Andy Mackay
@leicesterllama.bsky.social
Leicestershire & Rutland birder, artist and freelance bird surveyor. UK birding, particularly Eyebrook Reservoir, moths and general wildlife stuff. No politics, no religion, no football!
http://www.ajm-wildlife-art.co.uk
http://www.ajm-wildlife-art.co.uk
Went back to Swithland Res this morning and there was the Lesser Scaup, back where it was originally found by @tcartz.bsky.social on Tuesday. Excellent views from the causeway. The 6th one I've seen in the county, but the first away from Rutland Water. #VC55Birds #UKBirding
November 13, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Went back to Swithland Res this morning and there was the Lesser Scaup, back where it was originally found by @tcartz.bsky.social on Tuesday. Excellent views from the causeway. The 6th one I've seen in the county, but the first away from Rutland Water. #VC55Birds #UKBirding
The Lesser Scaup at Swithland Res had disappeared by the time I went to look for it this afternoon, but I did see something even rarer - this Gadwall x Mallard hybrid. #VC55Birds #UKBirding
November 12, 2025 at 9:43 PM
The Lesser Scaup at Swithland Res had disappeared by the time I went to look for it this afternoon, but I did see something even rarer - this Gadwall x Mallard hybrid. #VC55Birds #UKBirding
Similar moth numbers to last night - 41/14, but again nothing terribly exciting. 5 December Moths NFY and a very late (and unusually pale for here) Willow Beauty. #VC55Moths #TeamMoth
November 7, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Similar moth numbers to last night - 41/14, but again nothing terribly exciting. 5 December Moths NFY and a very late (and unusually pale for here) Willow Beauty. #VC55Moths #TeamMoth
The Hoopoe that showed so well on Periglis beach, St Agnes, from my recent visit to the Isles of Scilly. Mostly watercolour pencil, with a bit of gouache, on Fabriano Artistico watercolour paper. Original is about A4 size #BirdArt #WildlifeArt #ScillyBirds #UKBirding
October 25, 2025 at 5:08 PM
The Hoopoe that showed so well on Periglis beach, St Agnes, from my recent visit to the Isles of Scilly. Mostly watercolour pencil, with a bit of gouache, on Fabriano Artistico watercolour paper. Original is about A4 size #BirdArt #WildlifeArt #ScillyBirds #UKBirding
Most people at Eyebrook today were looking at the American Golden Plover, but I was more interested in this 1st-winter Caspian Gull and a Rock Pipit as they were site year ticks for me. 😄 Also 2 female Scaup and 5 Red-crested Pochards. #VC55Birds #UKBirding
October 22, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Most people at Eyebrook today were looking at the American Golden Plover, but I was more interested in this 1st-winter Caspian Gull and a Rock Pipit as they were site year ticks for me. 😄 Also 2 female Scaup and 5 Red-crested Pochards. #VC55Birds #UKBirding
This was my initial view of it - I'd counted about 550 GPs, then saw this and quickly lost interest in how many there were! 😂
October 18, 2025 at 5:28 PM
This was my initial view of it - I'd counted about 550 GPs, then saw this and quickly lost interest in how many there were! 😂
First visit to Eyebrook Res for nearly a month, and almost the first bird I saw was this juvenile American Golden Plover. Initially found amongst c600 Golden Plovers, it eventually gave great views from the Rutland side. A long-held ambition realised to pick one of these out! #vc55birds #ukbirding
October 18, 2025 at 2:31 PM
First visit to Eyebrook Res for nearly a month, and almost the first bird I saw was this juvenile American Golden Plover. Initially found amongst c600 Golden Plovers, it eventually gave great views from the Rutland side. A long-held ambition realised to pick one of these out! #vc55birds #ukbirding
A few highlights from my week on Scilly now I've had a chance to edit photos. Details in the alt text. Unfortunately the Mourning Dove wasn't pinned down until after we'd left. Maybe it'll stay till next year? 😂 #scillybirds #ukbirding
October 11, 2025 at 3:58 PM
A few highlights from my week on Scilly now I've had a chance to edit photos. Details in the alt text. Unfortunately the Mourning Dove wasn't pinned down until after we'd left. Maybe it'll stay till next year? 😂 #scillybirds #ukbirding
