Ashley Saunders
@oriole-ashley.bsky.social
Norfolk-based birder. Oriole Birding co-owner and tour leader. Neotropics, NCFC & darts fan
Having not been seen since Sunday I was really surprised to hear the Hume’s Warbler calling at Wells Woods this afternoon. It was back in its favourite sycamore and showing superbly - love how it can look like a tristis one moment and a Greenish the next, but not really like YBW!
#NorfolkBirding
#NorfolkBirding
November 21, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Having not been seen since Sunday I was really surprised to hear the Hume’s Warbler calling at Wells Woods this afternoon. It was back in its favourite sycamore and showing superbly - love how it can look like a tristis one moment and a Greenish the next, but not really like YBW!
#NorfolkBirding
#NorfolkBirding
Pallas’s Warbler at Wells - it might just about be the final vagrant of autumn but they really are a case of ‘saving the best til last’
#UKbirding #NorfolkBirding
#UKbirding #NorfolkBirding
November 17, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Pallas’s Warbler at Wells - it might just about be the final vagrant of autumn but they really are a case of ‘saving the best til last’
#UKbirding #NorfolkBirding
#UKbirding #NorfolkBirding
Then working my way along the western edge of the caravan park, another small flock yielded a blackcap and then another bundle of stripes flitting through the sallows as this Pallas’s Warbler appeared. The 6th I’ve found here but always exciting! 2/2
#NorfolkBirding #UKbirding
#NorfolkBirding #UKbirding
November 15, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Then working my way along the western edge of the caravan park, another small flock yielded a blackcap and then another bundle of stripes flitting through the sallows as this Pallas’s Warbler appeared. The 6th I’ve found here but always exciting! 2/2
#NorfolkBirding #UKbirding
#NorfolkBirding #UKbirding
A top morning on patch at Wells Woods started when I heard a wagtail-like call coming from the top of a birch along the edge of the pines, and as suspected a Hume’s Warbler popped into view! Fresh in, it flew and joined a tit flock and settled along North edge of The Dell… 1/2
November 15, 2025 at 3:26 PM
A top morning on patch at Wells Woods started when I heard a wagtail-like call coming from the top of a birch along the edge of the pines, and as suspected a Hume’s Warbler popped into view! Fresh in, it flew and joined a tit flock and settled along North edge of The Dell… 1/2
Dusky Warbler at Stiffkey Campsite Wood this lunchtime with @mcbirder.bsky.social
Sound recording also here: xeno-canto.org/1052718
#UKbirding #NorfolkBirding
Sound recording also here: xeno-canto.org/1052718
#UKbirding #NorfolkBirding
November 6, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Dusky Warbler at Stiffkey Campsite Wood this lunchtime with @mcbirder.bsky.social
Sound recording also here: xeno-canto.org/1052718
#UKbirding #NorfolkBirding
Sound recording also here: xeno-canto.org/1052718
#UKbirding #NorfolkBirding
This cracking juvenile Long-tailed Skua was the undoubted highlight of a pelagic trip out of Wells yesterday. Certainly made all the effort feel worthwhile over recent summers!
Superb comparison shots with the young Arctic Skua taken by Steve Cale
#NorfolkBirding #UKbirding
Superb comparison shots with the young Arctic Skua taken by Steve Cale
#NorfolkBirding #UKbirding
September 1, 2025 at 8:56 AM
This cracking juvenile Long-tailed Skua was the undoubted highlight of a pelagic trip out of Wells yesterday. Certainly made all the effort feel worthwhile over recent summers!
