Simon Mitchell
@perilsofbirding.bsky.social
Birder, Ecological surveyor, Bird tour leader, Academic Researcher and Conservationist
Incredible a'noon at Caister. First a Pallas's flitting through in a huge tit flock. Then another glimpsed warbler, silent & elusive. After a heard only bird at Thornham y'day I wondered if I just hallucinate Hume's Warblers. Till it popped up calling. And a Dusky calling too!
November 17, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Incredible a'noon at Caister. First a Pallas's flitting through in a huge tit flock. Then another glimpsed warbler, silent & elusive. After a heard only bird at Thornham y'day I wondered if I just hallucinate Hume's Warblers. Till it popped up calling. And a Dusky calling too!
Yomping the Norfolk coast. Blackbirds everywhere; 'tseeping' from under every hedge. Woodcocks errupting at my feet. A Short-eared Owl winging in over brown waves at Cart Gap. Then in the gathering gloom a glowing rump and seven illuminated stripes. What late autumn is all about.
November 15, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Yomping the Norfolk coast. Blackbirds everywhere; 'tseeping' from under every hedge. Woodcocks errupting at my feet. A Short-eared Owl winging in over brown waves at Cart Gap. Then in the gathering gloom a glowing rump and seven illuminated stripes. What late autumn is all about.
Very happy to find this Pallid Swift at Cromer this a'noon - a typical chameleon in different light conditions, it gradually shifted towards East Runton after being repeatedly mobbed by a Pied Wag(!) Also marks my most-wanted birding milestone - my 300th species self-found in Britain and Ireland!
November 7, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Very happy to find this Pallid Swift at Cromer this a'noon - a typical chameleon in different light conditions, it gradually shifted towards East Runton after being repeatedly mobbed by a Pied Wag(!) Also marks my most-wanted birding milestone - my 300th species self-found in Britain and Ireland!
It’s certainly what the radar showed over continental US (see previous pics). Also one of the mechanisms Elkins (2004) cited for transatlantic vagrancy…
October 5, 2025 at 6:26 PM
It’s certainly what the radar showed over continental US (see previous pics). Also one of the mechanisms Elkins (2004) cited for transatlantic vagrancy…
By tonight (Sunday) these two systems close together forcing anything trapped between them to move East as fast as possible. Whilst the calm weather itself will eventually pass just SE of Iceland on Monday.
October 5, 2025 at 9:43 AM
By tonight (Sunday) these two systems close together forcing anything trapped between them to move East as fast as possible. Whilst the calm weather itself will eventually pass just SE of Iceland on Monday.
At the same time as the cold front continued to push SE, the large depression moved NW. Lucky or adept birds (black arrow) may have been able to reoriéntate between the two fronts, but unlucky ones (red arrows) were likely forced further offshore
October 5, 2025 at 9:29 AM
At the same time as the cold front continued to push SE, the large depression moved NW. Lucky or adept birds (black arrow) may have been able to reoriéntate between the two fronts, but unlucky ones (red arrows) were likely forced further offshore
By Friday night the cold front was moving down through New England and forcing birds ahead of it (see birdcast shot), whilst most birds will have gone into the wind successfully (black arrows) the was still a significant offshore breeze moving any potentially unlucky individuals NE (red arrow)
October 5, 2025 at 9:14 AM
By Friday night the cold front was moving down through New England and forcing birds ahead of it (see birdcast shot), whilst most birds will have gone into the wind successfully (black arrows) the was still a significant offshore breeze moving any potentially unlucky individuals NE (red arrow)
Radar shows this was associated with a decent movement of birds ahead of the front
October 5, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Radar shows this was associated with a decent movement of birds ahead of the front
As of Thursday night a cold front was pushing SE through the across Hudson Bay & Ontario. This represents one of the biggest temperature drops of the autumn so far with a decent SW wind ahead of the front. Potential for both departure and drifting of migrants out over Drake Passage.
October 5, 2025 at 9:03 AM
As of Thursday night a cold front was pushing SE through the across Hudson Bay & Ontario. This represents one of the biggest temperature drops of the autumn so far with a decent SW wind ahead of the front. Potential for both departure and drifting of migrants out over Drake Passage.
Bit of gratuitious footage for good measure. Playground sounds in the background for added atmosphere!
September 30, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Bit of gratuitious footage for good measure. Playground sounds in the background for added atmosphere!
After 25+ miles walked in better conditions along the Norfolk coast this month it felt sort of ironic that the first bird I lifted my bins for on a family outing at Happisburgh this afternoon was this lovely 1w Isabelline (Daurian) Shrike.
September 30, 2025 at 8:23 PM
After 25+ miles walked in better conditions along the Norfolk coast this month it felt sort of ironic that the first bird I lifted my bins for on a family outing at Happisburgh this afternoon was this lovely 1w Isabelline (Daurian) Shrike.
One of a brace of nice obvious 2cy Caspian Gulls on Norwich Waterworks this morning @rarebirder.bsky.social
September 20, 2025 at 1:24 PM
One of a brace of nice obvious 2cy Caspian Gulls on Norwich Waterworks this morning @rarebirder.bsky.social
Didnt expect my (long overdue), self found Glossy Ibis to be a flock of 22 which took off from a hidden ditch at Buckenham! Terrible phone photo as they headed SSE over the Yare
September 8, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Didnt expect my (long overdue), self found Glossy Ibis to be a flock of 22 which took off from a hidden ditch at Buckenham! Terrible phone photo as they headed SSE over the Yare