Phil Andrews
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Phil Andrews
@pmandrews1973.bsky.social
780 followers 690 following 820 posts
Self-confessed twitcher & West Midlands birder, thwarted by work, 2 kids + a wife. With a few moths, butterflies + dragonflies thrown in for good measure.
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Any thoughts on this very worn moth in the morning's trap? I was thinking initially Yellow-line Quaker but I have received some more interesting suggestions
#TeamMoth
@mothiduk.bsky.social
November 13, 2025 at 11:31 AM
31 species around Hill Hook NR this morning - in addition to the below WeBS count I also had Skylark, Nuthatch, Siskin, Grey Wagtail, Redpoll and Raven
@ecorecord.bsky.social @ruthnewby.bsky.social
November 9, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Was bemoaning the lack of variety in this mornings trap (9 Ruddy Streak, 2 Red-green Carpet, 1 Juniper Carpet) when out popped this micro, Phyllonorycter messaniella, new for me + the VC38 portion of the SK10 square #TeamMoth
@ruthnewby.bsky.social @bcwarwickshire.bsky.social @ecorecord.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Recent nights have brought December Moth and Satellite as NFY, together with Feathered Thorn and Acleris notana/ferrugana.
B74 SK10 VC38
@ruthnewby.bsky.social @bcwarwickshire.bsky.social @ecorecord.bsky.social
November 4, 2025 at 3:07 PM
7 redhead Goosander yesterday in Sutton Park on Keeper's Pool. Today a drake Shoveler at Hill Hook NR on Mill Pool found earlier by @ruthnewby.bsky.social. My first ever in this location was also 2nd Nov (2023) - wonder if they are displaced off another body of water by fireworks? 🤔
November 2, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Below is chronological rundown of the additions to the West Mids regional list since 1990 (hopefully no mistakes although I can't guarantee it!). Some impressive sightings in that list - I wonder what the next new species for the West Midlands will be? @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social
November 1, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Monday afternoon found me at Spurn catching up with my first Black-faced Bunting after dips at Rimac and this year on Shetland; bird showed well with patience. First time I had been down to the Point in years; fascinating to see the reprofiling of the peninsular
October 22, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Good views of the White-rumped Sandpiper at Blithfield Reservoir along Admaston Reach this afternoon; also Black-necked Grebe south of the causeway but no sign of the Spoonbill. Pair of glasses left on the gate to Blithe Bay
@staffsbirdnews.bsky.social @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social
October 18, 2025 at 4:22 PM
A further 2 Merveille du Jour in this morning's trap along with Feathered Thorn, Barred Sallow and 2 NFY - Mottled Umber and Red-line Quaker
B74 VC38 SK10
@ruthnewby.bsky.social @bcwarwickshire.bsky.social @ecorecord.bsky.social
October 18, 2025 at 9:14 AM
The moth trap continues to produce - Beaded Chestnut and Feathered Thorn were NFY this morning with my 2nd and 3rd Green-brindled Crescent. But all usurped by this Gem, new for me and the SK10 square.
VC38 B74
@ruthnewby.bsky.social @bcwarwickshire.bsky.social @ecorecord.bsky.social
October 16, 2025 at 5:44 PM
A painful dip on a sodden Rhum back in 2013 was finally put to bed y'day with a successful day twitch to St Agnes for the Mourning Dove. A decent supporting cast with Buff-bellied Pipt, Spotted Sand, Lapland Bunt on the island + c70 Great Shearwater, Sooty Shears and Stormies from the Scillonian.
October 14, 2025 at 6:18 PM
A warm mizzly night produced 35/13 in trap - Green-brindled Cresent was new for me. Also my 2nd+3rd Merveille du Jour whilst 5 November Moth agg were NFY. Also Yellow-line Quaker + Blairs Shoulder-knot of note
B74 VC38 SK10
@ruthnewby.bsky.social @bcwarwickshire.bsky.social @ecorecord.bsky.social
October 14, 2025 at 11:49 AM
A definate change of seasons in Sutton Park this weekend - just a single Chiffchaff encountered with far more Coal Tit, Goldcrest + Jay; Ring-necked Parakeet & 7 Cormorant on Keepers Pool. Also this Ruby Tiger caterpillar on the path
@ecorecord.bsky.social
October 12, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Behold! Purest green!
