Chris Townend (Wise Birding)
@wisebirding.bsky.social
Tour Leader / Freelance Ornithologist.
Love all wildlife, particularly birds, the challenge of rarity finding & searching for elusive cats, especially Lynx & Snow Leopard.
Bird & Mammal Tours: www.wisebirding.co.uk
Beaver Walks: www.devonbeavertours.co.uk
Love all wildlife, particularly birds, the challenge of rarity finding & searching for elusive cats, especially Lynx & Snow Leopard.
Bird & Mammal Tours: www.wisebirding.co.uk
Beaver Walks: www.devonbeavertours.co.uk
Relocated the Swift again a couple of times briefly this morning but only managed v poor photos. Severely pushing the limit on lighting edits! One sharpened the other not. Certainly Pallid features, but not sure how much you can really trust the poor image….
#DevonBirds #UKBirding
#DevonBirds #UKBirding
November 13, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Relocated the Swift again a couple of times briefly this morning but only managed v poor photos. Severely pushing the limit on lighting edits! One sharpened the other not. Certainly Pallid features, but not sure how much you can really trust the poor image….
#DevonBirds #UKBirding
#DevonBirds #UKBirding
Exciting & frustrating! 😮Returned home from Namibia this AM and find a Common/Pallid Swift on the patch this PM (3.20pm - 4.20pm) over Otter Estuary NR. Brief views appalling light & distance didn’t allow photos or much help with id features.🙄Fingers crossed it returns tomorrow. #DevonBirds #UKBirds
November 12, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Exciting & frustrating! 😮Returned home from Namibia this AM and find a Common/Pallid Swift on the patch this PM (3.20pm - 4.20pm) over Otter Estuary NR. Brief views appalling light & distance didn’t allow photos or much help with id features.🙄Fingers crossed it returns tomorrow. #DevonBirds #UKBirds
Another great bird from our final birding in Namibia before heading to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe was this stunning Rosy-throated Longclaw.😍 #Birds #Namibia #WiseBirding
November 12, 2025 at 6:46 AM
Another great bird from our final birding in Namibia before heading to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe was this stunning Rosy-throated Longclaw.😍 #Birds #Namibia #WiseBirding
Another great day’s birding in Namibia close to the Chobe floodplains produced this lovely Dickinson’s Kestrel catching reptiles.
#Birds #Namibia #WiseBirding
#Birds #Namibia #WiseBirding
November 11, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Another great day’s birding in Namibia close to the Chobe floodplains produced this lovely Dickinson’s Kestrel catching reptiles.
#Birds #Namibia #WiseBirding
#Birds #Namibia #WiseBirding
More great birding in the Bwabwata NP in the Caprivi region today with displaying Racket-tailed Rollers being just one of the day’s highlights. #Birds #NamibiaBirding #WiseBirding
November 9, 2025 at 8:08 PM
More great birding in the Bwabwata NP in the Caprivi region today with displaying Racket-tailed Rollers being just one of the day’s highlights. #Birds #NamibiaBirding #WiseBirding
We had to work hard today to find this mega owl, but perseverance paid off! A great day exploring the Pan Handle of Botswana with this superb Pel’s Fishing Owl. 📷 by tour participant Lori Louth 👌🏻 #Birds #Botswana #WiseBirding
November 7, 2025 at 7:32 PM
We had to work hard today to find this mega owl, but perseverance paid off! A great day exploring the Pan Handle of Botswana with this superb Pel’s Fishing Owl. 📷 by tour participant Lori Louth 👌🏻 #Birds #Botswana #WiseBirding
A fantastic day’s birding in the Okavango region of Namibia yesterday with killer views of two big target birds. The very localised Souza’s Shrike and Rufous-bellied Tit. A very happy group!😊 #Birds #Namibia #WiseBirding
November 6, 2025 at 7:52 PM
A fantastic day’s birding in the Okavango region of Namibia yesterday with killer views of two big target birds. The very localised Souza’s Shrike and Rufous-bellied Tit. A very happy group!😊 #Birds #Namibia #WiseBirding
Our time in Etosha NP was memorable as always, with fantastic birding and of course mammals. Lions were easy to see including these two rather impressive brothers. #Mammals #WiseBirding
