Darren (George) Best
@wildlifegeekpix.bsky.social
Patchbird Swinemoor, E Yorks, regular at Flamborough, Spurn, North Cave Wetlands and Tophill Low. Patch 123, E Yorks 255, UK 316 (from 2017 on return to UK). When I’m doing photography then I use Nikon Z9, otherwise it’s shaky thirdrate PhoneSkope images!
Had a great day at Flamborough (as always), albeit the wind was challenging at times. Greenish Warbler at Thornwick and in line with a lot of places a bevvy of Pied Flycatcher and Redstart as well as a single Spotfly and Yellow Wag. @flamboroughbird.bsky.social
September 7, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Had a great day at Flamborough (as always), albeit the wind was challenging at times. Greenish Warbler at Thornwick and in line with a lot of places a bevvy of Pied Flycatcher and Redstart as well as a single Spotfly and Yellow Wag. @flamboroughbird.bsky.social
Nice start to the day at Spurn. Dipped so far on the Roseate Tern, needed for a county tick, but managed to get a new county tick with the long staying Juv Stone Curlew at Skeffling. @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social #eastyorksbirding
July 26, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Nice start to the day at Spurn. Dipped so far on the Roseate Tern, needed for a county tick, but managed to get a new county tick with the long staying Juv Stone Curlew at Skeffling. @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social #eastyorksbirding
Had to go up to Wykeham Forest this morning to check out the Ortolan Bunting after dipping the Hornsea bird last year. Saw it albeit at distance, as soon as I got there, but then nothing until I left at 11. @rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social
June 21, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Had to go up to Wykeham Forest this morning to check out the Ortolan Bunting after dipping the Hornsea bird last year. Saw it albeit at distance, as soon as I got there, but then nothing until I left at 11. @rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social
Huge respect for the first ever breeding pair of avocets on #Swinemoor. Despite off-leash dogs, tractors, many predators and nearly losing their food and water due to drought, the young are now flying strong—against all odds. They should leave any day now. #patchbirding @rspb.bsky.social
June 21, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Huge respect for the first ever breeding pair of avocets on #Swinemoor. Despite off-leash dogs, tractors, many predators and nearly losing their food and water due to drought, the young are now flying strong—against all odds. They should leave any day now. #patchbirding @rspb.bsky.social
As with the BOC photo, I had a flying visit up to Thornwick to try and see the Song Sparrow. Despite getting soaking wet and thinking the bird would be in hiding, it graced us with its presence. I understand that it’s been giving great views since. @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social
June 10, 2025 at 3:03 PM
As with the BOC photo, I had a flying visit up to Thornwick to try and see the Song Sparrow. Despite getting soaking wet and thinking the bird would be in hiding, it graced us with its presence. I understand that it’s been giving great views since. @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social
All a bit quiet this morning at Kilnsea Wetlands, Spurn. Nice to see this summer plumage Turnstone. @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social
June 7, 2025 at 7:18 PM
All a bit quiet this morning at Kilnsea Wetlands, Spurn. Nice to see this summer plumage Turnstone. @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social
#Swinemoor this morning. I still feel like a nervous dad as the first site Avocet chicks have now reached two weeks. Keeping fingers crossed. Bonus Cuckoo this morning as well as good numbers of Pom Pom lapwings! #patchbirding #eastyorksbirding #pwc2025
May 31, 2025 at 7:42 AM
#Swinemoor this morning. I still feel like a nervous dad as the first site Avocet chicks have now reached two weeks. Keeping fingers crossed. Bonus Cuckoo this morning as well as good numbers of Pom Pom lapwings! #patchbirding #eastyorksbirding #pwc2025
#Swinemoor very happy today as the Avocet pair now have two chicks. Keeping my fingers crossed that they remain safe. Quiet otherwise for LRP and Oystercatcher still, plus Yellow Wag, C Whitethroat #patchbirding #yorkshirebirding #pwc2025
