Mark Lopez
@mardenmark.bsky.social
After all the Kent action yesterday, today felt a bit 'after the lord mayor's show'. However I did enjoy the very showy Dusky found by the Andys yesterday, followed by distant views of the Pallid Swift. A mooch around Margate Cemetery produced 1 YBW and 3 Bramblings with the Chaffs #kentbirding
November 9, 2025 at 6:42 PM
After all the Kent action yesterday, today felt a bit 'after the lord mayor's show'. However I did enjoy the very showy Dusky found by the Andys yesterday, followed by distant views of the Pallid Swift. A mooch around Margate Cemetery produced 1 YBW and 3 Bramblings with the Chaffs #kentbirding
After failing to find my own YBW in Tivoli Park in Margate, I was at least only 3 mins away from a newly found Red-flanked Bluetail. Unfortunately, it was never seen again after the initial sighting, altho 2 YBWs were present. The Pallas's in Ramsgate was more obliging #kentbirding #ukbirding
October 18, 2025 at 7:12 PM
After failing to find my own YBW in Tivoli Park in Margate, I was at least only 3 mins away from a newly found Red-flanked Bluetail. Unfortunately, it was never seen again after the initial sighting, altho 2 YBWs were present. The Pallas's in Ramsgate was more obliging #kentbirding #ukbirding
Finally a good Autumn morning on the patch today, with Woodlark over calling, numerous Redpoll and Redwing (both first of the Autumn) and a female Wigeon (scarce on the patch). The unusual LBBG (3CY?) reappeared after a two week absence; could it have some Herring in it? #kentbirding #ukbirding
October 9, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Finally a good Autumn morning on the patch today, with Woodlark over calling, numerous Redpoll and Redwing (both first of the Autumn) and a female Wigeon (scarce on the patch). The unusual LBBG (3CY?) reappeared after a two week absence; could it have some Herring in it? #kentbirding #ukbirding
Still not much evidence of Autumn movement locally here in Marden, with the exception of flocks of Siskins starting to appear in the last week along with Mipits starting to increase #kentbirding #ukbirding
September 25, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Still not much evidence of Autumn movement locally here in Marden, with the exception of flocks of Siskins starting to appear in the last week along with Mipits starting to increase #kentbirding #ukbirding
23/9: I was tempted to go & see the AGP at Jury's Gap even though it was the wrong side of the border, but when a BB Sand turned up it tipped the scales. Had good if distant scope views of the Sandpiper; after scanning for ages for the AGP it finally flew in with 5 Europeans. Not quite #kentbirding
September 25, 2025 at 10:56 AM
23/9: I was tempted to go & see the AGP at Jury's Gap even though it was the wrong side of the border, but when a BB Sand turned up it tipped the scales. Had good if distant scope views of the Sandpiper; after scanning for ages for the AGP it finally flew in with 5 Europeans. Not quite #kentbirding
Work & family life has been busy recently restricting local birding. But it's been quiet even when out, just 1 each of Wheatear, Common Redstart & Whinchat locally this Autumn; I'd normally expect multiples across the various local sites. A few highlights from last 3 weeks: #kentbirding #ukbirding
September 8, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Work & family life has been busy recently restricting local birding. But it's been quiet even when out, just 1 each of Wheatear, Common Redstart & Whinchat locally this Autumn; I'd normally expect multiples across the various local sites. A few highlights from last 3 weeks: #kentbirding #ukbirding
The patch has been busy the last couple of weeks with lots of warblers and the odd Greenshank dropping in, but nothing outstanding or too unusual. The highlight this morning was this distant Osprey, picked up by @alpavey.bsky.social which came through and drifted off north #kentbirding #ukbirding
August 19, 2025 at 5:24 PM
