Paul French
@nomadbirder.bsky.social
Birder, purveyor of aerial bird identification wizardry & secretary of British Birds Rarities Committee
Nice to find a Water Pipit at Outstrays on this mornings WeBS count, plus a PB of 10 Great White Egrets. The pipit was in the north corner of the older realignment, near the new pumping station #Yorkshirebirding
November 9, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Nice to find a Water Pipit at Outstrays on this mornings WeBS count, plus a PB of 10 Great White Egrets. The pipit was in the north corner of the older realignment, near the new pumping station #Yorkshirebirding
While dipping on Pallid Swift, I was contemplating the future of the gas terminal. I reckon its got 15-20 years at current rates of erosion before the cliff top comes knockin'!
November 9, 2025 at 2:33 PM
While dipping on Pallid Swift, I was contemplating the future of the gas terminal. I reckon its got 15-20 years at current rates of erosion before the cliff top comes knockin'!
Yes, still there: doi.org/10.2173/bow....
November 2, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Yes, still there: doi.org/10.2173/bow....
Google maps has been updated with new aerials of the Outstrays NR. A nice birds eye view of the developing realignment.
November 1, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Google maps has been updated with new aerials of the Outstrays NR. A nice birds eye view of the developing realignment.
Managing to be more focussed and actually get some photos edited. Here is a taster from our recent trip to Scilly to do some pelagics and have a general wander. More images at www.flickr.com/photos/38562...
November 1, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Managing to be more focussed and actually get some photos edited. Here is a taster from our recent trip to Scilly to do some pelagics and have a general wander. More images at www.flickr.com/photos/38562...
Our garden Yellow-browed Wblr showed very nicely all day today. We'll be giving it a name soon! #SpurnBirds
October 21, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Our garden Yellow-browed Wblr showed very nicely all day today. We'll be giving it a name soon! #SpurnBirds
Sadly, I prefer the US version. However, i much preferred the cover style and font of Owls of the Eastern Ice over both of these. That drew you in organically with a well chosen scenery shot, it was gorgeous. These new ones are more 'in your face'. I'll still get it though 🙂
October 21, 2025 at 5:51 AM
Sadly, I prefer the US version. However, i much preferred the cover style and font of Owls of the Eastern Ice over both of these. That drew you in organically with a well chosen scenery shot, it was gorgeous. These new ones are more 'in your face'. I'll still get it though 🙂
There are much closer photos out there, but in a mad dash "extended lunch break", I was happy just to see the Spurn Blk-faced Bunting. Then this Yellow-browed Wblr brightened up the afternoon back at my desk, giving our best ever garden showing despite just managing to see one every year #SpurnBirds
October 20, 2025 at 6:20 PM
There are much closer photos out there, but in a mad dash "extended lunch break", I was happy just to see the Spurn Blk-faced Bunting. Then this Yellow-browed Wblr brightened up the afternoon back at my desk, giving our best ever garden showing despite just managing to see one every year #SpurnBirds
Turns out the pod of Bottlenose Dolphins that went north past Kilnsea & Easington yesterday morning contained a well known female called "Runny Paint" after the distinctive markings around her dorsal fin (visible in 3rd photo) @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social
October 19, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Turns out the pod of Bottlenose Dolphins that went north past Kilnsea & Easington yesterday morning contained a well known female called "Runny Paint" after the distinctive markings around her dorsal fin (visible in 3rd photo) @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social
The skies were dripping with thrushes today, but the arrival was localised mainly to the Kilnsea and south side of Easington. Despite looking out from the gas terminal for the whole morning, only 7 Redwings came in! But a few minutes walk to the south this pm, and I joined in the Fieldfare fun.
October 17, 2025 at 7:36 PM
The skies were dripping with thrushes today, but the arrival was localised mainly to the Kilnsea and south side of Easington. Despite looking out from the gas terminal for the whole morning, only 7 Redwings came in! But a few minutes walk to the south this pm, and I joined in the Fieldfare fun.
This tiny patch of rank grass on the Easington coast path held a much anticipated Yellow-browed Wblr tonight. Presumably fresh in at 1730hrs. Autumn is finally here!
October 13, 2025 at 6:08 PM
This tiny patch of rank grass on the Easington coast path held a much anticipated Yellow-browed Wblr tonight. Presumably fresh in at 1730hrs. Autumn is finally here!
Its a f*****g conspiracy!!
October 9, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Its a f*****g conspiracy!!
Possibly the worst picture of Glossy Ibis taken this year, but theres 11 of them and they're on patch.
October 2, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Possibly the worst picture of Glossy Ibis taken this year, but theres 11 of them and they're on patch.
Fresh off the Challenger expedition to the Canyons MPA along the shelf edge at the limits of UK territory, we seem to have broken new ground with the status of Band-rumped Storm-petrels. A handful on the first two days were great, but on the third day, the cup truly runneth over, and 84 were...
