Paul Bright-Thomas
@paulbt.bsky.social
Land-locked birder, vizmig/nocmig.
@_pbt_ in the other place.
@_pbt_ in the other place.
In search of migration, down to South Foreland in Kent. Lovely spot, wooded gullies packed with Chiffchaffs, plus a few blackcaps and crests. Finches brought the action, with several small Crossbill flocks, some Redpolls and a couplr og Brambling calls. A Woodlark low over was the star.
#ukbirding
#ukbirding
October 12, 2025 at 5:06 PM
In search of migration, down to South Foreland in Kent. Lovely spot, wooded gullies packed with Chiffchaffs, plus a few blackcaps and crests. Finches brought the action, with several small Crossbill flocks, some Redpolls and a couplr og Brambling calls. A Woodlark low over was the star.
#ukbirding
#ukbirding
Great day at Pendeen 0745-1600: 265 Sooty, 106 Great (many more), 1 Cory's, 3 Balearic, 18 Sabine's, 3 Leach's, 153 E Storm Petrel, 75 Arctic, 70 Great, 2 Pomarine, 3 Long-tailed Skua, 10 Grey Phal, 1 sum plum Gt Northern Diver, 30 Arctic, 10 Sandwich Tern, 2 C Scoter.
October 4, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Great day at Pendeen 0745-1600: 265 Sooty, 106 Great (many more), 1 Cory's, 3 Balearic, 18 Sabine's, 3 Leach's, 153 E Storm Petrel, 75 Arctic, 70 Great, 2 Pomarine, 3 Long-tailed Skua, 10 Grey Phal, 1 sum plum Gt Northern Diver, 30 Arctic, 10 Sandwich Tern, 2 C Scoter.
Boy, .mp4 on here seems to really boost low-frequency noise, so here's the same clip with a strong high-pass filter to keep the noise down:
January 19, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Boy, .mp4 on here seems to really boost low-frequency noise, so here's the same clip with a strong high-pass filter to keep the noise down:
And while we're on Quail, two singing males in the same Berkshire Downs field in July 2023 had notably different timings. Quail A had spacing (notes 1-2/2-3) of 230/115ms and Quail B had spacing 275/155ms (each over 15+ calls). You can see/hear the difference in this (unedited) clip:
#berksbirdnews
#berksbirdnews
January 19, 2025 at 2:08 PM
And while we're on Quail, two singing males in the same Berkshire Downs field in July 2023 had notably different timings. Quail A had spacing (notes 1-2/2-3) of 230/115ms and Quail B had spacing 275/155ms (each over 15+ calls). You can see/hear the difference in this (unedited) clip:
#berksbirdnews
#berksbirdnews
Here's the #nocmig "wet-my-lips" call from Aug 2023, a Quail over my suburban garden.
A couple of minutes later we went out to look for shooting stars, so we could have heard it (or drowned it out with "oohs" and "ahs").
And that background click is probably masking a wah-wah call.
#berksbirdnews
A couple of minutes later we went out to look for shooting stars, so we could have heard it (or drowned it out with "oohs" and "ahs").
And that background click is probably masking a wah-wah call.
#berksbirdnews
January 16, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Here's the #nocmig "wet-my-lips" call from Aug 2023, a Quail over my suburban garden.
A couple of minutes later we went out to look for shooting stars, so we could have heard it (or drowned it out with "oohs" and "ahs").
And that background click is probably masking a wah-wah call.
#berksbirdnews
A couple of minutes later we went out to look for shooting stars, so we could have heard it (or drowned it out with "oohs" and "ahs").
And that background click is probably masking a wah-wah call.
#berksbirdnews
I was trying to increase my Hawfinch tally when a ringing, rattling call sounded out four or five times. I was too slow to see the bird, but the best match I have is Serin, which is a great bird for the county. If there is another explanation, please let me know!
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January 9, 2025 at 11:05 PM
I was trying to increase my Hawfinch tally when a ringing, rattling call sounded out four or five times. I was too slow to see the bird, but the best match I have is Serin, which is a great bird for the county. If there is another explanation, please let me know!
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Raven was seen and recorded a handful of times, with the best sighting being of two widely separated birds heading SW, with the second giving a richly voiced call to keep in touch with its partner.
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January 9, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Raven was seen and recorded a handful of times, with the best sighting being of two widely separated birds heading SW, with the second giving a richly voiced call to keep in touch with its partner.
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Another bird was barely captured on camera, but when one passed directly overhead, the autofocus let me down and I couldn’t get even get a record shot. But the recording was very clear.
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January 9, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Another bird was barely captured on camera, but when one passed directly overhead, the autofocus let me down and I couldn’t get even get a record shot. But the recording was very clear.