Superb comparison shots with the young Arctic Skua taken by Steve Cale
#NorfolkBirding #UKbirding
Superb comparison shots with the young Arctic Skua taken by Steve Cale
#NorfolkBirding #UKbirding
I was enjoying the waders at Snettisham this morning when I heard Black Terns calling somewhere way up in the blue sky. These four barrelled down, circled the pits briefly, and then continued North along the shoreline. Migration in action! #norfolkbirding #ukbirding
May 14, 2025 at 5:09 PM
I was enjoying the waders at Snettisham this morning when I heard Black Terns calling somewhere way up in the blue sky. These four barrelled down, circled the pits briefly, and then continued North along the shoreline. Migration in action! #norfolkbirding #ukbirding
Just back from leading the @oriolebirding.bsky.social Colombia tour where we saw 11 species of Antpitta and heard a further 2. A couple of new ones for me takes my personal tally to 32 - Crescent-faced being a personal fave! Only another 40-odd to see plus future splits 😂
March 10, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Just back from leading the @oriolebirding.bsky.social Colombia tour where we saw 11 species of Antpitta and heard a further 2. A couple of new ones for me takes my personal tally to 32 - Crescent-faced being a personal fave! Only another 40-odd to see plus future splits 😂
Yesterday evening I had brief views of an adult Black Brant at Thornham Harbour in fading light. I went back this evening and thankfully it was still about and showing much better, close to the seawall halfway along to Holme. A smart bird! #norfolkbirding
January 31, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Yesterday evening I had brief views of an adult Black Brant at Thornham Harbour in fading light. I went back this evening and thankfully it was still about and showing much better, close to the seawall halfway along to Holme. A smart bird! #norfolkbirding
I very rarely get close views of Great Northern Divers in Norfolk but this young bird that has been wintering in Gun Hill channel at Burnham Overy has been showing really well the last few days #NorfolkBirding #UKbirding
January 20, 2025 at 8:42 PM
I very rarely get close views of Great Northern Divers in Norfolk but this young bird that has been wintering in Gun Hill channel at Burnham Overy has been showing really well the last few days #NorfolkBirding #UKbirding
Drake Green-winged Teal at Holkham today. Presumably last years bird returning, though still a very nice surprise. In each of the previous zillion times I’ve looked through a flock of Teal thinking “be nice if there’s a Green-winged”, there hasn’t been!
January 7, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Drake Green-winged Teal at Holkham today. Presumably last years bird returning, though still a very nice surprise. In each of the previous zillion times I’ve looked through a flock of Teal thinking “be nice if there’s a Green-winged”, there hasn’t been!
Our previous two-day attempt to see Red and White Antpitta had resulted in only brief glimpses so we decided to try again on the way back up the Manu Road today near Wayqecha. Bosh!!! 😮💨👌🏻 #PeruBirding
December 14, 2024 at 5:01 PM
Our previous two-day attempt to see Red and White Antpitta had resulted in only brief glimpses so we decided to try again on the way back up the Manu Road today near Wayqecha. Bosh!!! 😮💨👌🏻 #PeruBirding
Really pleased to finally connect with Tiny Hawk yesterday on the trails at Manu Biological Station. It’s a species which has been on the list at most of the places I’ve been in the Neotropics but nobody ever seems to see it! A beautiful rufous morph juv too - and yes it is tiny!
December 14, 2024 at 12:29 AM
Really pleased to finally connect with Tiny Hawk yesterday on the trails at Manu Biological Station. It’s a species which has been on the list at most of the places I’ve been in the Neotropics but nobody ever seems to see it! A beautiful rufous morph juv too - and yes it is tiny!
Incredible session at an Andean Cock-of-the-Rock lek by Manu Road this afternoon. Have been to leks before where it’s semi-dark and the birds won’t perch in the open but this was different gravy! Lekking on branches at eye level just a few metres away 🤯
December 12, 2024 at 10:48 PM
Incredible session at an Andean Cock-of-the-Rock lek by Manu Road this afternoon. Have been to leks before where it’s semi-dark and the birds won’t perch in the open but this was different gravy! Lekking on branches at eye level just a few metres away 🤯
Pearled Treerunner has been pretty common in the mixed flocks as we’ve descended Peru’s Manu Road - a very smart little furnarid!
December 11, 2024 at 12:50 PM
Pearled Treerunner has been pretty common in the mixed flocks as we’ve descended Peru’s Manu Road - a very smart little furnarid!
