Sam O'Donnell
@samodonnell25.bsky.social
17/Patch Birder and Wildlife Photographer/Martin Garner Spurn Young birder of the year winner 2024/UK Life list 265 (Cory's Shearwater)
Had some great views of this Yellow-browed Warbler on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands yesterday for a few mins. Only my 3rd ever and all of them have been here! So nice to see that lovely bright supercilium and hear the call again! #ukbirding #patchbirding
November 24, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Had some great views of this Yellow-browed Warbler on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands yesterday for a few mins. Only my 3rd ever and all of them have been here! So nice to see that lovely bright supercilium and hear the call again! #ukbirding #patchbirding
A long and anxious wait to finish my lessons at college today paid off as I managed to see this Bittern on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands. A Patch tick and the first here since 2012! Also a Yellow-browed Warbler seen this morning, though no sign later on. Hopefully tomorrow 🤞
November 21, 2025 at 6:20 PM
A long and anxious wait to finish my lessons at college today paid off as I managed to see this Bittern on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands. A Patch tick and the first here since 2012! Also a Yellow-browed Warbler seen this morning, though no sign later on. Hopefully tomorrow 🤞
Yesterday's Brent Goose passage on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands was a bit insane! I had 114 out of a combined total of c200 all going high South! Also, 34 Lapwing and my first Goosander of the year here. #ukbirding
November 17, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Yesterday's Brent Goose passage on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands was a bit insane! I had 114 out of a combined total of c200 all going high South! Also, 34 Lapwing and my first Goosander of the year here. #ukbirding
Since my last post 10 days ago, Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands has been relatively quiet. Firecrest trapped and ringed on the 22nd was nice to see. A Marsh Harrier today was my 2nd ever here! Also 2 Ravens, YLG, Rock Pipit, Brambling, Redpolls, Siskins, Skylarks and more!
October 30, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Since my last post 10 days ago, Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands has been relatively quiet. Firecrest trapped and ringed on the 22nd was nice to see. A Marsh Harrier today was my 2nd ever here! Also 2 Ravens, YLG, Rock Pipit, Brambling, Redpolls, Siskins, Skylarks and more!
Bit of a crazy few days on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands. Found this Water Pipit, a Patch tick! My first Great Egret, 2 Brambling and 6 Pintails of the year here! Also Rock Pipits, Yellow-legged Gull, 7 Wigeon, Siskin, Redpoll, Jack Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Fieldfares, and more! #ukbirding
October 20, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Bit of a crazy few days on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands. Found this Water Pipit, a Patch tick! My first Great Egret, 2 Brambling and 6 Pintails of the year here! Also Rock Pipits, Yellow-legged Gull, 7 Wigeon, Siskin, Redpoll, Jack Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Fieldfares, and more! #ukbirding
Great day on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands and Waterworks NR. Med Gull, Rock Pipit, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, 5 Jack Snipes, Common Snipe, 10 Redpolls, Siskins, Raven, Skylark, YLG, 4 Wigeon, 80 Redwings and more! #ukbirding #patchbirding
October 15, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Great day on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands and Waterworks NR. Med Gull, Rock Pipit, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, 5 Jack Snipes, Common Snipe, 10 Redpolls, Siskins, Raven, Skylark, YLG, 4 Wigeon, 80 Redwings and more! #ukbirding #patchbirding
Another decent weekend on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands. Raven, Garganey, YLG, Caspian Gull, 2 Rock Pipits, Meadow Pipits, 3 Wigeons, Snipes, my first Redwings of the autumn, Stonechats and more. Nice to help out doing WeBS as well! #patchbirding #ukbirding
October 12, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Another decent weekend on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands. Raven, Garganey, YLG, Caspian Gull, 2 Rock Pipits, Meadow Pipits, 3 Wigeons, Snipes, my first Redwings of the autumn, Stonechats and more. Nice to help out doing WeBS as well! #patchbirding #ukbirding
Good to see 3 Rock Pipits this weekend on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands. My first here this year. Also, ringed Plover, Wheatear, Yellow Wagtails, Siskins, Swallows, Sand and House Martins, Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, Stonechats, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Sandpipers and more! #ukbirding
September 28, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Good to see 3 Rock Pipits this weekend on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands. My first here this year. Also, ringed Plover, Wheatear, Yellow Wagtails, Siskins, Swallows, Sand and House Martins, Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, Stonechats, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Sandpipers and more! #ukbirding
2 Green Sandpipers were nice to see on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands over the weekend, a species that I don't often see here. Also, decent movement of Meadow Pipits and Hirundines as well as a few Siskins and a Snipe.
September 22, 2025 at 4:56 PM
2 Green Sandpipers were nice to see on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands over the weekend, a species that I don't often see here. Also, decent movement of Meadow Pipits and Hirundines as well as a few Siskins and a Snipe.
