Mark Gash
@markg76.bsky.social
Consultant Ecologist, Ornithologist and Bird Ringer from Derbyshire, UK. Occasional photographer, when not working, ringing, birding or taking my very needy Pointer for a walk.
Reposted by Mark Gash
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
Reposted by Mark Gash
Grisly recording reveals bat catching, killing and eating robin mid-flight
Grisly recording reveals bat catching, killing and eating robin mid-flight
Before the Spanish study, some scientists had been sceptical about the mammals attacking migratory birds
www.theguardian.com
October 9, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Grisly recording reveals bat catching, killing and eating robin mid-flight
Reposted by Mark Gash
Our first #YellowbrowedWarbler of the autumn was caught&ringed under licence this morning. Only our fourth ever September record but our second earliest … hopefully more to come #birdringing
September 26, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Our first #YellowbrowedWarbler of the autumn was caught&ringed under licence this morning. Only our fourth ever September record but our second earliest … hopefully more to come #birdringing
Reposted by Mark Gash
👀 Want to see conservation in action?
Join us for updates on bird ringing across the West Midlands, from robins to warblers.
Follow, share & spread the word, together, we can give nature a voice! 🕊️ #BirdsOfBritain #CitizenScience
Join us for updates on bird ringing across the West Midlands, from robins to warblers.
Follow, share & spread the word, together, we can give nature a voice! 🕊️ #BirdsOfBritain #CitizenScience
September 27, 2025 at 5:30 PM
👀 Want to see conservation in action?
Join us for updates on bird ringing across the West Midlands, from robins to warblers.
Follow, share & spread the word, together, we can give nature a voice! 🕊️ #BirdsOfBritain #CitizenScience
Join us for updates on bird ringing across the West Midlands, from robins to warblers.
Follow, share & spread the word, together, we can give nature a voice! 🕊️ #BirdsOfBritain #CitizenScience
Reposted by Mark Gash
Snowy on a toothpick.
(From the last big Washington irruption in 2011.)
(From the last big Washington irruption in 2011.)
September 27, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Snowy on a toothpick.
(From the last big Washington irruption in 2011.)
(From the last big Washington irruption in 2011.)
An interesting Whitethroat caught this morning in suspended wing moult. Retained primary coverts on both sides, one retained primary on the right wing only and retained secondaries on both. Was very heavy too! #migration #birds #ringing
September 27, 2025 at 8:07 PM
An interesting Whitethroat caught this morning in suspended wing moult. Retained primary coverts on both sides, one retained primary on the right wing only and retained secondaries on both. Was very heavy too! #migration #birds #ringing
Reposted by Mark Gash
Just watched a Peregrine chase a flock of Pink-footed Geese and then take one down! Seem to to remember reading about previous records of hunting geese (Barnacle?) in the Derek Ratcliffe book but never witnessed it! 🤯
September 25, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Just watched a Peregrine chase a flock of Pink-footed Geese and then take one down! Seem to to remember reading about previous records of hunting geese (Barnacle?) in the Derek Ratcliffe book but never witnessed it! 🤯
Reposted by Mark Gash
Another Rock Pipit colour ringed today and one of breeding birds (CAI) watching me watching it.
September 24, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Another Rock Pipit colour ringed today and one of breeding birds (CAI) watching me watching it.
A few decades of #ornithology under my belt but everyday is a school day - never knew you had to plug them in!
May 26, 2025 at 3:39 PM
A few decades of #ornithology under my belt but everyday is a school day - never knew you had to plug them in!
Another quality interpretation board! Spot the (deliberate?) mistake!
May 26, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Another quality interpretation board! Spot the (deliberate?) mistake!
Super chuffed to get this book through the post today - looks very good and one of the pics ain’t bad!! #birds #birding #photography
May 22, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Super chuffed to get this book through the post today - looks very good and one of the pics ain’t bad!! #birds #birding #photography
Reposted by Mark Gash
Definitely Bluethroat week this week @ottenby
May 12, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Definitely Bluethroat week this week @ottenby
@derbyshirebirds.bsky.social just been told by a colleague they had a White Stork over the A38 Mickleover / Derby Hospital Area at around 1220.
April 30, 2025 at 11:27 AM
@derbyshirebirds.bsky.social just been told by a colleague they had a White Stork over the A38 Mickleover / Derby Hospital Area at around 1220.
First Common Swift of the year, over the garden. Earliest ever. Not had one in April before #birds #birding #officiallysummer
April 28, 2025 at 4:08 PM
First Common Swift of the year, over the garden. Earliest ever. Not had one in April before #birds #birding #officiallysummer
Reposted by Mark Gash
What a day we had this week among the flow of #migratory soaring #Birds
In just a few hours of obs we logged 1,481 Black Kites, 324 Booted Eagles, 126 Short-toed #Eagles with Egyptian #Vultures, Eurasian #Sparrowhawks, Marsh and Montagu´s #Harriers and Ospreys all joining the migratory party.
In just a few hours of obs we logged 1,481 Black Kites, 324 Booted Eagles, 126 Short-toed #Eagles with Egyptian #Vultures, Eurasian #Sparrowhawks, Marsh and Montagu´s #Harriers and Ospreys all joining the migratory party.