Atlantis has fallen - Merveille du Jour finally on my list with one perched precariously on the edge of the trap in the dark. Also Yellow-line Quaker new for the current garden.
B74 VC38 SK10
@ruthnewby.bsky.social @bcwarwickshire.bsky.social @ecorecord.bsky.social
October 10, 2025 at 8:51 AM
October 10, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Wednesday was spent travelling from Aberdeen to the West Midlands via the Western Sandpiper at Maidens. Not a classic year with the weather against us most of the time but a showy lifer with Siberian Thrush. Just a case of what might have been if we'd gone to look at the 'Little Bunting'
October 10, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Final day on Shetland + the last day mega didnt happen. Worked a variety of sites on south Mainland for more Yellow-browed Warbler, seconds of the Western Subalp, much better views of Blue-winged Teal + wader selection on Virkie. Even reduced to looking at fungi (Stinkhorn + Lawyers Cap I believe)
October 10, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Day 9 on Shetland - 3 close Storm Petrel Scalloway harbour + 2 Pale- bellied Brent Geese, more Stormies off Aith, Tundra Bean Goose East Burrafirth, 3 YBW Michaelswood, BW Teal in flight + 2 Scaup Merlin Loch of Spiggie, Sibe Chiff Maywick, showy RB Fly Quendale + Western Subalpine Warbler Levenwick
October 5, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Day 6 on Shetland and another odd one. A kick about our Burn of Sound patch produced nothing then a dash down to Sumburgh Head to just miss an orca pod - one I still desperately need. Then a sprint up to Loch of Asta for multiple views of my 2nd Siberian Thrush of the week in this clump over 4 hours
October 2, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Day 5 on Shetland + another cliche - "challenging weather". Common Rosefinch on the beach at Grutness + an unperturbed Glossy Ibis feeding in the incongruous setting of a peat bog at Eshaness, a bit different to my last views on Mallorca. Corncrake + Wryneck dipped in wind + rain.
October 1, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Day 4 in Shetland and time to deploy the first autumn birding cliche - "hard work". Sites in north + central Mainland yielded 3 YBW, Willow W, Merlin, Water Rail, Wheatear, 2 Purple Sand + Red Grouse; highlight was a Hedgehog at Busta House. Not seen so much angst and woe on Shetland since ...
September 30, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Day 3 on Shetland was an odd one. Started with the inevitable dip on Black-faced Bunting followed by slow birding with migrant numbers down; Red Kite the highlight (plus migrant insects - Painted Lady, Hummingbird Hawkmoth + Rush Veneer). Rounded off with flight views of a lifer, Siberian Thrush
September 29, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Day 2 on Shetland and 2 seconds for me with a distant Blue-winged Teal on Loch of Spiggie + Rustic Bunting at Maywick, found by our crew. Also showy Bluethroat at Geosetter, several Yellow-browed Warbler, Slav Grebes, Great Northern Divers, Curlew Sand, Whooper Swans.
September 28, 2025 at 6:41 PM
First day on Shetland started with a drake Ring-necked Duck on Loch of Tingwall. Then a trip over to Yell for an elusive Brown Shrike (seen twice in flight) + a skulking Barred Warbler before dipping a Short-toed Lark. Kicking around a few sites in north Mainland produced nowt of note.
September 27, 2025 at 6:45 PM
After Musselburgh it was on the Lunan Bay - another White-winged Scoter, Long-tailed Ducks, Arctic Skua and my first Pink-footed Geese of the autumn but no sign of the Surf Scoter
September 26, 2025 at 6:37 PM