Murray Orchard
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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!
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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
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
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
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
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
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
murrayorchard.bsky.social
Here’s my garden data. Not the most amazing results/species list, but long term data is so valuable in any survey!
I recommend all to do it. So easy and you don’t have to feed birds!
@bto-gbw.bsky.social
January 31, 2025 at 3:30 PM
murrayorchard.bsky.social
Job done!👍
Unfortunately, no show for Dunnock and Blue Tit☹️, although the latter has been quite scarce of late.
First two birds seen this morning?..Yep, 2 Dunnocks!🙄
@bto-gbw.bsky.social
January 26, 2025 at 1:36 PM
murrayorchard.bsky.social
Ahead of Storm Eowyn, I thought I’d catch up with a few things in Kent yesterday. The 3 B/N Grebes showed well on Alpha Pool, Cliffe, plus the Spot Red by the Creek. At Dunge RSPB, the L/T Duck & 6 W/f Geese, then finally the 48 Bewick’s on Walland Marsh, with another W/f Goose & 2,000 Golden Plover
Looking over the Alpha Pool, Cliffe, at the 3 B/N Grebes that have taken up residence. Staying together as a group. Usually between the ongoing earth works and the fort/river. When walking around Cliffe Fort from Cliffe Creek to access the Alpha Pool, you will see this. It was the launching site of the wire-guided Brennan torpedo, the first of its type in the world. Built in 1885 to defend the Thames approach to London. Watching the Bewick’s Swans on Walland Marsh from Coldharbour Lane. A total of 48 birds but only one juvenile. Some of the Bewick’s Swans, with a lone adult W/f Goose feeding with them.
January 22, 2025 at 11:56 AM
murrayorchard.bsky.social
Trip along South Medway at low tide, from Horrid Hill to Bedlams Bottom.
Totals inc.- 3 R/B Merganser, 1 Goldeneye, 600 Pintail, 2,490 Teal, 550+ Wigeon, 775+ Shelduck, 350 Shoveler, 1,590 Knot, 386 Avocet, Greenshank, Peregrine & Marsh Harrier.
WeBS this weekend!
@btobirds.bsky.social
Scoping Halstow & Twinney Creeks, Lower Halstow at low tide - packed ducks included 320 Pintail, 1,700 Teal, 550 Wigeon, 100 Shoveler. Also 360 Shelduck and 500 Knot Marina, Lower Halstow - a Greenshank was feeding in foreground St Margaret’s of Antioch 11th century church - on shore of Medway Estuary at Lower Halstow
January 10, 2025 at 10:09 AM
murrayorchard.bsky.social
Puckeridge (Herts). Nice walk around outskirts of village with the dogs this afternoon. Grey, calm and peaceful, but very quiet on the bird front too! A couple of Kites, Green Woodpecker and 2 L/Egrets best - including one perched up by A10/River Rib bridge. Appropriate sign across the road😊
View along the River Rib on E side of Puckeridge. Nice riverside Alders….but no Redpolls or Siskins! Little Egret in “Kingfisher mode” above the weir by A10 bridge Little Egret on road sign across the road from….a Little Egret! A sign of the times…..😂🙄
January 4, 2025 at 6:58 PM
murrayorchard.bsky.social
It’s that time of year already! The village Rooks are starting to plan ahead!😉
December 28, 2024 at 2:48 PM
murrayorchard.bsky.social
Well, that’s the wrap on a crazy day. A tale of five trees….four Alders and an Oak! Tickable views of Yellow Warbler at New Hythe near its favoured Alders, and illuminating views of the Scops in a foggy Oak at Broadstairs!
Bonkers!
(not so near to Xmas next time please!😬)
@kentishplover.bsky.social
December 27, 2024 at 11:05 PM
murrayorchard.bsky.social
Enjoyable walk from Sharps Green to end of Horrid Hill on the Medway this morning. Dull but calm with low/rising tide. A B/N Grebe in Bartlett Creek with 31 G/C Grebes. Also in area - 595 Shelduck, 156 Pintail, 135 Shoveler, 140 Bl/T Godwit, 43 Avocet…and 41 Carrion Crows feeding on the mud.
December 18, 2024 at 1:16 AM
murrayorchard.bsky.social
Popped by “the office” to catch up with a few emails on way back from shopping today!😊
(Check out the little fireside cupboard😮)
- The Brown Bear @ Braughing👍
December 14, 2024 at 10:54 PM
murrayorchard.bsky.social
Delighted to attend Marine Internships 2024 Final Presentations at @TheCrownEstate. Superb work by great bunch of young folk, inc Kent Coast Explorers - Emmie Bowlt (Brent Geese @WeBS_UK), Linn Wiberg (fisherman/seal interactions) & Max Renton (Conyer restoration).
@KentWildlife
Emmie Bowlt presenting on her Kent Coastal Explorer internship - investigating whether Dark-Bellied Brent Geese are suitable indicators for habitat health along the North Kent and Essex Coastline Emmie has made extensive use of WeBS data - so I invited her to join us on our Medway WeBS boat count during the autumn to experience how data is gathered! Max Renton giving a post internship presentation on restoration of grazing marsh at Conyer (Swale). Max now works for Adonis Blue. Adonis Blue team (L to R) - Max Renton, Vincent Ganley, Sherece Kesner, Emmie Bowlt (intern), Chas Holt and Linn Wiberg (intern - who gave an excellent presentation on seal/fishermen interactions around Kent).
December 3, 2024 at 10:47 PM
murrayorchard.bsky.social
Norfolk: Brief walk along Brancaster Beach to check the channel before dusk - flock of 28 Goldeneye (8 drakes), a drake R/B Merganser and 3 imm drake Eiders.
Been a nice break😊
November 29, 2024 at 8:18 PM