Simon Gillings
@simongillings.bsky.social
Birder, artist, sound recordist, data scientist at BTO; One half of Alula Designs. Views my own
After missing a flock of Brent Geese over the patch this morning I was very pleased to pick up 2 adult winter Little Gulls over Ditton Meadows - a mega patch tick! Super views of a displaying Kingfisher too #LowCarbonBirding
November 16, 2025 at 1:36 PM
After missing a flock of Brent Geese over the patch this morning I was very pleased to pick up 2 adult winter Little Gulls over Ditton Meadows - a mega patch tick! Super views of a displaying Kingfisher too #LowCarbonBirding
Breezy walk at Coveney Byall Fen. Whooper Swans, Cranes and an obliging Stonechat
November 2, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Breezy walk at Coveney Byall Fen. Whooper Swans, Cranes and an obliging Stonechat
New @aluladesigns.bsky.social mug so I can relive seawatching season #UKBirding
October 30, 2025 at 11:57 AM
New @aluladesigns.bsky.social mug so I can relive seawatching season #UKBirding
BirdTrack. Also can do other taxa (if desired). Data flow into local recorder network, LERCs, RBBP, etc. Available on iOS and Android with inbuilt data summaries, plus desktop app for further data management if required
October 23, 2025 at 2:11 PM
BirdTrack. Also can do other taxa (if desired). Data flow into local recorder network, LERCs, RBBP, etc. Available on iOS and Android with inbuilt data summaries, plus desktop app for further data management if required
Went to see the stunning Turkestan Shrike today with @sconebirding.bsky.social, seeing it catch beetles, tipulids and even a hawker dragonfly. Also lots of singing Dartford Warblers, a Woodlark and 24 Crossbills. But no joy with the Zitting Cisticolas so couldn't pull off a two-tick day #UKBirding
October 10, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Went to see the stunning Turkestan Shrike today with @sconebirding.bsky.social, seeing it catch beetles, tipulids and even a hawker dragonfly. Also lots of singing Dartford Warblers, a Woodlark and 24 Crossbills. But no joy with the Zitting Cisticolas so couldn't pull off a two-tick day #UKBirding
I'm glad these are small! Devil's Coach-horse Beetle @flamboroughbird.bsky.social. A good couple of days' birding with a wide range of species.
September 29, 2025 at 8:46 AM
I'm glad these are small! Devil's Coach-horse Beetle @flamboroughbird.bsky.social. A good couple of days' birding with a wide range of species.
My recent seawatching-inspired artwork for @aluladesigns.bsky.social, a Fea's type Pterodroma petrel #SuperSeabirdSunday #BirdArt
September 14, 2025 at 8:51 AM
My recent seawatching-inspired artwork for @aluladesigns.bsky.social, a Fea's type Pterodroma petrel #SuperSeabirdSunday #BirdArt
Great day birding Fen Drayton and surroundings with @scottmayson.bsky.social, catching up with the already present Curlew Sandpipers, Little Stint and Black Tern, plus good views of small and large fish eaters #UKBirding
September 13, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Great day birding Fen Drayton and surroundings with @scottmayson.bsky.social, catching up with the already present Curlew Sandpipers, Little Stint and Black Tern, plus good views of small and large fish eaters #UKBirding
An unexpected but very pleasant detour on route to work today to see this elegant Lesser Yellowlegs at Isleham Washes. Unfortunately it was flushed by a Sparrowhawk and flew off NE. Hopefully it will come back #UKBirding
September 12, 2025 at 9:54 AM
An unexpected but very pleasant detour on route to work today to see this elegant Lesser Yellowlegs at Isleham Washes. Unfortunately it was flushed by a Sparrowhawk and flew off NE. Hopefully it will come back #UKBirding
Checking my backlog of passive nocmig recordings made whilst away from home. A nice Quail over my Cambridge garden 23:26, 21st August 2025 @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #bioacoustics
September 3, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Checking my backlog of passive nocmig recordings made whilst away from home. A nice Quail over my Cambridge garden 23:26, 21st August 2025 @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #bioacoustics
Short video of one of the Great Shearwaters from Friday at Bloody Foreland #DonegalBirding #UKBirding
August 31, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Short video of one of the Great Shearwaters from Friday at Bloody Foreland #DonegalBirding #UKBirding
Hi, thanks I'll remember that for next time I'm visiting. I was watching from 55.148799,-8.292463, using the car as a shelter!
August 29, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Hi, thanks I'll remember that for next time I'm visiting. I was watching from 55.148799,-8.292463, using the car as a shelter!
