Steve OldScope
@steveoldscope.bsky.social
Interested in most things , but posts are most likely to be Kent birding related.
Cley pt3. #Norfolkbirding main reedbed looks in need in management. One huge very dense mat at the moment, no channels except around perimeter, just a couple of small pools. Dipped on Water Rail despite several visits, and hardly any warblers showing there (it's late in season, but even so..).
August 21, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Cley pt3. #Norfolkbirding main reedbed looks in need in management. One huge very dense mat at the moment, no channels except around perimeter, just a couple of small pools. Dipped on Water Rail despite several visits, and hardly any warblers showing there (it's late in season, but even so..).
Cley & Brecks pt2. #Norfolkbirding Recommend the little pond in the Bower area of Sheringham Park. Before the human crowds arrived it was buzzing with woodland birds , 12 sp visited inc. Nuthatch and both 'crests. East Wretham Heath had Redstart, LRPs and several Spot Fly among the highlights.
August 21, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Cley & Brecks pt2. #Norfolkbirding Recommend the little pond in the Bower area of Sheringham Park. Before the human crowds arrived it was buzzing with woodland birds , 12 sp visited inc. Nuthatch and both 'crests. East Wretham Heath had Redstart, LRPs and several Spot Fly among the highlights.
Back from a few days around Cley and the Brecks - Pt1 . Bittern showed exceptionally well along the river at Lakenheath RSPB (most other feeding areas dried up). Found a Wryneck, but location wasn't suitable for twitchers/toggers so left it in peace. No skuas seen on seawatches. #Norfolkbirding
August 21, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Back from a few days around Cley and the Brecks - Pt1 . Bittern showed exceptionally well along the river at Lakenheath RSPB (most other feeding areas dried up). Found a Wryneck, but location wasn't suitable for twitchers/toggers so left it in peace. No skuas seen on seawatches. #Norfolkbirding
Small Copper and Wall Brown in Faversham area this morning. At the time I was frustrated that the Wall wouldn't cooperate for a back wing shot but now pleased with the angle I got #kentnature
July 22, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Small Copper and Wall Brown in Faversham area this morning. At the time I was frustrated that the Wall wouldn't cooperate for a back wing shot but now pleased with the angle I got #kentnature
Interested in recommendations of reasonably priced 8x bins that fit in a pocket, for those "not birding but just in case" outings. Most mini-bins I've tried have had poor field of view & depth of field and the moving object lenses collected dirt #birdinggear
June 15, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Interested in recommendations of reasonably priced 8x bins that fit in a pocket, for those "not birding but just in case" outings. Most mini-bins I've tried have had poor field of view & depth of field and the moving object lenses collected dirt #birdinggear
At least 8 (+ probably others out of view) Common Tern chicks on the raft at Stodmarsh this morning. The bird in the photos was hovering outside the Reedbed Hide #kentbirding
June 10, 2025 at 12:36 PM
At least 8 (+ probably others out of view) Common Tern chicks on the raft at Stodmarsh this morning. The bird in the photos was hovering outside the Reedbed Hide #kentbirding
Sure is a great day for doomscrolling, but for light relief here's some Kent wildlife from the weekend. Med Gull was at Faversham duck pond. Hedgehog I disturbed in garden shed and was making its way to an alternative hideout. #Kentwildlife #kentbirding
June 9, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Sure is a great day for doomscrolling, but for light relief here's some Kent wildlife from the weekend. Med Gull was at Faversham duck pond. Hedgehog I disturbed in garden shed and was making its way to an alternative hideout. #Kentwildlife #kentbirding
Best photo I've managed of Downy Emerald (they never seem to land!) Taken at the very lovely Scotney Castle NT today. #kentnature
May 20, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Best photo I've managed of Downy Emerald (they never seem to land!) Taken at the very lovely Scotney Castle NT today. #kentnature
Wasp Beetle (according to Obsidentify) on garden chair. #kentnature
May 20, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Wasp Beetle (according to Obsidentify) on garden chair. #kentnature
Blackbirds going potty in a yew tree gave away the presence of this Tawny Owl. #KentBirding
April 30, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Blackbirds going potty in a yew tree gave away the presence of this Tawny Owl. #KentBirding
Oil Beetle at Conyer (check out wiki for interesting life cycle). Bird-wise, pretty quiet by late morning (no T Dove or Cuckoo heard), but a Spot Fly encountered along east side path and approx 40 grey plover on Swale.
April 28, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Oil Beetle at Conyer (check out wiki for interesting life cycle). Bird-wise, pretty quiet by late morning (no T Dove or Cuckoo heard), but a Spot Fly encountered along east side path and approx 40 grey plover on Swale.