Gould’s Jewelfront jazzing things up at the lodge feeders during a rainstorm at lunchtime
Manu Biological Station (Villa Carmen), Peru
Manu Biological Station (Villa Carmen), Peru
December 10, 2024 at 11:52 PM
Gould’s Jewelfront jazzing things up at the lodge feeders during a rainstorm at lunchtime
Manu Biological Station (Villa Carmen), Peru
Manu Biological Station (Villa Carmen), Peru
Now down in the Amazonian lowlands of Manu staying at Villa Carmen, so it’s time for some crap photos of ant-things with sticks in the way. Antpittas hit 8 for the trip with the hyper-elusive Amazonian, but better views of White-browed, Chestnut-tailed and White-lined Antbirds
December 10, 2024 at 11:50 PM
Now down in the Amazonian lowlands of Manu staying at Villa Carmen, so it’s time for some crap photos of ant-things with sticks in the way. Antpittas hit 8 for the trip with the hyper-elusive Amazonian, but better views of White-browed, Chestnut-tailed and White-lined Antbirds
And here’s a few more random final highlights - Long-whiskered Owlet, Yellow-scarfed Tanager, Lulu’s Tody Flycatcher (these three all endemics) and Golden-headed Quetzal all along the Alto Mayo Road area. 4/4
December 7, 2024 at 7:58 PM
And here’s a few more random final highlights - Long-whiskered Owlet, Yellow-scarfed Tanager, Lulu’s Tody Flycatcher (these three all endemics) and Golden-headed Quetzal all along the Alto Mayo Road area. 4/4
Then there was the incredible Marvelous Spatuletail. Views down to mere inches thanks to the fantastic set up at the small private reserve, Al Refugio del Colibrí Espátula 3/4
December 7, 2024 at 7:57 PM
Then there was the incredible Marvelous Spatuletail. Views down to mere inches thanks to the fantastic set up at the small private reserve, Al Refugio del Colibrí Espátula 3/4
Other antpittas were available…
Here’s Rusty-tinged, Pale-billed and Chachapoyas, the latter being one of the ‘Rufous Antpitta’ splits. Both these last two were up in the cloud forest above 3000m and favour areas with stands of bamboo. Rusty-tinged was at Fundo Alto Nieva 2/4
Here’s Rusty-tinged, Pale-billed and Chachapoyas, the latter being one of the ‘Rufous Antpitta’ splits. Both these last two were up in the cloud forest above 3000m and favour areas with stands of bamboo. Rusty-tinged was at Fundo Alto Nieva 2/4
December 7, 2024 at 7:56 PM
Other antpittas were available…
Here’s Rusty-tinged, Pale-billed and Chachapoyas, the latter being one of the ‘Rufous Antpitta’ splits. Both these last two were up in the cloud forest above 3000m and favour areas with stands of bamboo. Rusty-tinged was at Fundo Alto Nieva 2/4
Here’s Rusty-tinged, Pale-billed and Chachapoyas, the latter being one of the ‘Rufous Antpitta’ splits. Both these last two were up in the cloud forest above 3000m and favour areas with stands of bamboo. Rusty-tinged was at Fundo Alto Nieva 2/4
The northern section of my Peru trip is done, now heading down to Cusco and the legendary Manu Road. Here’s a few highlights from the Pomacochas area from the last few days starting with the fantastic Ochre-fronted Antpitta at Fundo Alto Nieva 1/4
December 7, 2024 at 7:55 PM
The northern section of my Peru trip is done, now heading down to Cusco and the legendary Manu Road. Here’s a few highlights from the Pomacochas area from the last few days starting with the fantastic Ochre-fronted Antpitta at Fundo Alto Nieva 1/4
A solid start on antpittas on my trip to Northern Peru. Some at feeders, some still old skool ‘sit and wait inside a thicket and hope it perches in a spot where you aren’t blocked’! The latter being the case for Pale-billed, my most-wanted of the trip. What a monster!
December 6, 2024 at 11:15 AM
A solid start on antpittas on my trip to Northern Peru. Some at feeders, some still old skool ‘sit and wait inside a thicket and hope it perches in a spot where you aren’t blocked’! The latter being the case for Pale-billed, my most-wanted of the trip. What a monster!
Long day travelling and a delayed internal flight meant that there was only time for night birding on the first day of my Peru trip but we made it count - Long-whiskered Owlet in the bag!
December 4, 2024 at 10:55 AM
Long day travelling and a delayed internal flight meant that there was only time for night birding on the first day of my Peru trip but we made it count - Long-whiskered Owlet in the bag!
The mighty Amazon from 33,000ft above Brazil, close to São Paulo de Olivença
#aerialphotography
#aerialphotography
December 2, 2024 at 9:49 PM
The mighty Amazon from 33,000ft above Brazil, close to São Paulo de Olivença
#aerialphotography
#aerialphotography
I think there’s something utterly fascinating about seeing familiar places from the air, especially when they are also birding spots! West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly seen just now while en route to Peru #ukbirding #aerialphotography
December 2, 2024 at 12:59 PM
I think there’s something utterly fascinating about seeing familiar places from the air, especially when they are also birding spots! West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly seen just now while en route to Peru #ukbirding #aerialphotography