A few more of the very smart juvenile Red-necked Phalarope while at Migfest! @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social
September 18, 2025 at 5:35 PM
A few more of the very smart juvenile Red-necked Phalarope while at Migfest! @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social
Migfest 2025 was really fun! Red-necked Phalarope (lifer!), Cranes, Curlew Sandpipers, Garganey, Pink feet, Osprey, Arctic Skua, Tree Pipit, Redstarts, Crossbill and 000s of Meadow Pipit the highlights! Was fantastic to have such amazing company as well! Sorry don't have enough space to tag people.
September 15, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Migfest 2025 was really fun! Red-necked Phalarope (lifer!), Cranes, Curlew Sandpipers, Garganey, Pink feet, Osprey, Arctic Skua, Tree Pipit, Redstarts, Crossbill and 000s of Meadow Pipit the highlights! Was fantastic to have such amazing company as well! Sorry don't have enough space to tag people.
Been a very good weekend on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands. 2 Patch ticks being Grasshopper Warbler and 2 Ravens! Both extremely rare birds here! Also, Caspian and YL Gull, 2 Greenshanks, 2 Curlews, Hobby, 6+ Spotted Flycatchers, first Meadow Pipits of the autumn and more! #ukbirding
September 7, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Been a very good weekend on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands. 2 Patch ticks being Grasshopper Warbler and 2 Ravens! Both extremely rare birds here! Also, Caspian and YL Gull, 2 Greenshanks, 2 Curlews, Hobby, 6+ Spotted Flycatchers, first Meadow Pipits of the autumn and more! #ukbirding
On Saturday, I headed to Rainham Marshes with Ben Rumsby, @ravigrewal.bsky.social, Daniel Brasier, and Fred Matthews. Was brilliant to see a Roseate Tern on the river (credit to Fred for picking it up)! Very distant but a great bird! Also 4 Wood Sands, Whinchat, Tree Pipit, Barn Owl etc
September 1, 2025 at 7:47 PM
On Saturday, I headed to Rainham Marshes with Ben Rumsby, @ravigrewal.bsky.social, Daniel Brasier, and Fred Matthews. Was brilliant to see a Roseate Tern on the river (credit to Fred for picking it up)! Very distant but a great bird! Also 4 Wood Sands, Whinchat, Tree Pipit, Barn Owl etc
Since I've got back from Pembs, Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands has been quite good. Ruff (my 2nd ever here and a patch rarity), Greenshank, Blackwit, Black Tern, 1st summer Arctic Tern, Wheatear, Garganey, Spot fly, both Caspian and YLG, Hobby, Yellow Wags and more! #ukbirding #patchbirding
September 1, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Since I've got back from Pembs, Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands has been quite good. Ruff (my 2nd ever here and a patch rarity), Greenshank, Blackwit, Black Tern, 1st summer Arctic Tern, Wheatear, Garganey, Spot fly, both Caspian and YLG, Hobby, Yellow Wags and more! #ukbirding #patchbirding
A nice final walk around the Nevern Estuary this morning. Found this Wood Warbler, which was quite a surprise! Also the German ringed juvenile female Osprey still showing well, Blackwit, 10 Ringo, 30 Dunlins, Kingfisher, Red Kite 3 Med Gulls, Willow Warbler and more! #ukbirding
August 26, 2025 at 7:01 PM
A nice final walk around the Nevern Estuary this morning. Found this Wood Warbler, which was quite a surprise! Also the German ringed juvenile female Osprey still showing well, Blackwit, 10 Ringo, 30 Dunlins, Kingfisher, Red Kite 3 Med Gulls, Willow Warbler and more! #ukbirding
Found this Lesser Emperor a couple days ago on Dinas Head. Must have been newly arrived as it was on the headland with no bodies of water apart from the sea around. Pretty rare here I think! Yesterday, I finally saw my first Euro Storm Petrels along with good views of Conmon Dolphins! #ukbirding
August 26, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Found this Lesser Emperor a couple days ago on Dinas Head. Must have been newly arrived as it was on the headland with no bodies of water apart from the sea around. Pretty rare here I think! Yesterday, I finally saw my first Euro Storm Petrels along with good views of Conmon Dolphins! #ukbirding
First 2 days in Pembs have been great! Lots of good birds at the Nevern Estuary. Little Stint, German ringed Osprey, Yellow Wagtails, Knot, Arctic and Sandwich Terns, both Godwits, and more! I finally saw my first ever Willow Tits in the UK as well after dipping multiple times! #ukbirding
August 23, 2025 at 9:06 PM
First 2 days in Pembs have been great! Lots of good birds at the Nevern Estuary. Little Stint, German ringed Osprey, Yellow Wagtails, Knot, Arctic and Sandwich Terns, both Godwits, and more! I finally saw my first ever Willow Tits in the UK as well after dipping multiple times! #ukbirding
The last few days on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands have been ok though a little dull at times but today was great! This juv Little Stint made me rush out again after I had just arrived home! Also so far this week, Curlew, Yellow Wagtail, Wheatear, Hobby, Little Owl, Ringo, YLG. #ukbirding
