Murray Orchard
LightNews LightNews
banner
murrayorchard.bsky.social
Murray Orchard
@murrayorchard.bsky.social
100 followers 84 following 49 posts
Retired Man of Kent living in Herts. Bird both counties but mostly N. Kent, Hoo Peninsula. Avid BTO surveyor, on KOS & HBC Committees. Love real ale & pubs!
Posts Replies Media Videos
murrayorchard.bsky.social
Bribery!😉
My contribution for Seabird Sunday.
Sandwich Terns in the Medway (Kent) earlier this year.
Pic by Bob Knight.
#SuperSeabirdSunday
@smp-seabirds.bsky.social
August 24, 2025 at 9:44 AM
murrayorchard.bsky.social
Very enjoyable Naturalists Picnic Lunch at Upper Mystole Park Farm, hosted by Keith & Jenny Dugmore. Nice to say hello to long time birding colleagues and have tour of new wetland habitats.
A drive through Denge Woods afterwards produced a flock of 14 Crossbills.
@kentwildlife.bsky.social
As part of nutrient neutrality mitigation, new wetland habitat has been created at Upper Mystole Park Farm by KWT. An unusual location on high chalk downland but offers great potential for wildlife in an otherwise dry landscape. Upper Mystole Park Farm was a former fruit farm growing apples. Many trees remain but wilding habitat and scrub have attracted Nightingale and Turtle Dove…..the presence of water may make the area more attractive for these species. In nearby Denge Woods I found a roadside flock of 14 Crossbills. The birds flew up from middle of young Sweet Chestnut coppice….which seemed odd. An investigation revealed why the birds were flying down into the young coppice……a tiny pool of rainwater in tractor tracks. Surprising what water in a dry landscape can attract…….
August 5, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Reposted by Murray Orchard
alexanderlees.bsky.social
The current position of Natural England is that (re)introduction of White Storks should not be supported. Evidence for their historical presence here is sketchy and it is difficult to rule out historical remains as not pertaining to regular vagrancy. Cultural evidence is weak at best #UKbirding 1/2
August 5, 2025 at 9:40 AM
murrayorchard.bsky.social
Enjoyable visit to Dover White Cliffs on Thurs despite the sea fret. A few nice flowers, a Chalk Hill Blue, pair of Stonechats, then the superb path down to the beach. A Black Redstart & Rock Pipits on the cliffs on way down. Ended with Raven flying over into the mist.
@whitecliffsdover.bsky.social
A lovely view of South Foreland Cliffs looking east. A moment of clarity between banks of sea mist which made for foggy conditions at times. A splendid male Stonechat in the clifftop scrubby vegetation. Much agitated calling from the male and female, so likely nest or young nearby. The long zigzag path down the cliffs eventually passes through a tunnel, which was dug in 2019 by NT volunteers to help improve access to the beach below. The final steps down to the grey-pebble beach.
July 20, 2025 at 12:26 AM
murrayorchard.bsky.social
Donald Trump wants to open the spectacular deep Pacific Ocean to drilling and mining. It's a global emergency: resistors in the government say we need to flood the public comment process before it’s too late! action.eko.org/a/trump-atta...
Stop Trump's attack on our oceans!
Donald Trump just announced he’s going to open the Pacific Ocean to deep sea mining!That means his friends will get permits to vacuum up the ocean floor, destroy irreplaceable marine life, and make bi
action.eko.org
July 9, 2025 at 2:28 PM
murrayorchard.bsky.social
Did my annual farm walk around Braughing/Bozen Green N Herts to check local Corn Bunts. Four pairs, plus 3 R/Bunt, 13 YH, Linnet, lots of Skylarks and a juv Y/Wagtail. Been like this for 20+years. Farmer/s here getting it right👏
In one 50m stretch got CB, RB, Y. S. LI & YW!😊
@hertsbirds.bsky.social
July 8, 2025 at 12:45 PM
murrayorchard.bsky.social
A collection of pics from Anglesey last week for Super Seabird Sunday😊
#SuperSeabirdSunday @smp-seabirds.bsky.social
Razorbill, South Stack Island Guillemots, South Stack Island Great Black-Backed Gull and family, South Stack Island Roseate Tern and Sandwich Terns, including an inquisitive youngster….what is that being dunked?
July 6, 2025 at 7:55 PM
murrayorchard.bsky.social
🌳 Dame Judi Dench is calling for the return of ancient woodlands. Will you sign the petition to help restore the Ghost Woods and protect our green spaces for future generations? you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/br...
Bring back the ancient woodlands smothered beneath your timber plantations
Ancient woodlands are vanishing – and with them, some of our most loved and endangered wildlife. Forestry England manages over 100,000 acres of land that used to be ancient woodland - that’s bigger th...
you.38degrees.org.uk
July 6, 2025 at 6:36 PM
murrayorchard.bsky.social
Lovely morning for Late BBS visit to TL3336, Therfield, N Herts.
Pleased to get singing Corn Bunting and Willow Warbler, both present on Early visit too. A surprise fly past Grey Partridge, L/Whitethroat, several Skylarks, Linnets & Yellowhammers. Song Thrush on the up?
@bbs-birds.bsky.social
Looking back towards Kelshall from end of Sector 4. A Kestrel flew over, a couple of male Yellowhammer and singing L/Whitethroat Looking towards Therfield church on walk back from BBS. My final registration was a pair of Yellowhammers - the female with nest material😊 The farmer/s around Therfield do a great job of reinstating footpaths👏 I never get wet legs/feet!
May 31, 2025 at 2:12 PM
murrayorchard.bsky.social
Medway Islands WeBS/SMP count 26/5. Count of adults - B/H Gull 3,443, Med Gull 336, Sandwich Tern 155, Little Tern 25, but virtually no Com Terns. Sandwich Tern nesting beach deserted…although some birds have moved elsewhere. Effect of the earlier cold NE winds?
Pics by @Bknight_3
@smp_seabirds
Surprised to see a colony of Sandwich Terns on a part of their breeding island where never seen before…but cautious optimism short-lived when virtually none on usual breeding beach😱 Looked like scouring of the beach had occurred, and maybe tidal flooding. Perhaps 60 AON overall, well down on usual 2-300 Male Sandwich Tern trying to bribe female with a nice fish! Some Meds and Sandwich Terns were resting up on saltmarsh - presumably non-breeding or failed breeders, deterred by the earlier battering by the cold north/east winds? A total of up to 25 Little Terns on usual breeding island. Here 3 sitting birds (AON) with 3 others on standby.
May 31, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Reposted by Murray Orchard
rupertevershed.bsky.social
Really sad to have to announce that Steve Blake @blakey9.bsky.social passed away last night after a long battle with illness. He will be greatly missed, not least as a good friend to many, a great birder and the man behind Herts Bird News @hertsbirds #hertsbirds #londonbirds 😢
May 30, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Reposted by Murray Orchard
dungenessbirdobs.bsky.social
Another very long seawatch today, with plenty of gaps between birds but by the end of the over 15hr watch, a decent total of birds had passed, including the joint second highest spring Grey Plover count, as well as 45 Pomarine Skuas amongst a very good variety of species. #kentbirding
April 30, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Reposted by Murray Orchard
irishrainforest.bsky.social
Vast numbers of pheasants are released for shooting in Ireland too.

