Ian Ricketts
@ianricketts.bsky.social
Birder from Worcestershire now birding a windswept lump of rock in the North Atlantic.
Used to be a technician at the University of Birmingham Medical School in a former life 🇪🇺
Used to be a technician at the University of Birmingham Medical School in a former life 🇪🇺
A couple of horrible phone scoped images of the Surf Scoter off Eoligarry late this afternoon in the gathering gloom of cool and windy November day. Also GW Teal at Ardmhor and at least 1 Siberian Chiff-Chaff at the pitch before work this morning
November 11, 2025 at 5:41 PM
A couple of horrible phone scoped images of the Surf Scoter off Eoligarry late this afternoon in the gathering gloom of cool and windy November day. Also GW Teal at Ardmhor and at least 1 Siberian Chiff-Chaff at the pitch before work this morning
Firecrest at Nasg this afternoon. Only the 2nd one I have seen on Barra
November 8, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Firecrest at Nasg this afternoon. Only the 2nd one I have seen on Barra
A few nights up in Stornoway. So took advantage to see the Ring-necked Duck at Loch an t-Siúmpain. Still in hope of seeing another American duck later this week
November 4, 2025 at 4:52 PM
A few nights up in Stornoway. So took advantage to see the Ring-necked Duck at Loch an t-Siúmpain. Still in hope of seeing another American duck later this week
A Bohemian Waxwing at Nasg this morning. A highlight of any day
October 27, 2025 at 8:12 PM
A Bohemian Waxwing at Nasg this morning. A highlight of any day
The first time I have seen Teal in a while but there was a small number, distantly at Ardmhor this afternoon. A look through and I picked out this Green-winged Teal which I assume is the same bird now back for its 6th winter
October 23, 2025 at 6:56 PM
The first time I have seen Teal in a while but there was a small number, distantly at Ardmhor this afternoon. A look through and I picked out this Green-winged Teal which I assume is the same bird now back for its 6th winter
A very wet, grey blustery day but a call about a Curlew Sandpiper at Cleat had me scampering to the car. Finally, my Barra bogey bird was in front of me. The light conditions made it look more monochrome than what it really was
October 19, 2025 at 3:03 PM
A very wet, grey blustery day but a call about a Curlew Sandpiper at Cleat had me scampering to the car. Finally, my Barra bogey bird was in front of me. The light conditions made it look more monochrome than what it really was
One of those days birds were just dropping in. Late this afternoon I found this Red-backed Shrike at Nasg, a place that had been checked numerous times today. Also 10 Crossbill briefly at Creachan. The RB Fly was showing well at the pitch and another RB Fly at the gnome garden
October 15, 2025 at 6:47 PM
One of those days birds were just dropping in. Late this afternoon I found this Red-backed Shrike at Nasg, a place that had been checked numerous times today. Also 10 Crossbill briefly at Creachan. The RB Fly was showing well at the pitch and another RB Fly at the gnome garden
Red-breasted Flycathcer at the pitch, Castlebay this morning. Always a delight to see one of these
October 13, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Red-breasted Flycathcer at the pitch, Castlebay this morning. Always a delight to see one of these
Treecreeper on Barra this morning kidding on it was something else
October 2, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Treecreeper on Barra this morning kidding on it was something else
A day of widely different emotions. Firstly the elation of finding a Red-eyed Vireo at Nasg. A self found tick and my 6th on Barra. But then the frustration of it disappearing before anyone else saw it and no photo of it. Ugh! Also YB Warbler at the pitch and treecreeper Nasg
September 30, 2025 at 4:07 PM
A day of widely different emotions. Firstly the elation of finding a Red-eyed Vireo at Nasg. A self found tick and my 6th on Barra. But then the frustration of it disappearing before anyone else saw it and no photo of it. Ugh! Also YB Warbler at the pitch and treecreeper Nasg
It’s been a few years since I last saw a Pintail on Barra so I was pleased to see this individual. A Common Scoter is still around the marina and a House Martin around Leanish was about as exciting as it got for me today
September 28, 2025 at 5:01 PM
It’s been a few years since I last saw a Pintail on Barra so I was pleased to see this individual. A Common Scoter is still around the marina and a House Martin around Leanish was about as exciting as it got for me today
Always good to see American Golden Plover and caught up with this one after work just north of Barra airport.
September 16, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Always good to see American Golden Plover and caught up with this one after work just north of Barra airport.
Delighted to find the ad Ring-billed Gull very close on the shore at Cleat, Isle of Barra this evening. The first I have seen on Barra itself having seen one on Vatersay a few years ago. Also an overdue self found tick.
June 23, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Delighted to find the ad Ring-billed Gull very close on the shore at Cleat, Isle of Barra this evening. The first I have seen on Barra itself having seen one on Vatersay a few years ago. Also an overdue self found tick.