September 21, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Fresh off the Challenger expedition to the Canyons MPA along the shelf edge at the limits of UK territory, we seem to have broken new ground with the status of Band-rumped Storm-petrels. A handful on the first two days were great, but on the third day, the cup truly runneth over, and 84 were...
Memories of last weekends Scilly pelagics still in the mind, and a mountain of photos to go through. I like this one, giving a sense of the big seas and a Cory's in wave rider mode #ukbirding
September 10, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Memories of last weekends Scilly pelagics still in the mind, and a mountain of photos to go through. I like this one, giving a sense of the big seas and a Cory's in wave rider mode #ukbirding
Its hotting up for 2nd place in the eBird garden year list as we head into what could be a very productive period for several participants. I aim to get 100 sp per year, hopefully on track for that. A certain Spurn birder is aiming for 200 from his garden this year, the difference a Humber can make!
September 8, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Its hotting up for 2nd place in the eBird garden year list as we head into what could be a very productive period for several participants. I aim to get 100 sp per year, hopefully on track for that. A certain Spurn birder is aiming for 200 from his garden this year, the difference a Humber can make!
Just finished an epic long weekend with @scillypelagics.bsky.social, and what a fantastic 4 trips we had. Near constant views of Great & Corys, plus regular Wilsons and super confiding Sabines Gulls, Grey Phals and Long-t Skuas, but the icing on the cake for me was this Scopoli's Shearwater.
September 1, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Just finished an epic long weekend with @scillypelagics.bsky.social, and what a fantastic 4 trips we had. Near constant views of Great & Corys, plus regular Wilsons and super confiding Sabines Gulls, Grey Phals and Long-t Skuas, but the icing on the cake for me was this Scopoli's Shearwater.
We have a (short) list of birds that we've missed for the garden list but know we could have had. Glossy Ibis is one of those, after we saw one fly over our house while we were watching an Isabelline Wheatear in 2016 - i can sense your sympathy!! But, finally, nearly 9 years later, we finally...
August 27, 2025 at 4:30 PM
We have a (short) list of birds that we've missed for the garden list but know we could have had. Glossy Ibis is one of those, after we saw one fly over our house while we were watching an Isabelline Wheatear in 2016 - i can sense your sympathy!! But, finally, nearly 9 years later, we finally...
Also new for garden were these beasts, Long-winged Coneheads. Its caused a bit of a dilemma, as the Typha they are in is marked for removal, the roots have punctured the pond liner. Think we'll have to dig a new home for it (and hopefully its egg load of coneheads), very carefully.
August 26, 2025 at 7:07 AM
Also new for garden were these beasts, Long-winged Coneheads. Its caused a bit of a dilemma, as the Typha they are in is marked for removal, the roots have punctured the pond liner. Think we'll have to dig a new home for it (and hopefully its egg load of coneheads), very carefully.
Along with the headline wasp, we had a long-hoped for garden tick with Willow Emerald today, mere minutes before it became apparent there was an unprecedented arrival of them (60+) in the Spurn area. A Migrant Hawker in the same bush showed nicely too.
August 25, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Along with the headline wasp, we had a long-hoped for garden tick with Willow Emerald today, mere minutes before it became apparent there was an unprecedented arrival of them (60+) in the Spurn area. A Migrant Hawker in the same bush showed nicely too.
Its not every day you find an apparent 1st for Spurn, so I was pleased to finally nail pictures of a Median Wasp (Dolichovespula media) in the garden. Thanks to @hwitts.bsky.social for the ID.
August 25, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Its not every day you find an apparent 1st for Spurn, so I was pleased to finally nail pictures of a Median Wasp (Dolichovespula media) in the garden. Thanks to @hwitts.bsky.social for the ID.
Maybe the best experience at Withfleet tonight were these two Short-eared Owls, totally checking me out and flying in circles around me after sunset. Filmed at 1x on my phone.
August 24, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Maybe the best experience at Withfleet tonight were these two Short-eared Owls, totally checking me out and flying in circles around me after sunset. Filmed at 1x on my phone.
Withfleet Outstrays is just a great place to be at the moment. 7 Spoonbills tonight were nice, over 1000 Curlew again, 150+ Avocet, Curlew Sand, Spotshank, a lost Guillemot! Its developing nicely.
August 24, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Withfleet Outstrays is just a great place to be at the moment. 7 Spoonbills tonight were nice, over 1000 Curlew again, 150+ Avocet, Curlew Sand, Spotshank, a lost Guillemot! Its developing nicely.
The two Cranes still on Withfleet Outstrays this evening, although one remained stubbornly behind reeds. They seem to like it here. #yorksbirds
August 24, 2025 at 8:59 PM
The two Cranes still on Withfleet Outstrays this evening, although one remained stubbornly behind reeds. They seem to like it here. #yorksbirds