John Barber
@zeiss40.bsky.social
Birder. Angler. Distraught Man Utd fan. Lives in Lymm, Cheshire
Known to twitch within reason.
Love being out in the country.
Known to twitch within reason.
Love being out in the country.
A mad dash to the Point of Ayr this afternoon for the Bufflehead proved fruitless as we managed to miss the bird by a few minutes.
Seen to fly right from the hide around 2.20pm. Hoping it turns up again soon.
Seen to fly right from the hide around 2.20pm. Hoping it turns up again soon.
December 8, 2025 at 7:00 PM
A mad dash to the Point of Ayr this afternoon for the Bufflehead proved fruitless as we managed to miss the bird by a few minutes.
Seen to fly right from the hide around 2.20pm. Hoping it turns up again soon.
Seen to fly right from the hide around 2.20pm. Hoping it turns up again soon.
Only ever having had one poor view of a Lapland Bunting before, on the Gt Orme, so it was a thrill to have super views of the Leasowe bird earlier this morning.
Others will have the photographs, l was just delighted to have been there !
Others will have the photographs, l was just delighted to have been there !
November 10, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Only ever having had one poor view of a Lapland Bunting before, on the Gt Orme, so it was a thrill to have super views of the Leasowe bird earlier this morning.
Others will have the photographs, l was just delighted to have been there !
Others will have the photographs, l was just delighted to have been there !
Heavy rain early this morning at Woolston Eyes Nature Reserve later gave way to bright sunshine and a super view of the Yellow-browed Warber not far the John Morgan hide on no.3 bed. Also large numbers of other birds present amongst the thick vegetation.
November 1, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Heavy rain early this morning at Woolston Eyes Nature Reserve later gave way to bright sunshine and a super view of the Yellow-browed Warber not far the John Morgan hide on no.3 bed. Also large numbers of other birds present amongst the thick vegetation.
A leisurely trip to Llanfairfechan turned into something slightly more focused when news of the still present White-rumped Sandpiper at Malltraeth came through early morning.
Not showing on arrival but 75 minutes later, magically reappeared on Cob Pool before flying to the beach
Not showing on arrival but 75 minutes later, magically reappeared on Cob Pool before flying to the beach
October 18, 2025 at 3:46 PM
A leisurely trip to Llanfairfechan turned into something slightly more focused when news of the still present White-rumped Sandpiper at Malltraeth came through early morning.
Not showing on arrival but 75 minutes later, magically reappeared on Cob Pool before flying to the beach
Not showing on arrival but 75 minutes later, magically reappeared on Cob Pool before flying to the beach
A trip to Wykeham this morning to see the Ortolan Bunting turned out to be anything but easy, the bird being elusive to say the least !
Luckily l chose the right place to stand to see the bird on the ground shortly after arrival at 8.30. Later, others had occasional glimpses.
Luckily l chose the right place to stand to see the bird on the ground shortly after arrival at 8.30. Later, others had occasional glimpses.
June 29, 2025 at 2:50 PM
A trip to Wykeham this morning to see the Ortolan Bunting turned out to be anything but easy, the bird being elusive to say the least !
Luckily l chose the right place to stand to see the bird on the ground shortly after arrival at 8.30. Later, others had occasional glimpses.
Luckily l chose the right place to stand to see the bird on the ground shortly after arrival at 8.30. Later, others had occasional glimpses.
A very early start this morning for the Song Sparrow at Flamborough proved fruitless and particularly frustrating as l could have - and should have, gone for the bird yesterday afternoon. Plenty of other birds in the gully but not the star of the show. Lovely day though.
June 11, 2025 at 1:54 PM
A very early start this morning for the Song Sparrow at Flamborough proved fruitless and particularly frustrating as l could have - and should have, gone for the bird yesterday afternoon. Plenty of other birds in the gully but not the star of the show. Lovely day though.
Much better photos of the Woodchat Shrike at Daresbury taken by Dave Spencer.