Missed by seconds Fri, soaked twice, fed midges three times. Fell off boardwalk. Saturday arrived 0545 to 0745, soaked and fed midges. Then 11-1. Fed midges. Gave up birding. Considered therapy. Phone call at 1615 and Collared Fly finally seen 5 minutes later. Fed midges.
May 24, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Missed by seconds Fri, soaked twice, fed midges three times. Fell off boardwalk. Saturday arrived 0545 to 0745, soaked and fed midges. Then 11-1. Fed midges. Gave up birding. Considered therapy. Phone call at 1615 and Collared Fly finally seen 5 minutes later. Fed midges.
A Reed Warbler singing briefly here in the Manse and occasionally being seen this morning. Only my third one here. In fact I have seen more Blyth’s Reed Warbler on Barra. The Hawfinch was again seen in Ardveenish but no sign of yesterdays Bee-eater.
May 18, 2025 at 6:19 PM
A Reed Warbler singing briefly here in the Manse and occasionally being seen this morning. Only my third one here. In fact I have seen more Blyth’s Reed Warbler on Barra. The Hawfinch was again seen in Ardveenish but no sign of yesterdays Bee-eater.
A little bit of shaky phone scope video of the Bee-eater today
May 17, 2025 at 8:09 PM
A little bit of shaky phone scope video of the Bee-eater today
Oriole birding group found European Bee-eater at Creachan this afternoon but it flew off towards Castlebay. After a search of about an hour I relocated it from the same garden at Cobhair Bharraigh, where I found one last year whilst at work! All phone scope as my camera battery ran out. Rookie error
May 17, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Oriole birding group found European Bee-eater at Creachan this afternoon but it flew off towards Castlebay. After a search of about an hour I relocated it from the same garden at Cobhair Bharraigh, where I found one last year whilst at work! All phone scope as my camera battery ran out. Rookie error
Peek-a-boo day with a Hawfinch in a private garden in Ardveenish and a Corncrake in Eoligarry
May 8, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Peek-a-boo day with a Hawfinch in a private garden in Ardveenish and a Corncrake in Eoligarry
I was just checking the beach at Cleat when I noticed a dead whale off shore drifting into the bay and later beached itself on the rocks. We think freshly deceased, no obvious injuries and quite a bit of blood going into the sea. Minke is the consensus of opinion RIP.
March 31, 2025 at 12:09 PM
I was just checking the beach at Cleat when I noticed a dead whale off shore drifting into the bay and later beached itself on the rocks. We think freshly deceased, no obvious injuries and quite a bit of blood going into the sea. Minke is the consensus of opinion RIP.
Off the island for a week so I was very happy the Black Redstart just down the road stayed overnight. Only my second one here, the first being on Vatersay a couple of years ago. #ukbirding #Barrabirding
March 29, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Off the island for a week so I was very happy the Black Redstart just down the road stayed overnight. Only my second one here, the first being on Vatersay a couple of years ago. #ukbirding #Barrabirding
At least three Orcas heading north past Bolnabodach, Isle of Barra 1709-1720. Too distant to get a photo but an impressive sight through the scope
March 12, 2025 at 5:30 PM
At least three Orcas heading north past Bolnabodach, Isle of Barra 1709-1720. Too distant to get a photo but an impressive sight through the scope
A different colour ringed Barnacle Goose emerged from the ‘pack’ on the Borve machair today. Blue Z4 I think. @stevepercival.bsky.social Also the Green-winged Teal still at Ardmhor #ukbirding #barrabirding
January 25, 2025 at 3:03 PM
A different colour ringed Barnacle Goose emerged from the ‘pack’ on the Borve machair today. Blue Z4 I think. @stevepercival.bsky.social Also the Green-winged Teal still at Ardmhor #ukbirding #barrabirding
The lowest reading on the Barometer I have personally seen and after the roar of Storm Èowyn for the past few hours an eerie silence has descended as Èowyn takes a deep breath as she passes somewhere close to us
January 24, 2025 at 9:22 AM
The lowest reading on the Barometer I have personally seen and after the roar of Storm Èowyn for the past few hours an eerie silence has descended as Èowyn takes a deep breath as she passes somewhere close to us
For those who like to play detective. A couple of ringed Barnies on Borve machair this morning. #ukbirding #barrabirding
January 15, 2025 at 3:38 PM
For those who like to play detective. A couple of ringed Barnies on Borve machair this morning. #ukbirding #barrabirding
After a cold week it was good to see the wintering European Turtle Dove still surviving and apparently getting plenty of food around the Horve area of Castlebay this morning. #ukbirding #barrabirding
January 15, 2025 at 2:27 PM
After a cold week it was good to see the wintering European Turtle Dove still surviving and apparently getting plenty of food around the Horve area of Castlebay this morning. #ukbirding #barrabirding