Les Hall
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sudswatcher.bsky.social
Les Hall
@sudswatcher.bsky.social
Retired Engineer chasing wildlife on the Costa del Blyth. Mainly rambling about colour-ringed seabirds and NUFC.
C/R Shag (Green TFS) still present at Rocky Island, Seaton Sluice this morning
November 7, 2025 at 2:50 PM
An Isle of May juvenile ringed on 11/7/25. This is the first sighting elsewhere.
Thanks to @josiethebirder.bsky.social for information within the hour 👌
#NEbirding
#BirdingScotland
November 3, 2025 at 11:31 AM
November 3, 2025 at 10:09 AM
3 #ColourRinged Shags on #Blyth East pier this afternoon.
White SLI - Isle of May 2020
Red BBVE - @bardseybirdobs.bsky.social 2024
Blue BHR - Inner Farne 2017

#UKbirding #NEbirding
October 27, 2025 at 6:37 PM
2 Yellow-browed Warblers for their 5th day in Ridley Park, #Blyth
#NEbirding
October 17, 2025 at 5:12 PM
This Merlin at Rocky Island Seaton Sluice this morning was definitely a wannabe Purple Sandpiper. Later seen hunting in Collywell Bay. #NEbirding
October 17, 2025 at 5:07 PM
www.artsobservasjoner.no/Image/3005980

This is news to me. The regular Northumberland wintering Black Scoter spends the summer off Varanger, Norway.
October 17, 2025 at 4:54 AM
Isle of May (White SLI ) and @bardseybirdobs.bsky.social (Red BBVE) #ColourRinged Shags together at #Blyth East Pier today. Still none of our English regulars back yet.
#NEbirding
@steelyseabirder.bsky.social
@josiethebirder.bsky.social
@ntbirdclub.bsky.social
October 10, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Well just like that, it’s October and after 2 blank visits the first #ColourRinged Shag is back on #Blyth East Pier. However, I wasn’t expecting it to be Red BBVE, last year’s @bardseybirdobs.bsky.social juvenile ringed at Tornado Ledge on 8/7/24. I wonder where it’s been since April ?
#NEbirding
October 6, 2025 at 6:24 PM
The Raptorfest of the last few days continues at Seaton Sluice. Osprey, Marsh Harrier and Peregrine all south today following on from yesterday’s in off Hen Harrier. #NEbirding
September 19, 2025 at 2:25 PM
125 Cormorants at the #Blyth East Pier roost tonight and first 2 Shags of the autumn put in a brief appearance. Should be starting to pick up some of the regular #ColourRinged wintering birds soon.
@ukceh.bsky.social @yellowbrow.bsky.social
#NEbirding
September 2, 2025 at 8:32 PM
@g76birder.bsky.social any ideas on this scheme ?
Been trying to track this one down all week with no joy what so ever. Why are some ringing schemes so flipping cryptic! #BirdingUK #NEbirding
August 31, 2025 at 8:50 AM
30+ Little Egrets at Castle Island, Northumberland yesterday included Black F/Orange J which I had on the #Blyth Estuary last August. Ringed at Verulamium Lake Hertfordshire on 7/5/2021. A bird from the same scheme (Black Z / Orange A) was also present. @ntbirdclub.bsky.social #hertsbirds #NEbirding
August 29, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Reposted by Les Hall
Not many birds about today but two colour-flagged Redshank. CTN at Low Hauxley - (from the Wash Wader Group) and the returning bird to Coquet Estuary, back for a 4th year (originally ringed on the Humber). #NEbirding Two in one day!
July 24, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Reposted by Les Hall
Gregg Wallace and John Torode in happier times. Masterchef 2005.
July 15, 2025 at 5:45 PM
@mangrovepitta.bsky.social just out of interest do you keep a “Splat List” ?
June 25, 2025 at 10:15 AM
@angusbirding.bsky.social just a normal day down the Barry Buddon Firing Range eh ?
It's funny how the extinction of large predators in Singapore's tropical rainforests mean that the biggest risk factors include things like getting shot by stray bullets during live fire exercises (we coordinate with the military and parks staff if we need to do fieldwork inside restricted areas)
June 23, 2025 at 6:40 AM
After staying on the #Blyth Estuary between 9th and 14th May #ColourRinged Shelduck (Orange AM) was relocated at Thutaston Shore on the Dee Estuary, Wirral on 18th June.
@ntbirdclub.bsky.social
@teesmouthbirdclub.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
#NEbirding
It’s only taken 6 days but finally managed a record shot of the #ColourRinged Shelduck (Orange AM).
Originally ringed at Teesmouth on 25/4/24 & retrapped 12/4/25. This is the first sighting elsewhere.
@ntbirdclub.bsky.social
@teesmouthbirdclub.bsky.social @teesbirds.bsky.social
#NEbirding
June 22, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Day 1 of “Operation Audouin’s Gull” on the Costa del #Blyth yesterday with thousands of large gulls offshore regularly visiting this pool on the beach. At least 6 Mediterranean Gulls in amongst them represented the start of Med Gull season. #NEbirding
June 17, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Pretty much sums up our birding spring on the #Blyth Estuary this year.
#NEbirding
June 13, 2025 at 12:35 PM
3rd year lucky on the #Blyth Estuary for #ColourRinged Shelduck (Blue DV) with 8 ducklings this afternoon. First successful breeding attempt.
@ntbirdclub.bsky.social
@teesmouthbirdclub.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@yellowbrow.bsky.social
#NEbirding
June 12, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Big release programme near Blyth roundabouts apparently @yellowbrow.bsky.social 😉
June 5, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Reposted by Les Hall
June 5, 2025 at 5:50 PM
@mangrovepitta.bsky.social
We’ll see your McGillivray’s Warbler and raise you Woodpigeon. 😉
Have been marvelling at this dust print on our kitchen window. A Woodpigeon* face-planted so hard that it left a print of its half-closed eye that’s lasted a fortnight! #birds
*flew off okay 👍
June 5, 2025 at 6:51 PM
#ColourRinged Common Tern at North #Blyth today. Yellow 3.71 was ringed as a juvenile at Seal Sands on 21/08/22. It was then seen at St Mary’s Island, Sandhaven, South Shields & Royal Quays Marina during 2024.
#NEBirding
@ntbirdclub.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@durhambirdclub.bsky.social
June 2, 2025 at 8:44 PM