Chris Sharpe
@sharpebirder.bsky.social
Conservation biologist: threatened birds, Redlists, bird vocalisations, RAPs & surveys, shorebirds. Working in 🇻🇪 & Latin America since 1988. Made in The North 🇬🇧.
Venezuela is famous for having the largest proven oil reserves in the world, being home to the world's tallest waterfall and the ice-cream shop with most flavours, but this? I had no idea about the 'Worst in the World Insane Asylum'. The pretext for war seems to have shifted yet again.
September 20, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Venezuela is famous for having the largest proven oil reserves in the world, being home to the world's tallest waterfall and the ice-cream shop with most flavours, but this? I had no idea about the 'Worst in the World Insane Asylum'. The pretext for war seems to have shifted yet again.
Colossal Biosciences have succeeded, "through radical new technologies" in replicating the phenotype of Golden-crowned Manakin Lepidothrix vilasboasi even before it is extinct!
doi.org/10.2173/bow....
doi.org/10.2173/bow....
September 3, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Colossal Biosciences have succeeded, "through radical new technologies" in replicating the phenotype of Golden-crowned Manakin Lepidothrix vilasboasi even before it is extinct!
doi.org/10.2173/bow....
doi.org/10.2173/bow....
It really shouldn't require "a backlash" to remind people that a neo-Nazi music festival is not a good idea, even in Yarmouth.
September 3, 2025 at 5:55 AM
It really shouldn't require "a backlash" to remind people that a neo-Nazi music festival is not a good idea, even in Yarmouth.
Anyone still not able to join the dots...?
August 11, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Anyone still not able to join the dots...?
Norfolk is set to warm back up to Caracas temperatures again next week. The Chinese can cook up some pretty convincing hoaxes.
August 9, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Norfolk is set to warm back up to Caracas temperatures again next week. The Chinese can cook up some pretty convincing hoaxes.
These binoculars have been wonderful companions on many a field trip and tour, but although I've really pampered them the time has come to test that famous Swarovski warranty.
August 9, 2025 at 2:51 PM
These binoculars have been wonderful companions on many a field trip and tour, but although I've really pampered them the time has come to test that famous Swarovski warranty.
A heart-stoppingly faithful rendition of Eurasian Curlew extended song by this little fellow this morning, a potential first for our garden. Curlew do breed in Breckland, which is presumably where this Starling learned the prank.
July 2, 2025 at 10:00 AM
A heart-stoppingly faithful rendition of Eurasian Curlew extended song by this little fellow this morning, a potential first for our garden. Curlew do breed in Breckland, which is presumably where this Starling learned the prank.
Our work on re-evaluating the status of Venezuela's shorebirds/waders is finally out in Cotinga. We hope to have addressed confusion perpetuated in the literature and present a new official checklist comprising 46 confirmed species. #ornithology
June 26, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Our work on re-evaluating the status of Venezuela's shorebirds/waders is finally out in Cotinga. We hope to have addressed confusion perpetuated in the literature and present a new official checklist comprising 46 confirmed species. #ornithology
Is anybody else finding problems with distance-time-route measurement in the new @cornellbirds.bsky.social Android eBird update? Today's 3.77km survey track initially truncated by eBird to 3.00km, now showing 30.00 km! Track, time and distance all incorrect. #ornithology
June 19, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Is anybody else finding problems with distance-time-route measurement in the new @cornellbirds.bsky.social Android eBird update? Today's 3.77km survey track initially truncated by eBird to 3.00km, now showing 30.00 km! Track, time and distance all incorrect. #ornithology
Surprise encounter with a huge ancient coppiced Small-leaved Lime (Tilia cordata) along R Thet—possibly a naturally occurring tree? Lovely to behold whatever the case.
June 4, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Surprise encounter with a huge ancient coppiced Small-leaved Lime (Tilia cordata) along R Thet—possibly a naturally occurring tree? Lovely to behold whatever the case.
No shorebirds on today's wader survey on ancient grazed heathland on the upper R Thet—but all the warblers are back and it looks and sounds wonderful! #NorfolkBirds
April 30, 2025 at 7:53 AM
No shorebirds on today's wader survey on ancient grazed heathland on the upper R Thet—but all the warblers are back and it looks and sounds wonderful! #NorfolkBirds
After a record dry March the R Thet is low and easily forded on foot, but the remaining riparian alder carr on the upper Thet at Honeypot Rough is still supplying plenty of stored winter rainfall—and acting as a magnet for nesting birds.
April 12, 2025 at 9:01 AM
After a record dry March the R Thet is low and easily forded on foot, but the remaining riparian alder carr on the upper Thet at Honeypot Rough is still supplying plenty of stored winter rainfall—and acting as a magnet for nesting birds.
