Phil Woollen
@philwoollen.bsky.social
Birder, twitcher, ringer, biologist, devoted husband & granddad to four gorgeous grandchildren
Just as well we’ve got 14 sitting down for Christmas dinner. He’s definitely safe as not big enough. In our garden and strutting around like he owns the place #ukbirding
December 9, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Just as well we’ve got 14 sitting down for Christmas dinner. He’s definitely safe as not big enough. In our garden and strutting around like he owns the place #ukbirding
Volume up. Sitting in the house whilst it’s still pitch black outside & heard Little Owl calling from fields in front of us. Glad to know they’re still around but haven’t discovered where yet #ukbirding #cheshirebirding #littleowls
December 8, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Volume up. Sitting in the house whilst it’s still pitch black outside & heard Little Owl calling from fields in front of us. Glad to know they’re still around but haven’t discovered where yet #ukbirding #cheshirebirding #littleowls
Adult winter plumaged Med Gull in field behind house partially hidden by trees. Taken through bedroom window. Good find among 300 B H Gulls, 100 Common Gulls a few Herring Gulls & a single Lesser Black Backed Gull #ukbirding #patchbirding #cheshirebirding
December 6, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Adult winter plumaged Med Gull in field behind house partially hidden by trees. Taken through bedroom window. Good find among 300 B H Gulls, 100 Common Gulls a few Herring Gulls & a single Lesser Black Backed Gull #ukbirding #patchbirding #cheshirebirding
After seeing several fly-past Seychelles Kestrels I was stoked to find a pair at a nest hole at the top of a tall tree near our hotel! #Seychelles #Praslin
December 1, 2025 at 8:18 AM
After seeing several fly-past Seychelles Kestrels I was stoked to find a pair at a nest hole at the top of a tall tree near our hotel! #Seychelles #Praslin
Even though they’re an introduced species to Seychelles Red Fody is still a stunning bird. Even managed a record shot of a scarce yellow morph #seychelles
November 30, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Even though they’re an introduced species to Seychelles Red Fody is still a stunning bird. Even managed a record shot of a scarce yellow morph #seychelles
Synchronised bathing by a couple of Ground Doves on Praslin (Seychelles) during a shower of rain #seychelles
November 30, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Synchronised bathing by a couple of Ground Doves on Praslin (Seychelles) during a shower of rain #seychelles
Amazed by the number of waders here on Praslin (Seychelles). Birds I’d expect to see back in UK & incredibly tame. Curlew Sand, Wood Sand, Greenshank, Grey Plover, Turnstone, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel & Curlew #seychelles
November 30, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Amazed by the number of waders here on Praslin (Seychelles). Birds I’d expect to see back in UK & incredibly tame. Curlew Sand, Wood Sand, Greenshank, Grey Plover, Turnstone, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel & Curlew #seychelles
Saw a Hawksbill Turtle in the surf 1st thing this morning but it didn’t come ashore. Took a walk along the beach this evening & she’d come ashore later & laid her eggs when we were out! Photo of trail to nest & there was another trail returning to sea. Rangers will mark it tomorrow #seychelles
November 29, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Saw a Hawksbill Turtle in the surf 1st thing this morning but it didn’t come ashore. Took a walk along the beach this evening & she’d come ashore later & laid her eggs when we were out! Photo of trail to nest & there was another trail returning to sea. Rangers will mark it tomorrow #seychelles
Worth skipping breakfast to get to Vallée de Mai early this morning for close views of this endemic Seychelles Parrot! By the time I left there were hordes of people & no parrots. Two distant Seychelles Kestrels completes the set of Praslin endemics #seychelles #birding
November 29, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Worth skipping breakfast to get to Vallée de Mai early this morning for close views of this endemic Seychelles Parrot! By the time I left there were hordes of people & no parrots. Two distant Seychelles Kestrels completes the set of Praslin endemics #seychelles #birding
A real surprise over dinner tonight when a Wedge-tailed Shearwater crash landed into the restaurant. Known locally, apparently, as ‘pukey birds’ after their habit of vomiting over rescuers. Waitress pushed it into a dark corner with a broom #seychelles
November 28, 2025 at 5:31 PM
A real surprise over dinner tonight when a Wedge-tailed Shearwater crash landed into the restaurant. Known locally, apparently, as ‘pukey birds’ after their habit of vomiting over rescuers. Waitress pushed it into a dark corner with a broom #seychelles
Caught up with another Seychelles endemic this afternoon on a stroll back from the beach. Seychelles Bulbul! Added another new species for the holiday list in Black-crowned Night Heron