August 19, 2025 at 7:04 PM
The last few days on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands have been ok though a little dull at times but today was great! This juv Little Stint made me rush out again after I had just arrived home! Also so far this week, Curlew, Yellow Wagtail, Wheatear, Hobby, Little Owl, Ringo, YLG. #ukbirding
On the way back home from a nice week in the North York Moors and the surrounding area. 92 species seen including Cory's Shearwater, Barn Owls from the garden, Redstart, Tree Pipits, Red Grouse, Auks, Waders, Yellow Wagtails, Marsh Harrier, and more! Also a few nice inverts. #ukbirding
August 16, 2025 at 10:18 AM
On the way back home from a nice week in the North York Moors and the surrounding area. 92 species seen including Cory's Shearwater, Barn Owls from the garden, Redstart, Tree Pipits, Red Grouse, Auks, Waders, Yellow Wagtails, Marsh Harrier, and more! Also a few nice inverts. #ukbirding
It's been a good start to a week away in the North York Moors. Took a trip to Bempton and Flamborough for the first time and found a Cory's Shearwater, a UK lifer! Also seen over the last few days, SPB Fritillary, Barn Owls, Redstart, Tree Pipit, Spot flys and Marsh Harrier! #ukbirding
August 13, 2025 at 8:16 AM
It's been a good start to a week away in the North York Moors. Took a trip to Bempton and Flamborough for the first time and found a Cory's Shearwater, a UK lifer! Also seen over the last few days, SPB Fritillary, Barn Owls, Redstart, Tree Pipit, Spot flys and Marsh Harrier! #ukbirding
Was nice to see this juvenile Dunlin yesterday on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands. It was incredibly tame, so it's possible it may have never seen people before! Also Willow Warbler, Lesser Whitethroats, Hobby, Peregrine, Red Kite, and a Swallow today. #ukbirding
August 4, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Was nice to see this juvenile Dunlin yesterday on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands. It was incredibly tame, so it's possible it may have never seen people before! Also Willow Warbler, Lesser Whitethroats, Hobby, Peregrine, Red Kite, and a Swallow today. #ukbirding
Came back from an amazing 2 weeks at Knepp with @opwall.bsky.social. I learnt and saw so much plus met some great people! Highlights were Storks, Nightingales, Turtle Doves, Crossbills, Brown Hairstreaks, White-legged Damselflies and more!
Full list can be found here: ebird.org/tripreport/399…
Full list can be found here: ebird.org/tripreport/399…
August 3, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Came back from an amazing 2 weeks at Knepp with @opwall.bsky.social. I learnt and saw so much plus met some great people! Highlights were Storks, Nightingales, Turtle Doves, Crossbills, Brown Hairstreaks, White-legged Damselflies and more!
Full list can be found here: ebird.org/tripreport/399…
Full list can be found here: ebird.org/tripreport/399…
Another decent day on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands. Finally, Patch ticked Coal Tit which are pretty scarce here! Also, the Garganey reappeared, another Whimbrel, 29+ (!) Common Sandpipers, Yellow Wagtail and more! #ukbirding
July 20, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Another decent day on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands. Finally, Patch ticked Coal Tit which are pretty scarce here! Also, the Garganey reappeared, another Whimbrel, 29+ (!) Common Sandpipers, Yellow Wagtail and more! #ukbirding
The torrential rain today didn't produce anything on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands this morning but yesterday was pretty good. 2 Whimbrels and this Silver-washed Fritillary! The Frit was my first here and the first I've ever heard of here since I've started patching the site! #ukbirding
July 19, 2025 at 6:42 PM
The torrential rain today didn't produce anything on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands this morning but yesterday was pretty good. 2 Whimbrels and this Silver-washed Fritillary! The Frit was my first here and the first I've ever heard of here since I've started patching the site! #ukbirding
Great to find this Garganey on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands this morning. Only my 2nd here and my first since 2022! Also finally saw my first Dunlin of the year here, Common Sandpipers, Common Gull, Lesser Emperor, 3 Red Kites, Lesser Whitethroat, and more! #ukbirding
July 16, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Great to find this Garganey on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands this morning. Only my 2nd here and my first since 2022! Also finally saw my first Dunlin of the year here, Common Sandpipers, Common Gull, Lesser Emperor, 3 Red Kites, Lesser Whitethroat, and more! #ukbirding