Matt Hobbs
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migrationmatt.bsky.social
Matt Hobbs
@migrationmatt.bsky.social
Wild things
Thanks Julian. The top 5 UK counts on Trektellen of woodpigeon are all from Gwent as you can see here - www.trektellen.org/species/reco...
I think movements of this size are prob. annual. I'm confident that this is the best migration bottleneck for this species in the UK + one of the best in Europe
November 10, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Penduline tit at Aust Warth this morning. A great bird to see on a Monday morning in an hour before work. First Severnside record I believe !! #UKBirding #birds
November 10, 2025 at 12:33 PM
A feature of my week on Scilly was the 'fall' of jack snipe after 14th. My totals included 8 at Porthellick, and 7 at Lower Moors at dusk when they fly in to feed, and then become much more active. I've not managed good photos before so this one more than made my day #Scillybird #UKbirding #birds
November 9, 2025 at 8:50 PM
17th October we went to Bryher (wryneck, ring ouzel) and then around St. Mary's (lapland bunting). The bird of the day was black redstart with a total of 34 across both islands 🤯 I didn't get close to any of the males so these photos of a female/imm will have to do 😉 #UKbirding #Scillybirds #birds
November 9, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Belatedly back to Scilly again - 16 October we went to St. Martin's and had a lovely day's birding with plenty of migrants, the best of which were two red-breasted flycatchers both very showy and an absolute treat 😍 #UKBirding #Scillybirds @matthall95.bsky.social @oscardewhurst.bsky.social
November 9, 2025 at 7:27 PM
So pigeon day came around again in Gwent with mine (+ the UK @trektellen.bsky.social 2nd ever highest count of 242,160 woodpigeons from Goldcliff - usual watchpoint fogged in. Most moving in huge streams up to 15k strong S/SW over the Severn east of me #UKBirding #Vismig @birdguides.bsky.social
November 8, 2025 at 4:18 PM
and the yellowlegs, at Truro 3 of 3
November 1, 2025 at 2:00 PM
and the duck, at Helston 2 of 3
November 1, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Just back from a family+friends trip to Newquay, Cornwall. Managed a morning of rampant twitching on 30th seeing steppe grey shrike, ring-necked duck and lesser yellowlegs. Here's the shrike at Gunwalloe on the Lizard @cbwps.org.uk #ukbirding 1 of 3
November 1, 2025 at 2:00 PM
As we left Carn Friars, St. Mary's on 15th @matthall95.bsky.social @oscardewhurst.bsky.social and I heard a prob. Radde's warbler calling unseen for 10 min from a hedge bank. We got recordings (sorry can't upload!) + it wasn't seen/heard again. Very cool + frustrating! #ukbirding #birds #ScillyBirds
November 1, 2025 at 1:53 PM
15th October on St. Mary's, Scilly was pretty much more of the same - ring ouzel, black reds, firecrests, jack snipe and great views of wryneck at Carn Friars in the afternoon after a tour around the island #ukbirding #birds #ScillyBirds
November 1, 2025 at 1:37 PM
The afternoon of 14th we looped around the west of St. Mary's and through the centre via Content, Holy Vale, Porthellick etc. Plenty of migrants around - 2 YBW, brambling, 5 black redstart, 7 jack snipe, 5 firecrest but no luck with the greenish seen by @scottinscilly.bsky.social #ukbirding #birds
October 26, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Scilly day 4 was really nice with the expected thrush arrival right on cue. Headed to the Garrison first with lots of redwings/fieldfare moving through/dropping in and 4+ ring ouzels showing well and calling. Also 2 spot fly, lots of chiffs/blackcap, redstart, and black redstart #ukbirding #birds
October 26, 2025 at 6:28 PM
My first try at the woodpigeon superhighway this autumn (Portskewett, Gwent) led to a pretty decent count of 119,800 in good conditions (NW2, 8C) but with too much cloud and still quite early in the season. #ukbirding #birds #vismig www.trektellen.org/count/view/1...
October 25, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Day 3 on Scillies (13th) was quiet and mostly spent on Tresco with black redstart, firecrest, cattle egret, white wagtail, YBW and also this interesting yellow-legged gull which may be of Atlantic origin (cantabricans is suggested) at Penninis #ukbirding #birds
October 25, 2025 at 2:17 PM
2nd day on Scilly (12th) w/ @matthall95.bsky.social @oscardewhurst.bsky.social @aravindsrinivas.bsky.social was quieter than the 'day of mourning' on Aggie, and around St. Mary's - highlights inc. rosefinch, rosy starling, spotted fly and a very cool leucistic pied wagtail #UKbirding #ScillyBirds
October 24, 2025 at 6:10 PM
The final quality bird of our first remarkable day on Scilly was a lovely confiding (of course) lapland bunting on Wingletang #UKbirding #Scillybirds
October 22, 2025 at 8:46 PM
So mourning dove, hoopoe, American pipit down we had to walk another 200 m to see the next Yankee prize, a juv. spotted sandpiper. Birding is not supposed to be this easy and delirium began to set in 🫠#UKbirding #ScillyBirds
October 22, 2025 at 8:44 PM
After the mourning dove and hoopoe onto the American pipit at the end of Barnaby Lane, St. Agnes. This took a bit longer but then just walked closer and closer for more frame-filling views - amazing 😁 #UKbirding #ScillyBirds
October 22, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Next stop Periglis beach where I unwittingly stepped on to the path just above the hoopoe. It didn't seem to mind at all and I had to step back to photograph it !! #UKbirding #ScillyBirds
October 22, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Back from a week on Scilly 11-18th October with @matthall95.bsky.social @oscardewhurst.bsky.social @aravindramesh19.bsky.social. The first afternoon was a twitcher's dream on St. Agnes. Off the boat and to the nearest chicken coop for the 1st English record of mourning dove 😂 #UKbirding #ScillyBirds
October 22, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Tremendous seawatch at Pendeen today 0630-1315 with huge seas in a strong westerly. Just fantastic #Cornwall

12 Sabine's
37 grey phalarope
89 sooty
69 great shear
41 Cory's
69 balearic
ca. 17000 Manx
1 Leach's
28 Euro storm
6 black tern
26 arctic tern
18 bonxie
19 arctic skua
September 15, 2025 at 6:59 PM
My first post on Bluesky ! A real Father's Day treat - male desert wheatear at Keynsham #Bristol Such a crazy record and a quite stunning delight.
June 15, 2025 at 7:59 PM