November 6, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Our time in Etosha NP was memorable as always, with fantastic birding and of course mammals. Lions were easy to see including these two rather impressive brothers. #Mammals #WiseBirding
More high quality specialities from our ongoing Namibia Birds & Mammals tour over the last couple of days have included Hartlaub’s Spurfowl, Herero Chat, Karoo Long-billed Lark and Ludwig’s Bustard. Etosha now beckons where the mammals are sure to impress….. #Birds #Namibia #WiseBirding
October 31, 2025 at 7:46 PM
More high quality specialities from our ongoing Namibia Birds & Mammals tour over the last couple of days have included Hartlaub’s Spurfowl, Herero Chat, Karoo Long-billed Lark and Ludwig’s Bustard. Etosha now beckons where the mammals are sure to impress….. #Birds #Namibia #WiseBirding
A great start to the Wise Birding Birds & Mammals tour of Namibia. Some nice specialties seen well along the coast today. These included Damara Tern, Chestnut-banded Plover, Gray’s Lark and Humpback Whales and Cape Fur Seals. #Birds #Namibia #Mammals #WiseBirding
October 29, 2025 at 8:47 PM
A great start to the Wise Birding Birds & Mammals tour of Namibia. Some nice specialties seen well along the coast today. These included Damara Tern, Chestnut-banded Plover, Gray’s Lark and Humpback Whales and Cape Fur Seals. #Birds #Namibia #Mammals #WiseBirding
Who doesn’t love a lark, particularly an endemic lark!🤣 Dune Lark in the mighty dunes of Namibia. Great to be back in this fantastic country again. #Birds #WiseBirding
October 27, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Who doesn’t love a lark, particularly an endemic lark!🤣 Dune Lark in the mighty dunes of Namibia. Great to be back in this fantastic country again. #Birds #WiseBirding
A big influx of Jack Snipe today across Scilly. I saw 3 different birds on St Martin’s including 2 different birds feeding on beautiful beaches and rock pools! Such fabulous little birds. #scillybirds
October 15, 2025 at 7:20 PM
A big influx of Jack Snipe today across Scilly. I saw 3 different birds on St Martin’s including 2 different birds feeding on beautiful beaches and rock pools! Such fabulous little birds. #scillybirds
Red-breasted Flycatcher, St Martin’s, Isles of Scilly #ScillyBirds #Birds
October 13, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Red-breasted Flycatcher, St Martin’s, Isles of Scilly #ScillyBirds #Birds
Absolutely loved a few hours on St Agnes today, seeing lots of old friends I haven’t seen for a long time, and seeing a great bird. Normal service resumes on St Martin’s now. 😅Huge thanks in particular to the landowner and Agnes birders organising access. 😜 #MourningDove
October 9, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Absolutely loved a few hours on St Agnes today, seeing lots of old friends I haven’t seen for a long time, and seeing a great bird. Normal service resumes on St Martin’s now. 😅Huge thanks in particular to the landowner and Agnes birders organising access. 😜 #MourningDove
Nice to find this Rustic Bunting with the Mrs this evening on St Martin’s, Isles of Scilly. A subtle bird, in some ways, compared to obvious autumn males. Looks to be same bird found on St Agnes yesterday when comparing feather details. #ScillyBirding
October 1, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Nice to find this Rustic Bunting with the Mrs this evening on St Martin’s, Isles of Scilly. A subtle bird, in some ways, compared to obvious autumn males. Looks to be same bird found on St Agnes yesterday when comparing feather details. #ScillyBirding
Beautiful sunny and clear day in the SW today. A lovely evening on the patch with M Harrier, Osprey, 3 Curlew Sand, 1 Little Stint and then 9 Glossy Ibis dropped in at dusk. Possibly start of a new wave of birds? Now at least 18 this year for the Otter Estuary.
#DevonBirds #Birds
#DevonBirds #Birds
September 22, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Beautiful sunny and clear day in the SW today. A lovely evening on the patch with M Harrier, Osprey, 3 Curlew Sand, 1 Little Stint and then 9 Glossy Ibis dropped in at dusk. Possibly start of a new wave of birds? Now at least 18 this year for the Otter Estuary.