April 16, 2025 at 1:34 PM
What a day we had this week among the flow of #migratory soaring #Birds
In just a few hours of obs we logged 1,481 Black Kites, 324 Booted Eagles, 126 Short-toed #Eagles with Egyptian #Vultures, Eurasian #Sparrowhawks, Marsh and Montagu´s #Harriers and Ospreys all joining the migratory party.
In just a few hours of obs we logged 1,481 Black Kites, 324 Booted Eagles, 126 Short-toed #Eagles with Egyptian #Vultures, Eurasian #Sparrowhawks, Marsh and Montagu´s #Harriers and Ospreys all joining the migratory party.
Reposted by Mark Gash
This Little Ringed Plover was doing some funky moves while courting a potential mate - looks like it ought to be called "Long-necked Plover," doesn't it?
#birds #waders #shorebirds #seabirds #nature #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdphotography
#birds #waders #shorebirds #seabirds #nature #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdphotography
April 11, 2025 at 7:11 PM
This Little Ringed Plover was doing some funky moves while courting a potential mate - looks like it ought to be called "Long-necked Plover," doesn't it?
#birds #waders #shorebirds #seabirds #nature #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdphotography
#birds #waders #shorebirds #seabirds #nature #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birdphotography
A productive team meeting chez moi this morning - a 5 raptor morning: Red Kite, Buzzard, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk and Goshawk (garden tick!), some work was completed!
April 11, 2025 at 1:40 PM
A productive team meeting chez moi this morning - a 5 raptor morning: Red Kite, Buzzard, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk and Goshawk (garden tick!), some work was completed!
Reposted by Mark Gash
A fascinating feeding strategy/observation yesterday. This male LSW was systematically removing Wood Ants from the top of an Oak tree in order to get to the aphids they were presumably protecting. Bsky video rendering doesn’t quite do it justice. @lesserspotnet.bsky.social #digiscope #birdsuk
April 6, 2025 at 4:22 AM
A fascinating feeding strategy/observation yesterday. This male LSW was systematically removing Wood Ants from the top of an Oak tree in order to get to the aphids they were presumably protecting. Bsky video rendering doesn’t quite do it justice. @lesserspotnet.bsky.social #digiscope #birdsuk
Reposted by Mark Gash
April 4, 2025 at 2:49 PM
@derbyshirebirds.bsky.social single little gull still present at Willington GPs. Seen from P2 1445
April 4, 2025 at 1:50 PM
@derbyshirebirds.bsky.social single little gull still present at Willington GPs. Seen from P2 1445
Planned post work visit to Willington GPs and jammed in to ad sum plum Little Gull @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social would have stopped for the Lamprey but somebody decided to ‘wash’ their dogs in the stream!
April 2, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Planned post work visit to Willington GPs and jammed in to ad sum plum Little Gull @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social would have stopped for the Lamprey but somebody decided to ‘wash’ their dogs in the stream!
Reposted by Mark Gash
Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis gentilis), Derbyshire, UK, 29/03/2025. These large and impressive hawks are quite secretive throughout most of the year. However, in early spring pairs perform a 'sky-dance' display and are easier to see #ukbirding #birding #birds @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social
March 29, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis gentilis), Derbyshire, UK, 29/03/2025. These large and impressive hawks are quite secretive throughout most of the year. However, in early spring pairs perform a 'sky-dance' display and are easier to see #ukbirding #birding #birds @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social
Reposted by Mark Gash
Calling all aspirational nature writers!
Like birdlore?
Fancy learning some tricks of the trade from an award winning writer?
Then follow @goldengrenadesco.bsky.social for an announcement very soon!
Like birdlore?
Fancy learning some tricks of the trade from an award winning writer?
Then follow @goldengrenadesco.bsky.social for an announcement very soon!
March 8, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Calling all aspirational nature writers!
Like birdlore?
Fancy learning some tricks of the trade from an award winning writer?
Then follow @goldengrenadesco.bsky.social for an announcement very soon!
Like birdlore?
Fancy learning some tricks of the trade from an award winning writer?
Then follow @goldengrenadesco.bsky.social for an announcement very soon!
Reposted by Mark Gash
A lovely spring morning and a brief visit to Pilning Wetland produced the 1st Little Ringed Plover of the year, a Black-tailed Godwit, a few displaying Lapwings and Snipe making the most of the warm sunshine.
March 9, 2025 at 11:45 AM
A lovely spring morning and a brief visit to Pilning Wetland produced the 1st Little Ringed Plover of the year, a Black-tailed Godwit, a few displaying Lapwings and Snipe making the most of the warm sunshine.
Reposted by Mark Gash
Mediterranean Gulls displaying in the sun at West Hayling this week. @rspbengland.bsky.social are just finishing the restoration of the lagoon islands here as part of LIFE on the edge & the Solent Seascape ambition to see seabird sites across the Solent thriving. More to come. #SuperSeabirdSunday
March 9, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Mediterranean Gulls displaying in the sun at West Hayling this week. @rspbengland.bsky.social are just finishing the restoration of the lagoon islands here as part of LIFE on the edge & the Solent Seascape ambition to see seabird sites across the Solent thriving. More to come. #SuperSeabirdSunday