Joe Nichols
@itssjoenichols.bsky.social
Musician & Birder. Keys/Piano, Harmonica, Composer.
🎹 - Bandleader for Nimbus Sextet
🦆 - Musselburgh (East Lothian), Costessey (Norfolk) & elsewhere
🎹 - Bandleader for Nimbus Sextet
🦆 - Musselburgh (East Lothian), Costessey (Norfolk) & elsewhere
This 1cy Caspian Gull at Tyninghame yday was a much enjoyed Scottish first for myself and @tomgale98.bsky.social. Dutch green darvic V|+ was ringed 5 May at IJsselmmer, then seen Lowestoft (Suffolk) in July and De Haan (Belgium) 17 Oct before arriving here #birdinglothian @birdinglothian.bsky.social
November 9, 2025 at 8:57 PM
This 1cy Caspian Gull at Tyninghame yday was a much enjoyed Scottish first for myself and @tomgale98.bsky.social. Dutch green darvic V|+ was ringed 5 May at IJsselmmer, then seen Lowestoft (Suffolk) in July and De Haan (Belgium) 17 Oct before arriving here #birdinglothian @birdinglothian.bsky.social
Two Black Redstarts at Torness added a dash of colour to a grey scene this morning - including a very smart male #birdinglothian @birdinglothian.bsky.social
November 8, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Two Black Redstarts at Torness added a dash of colour to a grey scene this morning - including a very smart male #birdinglothian @birdinglothian.bsky.social
A couple more shots of the juvenile American Golden Plover at Barns Ness this afternoon.
📸 - @tomgale98.bsky.social
@birdinglothian.bsky.social #rarebirdsuk #BirdingScotland
📸 - @tomgale98.bsky.social
@birdinglothian.bsky.social #rarebirdsuk #BirdingScotland
October 18, 2025 at 8:43 PM
A couple more shots of the juvenile American Golden Plover at Barns Ness this afternoon.
📸 - @tomgale98.bsky.social
@birdinglothian.bsky.social #rarebirdsuk #BirdingScotland
📸 - @tomgale98.bsky.social
@birdinglothian.bsky.social #rarebirdsuk #BirdingScotland
Great day with @tomgale98.bsky.social . American Golden Plover at Barns Ness early pm, part of a mobile Goldie flock that soon headed west towards Whitesands.
Jack Snipe in-off at Fluke Dub, then Yellow-browed Warbler & Pom at Seacliff. Vismig clear w. 12 Brambling and many thrushes #birdinglothian
Jack Snipe in-off at Fluke Dub, then Yellow-browed Warbler & Pom at Seacliff. Vismig clear w. 12 Brambling and many thrushes #birdinglothian
October 18, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Great day with @tomgale98.bsky.social . American Golden Plover at Barns Ness early pm, part of a mobile Goldie flock that soon headed west towards Whitesands.
Jack Snipe in-off at Fluke Dub, then Yellow-browed Warbler & Pom at Seacliff. Vismig clear w. 12 Brambling and many thrushes #birdinglothian
Jack Snipe in-off at Fluke Dub, then Yellow-browed Warbler & Pom at Seacliff. Vismig clear w. 12 Brambling and many thrushes #birdinglothian
Pom Skuas moving today with 10 off Gullane Bay. 8 pale adults with 3 superb spooned birds and 2 juvs west. 2 ads later on patch at Musselburgh, incl. my first with spoons here.
Still on spoons, October local highlights include Sabine's Gull and Spoonbill #birdinglothian @birdinglothian.bsky.social
Still on spoons, October local highlights include Sabine's Gull and Spoonbill #birdinglothian @birdinglothian.bsky.social
October 15, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Pom Skuas moving today with 10 off Gullane Bay. 8 pale adults with 3 superb spooned birds and 2 juvs west. 2 ads later on patch at Musselburgh, incl. my first with spoons here.
Still on spoons, October local highlights include Sabine's Gull and Spoonbill #birdinglothian @birdinglothian.bsky.social
Still on spoons, October local highlights include Sabine's Gull and Spoonbill #birdinglothian @birdinglothian.bsky.social
In conifers at western edge of shore later on #birdinglothian
September 12, 2025 at 11:02 AM
In conifers at western edge of shore later on #birdinglothian
Very nice to find this Wryneck at Dalmeny House this afternoon. Still present this eve, moving between the shoreline at the golf course to feed and nearby cover.
