@myp1mike.bsky.social
Chasing Swifts here in West Runton/Cromer the last few days. Best views suggest all Pallid but photos often poor in poor light.
November 11, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Chasing Swifts here in West Runton/Cromer the last few days. Best views suggest all Pallid but photos often poor in poor light.
A worthwhile trk around the patch at West Runton first thing produced Common Sand Ring Ouzel and Grey-headed Wagtail.
May 12, 2025 at 8:03 PM
A worthwhile trk around the patch at West Runton first thing produced Common Sand Ring Ouzel and Grey-headed Wagtail.
Came across a singing Nightingale in the hedge along the A149 West Runton this morning. A rarity here. Saw it ok given the scrubby habitat and passing traffic.
April 12, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Came across a singing Nightingale in the hedge along the A149 West Runton this morning. A rarity here. Saw it ok given the scrubby habitat and passing traffic.
The first Bee-eaters back now and Willow Warbler in the garden. The Dartford Warblers which only winter here are almost gone but going to miss the spring migrants when they become rarities again on Wednesday.
March 30, 2025 at 5:43 PM
The first Bee-eaters back now and Willow Warbler in the garden. The Dartford Warblers which only winter here are almost gone but going to miss the spring migrants when they become rarities again on Wednesday.
Lovely morning at Maria. Good birds as usual in the pine woods. This Firecrest showed well, the Subalp not so well but new for trip list. Breakfast at La Piza excellent with Crested Tits and Crossbills for company.
March 29, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Lovely morning at Maria. Good birds as usual in the pine woods. This Firecrest showed well, the Subalp not so well but new for trip list. Breakfast at La Piza excellent with Crested Tits and Crossbills for company.
New migrants turning up pretty much daily now. Montagu’s Harrier and Black Kite today. Bonelli’s Warbler here a day or two.
March 28, 2025 at 4:34 PM
New migrants turning up pretty much daily now. Montagu’s Harrier and Black Kite today. Bonelli’s Warbler here a day or two.
Walked down to the village for pizzas and a few drinks accompanied by the first (common) swifts of the year screaming around. Magic. Except for the pizza. 😂
March 27, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Walked down to the village for pizzas and a few drinks accompanied by the first (common) swifts of the year screaming around. Magic. Except for the pizza. 😂
Suddenly migrants are here. No Trumpeter Finches yet but Wryneck ST Eagle Spectacled Warbler and Black-eared Wheatear all new. Spectacled in spring just gorgeous. All camera shy though.
March 26, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Suddenly migrants are here. No Trumpeter Finches yet but Wryneck ST Eagle Spectacled Warbler and Black-eared Wheatear all new. Spectacled in spring just gorgeous. All camera shy though.
Enjoying more GS Cuckoos and Woodchats this morning. Also first Wryneck and ST Eagle of spring, the latter 20 feet over the garden.
March 26, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Enjoying more GS Cuckoos and Woodchats this morning. Also first Wryneck and ST Eagle of spring, the latter 20 feet over the garden.
First Woodchat Shrikes today. Lots of GS Cuckoos about now mostly in pines, presumably after Processionary Moth caterpillars.
March 24, 2025 at 3:23 PM
First Woodchat Shrikes today. Lots of GS Cuckoos about now mostly in pines, presumably after Processionary Moth caterpillars.
Spent a couple of nights at Puerto Rey birding the Rio Antas and Salar de los Canos. Waves of migrants different days especially hirundines and a great selection of good birds in good numbers.
March 9, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Spent a couple of nights at Puerto Rey birding the Rio Antas and Salar de los Canos. Waves of migrants different days especially hirundines and a great selection of good birds in good numbers.
These Choughs at the usual cliff crack in the Valley. Up to 7 around the house daily. I think they’ll breed at the top end if they haven’t already.
March 4, 2025 at 3:22 PM
These Choughs at the usual cliff crack in the Valley. Up to 7 around the house daily. I think they’ll breed at the top end if they haven’t already.
First GS Cuckoos in the valley today following White Stork and Ring Ouzels moving last week. First Brimstones Swallowtails Small Coppers and Wall Browns too. But English weather now and for a while. 😒
March 2, 2025 at 12:46 PM
First GS Cuckoos in the valley today following White Stork and Ring Ouzels moving last week. First Brimstones Swallowtails Small Coppers and Wall Browns too. But English weather now and for a while. 😒
First ever Black Vulture locally, at Castril, chased off by a 1st W Golden Eagle which ignored dozens of nearby Griffons. Also Hawfinch BB Dipper and Wren which are good local finds. More Butterfly species on the wing and lots of Violet Carpenter Bees some are prospecting our patio posts.
February 20, 2025 at 6:10 PM
First ever Black Vulture locally, at Castril, chased off by a 1st W Golden Eagle which ignored dozens of nearby Griffons. Also Hawfinch BB Dipper and Wren which are good local finds. More Butterfly species on the wing and lots of Violet Carpenter Bees some are prospecting our patio posts.
120 Griffons in a kettle recently. Magpies the only ones to approach cos they think they’re big birds. 😂 Hoopoes sound like mad cats when they interact and always dip their heads to sing.
February 18, 2025 at 7:31 PM
120 Griffons in a kettle recently. Magpies the only ones to approach cos they think they’re big birds. 😂 Hoopoes sound like mad cats when they interact and always dip their heads to sing.
Most mornings we wake up to our neighbourhood Black Wheatear singing. There’s usually a Hoopoe singing further up the road too. Choughs and Ravens will be noisy later. Magic.
February 15, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Most mornings we wake up to our neighbourhood Black Wheatear singing. There’s usually a Hoopoe singing further up the road too. Choughs and Ravens will be noisy later. Magic.
Rush hour in the village. 😂
February 14, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Rush hour in the village. 😂
Can’t quite get used to Crossbills singing in the garden - it’s small and pretty pineless in the Barrio. The Swamphen wasn’t in the garden.
February 11, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Can’t quite get used to Crossbills singing in the garden - it’s small and pretty pineless in the Barrio. The Swamphen wasn’t in the garden.
A quick trip to El Hondo produced 30 new birds for the stay. Enjoyed the Moustached Warblers and took some time with the Flamingos which we don’t normally do.
February 10, 2025 at 1:46 PM
A quick trip to El Hondo produced 30 new birds for the stay. Enjoyed the Moustached Warblers and took some time with the Flamingos which we don’t normally do.
Common birds but I find quite hard to photograph. Spotless Starling and Iberian Shrike today.
February 4, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Common birds but I find quite hard to photograph. Spotless Starling and Iberian Shrike today.
Already 3 Butterfly species on the wing despite being 950m up on the Altiplano. Southern Small White, Western Dappled White and Clouded Yellow.
January 31, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Already 3 Butterfly species on the wing despite being 950m up on the Altiplano. Southern Small White, Western Dappled White and Clouded Yellow.
The boys are back in Town
January 27, 2025 at 12:27 PM
The boys are back in Town
Can anyone help please ? Is this just a moggy ?
January 23, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Can anyone help please ? Is this just a moggy ?
Crested Tits at Maria this morning.
January 22, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Crested Tits at Maria this morning.
First Eurasian Starling I’ve seen up here on the Altiplano in 20 years. Quite a rarity.
January 21, 2025 at 11:59 AM
First Eurasian Starling I’ve seen up here on the Altiplano in 20 years. Quite a rarity.