Matthew Mellor
@mrm27.bsky.social
Fundraiser in Cambridge University, at Pembroke College; outside interests: birdwatching/twitching; cricket.
Stand-out bird today was the Hume's Leaf Warbler at Holme NOA, Norfolk, 16/11/25. Great views, in view most of the time, calling occasionally. Managed a video and some decent pics.
#birds 🪶🐦https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZbp4JioG74
#birds 🪶🐦https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZbp4JioG74
November 16, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Stand-out bird today was the Hume's Leaf Warbler at Holme NOA, Norfolk, 16/11/25. Great views, in view most of the time, calling occasionally. Managed a video and some decent pics.
#birds 🪶🐦https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZbp4JioG74
#birds 🪶🐦https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZbp4JioG74
Friend @jonnycaribou69.bsky.social and I caught up with this untickable but amazingly bold Boat-tailed Grackle at Holbury, Hampshire today, 15/11/25. Yes, I know I'm just adding to the zillions of pics but I want you to know that I saw it too #FOMO #birds 🪶🐦
November 16, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Friend @jonnycaribou69.bsky.social and I caught up with this untickable but amazingly bold Boat-tailed Grackle at Holbury, Hampshire today, 15/11/25. Yes, I know I'm just adding to the zillions of pics but I want you to know that I saw it too #FOMO #birds 🪶🐦
90 minutes at Ferry Meadows, Cambs, 9/11/25, gave @jonnycaribou69.bsky.social and me good views of YB Warbler, Whooper Swan and a very confident Great White Egret. Then to Titchwell RSPB for a good afternoon that brought us 79 species. #birds 🪶
November 10, 2025 at 12:32 AM
90 minutes at Ferry Meadows, Cambs, 9/11/25, gave @jonnycaribou69.bsky.social and me good views of YB Warbler, Whooper Swan and a very confident Great White Egret. Then to Titchwell RSPB for a good afternoon that brought us 79 species. #birds 🪶
decent views but no photos of the Dusky Warbler at Aylestone today, but the Lesser Scaup at Ditchford showed consistently well, while the American Golden Plover at Eyebrook finally gave itself up to @jonnycaribou69.bsky.social and me, hearing its distinctive call, 7/11/25. #birds 🪶
November 8, 2025 at 1:15 AM
decent views but no photos of the Dusky Warbler at Aylestone today, but the Lesser Scaup at Ditchford showed consistently well, while the American Golden Plover at Eyebrook finally gave itself up to @jonnycaribou69.bsky.social and me, hearing its distinctive call, 7/11/25. #birds 🪶
Views of the Pallas's Warbler at the Naze, Essex on 1/11/25 were predictably brief, though my circa 2 seconds of footage was turned into a series of smart stills by @darkus-markus.bsky.social (ta!). @birdguides.bsky.social #birds 🪶
November 4, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Views of the Pallas's Warbler at the Naze, Essex on 1/11/25 were predictably brief, though my circa 2 seconds of footage was turned into a series of smart stills by @darkus-markus.bsky.social (ta!). @birdguides.bsky.social #birds 🪶
Back to Suffolk for another look at the Brown Shrike, this time with @jonnycaribou69.bsky.social . Not the loveliest habitat (rusty barbed wire) behind a chicken-wire fence, but the bird showed well even in the wind and rain. #birds 🪶
October 31, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Back to Suffolk for another look at the Brown Shrike, this time with @jonnycaribou69.bsky.social . Not the loveliest habitat (rusty barbed wire) behind a chicken-wire fence, but the bird showed well even in the wind and rain. #birds 🪶
Two great American waders in a day; the Pectoral Sandpiper at Hollowell took three goes to get, but when I eventually saw it, it was stupidly close! #birds 🪶 The White-rumped Sandpiper was much more distant at Blithfield Reservoir, Staffordshire.
October 26, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Two great American waders in a day; the Pectoral Sandpiper at Hollowell took three goes to get, but when I eventually saw it, it was stupidly close! #birds 🪶 The White-rumped Sandpiper was much more distant at Blithfield Reservoir, Staffordshire.