Goodbye Scilly, see you next year (for longer!) hopefully. Didn't see a huge number of birds, but a very enjoyable visit. Good return crossing: Sabine's Gull, 2 Great, 1 Sooty & 1 Manx Shearwater, and 6+ Storm Petrels, most of which (apart from the Sab's) were in Scilly waters. #scillybirds
October 8, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Goodbye Scilly, see you next year (for longer!) hopefully. Didn't see a huge number of birds, but a very enjoyable visit. Good return crossing: Sabine's Gull, 2 Great, 1 Sooty & 1 Manx Shearwater, and 6+ Storm Petrels, most of which (apart from the Sab's) were in Scilly waters. #scillybirds
Met Office forecast for Scilly today vs the reality. It's often like that here, far warmer and sunnier than they say it's going to be. But I still always forget and wear too many clothes! 🥵
October 6, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Met Office forecast for Scilly today vs the reality. It's often like that here, far warmer and sunnier than they say it's going to be. But I still always forget and wear too many clothes! 🥵
Absolutely nothing in an hour's seawatch off Peninnis this morning 😴. A Short-eared Owl sheltering behind a wall along King Edward's Road and better views of the Wilson's Phalarope at Porth Hellick, but not much else today in the very strong wind. #scillybirds
October 4, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Absolutely nothing in an hour's seawatch off Peninnis this morning 😴. A Short-eared Owl sheltering behind a wall along King Edward's Road and better views of the Wilson's Phalarope at Porth Hellick, but not much else today in the very strong wind. #scillybirds
Feels slightly unreal being back on Scilly after 22 years. Saw the Wilson's Phalarope and Rosy Starling, but it was Cetti's Warbler and Cattle Egret that were Scilly ticks! #ukbirding
October 1, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Feels slightly unreal being back on Scilly after 22 years. Saw the Wilson's Phalarope and Rosy Starling, but it was Cetti's Warbler and Cattle Egret that were Scilly ticks! #ukbirding
Record shot of an Osprey (and a Buzzard below) which flew west over Groby Pool a few minutes ago. Takes the house year list to a nice round 80. #79 was a juvenile Gannet yesterday! No photos of that unfortunately as it was a fair way off when I got onto it. #VC55Birds #UKBirding
September 23, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Record shot of an Osprey (and a Buzzard below) which flew west over Groby Pool a few minutes ago. Takes the house year list to a nice round 80. #79 was a juvenile Gannet yesterday! No photos of that unfortunately as it was a fair way off when I got onto it. #VC55Birds #UKBirding
Finally got a Vestal in the garden last night, a nice pink one, but only got a quick egg box shot before it flew off. Other migrants Palpita vitrealis, Rusty-dot Pearl and Rush Veneer. Beaded Chestnut & Brown-spot Pinion NFY, so it's getting a bit more autumnal now. #VC55Moths #TeamMoth
September 19, 2025 at 6:50 AM
Finally got a Vestal in the garden last night, a nice pink one, but only got a quick egg box shot before it flew off. Other migrants Palpita vitrealis, Rusty-dot Pearl and Rush Veneer. Beaded Chestnut & Brown-spot Pinion NFY, so it's getting a bit more autumnal now. #VC55Moths #TeamMoth
Traps out for the first time in 10 days, in what seemed like good conditions (min 16.9). Was just thinking it was all still very brown and boring, then found this at the bottom of the MV trap. A female Four-spotted Footman! NFG, and I can't recall seeing many females before. #VC55Moths #TeamMoth
September 18, 2025 at 6:24 AM
Traps out for the first time in 10 days, in what seemed like good conditions (min 16.9). Was just thinking it was all still very brown and boring, then found this at the bottom of the MV trap. A female Four-spotted Footman! NFG, and I can't recall seeing many females before. #VC55Moths #TeamMoth
They were still using the same cover design for reports when I was working there in 1986/87, and the 86 one is also a Dennis Harle drawing! The Sharp-tailed Sandpiper on the 87 cover is by Bill Fletcher, who found the bird.
September 11, 2025 at 4:09 PM
They were still using the same cover design for reports when I was working there in 1986/87, and the 86 one is also a Dennis Harle drawing! The Sharp-tailed Sandpiper on the 87 cover is by Bill Fletcher, who found the bird.