The patch has been busy the last couple of weeks with lots of warblers and the odd Greenshank dropping in, but nothing outstanding or too unusual. The highlight this morning was this distant Osprey, picked up by @alpavey.bsky.social which came through and drifted off north #kentbirding #ukbirding
We don't get many Dippers in Kent (and I still need it as a Kent tick!) so it was nice to get such good views of an adult and a juv along the River Frome in Stroud, Gloucs, earlier this week #ukbirding
July 26, 2025 at 2:39 PM
We don't get many Dippers in Kent (and I still need it as a Kent tick!) so it was nice to get such good views of an adult and a juv along the River Frome in Stroud, Gloucs, earlier this week #ukbirding
‘Mediterranean’ Spotted Flycatcher, now re-lumped following the introduction of AviList, are arguably the most numerous passerine. Absolutely everywhere
July 16, 2025 at 9:13 AM
‘Mediterranean’ Spotted Flycatcher, now re-lumped following the introduction of AviList, are arguably the most numerous passerine. Absolutely everywhere
Audouin’s Gulls act like Herrings and BHs back home, stealing chips from holidaymakers…
July 16, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Audouin’s Gulls act like Herrings and BHs back home, stealing chips from holidaymakers…
Finally, a few of the other species encountered on Fuerteventura
May 21, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Finally, a few of the other species encountered on Fuerteventura
18/05 After the Chat, my most wanted birds on Fuerteventura were African Houbara and Red-billed Tropicbird, both of which had performed exceptionally by 9am, leaving me the rest of the day to reacquaint myself with some of the other desert species
May 21, 2025 at 7:03 PM
18/05 After the Chat, my most wanted birds on Fuerteventura were African Houbara and Red-billed Tropicbird, both of which had performed exceptionally by 9am, leaving me the rest of the day to reacquaint myself with some of the other desert species
17/05 I had a little daylight left on Fuerteventura so took the time to catch up with the number one target, Fuerteventura Chat, at the Barranco de Rio Cabras, several of which performed exceptionally well
May 21, 2025 at 6:47 PM
17/05 I had a little daylight left on Fuerteventura so took the time to catch up with the number one target, Fuerteventura Chat, at the Barranco de Rio Cabras, several of which performed exceptionally well
I took the slow ferry from Las Palmas, GC, to Puerto del Rosario, Fuerteventura, with the hope of seeing some seabirds. My hopes were exceeded with 1 White-faced Storm-petrel, 3 Barolo's Shearwaters, 21 Bulwer's Petrels plus the more expected 100s of Cory's Shearwaters
May 21, 2025 at 6:43 PM
I took the slow ferry from Las Palmas, GC, to Puerto del Rosario, Fuerteventura, with the hope of seeing some seabirds. My hopes were exceeded with 1 White-faced Storm-petrel, 3 Barolo's Shearwaters, 21 Bulwer's Petrels plus the more expected 100s of Cory's Shearwaters
17/05 With a few hours to kill before catching a ferry to Fuerteventura, I split time between Los Tilos laurel forest and Charcas de San Lorenzo to catch up with the remaining GC endemic subspecies, namely Canary Islands Chaffinch and Robin, and to try for the western Canaries form of Stone-curlew
May 21, 2025 at 3:30 PM
17/05 With a few hours to kill before catching a ferry to Fuerteventura, I split time between Los Tilos laurel forest and Charcas de San Lorenzo to catch up with the remaining GC endemic subspecies, namely Canary Islands Chaffinch and Robin, and to try for the western Canaries form of Stone-curlew
I spent a long weekend on Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura, with the aim of catching up with a handful of omissions from my lifelist - it was a very successful few days. Arriving on 16/05 on Gran Canaria I headed inland for GC Blue Chaffinch, where 6 birds were in good voice (but less easily seen!)
May 21, 2025 at 2:28 PM
I spent a long weekend on Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura, with the aim of catching up with a handful of omissions from my lifelist - it was a very successful few days. Arriving on 16/05 on Gran Canaria I headed inland for GC Blue Chaffinch, where 6 birds were in good voice (but less easily seen!)
