Carl S
@sprayxcappo.bsky.social
Brummie, (Sub)Urban Birder, Rookie Phone-scoper, Radical Pedestrian. Museums guy of late.
Some nice incidental birding today. Kingfisher with catch on the Bourne at Pershore Road this morning. Good numbers of Shoveler, Wigeon and Gadwall at (re-opened!) Edgbaston Pool.
November 17, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Some nice incidental birding today. Kingfisher with catch on the Bourne at Pershore Road this morning. Good numbers of Shoveler, Wigeon and Gadwall at (re-opened!) Edgbaston Pool.
Time to put an end to this madness.
Hen Harrier Susie, whose chicks were stamped to death on a Yorkshire Dales grouse moor in 2022, has been found dead on a N Pennines grouse moor with gunshot injuries.
18+ months of silence about this crime from the police & Natural England.
#RaptorResearch
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/11/14/h...
18+ months of silence about this crime from the police & Natural England.
#RaptorResearch
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/11/14/h...
Hen Harrier ‘Susie’, whose chicks were stamped to death in 2022, has been found dead on a North Pennines grouse moor with gunshot injuries
If ever there was an example demonstrating the high level of persecution faced by Hen Harriers on UK grouse moors, the lack of consequences for the offenders, and the lack of justice for the victim…
raptorpersecutionuk.org
November 14, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Time to put an end to this madness.
The joy of bi-lingual birding: brilliant article on Black Redstarts by Dr Bernd Nicolai. Lots of insights that are of use to urban birders looking for this species in our cities.
November 2, 2025 at 11:12 AM
The joy of bi-lingual birding: brilliant article on Black Redstarts by Dr Bernd Nicolai. Lots of insights that are of use to urban birders looking for this species in our cities.
Heavy fog and a record low water level at Edg Res this morning w/ @robhemming25.bsky.social A magnificent patch tick for me in form of 8 Rock pipits on the shore beneath the old Tower Ballroom.
October 12, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Heavy fog and a record low water level at Edg Res this morning w/ @robhemming25.bsky.social A magnificent patch tick for me in form of 8 Rock pipits on the shore beneath the old Tower Ballroom.
Super breezy at Gibraltar Point today with @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social Highlights were RT Diver, Curlew Sand and Knot.
October 5, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Super breezy at Gibraltar Point today with @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social Highlights were RT Diver, Curlew Sand and Knot.
A chance find and lovely addition to my New Naturalists collection. Clifford & Rosemary Ellis’s cover designs remain unmatched.
September 10, 2025 at 10:13 AM
A chance find and lovely addition to my New Naturalists collection. Clifford & Rosemary Ellis’s cover designs remain unmatched.
Productive day out to St Aidans with @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social Highlights were BN Grebe, Black Tern, Spoonbill, Whinchat and this gang of Yellow Wags.
September 7, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Productive day out to St Aidans with @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social Highlights were BN Grebe, Black Tern, Spoonbill, Whinchat and this gang of Yellow Wags.
Team Edgbaston away at Walton Hill for this rendition of the #westmidsalldayer A superb Goshawk flyby puts us on 52. @thehairycrisp.bsky.social @robhemming25.bsky.social
September 6, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Team Edgbaston away at Walton Hill for this rendition of the #westmidsalldayer A superb Goshawk flyby puts us on 52. @thehairycrisp.bsky.social @robhemming25.bsky.social
Reposted by Carl S
When interests collide (birding x anarchism)
September 2, 2025 at 9:03 PM
When interests collide (birding x anarchism)
A lovely surprise on my walk back from work: a Hummingbird Hawkmoth. Busy feeding and darting about amongst the flowers. An uncommon sight in Selly Park.
September 1, 2025 at 8:53 PM
A lovely surprise on my walk back from work: a Hummingbird Hawkmoth. Busy feeding and darting about amongst the flowers. An uncommon sight in Selly Park.
Reposted by Carl S
Birmingham City
2 Black Redstart
July pic
Great!
@westmidbirdclub.bsky.social @ecorecord.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social #birds #wmbirds
2 Black Redstart
July pic
Great!
@westmidbirdclub.bsky.social @ecorecord.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social #birds #wmbirds
August 31, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Birmingham City
2 Black Redstart
July pic
Great!
@westmidbirdclub.bsky.social @ecorecord.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social #birds #wmbirds
2 Black Redstart
July pic
Great!
@westmidbirdclub.bsky.social @ecorecord.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social #birds #wmbirds
Overdue visit to the patch. 50+ Swift, 100+ House Martin, 4 Yellow Wag, Swallow and Hobby were a good result.
August 31, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Overdue visit to the patch. 50+ Swift, 100+ House Martin, 4 Yellow Wag, Swallow and Hobby were a good result.
Preach!
Just a reminder to anyone who may need to hear it, that the world doesn't revolve around you and your stupid looking dog, and the latter is no reason to blitz, sterilise or bubblewrap the local wildlife habitat to within an inch of its life. It's your problem.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
East Barnet dog owner's anger as grass seeds lead to £300 vet bill
Richard Freedman wants his council to make sure weeds on pavements are cleared.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 17, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Preach!
