Mark Newsome
@whitburnbirds.bsky.social
Birds, cetaceans, seawatching, nocmig. Based in NE England.
October 8, 2025 at 1:35 PM
A few more images from my recent trip to Oman. Many influences from Africa with breeding species; African Paradise Flycatcher, Black-crowned Tchagra, Spotted Thick-knee and Grey-headed Kingfisher.
August 20, 2025 at 3:32 PM
A few more images from my recent trip to Oman. Many influences from Africa with breeding species; African Paradise Flycatcher, Black-crowned Tchagra, Spotted Thick-knee and Grey-headed Kingfisher.
A few more pics from my recent trip to Oman. A nice range of breeding species on offer, from Sooty Falcons on an offshore island near Muscat, Crab Plovers on the mudflats of Masirah Island, Arabian Partridge near Salalah, and one of the plainest yet most range restricted species, Yemen Serin.
August 19, 2025 at 1:34 PM
A few more pics from my recent trip to Oman. A nice range of breeding species on offer, from Sooty Falcons on an offshore island near Muscat, Crab Plovers on the mudflats of Masirah Island, Arabian Partridge near Salalah, and one of the plainest yet most range restricted species, Yemen Serin.
A few regional specialities from my recent trip to Oman; Arabian Eagle Owl, Wheatear, Sunbird and Warbler!
August 18, 2025 at 11:31 AM
A few regional specialities from my recent trip to Oman; Arabian Eagle Owl, Wheatear, Sunbird and Warbler!
Oman was a great country for terns. Saunder's and White-cheeked are regional specialities, whereas Lesser and Great Crested are more widespread (Great Crested the most abundant in Oman). #seabirds
August 17, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Oman was a great country for terns. Saunder's and White-cheeked are regional specialities, whereas Lesser and Great Crested are more widespread (Great Crested the most abundant in Oman). #seabirds
Juv. Caspian Gull hanging around fishing boat offshore from Whitburn late afternoon, also 13 Little Gulls & 5 Roseates. Skua numbers still low despite NE'ly wind, only 1 Bonxie and 1 Arctic this afternoon. Two Common Dolphins this morning the best sighting of the day (3rd site record). #NEbirding
August 15, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Juv. Caspian Gull hanging around fishing boat offshore from Whitburn late afternoon, also 13 Little Gulls & 5 Roseates. Skua numbers still low despite NE'ly wind, only 1 Bonxie and 1 Arctic this afternoon. Two Common Dolphins this morning the best sighting of the day (3rd site record). #NEbirding
Flesh-footed Shearwaters reached three figures from pelagics and land based seawatching in Oman. A mix of worn adults and fresh juvs, likely from breeding colonies on St Paul Island in Indian Ocean. #seabirds
August 15, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Flesh-footed Shearwaters reached three figures from pelagics and land based seawatching in Oman. A mix of worn adults and fresh juvs, likely from breeding colonies on St Paul Island in Indian Ocean. #seabirds
Another much wanted but common species off Mirbat, Oman was Persian #Shearwater. As well as small numbers passing close to shore, we had over 500 rafting on the last pelagic, including one aberrant white-headed bird. #seabirds
August 14, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Another much wanted but common species off Mirbat, Oman was Persian #Shearwater. As well as small numbers passing close to shore, we had over 500 rafting on the last pelagic, including one aberrant white-headed bird. #seabirds
One of the commoner offshore species in Oman was Wilson's Storm-Petrel. They regularly came within 100m of land, at times even feeding over channels in mudflats! Many were adults in heavy moult, but also plenty of pristine juvs. #seabirds
August 13, 2025 at 9:53 AM
One of the commoner offshore species in Oman was Wilson's Storm-Petrel. They regularly came within 100m of land, at times even feeding over channels in mudflats! Many were adults in heavy moult, but also plenty of pristine juvs. #seabirds
The Med Gull influx continues at Whitburn with another 10 S this morning, June total now 70. It'll be interesting once juvs start arriving! Also nearly 600 Sandwich terns today, 1 Bonxie and 2 Arctic Skuas, but Manx down to 248. #NEbirding
June 27, 2025 at 9:25 AM
The Med Gull influx continues at Whitburn with another 10 S this morning, June total now 70. It'll be interesting once juvs start arriving! Also nearly 600 Sandwich terns today, 1 Bonxie and 2 Arctic Skuas, but Manx down to 248. #NEbirding
The Med Gull influx continues to gather pace, a total of 17 flew south at Whitburn this morning. The flock of 13 on its own beat the previous county site record! The majority this week have been adults, presumably pushed from continent by hot weather. #NEbirding
June 21, 2025 at 1:36 PM
The Med Gull influx continues to gather pace, a total of 17 flew south at Whitburn this morning. The flock of 13 on its own beat the previous county site record! The majority this week have been adults, presumably pushed from continent by hot weather. #NEbirding
Good numbers of Hairy #Dragonfly at Leven Canal, East Yorks. this week. One even headed straight for me and caught a newly emerged Banded Demoiselle that I'd disturbed from grass, then went to brambles to eat it. Voracious predators!