A distant Osprey over the adjacent fish farm was the highlight this morning, followed by 3 roosting Greenshank. 2 LRPs, 2 Lapwings and a Common Sand made for a good wader morning for the patch. Good numbers of Swifts too with 30+
May 7, 2025 at 8:32 AM
A distant Osprey over the adjacent fish farm was the highlight this morning, followed by 3 roosting Greenshank. 2 LRPs, 2 Lapwings and a Common Sand made for a good wader morning for the patch. Good numbers of Swifts too with 30+
After much searching of local farmland the last week or so, finally a nice dapper male Wheatear to show for the effort. A singing Garden Warbler on the patch first thing was also well received #kentbirding
April 18, 2025 at 7:18 PM
After much searching of local farmland the last week or so, finally a nice dapper male Wheatear to show for the effort. A singing Garden Warbler on the patch first thing was also well received #kentbirding
Turtle Dove on the outskirts of Marden this morning. Think it is the first record of one in Kent this year - we are lucky to still have a decent population in the farmlands around Marden. Also consistent with my recent series of terrible photos #kentbirding
April 15, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Turtle Dove on the outskirts of Marden this morning. Think it is the first record of one in Kent this year - we are lucky to still have a decent population in the farmlands around Marden. Also consistent with my recent series of terrible photos #kentbirding
Although it's annual on the patch with 1-2 records a year, its always nice when a Whimbrel drops in. @alpavey.bsky.social found this bird yesterday morning; one of 52 species recorded in just over an hour #kentbirding
April 15, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Although it's annual on the patch with 1-2 records a year, its always nice when a Whimbrel drops in. @alpavey.bsky.social found this bird yesterday morning; one of 52 species recorded in just over an hour #kentbirding
After last night's exciting eagle dash, back to patchworking this morning. Lot's of warbler activity once the sun burned the mist off, with a migrant Sedge (first of the year) the highlight. A Willow, several Reeds, Blackcaps and a Whitethroat were also vocal #kentbirding
April 11, 2025 at 10:08 AM
After last night's exciting eagle dash, back to patchworking this morning. Lot's of warbler activity once the sun burned the mist off, with a migrant Sedge (first of the year) the highlight. A Willow, several Reeds, Blackcaps and a Whitethroat were also vocal #kentbirding
The downside of having a series of fishing lakes as your patch - the number of irresponsible fishermen that discard fishing line inappropriately. Seeing this Tawny Owl hanging from a branch tangled in wire today was tough. Managed to get it down & to Follys but its prospects aren't good #kentbirding
April 9, 2025 at 4:57 PM
The downside of having a series of fishing lakes as your patch - the number of irresponsible fishermen that discard fishing line inappropriately. Seeing this Tawny Owl hanging from a branch tangled in wire today was tough. Managed to get it down & to Follys but its prospects aren't good #kentbirding
Hirundines felt a bit slow to move through the patch, with a Swallow on 29/03 then nothing til the floodgates seemed to open on 04/04 with initially 3 Sand Martins, then flocks of a dozen or so moving through at intervals the last couple of days, with the odd Swallow and House Martin #kentbirding
April 7, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Hirundines felt a bit slow to move through the patch, with a Swallow on 29/03 then nothing til the floodgates seemed to open on 04/04 with initially 3 Sand Martins, then flocks of a dozen or so moving through at intervals the last couple of days, with the odd Swallow and House Martin #kentbirding
A pair of LRPs appeared on the patch last week, just making the yearlist in March. First Reed Warbler of the year today, a week earlier than the last two years. 3 likely Woodlark high and distant going east, but I've never seen them moving in a group before? The first chicks now on show #kentbirding
April 7, 2025 at 9:13 AM
A pair of LRPs appeared on the patch last week, just making the yearlist in March. First Reed Warbler of the year today, a week earlier than the last two years. 3 likely Woodlark high and distant going east, but I've never seen them moving in a group before? The first chicks now on show #kentbirding
After a very quiet couple of weeks on the patch we had a double wader whammy this morning, first @alpavey.bsky.social finding a Redshank (5th patch record) before I stumbled across this lovely Avocet, only the 3rd patch record. Finished off with drake Gadwall and a Barnacle #kentbirding
March 10, 2025 at 11:09 AM
After a very quiet couple of weeks on the patch we had a double wader whammy this morning, first @alpavey.bsky.social finding a Redshank (5th patch record) before I stumbled across this lovely Avocet, only the 3rd patch record. Finished off with drake Gadwall and a Barnacle #kentbirding