A few hours' birding spread over a couple of days brought audio Dusky Warbler, two YB Warbler (Norfolk), a typically confiding Snow Bunting (Leics) and a lovely, active Jack Snipe (Northants), 18-19/10/25 @jonnycaribou69.bsky.social
#birds 🪶
#birds 🪶
October 19, 2025 at 11:14 PM
A few hours' birding spread over a couple of days brought audio Dusky Warbler, two YB Warbler (Norfolk), a typically confiding Snow Bunting (Leics) and a lovely, active Jack Snipe (Northants), 18-19/10/25 @jonnycaribou69.bsky.social
#birds 🪶
#birds 🪶
So I didn't get to try for the WT Needletail, but a late pm dash for my best (only good) views of a rare-for-the-UK Baird's Sandpiper paid off. My favourite moments are those when the bird is at ease, I sit still and just enjoy it coming towards me, nonchalantly. @jonnycaribou69.bsky.social #birds 🪶
October 9, 2025 at 10:22 PM
So I didn't get to try for the WT Needletail, but a late pm dash for my best (only good) views of a rare-for-the-UK Baird's Sandpiper paid off. My favourite moments are those when the bird is at ease, I sit still and just enjoy it coming towards me, nonchalantly. @jonnycaribou69.bsky.social #birds 🪶
Back to East Anglia for great views of the Turkestan Shrike at Dunwich then Greater Short-toed Lark at Snettisham, Norfolk, 5/10/25. White-tailed Eagle and Yellow-browed Warbler also great to see. #birds 🪶
October 5, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Back to East Anglia for great views of the Turkestan Shrike at Dunwich then Greater Short-toed Lark at Snettisham, Norfolk, 5/10/25. White-tailed Eagle and Yellow-browed Warbler also great to see. #birds 🪶
A decent, if not earth-shattering start to October 2025: Red-tailed Shrike (mega rare) at Dunwich Heath and American Golden Plover (scarce), Pitsford Reservoir, Northamptonshire. #birds 🪶photos taken in less than ideal conditions
October 4, 2025 at 6:05 PM
A decent, if not earth-shattering start to October 2025: Red-tailed Shrike (mega rare) at Dunwich Heath and American Golden Plover (scarce), Pitsford Reservoir, Northamptonshire. #birds 🪶photos taken in less than ideal conditions
After a couple of abortive attempts, it was great to see the Lesser Yellowlegs at Etton-Maxey Pits, Cambs, making it a "Cambs tick" on 18/9/25. #birds 🪶Had only about 25 minutes with this before it flew off SE, calling in a very similar way to a Greenshank.
September 18, 2025 at 9:23 PM
After a couple of abortive attempts, it was great to see the Lesser Yellowlegs at Etton-Maxey Pits, Cambs, making it a "Cambs tick" on 18/9/25. #birds 🪶Had only about 25 minutes with this before it flew off SE, calling in a very similar way to a Greenshank.
Reposted by Matthew Mellor
great day in East Anglia today with four year ticks and what great birds! Curlew Sandpipers, Hoopoe, Wryneck and Red-necked Phalarope. #birds 🪶
September 13, 2025 at 11:18 PM
great day in East Anglia today with four year ticks and what great birds! Curlew Sandpipers, Hoopoe, Wryneck and Red-necked Phalarope. #birds 🪶
Just back from France - great holiday and some brilliant bonus #birds 🪶! Citril Finch I've already mentioned, but the Lammergeier took some beating, as did the Wrynecks; Col des Tentes = fabulous! Video trip report: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h0y...
France birds (mostly Pyrénées), August 2025.
YouTube video by Matthew Mellor
www.youtube.com
August 31, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Just back from France - great holiday and some brilliant bonus #birds 🪶! Citril Finch I've already mentioned, but the Lammergeier took some beating, as did the Wrynecks; Col des Tentes = fabulous! Video trip report: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h0y...
Currently in the French Pyrénées - three great French "ticks": Wryneck (I've now found 3), Citril Finch - most-wanted!!! and Egyptian Vulture (meh...). #birds 🪶 The Col des Tentes was one of the best places I've been for birding in France.
August 23, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Currently in the French Pyrénées - three great French "ticks": Wryneck (I've now found 3), Citril Finch - most-wanted!!! and Egyptian Vulture (meh...). #birds 🪶 The Col des Tentes was one of the best places I've been for birding in France.
a long but easy walk at Boyton Marshes RSPB, 9/8/25, culminated in brilliant views www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RO3... of the long-staying Black Stork - glad to have joined the party! #birds 🪶
Black Stork, Boyton Marshes RSPB, Suffolk, 9/8/25
YouTube video by Matthew Mellor
www.youtube.com
August 10, 2025 at 8:44 AM
a long but easy walk at Boyton Marshes RSPB, 9/8/25, culminated in brilliant views www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RO3... of the long-staying Black Stork - glad to have joined the party! #birds 🪶
a late evening twitch to March Farmers RSPB, @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social , failed to produce the hoped-for views of Purple Heron, but this Bittern was a great consolation, 7/8/25. #birds 🪶
August 10, 2025 at 8:41 AM
a late evening twitch to March Farmers RSPB, @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social , failed to produce the hoped-for views of Purple Heron, but this Bittern was a great consolation, 7/8/25. #birds 🪶
2/8/25 #birds 🪶 This Pectoral Sandpiper at Freiston Shore (great reserve!) @rspb.bsky.social rewarded the longer walk round to get a closer look. Nice to find it after about 20 minutes' scanning. Other goodies included Ruff, Whimbrel. @jonnycaribou69.bsky.social @rspbframptonmarsh.bsky.social
August 2, 2025 at 10:22 PM
2/8/25 #birds 🪶 This Pectoral Sandpiper at Freiston Shore (great reserve!) @rspb.bsky.social rewarded the longer walk round to get a closer look. Nice to find it after about 20 minutes' scanning. Other goodies included Ruff, Whimbrel. @jonnycaribou69.bsky.social @rspbframptonmarsh.bsky.social