social
Lapland Bunting, St Agnes. Our 300th of the year.
October 13, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Lapland Bunting, St Agnes. Our 300th of the year.
Mourning Dove, St Agnes, IOS.
October 11, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Mourning Dove, St Agnes, IOS.
White-rumped Sandpiper at Siblyback Reservoir this morning.
#cornwallbirding
#cornwallbirding
October 7, 2025 at 1:29 PM
White-rumped Sandpiper at Siblyback Reservoir this morning.
#cornwallbirding
#cornwallbirding
Morning on Cairngorm, lucked in on Ptarmigan just before the cloud closed in. Afternoon spent on the Black Isle: single Barnacle Goose among thousands of Pinkies, 200+ Scaup on the Firth, 20+ Slavonian Grebes.
October 2, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Morning on Cairngorm, lucked in on Ptarmigan just before the cloud closed in. Afternoon spent on the Black Isle: single Barnacle Goose among thousands of Pinkies, 200+ Scaup on the Firth, 20+ Slavonian Grebes.
Some pre breakfast Black Grouse action from day 1 of our Heatherlea trip. Day continued well with excellent views of Cresties, a Golden Eagle, 2 WT Eagles, Red Grouse. Also Crossbills, Redpoll and plenty of Red Squirrels
September 28, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Some pre breakfast Black Grouse action from day 1 of our Heatherlea trip. Day continued well with excellent views of Cresties, a Golden Eagle, 2 WT Eagles, Red Grouse. Also Crossbills, Redpoll and plenty of Red Squirrels
The tiny Todd's Canada Goose (🤞for my ID) at Hesketh Out Marsh today. Also: our first Pinkies of the Autumn, a good range of common waders, Great and Little Egret, Spot Fly. A gorgeous Barn Owl circumnavigated the car park as we watched the goose and a Weasel showed as we left. Lovely site.
September 24, 2025 at 2:02 PM
The tiny Todd's Canada Goose (🤞for my ID) at Hesketh Out Marsh today. Also: our first Pinkies of the Autumn, a good range of common waders, Great and Little Egret, Spot Fly. A gorgeous Barn Owl circumnavigated the car park as we watched the goose and a Weasel showed as we left. Lovely site.
Four Dotterel at Trevilly this afternoon. A real treat just 40 minutes after disembarking from the Scillonian.
August 26, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Four Dotterel at Trevilly this afternoon. A real treat just 40 minutes after disembarking from the Scillonian.
Final Scilly Pelagic for us tonight. Drifting 6 miles off shore in choppy conditions. Personal totals: Wilson's 4, Euro Stormy 20, Great Sheer 10, Cory's 10, Arctic Skua 2, Great Skua 2.
Fascinating watching 4 Blue Sharks caught and tagged. Next year..can't wait!
Fascinating watching 4 Blue Sharks caught and tagged. Next year..can't wait!
August 25, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Final Scilly Pelagic for us tonight. Drifting 6 miles off shore in choppy conditions. Personal totals: Wilson's 4, Euro Stormy 20, Great Sheer 10, Cory's 10, Arctic Skua 2, Great Skua 2.
Fascinating watching 4 Blue Sharks caught and tagged. Next year..can't wait!
Fascinating watching 4 Blue Sharks caught and tagged. Next year..can't wait!
Scilly Pelagics, Friday Evening.
Birds: Great Sheerwater 10+, Sooty 1, Wilson's Storm Petrel 1, Euro Stormy20+ many Manx. Best though was a perfect adult Sabs that stayed with us for 45mins. Also: Fin Whale, Humpback Whale, Risso's Dolphins, Common Dolphins.
Birds: Great Sheerwater 10+, Sooty 1, Wilson's Storm Petrel 1, Euro Stormy20+ many Manx. Best though was a perfect adult Sabs that stayed with us for 45mins. Also: Fin Whale, Humpback Whale, Risso's Dolphins, Common Dolphins.
August 22, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Scilly Pelagics, Friday Evening.
Birds: Great Sheerwater 10+, Sooty 1, Wilson's Storm Petrel 1, Euro Stormy20+ many Manx. Best though was a perfect adult Sabs that stayed with us for 45mins. Also: Fin Whale, Humpback Whale, Risso's Dolphins, Common Dolphins.
Birds: Great Sheerwater 10+, Sooty 1, Wilson's Storm Petrel 1, Euro Stormy20+ many Manx. Best though was a perfect adult Sabs that stayed with us for 45mins. Also: Fin Whale, Humpback Whale, Risso's Dolphins, Common Dolphins.