2 Green Hairstreaks were out today at Monkton NR #KentNature
April 27, 2025 at 2:12 PM
2 Green Hairstreaks were out today at Monkton NR #KentNature
Oare marshes late morning highlights - female/imm ring ouzel, smart male whinchat, 4 fem. wheatear (all birds in this mini fall were between Dan's Dock and Uplees copse) , and 2 little tern off horse sands.
April 21, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Oare marshes late morning highlights - female/imm ring ouzel, smart male whinchat, 4 fem. wheatear (all birds in this mini fall were between Dan's Dock and Uplees copse) , and 2 little tern off horse sands.
Stodmarsh yesterday evening. Still a pair of Garganey showing extremely well from reedbed hide (my daughter's photos). Other highlights - several Bitterns booming, a Nightingale along the path to the hide, big pre-roost gathering of hirundines, and Tawny Owl calling in car park area.
April 18, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Stodmarsh yesterday evening. Still a pair of Garganey showing extremely well from reedbed hide (my daughter's photos). Other highlights - several Bitterns booming, a Nightingale along the path to the hide, big pre-roost gathering of hirundines, and Tawny Owl calling in car park area.
Year tick in the compost bin
April 18, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Year tick in the compost bin
A couple of shots from recent days - Wryneck at Bishopstone nr Herne Bay, Bullfinch at Victory Wood nr Whitstable (also good number of Nightingales here).
April 15, 2025 at 12:08 PM
A couple of shots from recent days - Wryneck at Bishopstone nr Herne Bay, Bullfinch at Victory Wood nr Whitstable (also good number of Nightingales here).
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m... Best nature documentary I've seen in ages. No celeb presenters, intrusive music, or anthropomorphising the wildlife. Just some lovely people and authentic birding experiences.
BBC Four - Birdsong
Ornithologist Seán Ronayne’s mission to record the sound of every bird species in Ireland.
www.bbc.co.uk
March 19, 2025 at 7:57 PM
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m... Best nature documentary I've seen in ages. No celeb presenters, intrusive music, or anthropomorphising the wildlife. Just some lovely people and authentic birding experiences.
Reposted by Steve OldScope
How can the Republican Party’s China hawks not see this? “In putting America first, Trump has done more than Xi has ever managed to make China great again. Xi’s China Dream has not yet come true, but with Trump’s help, it has made a great leap forward.” www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
China can live with Trump’s tariffs – his bullish foreign policy will help Beijing in the long term | Steve Tsang
By turning his back on US allies and global institutions, Trump will help Xi Jinping advance his plan for a China-centric world, says Steve Tsang, director of the China Institute at Soas University of...
www.theguardian.com
March 12, 2025 at 1:29 PM
How can the Republican Party’s China hawks not see this? “In putting America first, Trump has done more than Xi has ever managed to make China great again. Xi’s China Dream has not yet come true, but with Trump’s help, it has made a great leap forward.” www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
#kentnature my first wood ants of the year today
March 5, 2025 at 4:05 PM
#kentnature my first wood ants of the year today
Reposted by Steve OldScope
Old Park in Canterbury is a superb area of acid grassland with a flora including Harebell, Bedstraw (or Clove-scented) Broomrape & Mossy Stonecrop, & loads of Nightingales. The MoD owns it and has put it up for sale. Join the campaign to save this extraordinary site canterburyoldpark.org.uk
February 24, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Old Park in Canterbury is a superb area of acid grassland with a flora including Harebell, Bedstraw (or Clove-scented) Broomrape & Mossy Stonecrop, & loads of Nightingales. The MoD owns it and has put it up for sale. Join the campaign to save this extraordinary site canterburyoldpark.org.uk
Sparrowhawk out of the back window, proving that even "non-birding" days have some birding in them. #kentbirding
February 23, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Sparrowhawk out of the back window, proving that even "non-birding" days have some birding in them. #kentbirding
First Black Redstart of the year, on a new housing estate in Faversham today. Also caught up with the Conningbrook Lake Goosander. Thanks everyone who puts out gen, whatever the channel (apart from X...)
February 18, 2025 at 9:37 PM
First Black Redstart of the year, on a new housing estate in Faversham today. Also caught up with the Conningbrook Lake Goosander. Thanks everyone who puts out gen, whatever the channel (apart from X...)
Another from Dungeness last year #kentbirding
February 10, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Another from Dungeness last year #kentbirding
Sorting out some 2024 photos and remembering the Dengemarsh Rd Pied Wagtail, that figured out it could get food out of the little spider webs on car wing mirrors.
February 10, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Sorting out some 2024 photos and remembering the Dengemarsh Rd Pied Wagtail, that figured out it could get food out of the little spider webs on car wing mirrors.