November 28, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Caught up with another Seychelles endemic this afternoon on a stroll back from the beach. Seychelles Bulbul! Added another new species for the holiday list in Black-crowned Night Heron
4 endemics from our current trip to the Seychelles - Seychelles Magpie Robin, Seychelles Fody, Seychelles Warbler & Seychelles Blue Pigeon. First 3 all photographed on Cousin Island reserve & the pigeon at our resort on Praslin #seychelles
November 28, 2025 at 3:10 AM
4 endemics from our current trip to the Seychelles - Seychelles Magpie Robin, Seychelles Fody, Seychelles Warbler & Seychelles Blue Pigeon. First 3 all photographed on Cousin Island reserve & the pigeon at our resort on Praslin #seychelles
Snow on the Carneddau in N Wales viewed from @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social y’day. Incredible light. Visibility 60 miles+ and could see some of the Lake District peaks
November 22, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Snow on the Carneddau in N Wales viewed from @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social y’day. Incredible light. Visibility 60 miles+ and could see some of the Lake District peaks
Purple Sandpipers in low light at high tide y’day @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social 8 counted so hopefully we’ll soon have double figures wintering around the island
November 22, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Purple Sandpipers in low light at high tide y’day @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social 8 counted so hopefully we’ll soon have double figures wintering around the island
Frosty start to the morning and a dusting of snow on top of Moel Famau when I looked out the study window
November 20, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Frosty start to the morning and a dusting of snow on top of Moel Famau when I looked out the study window
Beautiful rainbow(s) from the garden y’day afternoon just after we finished our walk around the village. Highlight was my biggest flock (20) of Fieldfare so far this winter period
November 19, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Beautiful rainbow(s) from the garden y’day afternoon just after we finished our walk around the village. Highlight was my biggest flock (20) of Fieldfare so far this winter period
Rough seas @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social today & bitterly cold. -2 with wind chill from a northerly F6. Plenty of waders around with 6 Purple Sandpipers roosting with Turnstone & Redshank in Niffy Bay
November 19, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Rough seas @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social today & bitterly cold. -2 with wind chill from a northerly F6. Plenty of waders around with 6 Purple Sandpipers roosting with Turnstone & Redshank in Niffy Bay
Back to Grovesnor Park, Chester this morning to try & catch & colour ring Moorhens for National Waterbird marking scheme. No new birds but retrapped H23 ringed July 2024. Now to repair one of the traps where rat chewed through before I could release it
November 18, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Back to Grovesnor Park, Chester this morning to try & catch & colour ring Moorhens for National Waterbird marking scheme. No new birds but retrapped H23 ringed July 2024. Now to repair one of the traps where rat chewed through before I could release it
11 Whooper Swans just flown over the garden heading NW presumably towards Martin Mere! Patch gold. Only my 3rd sighting in 9 years living here #pwc2025 #cheshirebirding #ukbirding
November 16, 2025 at 9:10 AM
11 Whooper Swans just flown over the garden heading NW presumably towards Martin Mere! Patch gold. Only my 3rd sighting in 9 years living here #pwc2025 #cheshirebirding #ukbirding
The pond opposite our house is just beginning to fill up after being completely dry all summer. I can just see the water for 1st time since spring. These 2 Wigeon just dropped in! #ukbirding #patchbirding #pwc2025
November 14, 2025 at 2:17 PM
The pond opposite our house is just beginning to fill up after being completely dry all summer. I can just see the water for 1st time since spring. These 2 Wigeon just dropped in! #ukbirding #patchbirding #pwc2025
Just picked this up from the framers and hung it on my study wall. A beautiful drawing from an original photo of the Siberian Rubythroat I found on Fetlar in 2019. Thanks to @ruths-portraits.bsky.social for doing such a beautiful commission for me #ukbirding
November 14, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Just picked this up from the framers and hung it on my study wall. A beautiful drawing from an original photo of the Siberian Rubythroat I found on Fetlar in 2019. Thanks to @ruths-portraits.bsky.social for doing such a beautiful commission for me #ukbirding
German colour ringed Curlew back @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social for its 2nd winter & having a good preen. 1st seen in November 2024 #birdringing #birdbanding
November 13, 2025 at 6:37 PM
German colour ringed Curlew back @hilbrebirdobs.bsky.social for its 2nd winter & having a good preen. 1st seen in November 2024 #birdringing #birdbanding