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Hawfinch is one of my favourite birds. Although scarce in Berkshire, but it appears on autumn passage over the garden in most years. With 2024 bringing high numbers across the country, I waited until the last week of October for my first record, which was then followed on nine more dates.
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January 9, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Hawfinch is one of my favourite birds. Although scarce in Berkshire, but it appears on autumn passage over the garden in most years. With 2024 bringing high numbers across the country, I waited until the last week of October for my first record, which was then followed on nine more dates.
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Another soprano call was picked up, and with the help of Chirpity AI, confirmed as a Treecreeper somewhere close by. This has led to potential earlier records from September this year, and even from 2023. Only one bird seen from the garden previously, so delighted to have this one recorded.
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January 9, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Another soprano call was picked up, and with the help of Chirpity AI, confirmed as a Treecreeper somewhere close by. This has led to potential earlier records from September this year, and even from 2023. Only one bird seen from the garden previously, so delighted to have this one recorded.
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This little beauty was later seen about 100m
away, so a winter or spring reappearance seems likely. It gave some weak song phrases, on one occasion over the church bells:
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away, so a winter or spring reappearance seems likely. It gave some weak song phrases, on one occasion over the church bells:
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January 9, 2025 at 10:58 PM
This little beauty was later seen about 100m
away, so a winter or spring reappearance seems likely. It gave some weak song phrases, on one occasion over the church bells:
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away, so a winter or spring reappearance seems likely. It gave some weak song phrases, on one occasion over the church bells:
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The Firecrest was a regular visitor over the next three weeks, strong peeping.
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January 9, 2025 at 10:56 PM
The Firecrest was a regular visitor over the next three weeks, strong peeping.
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In between the YBW events, another wing-barred gem caught my attention. After sunset, I heard a
potential Firecrest over my laptop fan, through the open window. Rushing outside, I confirmed a
male as the first garden record, in the same hawthorn in which the YBW had reappeared in October.
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potential Firecrest over my laptop fan, through the open window. Rushing outside, I confirmed a
male as the first garden record, in the same hawthorn in which the YBW had reappeared in October.
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January 9, 2025 at 10:53 PM
In between the YBW events, another wing-barred gem caught my attention. After sunset, I heard a
potential Firecrest over my laptop fan, through the open window. Rushing outside, I confirmed a
male as the first garden record, in the same hawthorn in which the YBW had reappeared in October.
18/
potential Firecrest over my laptop fan, through the open window. Rushing outside, I confirmed a
male as the first garden record, in the same hawthorn in which the YBW had reappeared in October.
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The YBW went unfound with 2 days of rain, but on 16th I heard a YBW-like call from the treeline 50m away and got some calls recorded on an extended lunchbreak.
After 27 days with no calls at all ... a second bird was recorded. First 3 calls October, second 3 calls November (+ more symmetric):
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After 27 days with no calls at all ... a second bird was recorded. First 3 calls October, second 3 calls November (+ more symmetric):
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January 9, 2025 at 10:52 PM
The YBW went unfound with 2 days of rain, but on 16th I heard a YBW-like call from the treeline 50m away and got some calls recorded on an extended lunchbreak.
After 27 days with no calls at all ... a second bird was recorded. First 3 calls October, second 3 calls November (+ more symmetric):
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After 27 days with no calls at all ... a second bird was recorded. First 3 calls October, second 3 calls November (+ more symmetric):
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Another indication that some nights are just perfect for a certain species was the seven records of Dunlin on the night of 2nd November, confirming this as a good time for inland records.
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January 9, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Another indication that some nights are just perfect for a certain species was the seven records of Dunlin on the night of 2nd November, confirming this as a good time for inland records.
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A few weeks later, the #nocmig Barnies were followed by the first garden record of Brent Goose, and although small in number, they were still calling clearly enough to be identified.
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January 9, 2025 at 10:42 PM
A few weeks later, the #nocmig Barnies were followed by the first garden record of Brent Goose, and although small in number, they were still calling clearly enough to be identified.
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Away in October so someone else recorded, but there was still a new #nocmig species … a flock of Barnacle Geese taking over 60 seconds to pass. Another flock a few weeks later
took even longer, so I doubt these were the 20 or so birds from 6km to the south that never seem to go anywhere.
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took even longer, so I doubt these were the 20 or so birds from 6km to the south that never seem to go anywhere.
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January 9, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Away in October so someone else recorded, but there was still a new #nocmig species … a flock of Barnacle Geese taking over 60 seconds to pass. Another flock a few weeks later
took even longer, so I doubt these were the 20 or so birds from 6km to the south that never seem to go anywhere.
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took even longer, so I doubt these were the 20 or so birds from 6km to the south that never seem to go anywhere.