May 16, 2025 at 7:44 AM
#Swinemoor very happy today as the Avocet pair now have two chicks. Keeping my fingers crossed that they remain safe. Quiet otherwise for LRP and Oystercatcher still, plus Yellow Wag, C Whitethroat #patchbirding #yorkshirebirding #pwc2025
#Swinemoor pretty well dry now bar a couple of small pools. 2 Avocet, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Common Tern passing through, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat and Yellow Wag the only birds of note. #patchbirding #eastyorksbirding #pwc2025
May 13, 2025 at 6:41 AM
#Swinemoor pretty well dry now bar a couple of small pools. 2 Avocet, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Common Tern passing through, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat and Yellow Wag the only birds of note. #patchbirding #eastyorksbirding #pwc2025
#Swinemoor Greenshank, 6 Whimbrel, 4 Ruff, 3 Curlew, 2 LRP, Avocet still in nest, 2 Oystercatcher, 15+ Swift, Swallow, House and Sand Martin in good numbers
May 3, 2025 at 7:16 AM
#Swinemoor Greenshank, 6 Whimbrel, 4 Ruff, 3 Curlew, 2 LRP, Avocet still in nest, 2 Oystercatcher, 15+ Swift, Swallow, House and Sand Martin in good numbers
Had another quick check in of #Swinemoor after lunch, and the only additional species for the day was a solitary Greenshank. I was joined however by this little guy for the duration of my stay. Roger the Reed Warbler #patchbirding #eastyorksbirding
May 2, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Had another quick check in of #Swinemoor after lunch, and the only additional species for the day was a solitary Greenshank. I was joined however by this little guy for the duration of my stay. Roger the Reed Warbler #patchbirding #eastyorksbirding
#Swinemoor- 3 Wood Sand, 3 LRP, pair Avocet still on nest, 2 Oystercatcher, 4 Ruff, Cetti’s, Reed and Sedge Warblers. #patchbirding #eastyorksbirding #pwc2025
May 2, 2025 at 6:35 AM
#Swinemoor- 3 Wood Sand, 3 LRP, pair Avocet still on nest, 2 Oystercatcher, 4 Ruff, Cetti’s, Reed and Sedge Warblers. #patchbirding #eastyorksbirding #pwc2025
Finally uploaded pictures from last week with the Eastern Subalpine Warbler at Filey. That’s quick for me, usually it takes a few months to look at my photos! I managed to get one with it consuming an aphid.
April 26, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Finally uploaded pictures from last week with the Eastern Subalpine Warbler at Filey. That’s quick for me, usually it takes a few months to look at my photos! I managed to get one with it consuming an aphid.
#Swinemoor- 2 Whimbrel, 2 LRP, pair Avocet still on nest, 4 Oystercatcher, 6 Ruff (1 male partially displaying) 2 White Wag, 4 Pied, singing Cetti’s, Reed and Sedge Warblers. #patchbirding #ukbirding #pwc2025
April 26, 2025 at 7:42 AM
#Swinemoor- 2 Whimbrel, 2 LRP, pair Avocet still on nest, 4 Oystercatcher, 6 Ruff (1 male partially displaying) 2 White Wag, 4 Pied, singing Cetti’s, Reed and Sedge Warblers. #patchbirding #ukbirding #pwc2025
After missing the Eastern Subalpine Warbler at Filey yesterday, I thought I’d give it another go today. Thankfully after some amount of waiting it finally started to show, albeit at distance. Two BOC shots. @rarebirdalertuk.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social
April 21, 2025 at 8:23 AM
After missing the Eastern Subalpine Warbler at Filey yesterday, I thought I’d give it another go today. Thankfully after some amount of waiting it finally started to show, albeit at distance. Two BOC shots. @rarebirdalertuk.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social
Very blustery, but dry day at #Swinemoor this morning. Very much a Wagtail day with 8 Yellow, 9 White and 4 Pied. Also, Whimbrel, 2 LRP, Pair of Avocet, 8 Ruff, 4 Oystercatcher, 4 Wheatear, and a number of Sand and House Martin and Swallow. #patchbirding #eastyorksbirding #pwc2025
April 19, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Very blustery, but dry day at #Swinemoor this morning. Very much a Wagtail day with 8 Yellow, 9 White and 4 Pied. Also, Whimbrel, 2 LRP, Pair of Avocet, 8 Ruff, 4 Oystercatcher, 4 Wheatear, and a number of Sand and House Martin and Swallow. #patchbirding #eastyorksbirding #pwc2025
Nice start to the day with both a Lesser Scaup and BNG at Hornsea (thanks Jon L) then back on site at #swinemoor with 4 Ruff, 2 LRP, 2 Oystercatcher, 6 Sand Martin, a Swallow and a FOY House Martin @rarebirdalertuk.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #pwc2025 #ukbirding