June 4, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Much better photos of the Woodchat Shrike at Daresbury taken by Dave Spencer.
Ashamed to put this on but l was concentrating on the pylon really 😄
Woodchat Shrike showing well. Daresbury, Cheshire at lunchtime.
Woodchat Shrike showing well. Daresbury, Cheshire at lunchtime.
June 4, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Ashamed to put this on but l was concentrating on the pylon really 😄
Woodchat Shrike showing well. Daresbury, Cheshire at lunchtime.
Woodchat Shrike showing well. Daresbury, Cheshire at lunchtime.
Visited the lovely Kiftsgate Court gardens at Chipping Campden in Gloucestershire yesterday. Amazed to see so many Ravens enjoying the strong breeze and tumbling for fun from tall pines on the edge of the escarpment facing the Malvern Hills.
May 30, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Visited the lovely Kiftsgate Court gardens at Chipping Campden in Gloucestershire yesterday. Amazed to see so many Ravens enjoying the strong breeze and tumbling for fun from tall pines on the edge of the escarpment facing the Malvern Hills.
How's this for unusual.
A pair of Albino or Albinistic (?) Coot chicks photographed yesterday morning by a friend while fishing on a pool near Leigh in Lancs.
A pair of Albino or Albinistic (?) Coot chicks photographed yesterday morning by a friend while fishing on a pool near Leigh in Lancs.
May 11, 2025 at 7:46 AM
How's this for unusual.
A pair of Albino or Albinistic (?) Coot chicks photographed yesterday morning by a friend while fishing on a pool near Leigh in Lancs.
A pair of Albino or Albinistic (?) Coot chicks photographed yesterday morning by a friend while fishing on a pool near Leigh in Lancs.
Having an eventful time here in Cheshire at the moment. Our latest continental visitor is a Hoopoe at Newchurch Common, not far from Winsford. Affording super views and continually singing, what more could you ask for on a lovely Spring day amongst the leafy lanes.
May 10, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Having an eventful time here in Cheshire at the moment. Our latest continental visitor is a Hoopoe at Newchurch Common, not far from Winsford. Affording super views and continually singing, what more could you ask for on a lovely Spring day amongst the leafy lanes.
So it was all a (non) wild Kite chase 🙄
May 7, 2025 at 6:49 PM
So it was all a (non) wild Kite chase 🙄
A lamentable late morning try for the Black Kite reported at Lindow Common, Wilmslow. Used to fish there as a teenager back in 60's but haven't really been back since. I was pleasantly surprised how lovely the area still is. Must try to get back soon.
May 7, 2025 at 2:33 PM
A lamentable late morning try for the Black Kite reported at Lindow Common, Wilmslow. Used to fish there as a teenager back in 60's but haven't really been back since. I was pleasantly surprised how lovely the area still is. Must try to get back soon.
Photographs taken by Dave Spencer Monday evening of the Woolston Golden Oriole.
Dave spent most of the day, from early morning to 6pm, searching for a view of this bird, since briefly heard around 8am from a dense wooded area near no.4 bed.
Dave spent most of the day, from early morning to 6pm, searching for a view of this bird, since briefly heard around 8am from a dense wooded area near no.4 bed.
May 6, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Photographs taken by Dave Spencer Monday evening of the Woolston Golden Oriole.
Dave spent most of the day, from early morning to 6pm, searching for a view of this bird, since briefly heard around 8am from a dense wooded area near no.4 bed.
Dave spent most of the day, from early morning to 6pm, searching for a view of this bird, since briefly heard around 8am from a dense wooded area near no.4 bed.
Thrilled to finally see a Golden Oriole in the UK after fifteen years of near misses from Cornwall to Flamborough. This one kindly landed 5 miles from home at Woolston Eyes, Warrington and was found by Dave Spencer. Took three visits to see it though. Photo by Dan Owen.
May 5, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Thrilled to finally see a Golden Oriole in the UK after fifteen years of near misses from Cornwall to Flamborough. This one kindly landed 5 miles from home at Woolston Eyes, Warrington and was found by Dave Spencer. Took three visits to see it though. Photo by Dan Owen.