Also juv Pom, RN Grebe + 4 Pintail offshore, & 3 juv Black Tern at Hound Point #birdinglothian #rarebirdsuk
@birdinglothian.bsky.social
Also juv Pom, RN Grebe + 4 Pintail offshore, & 3 juv Black Tern at Hound Point #birdinglothian #rarebirdsuk
@birdinglothian.bsky.social
September 11, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Very nice to find this Wryneck at Dalmeny House this afternoon. Still present this eve, moving between the shoreline at the golf course to feed and nearby cover.
Also juv Pom, RN Grebe + 4 Pintail offshore, & 3 juv Black Tern at Hound Point #birdinglothian #rarebirdsuk
@birdinglothian.bsky.social
Also juv Pom, RN Grebe + 4 Pintail offshore, & 3 juv Black Tern at Hound Point #birdinglothian #rarebirdsuk
@birdinglothian.bsky.social
Three juv Curlew Sand at Musselburgh this afternoon, with two new birds on the old scrapes and one still on new lagoons. Also a new juv Little Stint, Wood Sand plus WW & Surf Scoter offshore.
Big Arctic Tern passage in the Forth recently with 112W in 45min at Fisherrow on Fri night #birdinglothian
Big Arctic Tern passage in the Forth recently with 112W in 45min at Fisherrow on Fri night #birdinglothian
August 31, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Three juv Curlew Sand at Musselburgh this afternoon, with two new birds on the old scrapes and one still on new lagoons. Also a new juv Little Stint, Wood Sand plus WW & Surf Scoter offshore.
Big Arctic Tern passage in the Forth recently with 112W in 45min at Fisherrow on Fri night #birdinglothian
Big Arctic Tern passage in the Forth recently with 112W in 45min at Fisherrow on Fri night #birdinglothian
An enjoyable three skua day with @tomgale98.bsky.social. The highlight a smart ad Pom Skua W off Seacliff late afternoon. Also Bonxie off Barns Ness, plus 6 Arctics and 63 Manxies total between both sites #birdinglothian
August 16, 2025 at 9:17 PM
An enjoyable three skua day with @tomgale98.bsky.social. The highlight a smart ad Pom Skua W off Seacliff late afternoon. Also Bonxie off Barns Ness, plus 6 Arctics and 63 Manxies total between both sites #birdinglothian
A juv Spotted Redshank on the new lagoons at Musselburgh tonight was my first here for a few years. This female Osprey was also a welcome personal patch first on Sunday evening #birdinglothian
August 12, 2025 at 9:39 PM
A juv Spotted Redshank on the new lagoons at Musselburgh tonight was my first here for a few years. This female Osprey was also a welcome personal patch first on Sunday evening #birdinglothian
Musselburgh continues its good form this week with adult White-rumped Sandpiper, 3 juv Wood Sandpiper, 2 Ruddy Shelduck, 1s White-winged and drake Surf Scoter the highlights. Also 2 Scaup (male + juv on different days), 5 Arctic Skua, 10 Little Gull and 2 juv LRP among others #birdinglothian
July 20, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Musselburgh continues its good form this week with adult White-rumped Sandpiper, 3 juv Wood Sandpiper, 2 Ruddy Shelduck, 1s White-winged and drake Surf Scoter the highlights. Also 2 Scaup (male + juv on different days), 5 Arctic Skua, 10 Little Gull and 2 juv LRP among others #birdinglothian
An excellent week at Musselburgh. Mon & Tues nights respectively produced a brief Green Sandpiper on the old scrapes then this drake Surf Scoter (since seen by others at v close quarters). 3cy ♂ White-winged Scoter also still around early week and two Temminck's Stints this weekend #birdinglothian
July 6, 2025 at 1:47 PM
An excellent week at Musselburgh. Mon & Tues nights respectively produced a brief Green Sandpiper on the old scrapes then this drake Surf Scoter (since seen by others at v close quarters). 3cy ♂ White-winged Scoter also still around early week and two Temminck's Stints this weekend #birdinglothian
This month's Marsh Warbler was the highlight of 14 years birding my Costessey patch. With sole site access, I've also had Crane, Bittern, Bearded Tit, YLG & Ring Ouzel etc in this unwatched area of private land on Norwich's outskirts. All from the front door when down visiting family #norfolkbirding
June 22, 2025 at 5:02 PM
This month's Marsh Warbler was the highlight of 14 years birding my Costessey patch. With sole site access, I've also had Crane, Bittern, Bearded Tit, YLG & Ring Ouzel etc in this unwatched area of private land on Norwich's outskirts. All from the front door when down visiting family #norfolkbirding