Each one survives by constantly devouring native wildlife alive. They artificially boost fox/mink populations, impacting vanishing native ground-nesting birds. They help spread Lyme disease to people, etc.

This madness MUST end.
April 26, 2025 at 5:48 AM
murrayorchard.bsky.social
Medway Islands WeBS - great to see 50 Sandwich Terns back at colony. Also 3 Com Tern & pr of GBB Gull on territory! Only 7 Med Gulls in the Estuary, but record 1,150 later at Cliffe Pools!
Disturbance remains an issue.
Pics by Bob Knight & me.
@birdwise.bsky.social @theseabirdgroup.bsky.social
Still early April, so Sandwich Terns (hopefully) still arriving, but great to see about 50 back at colony which has been in existence now since 1997 Pair of GBB Gull back on regular territory - third year now. A rare breeding bird in Kent with less than 5 pairs each year. This pair successfully raised young in 2023 & 2024…. Waterborne leisure activities are an increasing problem in the Medway. These kayakers flushed a roost of 300 Oystercatchers….twice! More disturbance, this time a group of jet skiers.
April 15, 2025 at 9:55 AM
murrayorchard.bsky.social
Mexico: save vaquitas! action.eko.org/a/mexico-sav...
Government of Mexico: Save Vaquitas
Vaquitas are cute tiny porpoises that live only in the Mexican part of the Gulf of California. There are less than ten left in the wild and these shy and skittish mini-whales could be completely wiped
action.eko.org
April 1, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Reposted by Murray Orchard
amythebirder.bsky.social
HOS are here!
Details of the upcoming AGM and Members' Day below, with lots of interesting talks:
#HantsBirds
hosbirding.bsky.social Hampshire Ornithological Society @hosbirding.bsky.social · Mar 25
Our AGM and Members' Day will be taking place this Saturday, 29 March, at St Swithun's School, Winchester. Great variety of talks including on Woodlarks, Roseate Tern breeding and an update on White-tailed Eagles. Free for members, £5 non-members. No need to pre-book
www.hos.org.uk/welcome-to-t...
Members' Day 2025 - Hampshire Ornithological Society
HOS Members’ Day 2025 will be held at St Swithun’s School, Winchester SO21 1HA, on Saturday March 29th. It includes the HOS AGM – details of which can be downloaded here. Admission is free for HOS mem...
www.hos.org.uk
March 25, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Reposted by Murray Orchard
debalmer.bsky.social
Sad to find this pristine 3cy Common Gull dead on my patch this morning. Reported to Defra for possible collection and testing for HPAI and to @birdtrack.bsky.social for monitoring. Please report all dead birds you find to Defra/Daera AND to BirdTrack.
#UKBirding
March 25, 2025 at 2:12 PM
murrayorchard.bsky.social
All action in the garden this morning. Mrs Blackbird building a nest in our ivy hedge (Mr Blackbird having a bath), a couple of Rooks down for scraps, with a Jackdaw, 3 Magpies (still waiting for a girl to appear🤔) and 5 Starlings, plus Robin chasing a Dunnock!
A few bees too😊