Thousands of Pink-footed Geese, literally hundreds of Whopper Swans and Golden Plover but no sign of the White-fronted Geese at Jeremy Lane, Upper Thurnham in Lancashire today.
March 7, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Thousands of Pink-footed Geese, literally hundreds of Whopper Swans and Golden Plover but no sign of the White-fronted Geese at Jeremy Lane, Upper Thurnham in Lancashire today.
Not the Merlin but a Sparrowhawk is posing nicely on the Radish.
January 29, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Not the Merlin but a Sparrowhawk is posing nicely on the Radish.
A male Merlin hunting over my local patch at Sow Brook, Lymm this afternoon. I'm not a photographer so no photographs unfortunately.
Lovely day though 😊
Lovely day though 😊
January 29, 2025 at 2:54 PM
A male Merlin hunting over my local patch at Sow Brook, Lymm this afternoon. I'm not a photographer so no photographs unfortunately.
Lovely day though 😊
Lovely day though 😊
Pretty, but very cold ( -5.5c ) today around a local patch at Sow Brook in Lymm, close to the Manchester Ship Canal. Ice 1.5 inches thick on the fields and birds thin on the ground. A few Meadow Pipits, Linnets and the odd Reed Bunting.
January 10, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Pretty, but very cold ( -5.5c ) today around a local patch at Sow Brook in Lymm, close to the Manchester Ship Canal. Ice 1.5 inches thick on the fields and birds thin on the ground. A few Meadow Pipits, Linnets and the odd Reed Bunting.
The perfect day for a winter visit to Llanfairfechan. No wind, flat calm sea, and pleasant sunshine once the sun got up.
A total of 54 species of birds, including Dipper on the river. Stopped at Colwyn Bay on the way back but no sign of the Surf Scoter.
A total of 54 species of birds, including Dipper on the river. Stopped at Colwyn Bay on the way back but no sign of the Surf Scoter.
December 3, 2024 at 4:43 PM
The perfect day for a winter visit to Llanfairfechan. No wind, flat calm sea, and pleasant sunshine once the sun got up.
A total of 54 species of birds, including Dipper on the river. Stopped at Colwyn Bay on the way back but no sign of the Surf Scoter.
A total of 54 species of birds, including Dipper on the river. Stopped at Colwyn Bay on the way back but no sign of the Surf Scoter.
A popular Christmas present for friends.
November 17, 2024 at 4:58 PM
A popular Christmas present for friends.
Best photo of a diving Kingfisher ever ?
Taken by Steve Sanderson
Taken by Steve Sanderson
November 16, 2024 at 10:48 AM
Best photo of a diving Kingfisher ever ?
Taken by Steve Sanderson
Taken by Steve Sanderson
Pleased to have several brief views of the Penduline Tit on the east cell of no.4 tank at Woolston Eyes Nature reserve early this morning . This site is huge and well worth a visit for anyone thinking of joining.
November 10, 2024 at 12:52 PM
Pleased to have several brief views of the Penduline Tit on the east cell of no.4 tank at Woolston Eyes Nature reserve early this morning . This site is huge and well worth a visit for anyone thinking of joining.
And a very pleasant surprise hiding in the bushes at Sammy's Point
October 15, 2024 at 4:45 PM
And a very pleasant surprise hiding in the bushes at Sammy's Point
A visit to Welwick &Spurn today with @richardhalftwo.bsky.social Really interesting to see work carried out by the Environment Agency regarding the Welwick Managed Realignment Scheme (?) The whole area is unrecognisable from my last visit. Impressive though
October 15, 2024 at 4:44 PM
A visit to Welwick &Spurn today with @richardhalftwo.bsky.social Really interesting to see work carried out by the Environment Agency regarding the Welwick Managed Realignment Scheme (?) The whole area is unrecognisable from my last visit. Impressive though