My last Breckland OS square finished for @btobirds.bsky.social Woodlark survey this morning. Still no Woodlark, but 1st Whitethroat & Sedge Warbler together with 80 Fieldfare & a few Redwing. #norfolkbirding
April 12, 2025 at 8:52 AM
My last Breckland OS square finished for @btobirds.bsky.social Woodlark survey this morning. Still no Woodlark, but 1st Whitethroat & Sedge Warbler together with 80 Fieldfare & a few Redwing. #norfolkbirding
A real mix of winter and summer along the upper R Thet this morning: Redwing and Fieldfare yielding to Willow Warbler and House Martin. Chiffchaff and Blackcap everywhere. Waders on territory: Stone-curlew, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Curlew & Snipe. #NorfolkBirding
April 10, 2025 at 12:36 PM
A real mix of winter and summer along the upper R Thet this morning: Redwing and Fieldfare yielding to Willow Warbler and House Martin. Chiffchaff and Blackcap everywhere. Waders on territory: Stone-curlew, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Curlew & Snipe. #NorfolkBirding
One of my favourite thrushes on Suffolk farmland today, and a pair of Short-eared Owl flushing from under my feet—I felt sorry for making them the butt of mobbing by gulls and crows as they soared away over Lowestoft. 2 Snipe too and a fieldful of Fieldfare.
April 4, 2025 at 12:58 PM
One of my favourite thrushes on Suffolk farmland today, and a pair of Short-eared Owl flushing from under my feet—I felt sorry for making them the butt of mobbing by gulls and crows as they soared away over Lowestoft. 2 Snipe too and a fieldful of Fieldfare.
1st Swallow of the year, Breckland waders—13 Curlew, Snipe, Oystercatcher, Lapwing—Great Egret, Marsh Harrier, Barn Owl, Woodlark & Stonechat at a sensitively managed local S Norfolk Breckland sheep farm this morning—a joy to behold. 64 spp. #ornithology
March 30, 2025 at 12:30 PM
1st Swallow of the year, Breckland waders—13 Curlew, Snipe, Oystercatcher, Lapwing—Great Egret, Marsh Harrier, Barn Owl, Woodlark & Stonechat at a sensitively managed local S Norfolk Breckland sheep farm this morning—a joy to behold. 64 spp. #ornithology
Breckland arable margin and roadside nature reserve: the ideal place for an oil change. Enjoy complementary open air seating with Stone Curlew and Woodlark too. #flytipping
March 20, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Breckland arable margin and roadside nature reserve: the ideal place for an oil change. Enjoy complementary open air seating with Stone Curlew and Woodlark too. #flytipping
Two Breckland OS squares covered for @btobirds.bsky.social Woodlark survey this morning. A fine walk—no Woodlark—but wetland/scrub/hedgerow habitat on former Willow Warbler & Tree Sparrow territories still being cleared. There's still time to sign up! www.bto.org/our-science/... #norfolkbirding
March 8, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Two Breckland OS squares covered for @btobirds.bsky.social Woodlark survey this morning. A fine walk—no Woodlark—but wetland/scrub/hedgerow habitat on former Willow Warbler & Tree Sparrow territories still being cleared. There's still time to sign up! www.bto.org/our-science/... #norfolkbirding
Here's something that may not be around for very much longer. Withdrawal of USDA funding has terminated my own work (por ahora...), and firing of staff and cuts directly affects these farming communities. They're cheering now, but will Trumpsters welcome the empty shelves and price increases?
March 3, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Here's something that may not be around for very much longer. Withdrawal of USDA funding has terminated my own work (por ahora...), and firing of staff and cuts directly affects these farming communities. They're cheering now, but will Trumpsters welcome the empty shelves and price increases?
Only the best publicity... @brecksfarmerswn.bsky.social
March 1, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Only the best publicity... @brecksfarmerswn.bsky.social
Anyone want to have a crack at estimating the number of birds (Starlings) in this flock? Answers on Monday. I tried at the time and failed miserably. And is there a quicker way of obtaining accurate numbers from imagery than painstaking manual counting?
January 17, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Anyone want to have a crack at estimating the number of birds (Starlings) in this flock? Answers on Monday. I tried at the time and failed miserably. And is there a quicker way of obtaining accurate numbers from imagery than painstaking manual counting?
Do you have a project proposal for #Neotropical bird #conservation? Our NBC Conservation Awards Programme makes grants of $1,500–$5,000 (> $30,000 each year). Next funding deadline: 31 Jan. Application details: www.neotropicalbirdclub.org/conservation.... Please spread the word! #ornithology
January 6, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Do you have a project proposal for #Neotropical bird #conservation? Our NBC Conservation Awards Programme makes grants of $1,500–$5,000 (> $30,000 each year). Next funding deadline: 31 Jan. Application details: www.neotropicalbirdclub.org/conservation.... Please spread the word! #ornithology