Black Kite setting out on it's journey over the Strait. Image courtesy of Simon Tonkin.
July 31, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Black Kite setting out on it's journey over the Strait. Image courtesy of Simon Tonkin.
White Stork confetti over the Strait of Gibraltar last Saturday. Image courtesy of Inglorious Bustards
July 30, 2025 at 4:57 PM
White Stork confetti over the Strait of Gibraltar last Saturday. Image courtesy of Inglorious Bustards
Little Swifts, Chipionia earlier this week. Pictures courtesy of Inglorious Bustardsm
July 29, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Little Swifts, Chipionia earlier this week. Pictures courtesy of Inglorious Bustardsm
White-Rumped Swift earlier this week. Picture courtesy of Inglorious Bustards.
July 29, 2025 at 5:37 AM
White-Rumped Swift earlier this week. Picture courtesy of Inglorious Bustards.
Rufous -tailed Brush Robin earlier this week near Cadiz. Image courtesy of Inglorious Bustards.
July 28, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Rufous -tailed Brush Robin earlier this week near Cadiz. Image courtesy of Inglorious Bustards.
Another great day in Andalusia. Dawn at Vineyards, specially farmed for nature. There were 9 singing male Rufous-Tailed Scrub Robins in a small area. Later at Europes largest Little Swift colony. So good to see them at their feathered nests..50+ in flight around us. Then churros for breakfast!
July 26, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Another great day in Andalusia. Dawn at Vineyards, specially farmed for nature. There were 9 singing male Rufous-Tailed Scrub Robins in a small area. Later at Europes largest Little Swift colony. So good to see them at their feathered nests..50+ in flight around us. Then churros for breakfast!
A short video of the Western Sandpiper hopping about in the harbour at Maidens a few minutes ago. Lifer!
June 28, 2025 at 10:38 AM
A short video of the Western Sandpiper hopping about in the harbour at Maidens a few minutes ago. Lifer!
Here's our newish, light-weight set up. I'm disabled so we need to minimise what we carry. The Benro Cyyanbird cardbon fibre tripod is enough to carry the Swarovski ATC scope. It's a bit unstable in windy conditions but so am I!
Picture taken just after observing an Aquatic Warbler in Poland!
Picture taken just after observing an Aquatic Warbler in Poland!
June 12, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Here's our newish, light-weight set up. I'm disabled so we need to minimise what we carry. The Benro Cyyanbird cardbon fibre tripod is enough to carry the Swarovski ATC scope. It's a bit unstable in windy conditions but so am I!
Picture taken just after observing an Aquatic Warbler in Poland!
Picture taken just after observing an Aquatic Warbler in Poland!
So nice to come home to....
May 25, 2025 at 5:03 PM
So nice to come home to....
Poland day 7. This morning we returned for better views of Aquatic Warbler and were successful. Later we visited our 7th site for Three Toed Woody and finally watched them at their nest. A great end to a great week. Pleased to have shared it with @hull24matt.bsky.social a damn fine birder.
May 24, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Poland day 7. This morning we returned for better views of Aquatic Warbler and were successful. Later we visited our 7th site for Three Toed Woody and finally watched them at their nest. A great end to a great week. Pleased to have shared it with @hull24matt.bsky.social a damn fine birder.
An early morning Bison.
May 22, 2025 at 4:42 AM
An early morning Bison.
Undoubted highlight of a bird filled 17 hour day was sundown at a Great Snipe Lek. Amazing views of the birds performing courtship leaps, wing flaps, white tails. All while surrounded by krekking Corncrakes, calling Quail and the ever present machine gun sound of Thrush Nightingales. And some Elks!
May 20, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Undoubted highlight of a bird filled 17 hour day was sundown at a Great Snipe Lek. Amazing views of the birds performing courtship leaps, wing flaps, white tails. All while surrounded by krekking Corncrakes, calling Quail and the ever present machine gun sound of Thrush Nightingales. And some Elks!
Distant Woodchat Shrike near Chitterne, Wilts this morning. Very pleased to see the bird at our second attempt.
May 12, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Distant Woodchat Shrike near Chitterne, Wilts this morning. Very pleased to see the bird at our second attempt.
Ferruginous Duck at Draycote Water, East end, this morning.
May 11, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Ferruginous Duck at Draycote Water, East end, this morning.