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Ring Ouzel is a great #nocmig bird, and this year there were two October records, the first being an
excellent close-up three-squeak sequence.
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excellent close-up three-squeak sequence.
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January 9, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Ring Ouzel is a great #nocmig bird, and this year there were two October records, the first being an
excellent close-up three-squeak sequence.
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excellent close-up three-squeak sequence.
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Another new species in 2023 was Gadwall and I got some good photos. I really wasn’t
expecting to get Gadwall as a #nocmig recording, but use of AI models in the Chirpity app gives a strong score for Gadwall, and with the whistling sounds, I have some confidence this is the correct ID.
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expecting to get Gadwall as a #nocmig recording, but use of AI models in the Chirpity app gives a strong score for Gadwall, and with the whistling sounds, I have some confidence this is the correct ID.
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January 9, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Another new species in 2023 was Gadwall and I got some good photos. I really wasn’t
expecting to get Gadwall as a #nocmig recording, but use of AI models in the Chirpity app gives a strong score for Gadwall, and with the whistling sounds, I have some confidence this is the correct ID.
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expecting to get Gadwall as a #nocmig recording, but use of AI models in the Chirpity app gives a strong score for Gadwall, and with the whistling sounds, I have some confidence this is the correct ID.
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A new bird for 2023 was Grey Plover, with several November records … a species I have never even
seen in the county. This year there was a single early Autumn record, with several clear “peeyoo”
calls.
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seen in the county. This year there was a single early Autumn record, with several clear “peeyoo”
calls.
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January 9, 2025 at 10:36 PM
A new bird for 2023 was Grey Plover, with several November records … a species I have never even
seen in the county. This year there was a single early Autumn record, with several clear “peeyoo”
calls.
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seen in the county. This year there was a single early Autumn record, with several clear “peeyoo”
calls.
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The autumn was also good for Whimbrel, with first calls at end of July, two records in August and one
in September. The best was not #nocmig, but occurred at 9am as I lay in bed, heard over the
neighbour’s power tools … if I’d been outside quicker I could have got it on the "seen" list !
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in September. The best was not #nocmig, but occurred at 9am as I lay in bed, heard over the
neighbour’s power tools … if I’d been outside quicker I could have got it on the "seen" list !
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January 9, 2025 at 10:35 PM
The autumn was also good for Whimbrel, with first calls at end of July, two records in August and one
in September. The best was not #nocmig, but occurred at 9am as I lay in bed, heard over the
neighbour’s power tools … if I’d been outside quicker I could have got it on the "seen" list !
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in September. The best was not #nocmig, but occurred at 9am as I lay in bed, heard over the
neighbour’s power tools … if I’d been outside quicker I could have got it on the "seen" list !
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It was a good year for Whimbrel #nocmig records, with thirteen records from mid April to mid May,
including two large flocks. The closest calls were very clear:
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including two large flocks. The closest calls were very clear:
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January 9, 2025 at 10:33 PM
It was a good year for Whimbrel #nocmig records, with thirteen records from mid April to mid May,
including two large flocks. The closest calls were very clear:
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including two large flocks. The closest calls were very clear:
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There were no early Spotted Flycatchers, and then on 12th May there were seven calls in 100
minutes, a migration flood. There is some variation but the majority of these seem good for SpotFly.
#nocmig #berksbirds
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minutes, a migration flood. There is some variation but the majority of these seem good for SpotFly.
#nocmig #berksbirds
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January 9, 2025 at 10:32 PM
There were no early Spotted Flycatchers, and then on 12th May there were seven calls in 100
minutes, a migration flood. There is some variation but the majority of these seem good for SpotFly.
#nocmig #berksbirds
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minutes, a migration flood. There is some variation but the majority of these seem good for SpotFly.
#nocmig #berksbirds
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I was stunned in August 2023 by a clear “wet-my-lips” Quail #nocmig call right over the garden. But I
was even more astonished to record the quieter “wah-wah” Quail call in May 2024, something I had
never heard before.
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was even more astonished to record the quieter “wah-wah” Quail call in May 2024, something I had
never heard before.
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January 9, 2025 at 10:31 PM
I was stunned in August 2023 by a clear “wet-my-lips” Quail #nocmig call right over the garden. But I
was even more astonished to record the quieter “wah-wah” Quail call in May 2024, something I had
never heard before.
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was even more astonished to record the quieter “wah-wah” Quail call in May 2024, something I had
never heard before.
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A flock of Common Terns in early May were very vocal, and closer than the Arctic Terns recorded last
year.
#ukbirding
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year.
#ukbirding
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January 9, 2025 at 10:30 PM
A flock of Common Terns in early May were very vocal, and closer than the Arctic Terns recorded last
year.
#ukbirding
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year.
#ukbirding
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