May 23, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Good numbers of Hairy #Dragonfly at Leven Canal, East Yorks. this week. One even headed straight for me and caught a newly emerged Banded Demoiselle that I'd disturbed from grass, then went to brambles to eat it. Voracious predators!
Quail singing at 7am between Burshill and Hempholme. maps.app.goo.gl/3oggwRegFP6H.... #Yorkshirebirding
maps.app.goo.gl
May 22, 2025 at 6:24 AM
Quail singing at 7am between Burshill and Hempholme. maps.app.goo.gl/3oggwRegFP6H.... #Yorkshirebirding
Hobbys are still a rare bird in the northeast, so it's a novelty to see them regularly during survey work in East Yorkshire. Stunning birds to watch as they take dragonflies, always on the look out for potential prey. #Yorkshirebirding
May 15, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Hobbys are still a rare bird in the northeast, so it's a novelty to see them regularly during survey work in East Yorkshire. Stunning birds to watch as they take dragonflies, always on the look out for potential prey. #Yorkshirebirding
Visit to @tophilllow.bsky.social in the sunshine on Tuesday produced lots of odonata, incl egg-laying Hairy Dragonfly and Four-spotted Chaser. The Temminck's Stint was nice, but the distraction display by the LRPs was more impressive to watch. #Yorkshirebirding
May 15, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Visit to @tophilllow.bsky.social in the sunshine on Tuesday produced lots of odonata, incl egg-laying Hairy Dragonfly and Four-spotted Chaser. The Temminck's Stint was nice, but the distraction display by the LRPs was more impressive to watch. #Yorkshirebirding
For those on Facebook, some really interesting photos and discussion on what looks like the first Streaked Shearwater for the North Atlantic, off Delaware Bay (Cape May to Lewes ferry). Yet another #seabird species now with potential to appear in UK waters. www.facebook.com/share/p/1Yb3...
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May 14, 2025 at 7:41 PM
For those on Facebook, some really interesting photos and discussion on what looks like the first Streaked Shearwater for the North Atlantic, off Delaware Bay (Cape May to Lewes ferry). Yet another #seabird species now with potential to appear in UK waters. www.facebook.com/share/p/1Yb3...
Temminck's Stint still at Tophill Low, from south marsh east hide. #Yorkshirebirding
May 13, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Temminck's Stint still at Tophill Low, from south marsh east hide. #Yorkshirebirding
Common Crane currently circling over Bishop Burton college, drifting west. #Yorkshirebirding
May 13, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Common Crane currently circling over Bishop Burton college, drifting west. #Yorkshirebirding
Nice afternoon at @tophilllow.bsky.social Blue-w Teal the highlight, also 2 G'eye, 4 Cuckoo, 2 LRP, 5 C.Tern, 5+ L.Egret, Red Kite, Hobby, 8+ Cetti's, Yellow Wag, plus good numbers summer visitors (except hirundines) #Yorkshirebirding
April 30, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Nice afternoon at @tophilllow.bsky.social Blue-w Teal the highlight, also 2 G'eye, 4 Cuckoo, 2 LRP, 5 C.Tern, 5+ L.Egret, Red Kite, Hobby, 8+ Cetti's, Yellow Wag, plus good numbers summer visitors (except hirundines) #Yorkshirebirding
Blue-winged Teal (female) still at Tophill Low, at NW end of D reservoir. #YorkshireBirding #rarebirdsUK
April 30, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Blue-winged Teal (female) still at Tophill Low, at NW end of D reservoir. #YorkshireBirding #rarebirdsUK
Good long walk covering both sides of R.Hull nr Aike and High Eske. 4 Cattle and 4+ Great Egrets, 1-2 Hobby, Perg, 6-8 Marsh Harriers, Cuckoo, Corn Bunts, loads of Cetti's and good numbers other warblers. #Yorkshirebirding
April 29, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Good long walk covering both sides of R.Hull nr Aike and High Eske. 4 Cattle and 4+ Great Egrets, 1-2 Hobby, Perg, 6-8 Marsh Harriers, Cuckoo, Corn Bunts, loads of Cetti's and good numbers other warblers. #Yorkshirebirding
A bit of tern passage at Whitburn with 287 Sandwich, 6 Arctic & 4 Common. Wildfowl incl 2 Shoveler & 4 RB Merganser. Also 12 RTDiver, 3 Manx & 1 Whimbrel. #NEBirding #seabirds
April 26, 2025 at 10:36 AM
A bit of tern passage at Whitburn with 287 Sandwich, 6 Arctic & 4 Common. Wildfowl incl 2 Shoveler & 4 RB Merganser. Also 12 RTDiver, 3 Manx & 1 Whimbrel. #NEBirding #seabirds