Two personal patch firsts at Musselburgh in the last week with Little Tern at the Esk Mouth, then Spoonbill at the old scrapes on Sunday evening #birdinglothian
June 17, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Two personal patch firsts at Musselburgh in the last week with Little Tern at the Esk Mouth, then Spoonbill at the old scrapes on Sunday evening #birdinglothian
June 15, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Very pleased to find this cracking male Marsh Warbler on my Costessey patch earlier this month. A singing adult male, present for a week on private land. Some superb mimicry, and the last thing I expected on my 20+ miles inland Norfolk patch! Patch gold #norfolkbirding
📷 @henrywynjones.bsky.social
📷 @henrywynjones.bsky.social
June 15, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Very pleased to find this cracking male Marsh Warbler on my Costessey patch earlier this month. A singing adult male, present for a week on private land. Some superb mimicry, and the last thing I expected on my 20+ miles inland Norfolk patch! Patch gold #norfolkbirding
📷 @henrywynjones.bsky.social
📷 @henrywynjones.bsky.social
A bumper spell on patch since Sunday with drake Green-winged Teal, two Temminck's Stint and pr. Garganey at Musselburgh #birdinglothian
Elsewhere, singing Wood Warbler from the car at Loch Awe en route home from a weekend in Argyll & seabird bounty on Isle of May; a great few days #birdingscotland
Elsewhere, singing Wood Warbler from the car at Loch Awe en route home from a weekend in Argyll & seabird bounty on Isle of May; a great few days #birdingscotland
May 14, 2025 at 3:09 PM
A bumper spell on patch since Sunday with drake Green-winged Teal, two Temminck's Stint and pr. Garganey at Musselburgh #birdinglothian
Elsewhere, singing Wood Warbler from the car at Loch Awe en route home from a weekend in Argyll & seabird bounty on Isle of May; a great few days #birdingscotland
Elsewhere, singing Wood Warbler from the car at Loch Awe en route home from a weekend in Argyll & seabird bounty on Isle of May; a great few days #birdingscotland
Very smart Kentish Plover still at JMCP late morning, alone and initially nice and close. A Pale-bellied Brent was a good bonus & Lesser Whitethroat. Rounding off an enjoyable week with BT Diver off Torness on Sunday & White-winged Scoter at Yellowcraig #birdinglothian @birdinglothian.bsky.social
May 9, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Very smart Kentish Plover still at JMCP late morning, alone and initially nice and close. A Pale-bellied Brent was a good bonus & Lesser Whitethroat. Rounding off an enjoyable week with BT Diver off Torness on Sunday & White-winged Scoter at Yellowcraig #birdinglothian @birdinglothian.bsky.social
Very happy to have moved to Musselburgh last month, and to see spring arrive on patch. A singing Cuckoo fresh in and Lesser Whitethroat were today's best, while other recent highlights include 2 Avocets, Jack Snipe, RN Grebe & Grasshopper Warbler among other commoner passage species #birdinglothian
April 30, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Very happy to have moved to Musselburgh last month, and to see spring arrive on patch. A singing Cuckoo fresh in and Lesser Whitethroat were today's best, while other recent highlights include 2 Avocets, Jack Snipe, RN Grebe & Grasshopper Warbler among other commoner passage species #birdinglothian
All species descriptions in alt text
March 1, 2025 at 3:48 PM
All species descriptions in alt text
Starting my Bluesky journey with some highlights from an exceptionally special trip to South Africa over Christmas & New Year. The birding was superb: 223 species in 18 days on a non-birding holiday, including Kruger NP, coastal KwaZulu-Natal & the Cape Peninsula. Unforgettable! #birdingsouthafrica
March 1, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Starting my Bluesky journey with some highlights from an exceptionally special trip to South Africa over Christmas & New Year. The birding was superb: 223 species in 18 days on a non-birding holiday, including Kruger NP, coastal KwaZulu-Natal & the Cape Peninsula. Unforgettable! #birdingsouthafrica