Seawatch at Bloody Foreland, Donegal this am surpassed expectations. Self-found Fea's type petrel (0858 south), 3 Cory’s, 17 Great (📷), 18 Sooty, 800+ Manx. Also 2 adult Sab's Gulls, 3 Pom Skuas (1 with spoons), 3 Arctics, 13 Bonxies. (0630–1300) #IrishBirding #UKBirding
August 29, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Seawatch at Bloody Foreland, Donegal this am surpassed expectations. Self-found Fea's type petrel (0858 south), 3 Cory’s, 17 Great (📷), 18 Sooty, 800+ Manx. Also 2 adult Sab's Gulls, 3 Pom Skuas (1 with spoons), 3 Arctics, 13 Bonxies. (0630–1300) #IrishBirding #UKBirding
Found a nice juvenile Curlew Sandpiper at Dunfanaghy, Donegal today. #IrishBirding
August 28, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Found a nice juvenile Curlew Sandpiper at Dunfanaghy, Donegal today. #IrishBirding
Don't know which of Slartibartfast's colleagues made the Northern Ireland coast, but they made a fine job of it
August 26, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Don't know which of Slartibartfast's colleagues made the Northern Ireland coast, but they made a fine job of it
This looks like the same individual with the damaged crown that was at Snettisham 11–12 August #UKBirding
August 25, 2025 at 5:46 PM
This looks like the same individual with the damaged crown that was at Snettisham 11–12 August #UKBirding
In Co. Antrim for family holiday. A quick 20min seawatch at Garron Point produced c.190 Manx Shearwaters, probably more than my annual total on the British East coast! #UKBirding
August 24, 2025 at 5:06 PM
In Co. Antrim for family holiday. A quick 20min seawatch at Garron Point produced c.190 Manx Shearwaters, probably more than my annual total on the British East coast! #UKBirding
A nice #nocmig Bittern over my Cambridge garden at 0041 last night. 5 calls, spaced 15-19s apart. #UKBirding @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
August 15, 2025 at 5:44 PM
A nice #nocmig Bittern over my Cambridge garden at 0041 last night. 5 calls, spaced 15-19s apart. #UKBirding @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
Different bird i think. Much less black around eye on mine, only connected to ear/crown by thin stripe
August 13, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Different bird i think. Much less black around eye on mine, only connected to ear/crown by thin stripe
A tide of Knot. RSPB Snettisham #UKBirding
August 12, 2025 at 5:19 PM
A tide of Knot. RSPB Snettisham #UKBirding
Great views of White-rumped Sandpiper this morning, roosting with Sanderling, Ringed Plovers and Dunlin at RSPB Snettisham #UKBirding
August 12, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Great views of White-rumped Sandpiper this morning, roosting with Sanderling, Ringed Plovers and Dunlin at RSPB Snettisham #UKBirding
Superb evening high tide at Snettisham. Good views of adult White-rumped Sandpiper amongst Dunlin and Sanderling. Weird highlight, seeing this Muntjac heading out across the mud, discovering some of the 'puddles' are deeper than they look! #UKBirding
August 11, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Superb evening high tide at Snettisham. Good views of adult White-rumped Sandpiper amongst Dunlin and Sanderling. Weird highlight, seeing this Muntjac heading out across the mud, discovering some of the 'puddles' are deeper than they look! #UKBirding
Great views of male Ring-necked Duck at Fen Drayton today. A top find by Richard Bradbury, and a bike tick for me #LowCarbonBirding
August 2, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Great views of male Ring-necked Duck at Fen Drayton today. A top find by Richard Bradbury, and a bike tick for me #LowCarbonBirding
Interested in views on this tern from Snettisham yesterday evening. Aged as 2nd-calendar year (adult-like upperparts, tertials, coverts). To me the all-dark bill and legs look short, suggesting Arctic. Not sure relevance of strong carpal bar? #UKBirding
July 25, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Interested in views on this tern from Snettisham yesterday evening. Aged as 2nd-calendar year (adult-like upperparts, tertials, coverts). To me the all-dark bill and legs look short, suggesting Arctic. Not sure relevance of strong carpal bar? #UKBirding
One of two Little Stints on the pits at Snettisham this morning. Also a stunning, but less obliging, summer-plumage Curlew Sandpiper. With @sconebirding.bsky.social #UKBirding
July 14, 2025 at 7:13 PM
One of two Little Stints on the pits at Snettisham this morning. Also a stunning, but less obliging, summer-plumage Curlew Sandpiper. With @sconebirding.bsky.social #UKBirding