Was sat contemplating on how nice the trunk of this Dawn Redwood looked, when this Treecreeper appeared out of a crevace. I think it agreed.
August 3, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Was sat contemplating on how nice the trunk of this Dawn Redwood looked, when this Treecreeper appeared out of a crevace. I think it agreed.
7 Ravens at Selly Park Rec this morning, a new site record count for me. Good to see them thriving here.
July 11, 2025 at 6:58 AM
7 Ravens at Selly Park Rec this morning, a new site record count for me. Good to see them thriving here.
Birmingham, it’s official: today is Flying Ant Day.
June 29, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Birmingham, it’s official: today is Flying Ant Day.
Hummingbird Hawkmoth in our garden this eve. B30 @ecorecord.bsky.social
June 16, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Hummingbird Hawkmoth in our garden this eve. B30 @ecorecord.bsky.social
Brilliant day out to Upton Fen and Strumpshaw Fen, with @britishdragonflies.bsky.social Lots of firsts for me today. Highlights were Hen Harrier, Crane, Smew, Fen Orchid, Norfolk Hawker, Scarce Chaser and the mighty Swallowtail!
June 14, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Brilliant day out to Upton Fen and Strumpshaw Fen, with @britishdragonflies.bsky.social Lots of firsts for me today. Highlights were Hen Harrier, Crane, Smew, Fen Orchid, Norfolk Hawker, Scarce Chaser and the mighty Swallowtail!
The dreaded “Day-after Twitch”! No sign of the Woodchat Shrike at Doxey Marsh. 2 x Wood Sand was a decent consolation prize though.
May 18, 2025 at 2:09 PM
The dreaded “Day-after Twitch”! No sign of the Woodchat Shrike at Doxey Marsh. 2 x Wood Sand was a decent consolation prize though.
Reposted by Carl S
***GIVEAWAY*** This signed/stamped Advance Readers Copy of TIGERS BETWEEN EMPIRES, forthcoming Nov 2025 from @fsgbooks.bsky.social! Like=1 entry, Share=1 entry, Like + Share=2 entries. Will randomly select winner on Friday, May 23, 2025. US addresses only.
Preorder info: shorturl.at/OXr0Z
#booksky
Preorder info: shorturl.at/OXr0Z
#booksky
May 16, 2025 at 1:01 PM
***GIVEAWAY*** This signed/stamped Advance Readers Copy of TIGERS BETWEEN EMPIRES, forthcoming Nov 2025 from @fsgbooks.bsky.social! Like=1 entry, Share=1 entry, Like + Share=2 entries. Will randomly select winner on Friday, May 23, 2025. US addresses only.
Preorder info: shorturl.at/OXr0Z
#booksky
Preorder info: shorturl.at/OXr0Z
#booksky
Popped a bird box in the garden the other year, probably in an unwise position as no birds ever took to it. Today I discovered that it has been claimed by a swarm of Tree Bumblebees. How appropriate!
May 11, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Popped a bird box in the garden the other year, probably in an unwise position as no birds ever took to it. Today I discovered that it has been claimed by a swarm of Tree Bumblebees. How appropriate!
Another fun #westmidsalldayer came to close yesterday, with Team Edgbaston finishing up on 60 (if you include two bits of plastic).
A true urban birding marathon with @robhemming25.bsky.social also turned up 3 badgers, 1 skinny dipper and Rob’s pet Pike. Roll on Autumn!
A true urban birding marathon with @robhemming25.bsky.social also turned up 3 badgers, 1 skinny dipper and Rob’s pet Pike. Roll on Autumn!
May 4, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Another fun #westmidsalldayer came to close yesterday, with Team Edgbaston finishing up on 60 (if you include two bits of plastic).
A true urban birding marathon with @robhemming25.bsky.social also turned up 3 badgers, 1 skinny dipper and Rob’s pet Pike. Roll on Autumn!
A true urban birding marathon with @robhemming25.bsky.social also turned up 3 badgers, 1 skinny dipper and Rob’s pet Pike. Roll on Autumn!
Reposted by Carl S
Good luck to all sites and participants of tomorrow's Spring edition of the #westmidsalldayer - clear skies, NW winds and glorious sunshine wouldn't be my conditions of choice. With a few regulars missing I will be doing Middleton Lakes - please message me any notable sightings
May 2, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Good luck to all sites and participants of tomorrow's Spring edition of the #westmidsalldayer - clear skies, NW winds and glorious sunshine wouldn't be my conditions of choice. With a few regulars missing I will be doing Middleton Lakes - please message me any notable sightings
Good days birding at Frampton Marsh today in glorious sunshine with @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social Highlights were Spoonbill, Green-winged Teal, Whimbrel and Marsh Harrier. #UKBirding
April 27, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Good days birding at Frampton Marsh today in glorious sunshine with @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social Highlights were Spoonbill, Green-winged Teal, Whimbrel and Marsh Harrier. #UKBirding