April 13, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Nice start to the day with both a Lesser Scaup and BNG at Hornsea (thanks Jon L) then back on site at #swinemoor with 4 Ruff, 2 LRP, 2 Oystercatcher, 6 Sand Martin, a Swallow and a FOY House Martin @rarebirdalertuk.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #pwc2025 #ukbirding
Lovely calm, sunny day at #swinemoor and a vast difference with the volume of ducks down, but a number of Wigeon still hanging on. Shelduck, Gadwall, Shoveler, Oystercatcher, LRP, Ruff, Snipe and Redshank on site presently. #patchbirding #eastyorksbirding #pwc2025
March 31, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Lovely calm, sunny day at #swinemoor and a vast difference with the volume of ducks down, but a number of Wigeon still hanging on. Shelduck, Gadwall, Shoveler, Oystercatcher, LRP, Ruff, Snipe and Redshank on site presently. #patchbirding #eastyorksbirding #pwc2025
Huge duck clear out overnight at #swinemoor. A number of Wigeon and teal still around. FOY White alba Wagtail as well as LRP, Ruff, Redshank, Snipe, Yellowhammer, drumming GSW and Reed Bunting. Still waiting for hirundines! #patchbirding #pwc2025 #eastyorksbirding
March 29, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Huge duck clear out overnight at #swinemoor. A number of Wigeon and teal still around. FOY White alba Wagtail as well as LRP, Ruff, Redshank, Snipe, Yellowhammer, drumming GSW and Reed Bunting. Still waiting for hirundines! #patchbirding #pwc2025 #eastyorksbirding
7 Blackwit, 2LRP, 4 Oystercatcher, 8 Snipe, a good number of Redshank, a not so often seen Red Kite over #Swinemoor this morning, as well as a Sprawk. Still good numbers of Wigeon, Teal and Common Gull. #patchbirding #pwc2025 #ukbirding
March 27, 2025 at 9:57 AM
7 Blackwit, 2LRP, 4 Oystercatcher, 8 Snipe, a good number of Redshank, a not so often seen Red Kite over #Swinemoor this morning, as well as a Sprawk. Still good numbers of Wigeon, Teal and Common Gull. #patchbirding #pwc2025 #ukbirding
Second time lucky with the Hornsea Bluethroat. Seen at lunchtime today. Nice county tick and a very nice find by Jim Cooper. @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social
March 25, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Second time lucky with the Hornsea Bluethroat. Seen at lunchtime today. Nice county tick and a very nice find by Jim Cooper. @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social
I succumbed and decided to catch up with the fairly local Blue-winged Teal at Brough Airfield. Nice to catch up with these birds again on this side of the pond. @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social #ukbirding #eastyorksbirding
March 23, 2025 at 10:25 AM
I succumbed and decided to catch up with the fairly local Blue-winged Teal at Brough Airfield. Nice to catch up with these birds again on this side of the pond. @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social #ukbirding #eastyorksbirding
A pleasant morning at #swinemoor with a definite uptick of waders. LRP, Ruff, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Dunlin and Snipe in good numbers. 80+ Common Gull as well as singing Yellowhammer, Chiffchaff and Song Thrush. #patchbirding #ukbirding #pwc2025
March 22, 2025 at 10:10 AM
A pleasant morning at #swinemoor with a definite uptick of waders. LRP, Ruff, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Dunlin and Snipe in good numbers. 80+ Common Gull as well as singing Yellowhammer, Chiffchaff and Song Thrush. #patchbirding #ukbirding #pwc2025
Nice morning as always at the fab @northcavewet.bsky.social 60 species including Ruff, Blackwit, Med Gull, Blackcap and a number of Chiffchaff.
March 16, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Nice morning as always at the fab @northcavewet.bsky.social 60 species including Ruff, Blackwit, Med Gull, Blackcap and a number of Chiffchaff.
32 Whooper Swan at #swinemoor this morning, first flock of 23 later to be joined by another 9 birds as I was leaving. Ducks still in good numbers with the long staying Pintail (5) still on site. #patchbirding #pwc2025 #ukbirding
March 7, 2025 at 8:32 AM
32 Whooper Swan at #swinemoor this morning, first flock of 23 later to be joined by another 9 birds as I was leaving. Ducks still in good numbers with the long staying Pintail (5) still on site. #patchbirding #pwc2025 #ukbirding