@bto-gbw.bsky.social
March 22, 2025 at 1:07 PM
murrayorchard.bsky.social
Salt Fleet Flats managed retreat, Cooling, Thames.
WeBS count 16/3 - highlight 1,040 Avocets roosting then swim-feeding across bay on ebbing tide. Also 2,000 Dunlin roosted, plus 147 Oystercatcher, 72 Curlew and 30 Grey Plover. Group of 7 Corn Buntings on drive back.
@WeBS_UK
Salt Fleet Flats Reserve, Thames - aka ‘Salt Bay’. View of the W arm of the bay - 1,040 Avocets roosting in lee of cold NE wind, plus 2,000 Dunlin. View along the W arm of the managed retreat on ebbing tide. The roosting waders having left to feed. See video of the swim-feeding Avocets. After roosting along the remaining sea wall, the Avocets flew out into the bay to swim-feed on the ebbing tide. An old barn at top of Cooling track by ‘Salt Bay’. Good to see see Barn Owl and Kestrel boxes put up (not in view).
March 19, 2025 at 10:19 AM
murrayorchard.bsky.social
N Herts: Puckeridge
Pleased to see five Rooks nests in our village Oaks. A former regular site, the number of nests dwindled from 7 to none a few years ago. Nice to have them back!😊
@hertsbirds.bsky.social
@grahamknight10.bsky.social
March 15, 2025 at 4:09 PM
murrayorchard.bsky.social
Great couple of days in Kent, staying at Red Lion, Stodmarsh. Talk to Thanet RSPB Mon night, day around Stodmarsh & Gorsley Wood Tuesday (checking for NJ habitat) and brilliant talk by Dave Lodge on Bitterns at Stodmarsh (in the pub) last night. More in Alt text.
@kentishplover.bsky.social
View from Marsh Hide, Stodmarsh. Excellent water levels around the NNR and lots of management going on. Highlights 16-27 Cattle Egrets, Bittern, 2+ pr Marsh Harrier, 23 Snipe, displaying Lapwing, 7 Water Rails, singing Treecreeper, displaying G/C Grebes and 7 Grey Heron nests. Flooded reedmarsh and Alder/Willow carr at Stodmarsh An excellent area of cleared Chestnut coppice at Gorsley Wood in East Kent - four squares to be added for BTO Nightjar (Heathland Bird) Survey. Found a nice Marsh Tit too😊 Standing room only at the Red Lion in Stodmarsh for Dave Lodge’s talk on his lifetime studies of Bitterns at Stodmarsh. Some incredible pics illustrating aspects of their behaviour from breeding, feeding in extreme conditions to their Spring migration exit strategy to the continent. Needs to be in a book!👏
March 13, 2025 at 12:52 PM
murrayorchard.bsky.social
A packed programme of talks at today’s Annual BTO Conference in Manchester, from problems for our wintering Nightingales, to the effects of Avian Flu and an impassioned talk on breeding English Dotterels. Wonderful to meet & chat with staff and attendees😊
Thanks for organising👏
@btobirds.bsky.social
The magnificent Midland Hotel in Manchester, location of the BTO conference. Wonderful work by Maire Kirkland et al on locating the wintering grounds of UK Nightingales. Isolated from other European winter populations in suboptimal habitat, so very vulnerable. A timely summary of the effects of Bird Flu on UK birds by Phil Atkinson, with a recent upsurge in cases, mostly wildfowl. Fingers crossed, and keep using BirdTrack to record dead birds👍
March 1, 2025 at 11:55 PM
murrayorchard.bsky.social
Finally joined this winter’s Hawfinch party!😊 Headed to Holbrook Church in Suffolk, where 2-3 seen. Met up with @stuttonsparrows.bsky.social and enjoyed some birding chat over a beer at his favourite pub!
Mark, I finally made it over!👍
A Hawfinch dropped in soon after I arrived, and perched at top of tree for several minutes. Two more seen in trees behind church later. Always great to see this species. Impressive numbers of Snowdrops in the churchyard. Nice to hear and see Mistle Thrush and flock of Redwings - I’ve seen very few winter thrushes this winter?
February 10, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Reposted by Murray Orchard
uniexecec.bsky.social
Volunteer Opportunity!!

The Landmark Trust are recruiting residential volunteers for the Bird Observatory Assistant Warden role on Lundy Island!

📆 Deadline: 9th Feb

www.landmarktrust.org.uk/lundyisland/...

🦤🌍 #ExeterCEC #Seabirds #LundyIsland #BirdResearch #BirdConservation #Volunteer
February 4, 2025 at 9:12 AM