#DevonBirds #Birds
#DevonBirds #Birds
Certainly wasn’t expecting this on the high tide on the patch this evening! Lovely juvenile Baird’s Sand. 😮 Great find by Steve Windle. Pretty sure it’s a first for the Otter Estuary.👍🏻 Still present at dusk on Little Marsh. #UKBirding #DevonBirds
September 20, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Certainly wasn’t expecting this on the high tide on the patch this evening! Lovely juvenile Baird’s Sand. 😮 Great find by Steve Windle. Pretty sure it’s a first for the Otter Estuary.👍🏻 Still present at dusk on Little Marsh. #UKBirding #DevonBirds
I just love sifting through wader flocks and for me not much beats a pristine juvenile Curlew Sandpiper.😍Two of 3 birds on tonight’s rising tide on the Otter Estuary NR, Budleigh Salterton.
#DevonBirding #Birds
#DevonBirding #Birds
September 10, 2025 at 7:24 PM
I just love sifting through wader flocks and for me not much beats a pristine juvenile Curlew Sandpiper.😍Two of 3 birds on tonight’s rising tide on the Otter Estuary NR, Budleigh Salterton.
#DevonBirding #Birds
#DevonBirding #Birds
Like buses!😂Now 38 for the patch.
Six birds just dropped in this evening on the Otter Estuary NR, East Devon.
#DevonBirding #Birds
Six birds just dropped in this evening on the Otter Estuary NR, East Devon.
#DevonBirding #Birds
September 7, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Like buses!😂Now 38 for the patch.
Six birds just dropped in this evening on the Otter Estuary NR, East Devon.
#DevonBirding #Birds
Six birds just dropped in this evening on the Otter Estuary NR, East Devon.
#DevonBirding #Birds
A nice surprise on the patch tonight to mark the start of autumn. My 32nd Glossy Ibis on the Otter Estuary NR 😂
#DevonBirding #Birds
#DevonBirding #Birds
September 3, 2025 at 6:11 PM
A nice surprise on the patch tonight to mark the start of autumn. My 32nd Glossy Ibis on the Otter Estuary NR 😂
#DevonBirding #Birds
#DevonBirding #Birds
I always love getting straight back on the patch after a long overseas trip. This pristine Juv Whinchat was a welcome sight this evening and a reminder of the potential excitement of another autumn ahead.🤞🏻
#Birds
#Birds
August 29, 2025 at 8:42 PM
I always love getting straight back on the patch after a long overseas trip. This pristine Juv Whinchat was a welcome sight this evening and a reminder of the potential excitement of another autumn ahead.🤞🏻
#Birds
#Birds
A clear highlight of a short birding tour around Bolivia’s Santa Cruz department, the critically endangered & endemic Red-fronted Macaw. A must visit lodge & community conservation project. Join E-Newsletter for news on Bolivia tour in preparation: tinyurl.com/8cxvk9ws
#Birds #Bolivia #WiseBirding
#Birds #Bolivia #WiseBirding
August 27, 2025 at 3:37 PM
A clear highlight of a short birding tour around Bolivia’s Santa Cruz department, the critically endangered & endemic Red-fronted Macaw. A must visit lodge & community conservation project. Join E-Newsletter for news on Bolivia tour in preparation: tinyurl.com/8cxvk9ws
#Birds #Bolivia #WiseBirding
#Birds #Bolivia #WiseBirding
August 25, 2025 at 2:39 PM
The location of Refugio Los Volcanes has to be one of the most spectacular birding hotspots in Bolivia. A truly magical location to stay with so many fantastic birds within walking distance of your room. #Birds #WiseBirding
August 22, 2025 at 7:37 PM
The location of Refugio Los Volcanes has to be one of the most spectacular birding hotspots in Bolivia. A truly magical location to stay with so many fantastic birds within walking distance of your room. #Birds #WiseBirding
Black-streaked Puffbird, Refugio Los Volcanes, Bolivia. 🇧🇴 #Birds #WiseBirding
August 22, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Black-streaked Puffbird, Refugio Los Volcanes, Bolivia. 🇧🇴 #Birds #WiseBirding