The recent Rutland Water Grey Phalarope, and a Buff-breasted Sandpiper I started ages ago, but only finished recently. Both gouache & coloured pencil on tinted paper. #BirdArt #WildlifeArt #UKBirding
September 11, 2025 at 11:30 AM
The recent Rutland Water Grey Phalarope, and a Buff-breasted Sandpiper I started ages ago, but only finished recently. Both gouache & coloured pencil on tinted paper. #BirdArt #WildlifeArt #UKBirding
Fire up the Quattro, there's a galganry in Notts!! 😂 #ukbirding
September 9, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Fire up the Quattro, there's a galganry in Notts!! 😂 #ukbirding
This very fresh Scarce Bordered Straw and a Black Rustic NFY were the only highlights of another uninspiring catch. 98/28. Might give it a rest again for the next few nights as the weather looks similar all week. #VC55Moths #TeamMoth
September 8, 2025 at 8:59 AM
This very fresh Scarce Bordered Straw and a Black Rustic NFY were the only highlights of another uninspiring catch. 98/28. Might give it a rest again for the next few nights as the weather looks similar all week. #VC55Moths #TeamMoth
Traps out last night for the first time in 10 days: 154/37 in fairly cool conditions. Brindled Green and a couple of Sallows provided some autumnal relief from all the brownness! #VC55Moths #TeamMoth
September 6, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Traps out last night for the first time in 10 days: 154/37 in fairly cool conditions. Brindled Green and a couple of Sallows provided some autumnal relief from all the brownness! #VC55Moths #TeamMoth
Crescent NFG last night, also Palpita vitrealis, 2 Dark Sword-grass and another Red Underwing, but otherwise all the usual suspects. 557/65. #VC55Moths #TeamMoth
August 26, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Crescent NFG last night, also Palpita vitrealis, 2 Dark Sword-grass and another Red Underwing, but otherwise all the usual suspects. 557/65. #VC55Moths #TeamMoth
Dewick's Plusia NFY was the highlight of a generally very 'brown' trap this morning. Still a favourite, although they're fairly regular here now in late summer/autumn. 69sp, haven't counted up numbers yet, but looks somewhere around 250. #VC55Moths #TeamMoth
August 23, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Dewick's Plusia NFY was the highlight of a generally very 'brown' trap this morning. Still a favourite, although they're fairly regular here now in late summer/autumn. 69sp, haven't counted up numbers yet, but looks somewhere around 250. #VC55Moths #TeamMoth
Reasonable numbers again last night (175/37) despite the temperature dropping to 9.2. And proving that my garden does occasionally get migrant moths, this Scarce Bordered Straw was NFG. #VC55Moths #TeamMoth
August 22, 2025 at 7:17 AM
Reasonable numbers again last night (175/37) despite the temperature dropping to 9.2. And proving that my garden does occasionally get migrant moths, this Scarce Bordered Straw was NFG. #VC55Moths #TeamMoth
227/35 was more than I thought I'd get considering how cold, windy and wet it was last night. No migrants as usual (I don't think this garden is well placed for them) but well worth doing for NFG Red Underwing and a Broad-barred White, which I've only had once or twice before. #VC55Moths #TeamMoth
August 20, 2025 at 8:02 AM
227/35 was more than I thought I'd get considering how cold, windy and wet it was last night. No migrants as usual (I don't think this garden is well placed for them) but well worth doing for NFG Red Underwing and a Broad-barred White, which I've only had once or twice before. #VC55Moths #TeamMoth
I've added some recent work to the Illustrations page of my website. Please have a look if you have a few moments. Thanks.
www.ajm-wildlife-art.co.uk/illustrations
#art #wildlifeart #birds #ukbirding
www.ajm-wildlife-art.co.uk/illustrations
#art #wildlifeart #birds #ukbirding
August 18, 2025 at 10:17 AM
I've added some recent work to the Illustrations page of my website. Please have a look if you have a few moments. Thanks.
www.ajm-wildlife-art.co.uk/illustrations
#art #wildlifeart #birds #ukbirding
www.ajm-wildlife-art.co.uk/illustrations
#art #wildlifeart #birds #ukbirding