iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Great to meet you today, it’s always nice to see people in the real world you follow on-line, keep up the good work, love the blog and admire the effort that goes into it. All the best.

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

There is a keypad to access the hide. If travelling for the American duo, concentrate on viewing from the north end of the lake, scan the waters edge, I will be down there tomorrow morning and will update on the Sandpiper(s). It wouldn’t be sensible to give the hide code on social media.

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Local patch birder Kev Stead found this Buff-breasted Sandpiper this morning at Castle Lake (a site first). Managed to get out and twitch it, Buff breasted and Pectoral Sandpipers in the same field of view was special.

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Another species that with distance and poor light can look like a small juvenile female Ruff, to my eyes anyway, the Castle Lake Pectoral Sandpiper still present this evening.

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Really pleased to chance upon this Spotted Flycatcher (patch tick) at Castle Lake today. Two Hobbies also seen made for a good day.

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Castle Lake in strengthening westerlies, single Curlew Sandpiper, single Common Sandpiper, two Greenshank, nine Ruff, c200 Curlew and three Black-tailed Godwits. Returning Wigeon now in double figures.

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Ten Black-tailed Godwits dropped in Castle Lake as I was leaving plus a Great Egret.

Black-tailed Godwits, with Curlew Sandpiper.

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

A little bit static on patch at the moment. Three Curlew Sandpipers still with seven Ruff, two Ringed Plover, singles of Common Sandpiper and maybe my last of year Yellow Wagtail.

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Castle Lake am. Three Curlew Sandpipers, 14 Ruff, one Greenshank, one Green Sandpiper, one Dunlin, one Ringed Plover. Wheatear also present. The site is looking good except for the 700 Greylags!

Castle Lake looking east from the hide. Light extremely poor in the morning.

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

I’m pretty sure most find it easy enough Chris, just an observation from an ageing mainly inland patch birder 😊

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Not do my street cred any good, if I had any, but juvenile female Ruff and juvenile Curlew Sandpipers can look very alike at distance. I’ve said it now. I’ve had both on patch recently and this morning, it always takes me a little time to sort them out.

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Curlew Sandpipers were up to four with Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Green Sandpiper, Snipe and Curlew also present.

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Nice mix again at Castle Lake this evening, some of the 14 Ruff present.

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

A shocker of an image through the window but two of the five Tree Sparrows that have become regular garden visitors, I think a family party. Lovely to see.

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Castle Lake evening, two Dunlin, 14 Ruff (min count), one Ringed Plover, two Green Sandpiper, one Curlew Sandpiper, eight Snipe, one Great White Egret.

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

A nice mix of waders at Castle Lake this afternoon. 10 Ruff, two Green Sandpiper, one Wood Sandpiper, three Ringed Plover and four Greenshank all present. Eight of the Ruff in the video.

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

A great read, identifying Caspian Gulls with confidence is sill beyond me, some is my lack of dedication and some a “life is too short” mentality. I still massively admire those who can and do identify them with impunity. I tried the nicknames and got 78 so you beat me at that as well.

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Looking forward to reading this, hopefully it will help my strike rate!

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Surprisingly it has taken me almost 12 months to add Mediterranean Gull to my Castle Lake list. A little sign of wader passage with Black-tailed Godwits, Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, Snipe and Little Ringed Plover all present today.

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Common Redstart (patch tick) Castle Lake in bushes adjacent to the hide. Also two Redshank, Dunlin, Common Sandpiper and five LRP.

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

I counted 122 on Sunday around high tide while doing the WEBS count and thought there could have been more but they were continually being flushed by dog walkers so good to have that number confirmed.

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Pretty sure the moth is Shaded broad-bar.

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Garganey showing well in front of Saltholme pools hide. RSPB Saltholme @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Very quiet at Castle Lake this morning, Yellow Wagtails in decent numbers but just single Little Ringed Plover and four Avocets of minor note. A single Lapwing chick still surviving.

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Adult kittiwake and Sanderling Saltholme Pools hide 15:10. @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Six Whimbrel at Castle Lake brought up the patch 100 for the year. Saved the day really after three hours in the rain yesterday expecting a “fall” of waders failed miserably.

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

The two Tundra Bean Geese at RSPB Saltholme were very distant. Despite having thorough personal records back to the late 1980’s my only previous Bean Goose was a Taiga in Lancashire, suggesting my listing strategy needs some work! @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

Twenty-four Whitefronts on water RSPB Saltholme pools hide 15:30 @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

Twenty-four Whitefronts over Pools hide RSPB Saltholme 15:15. Bean Geese (2) and Water Pipit also from the hide on and off. @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

Good wader morning at Castle Lake and surrounds for the time of year, 355 Curlew, 26 Oystercatcher, 22 Redshank and 12 Black-tailed Godwit.

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 17/01/2026

Short-eared Owl hunting around Haverton Gate Saltholme RSPB @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

Moved to County Durham in March this year and have concentrated my after work birding at Durham Wildlife Trust Low Barns (88 species) and Castle Lake (91 species) with weekend visits to Saltholme (122 species). The odd local twitch and monthly webs count at South Gare, it’s been enjoyable.

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 29/12/2025

Looking through my I phone images and I took this back of camera shot of what I am almost certain is a Marsh Tit back in September on my garden feeder. One or two locals have concurred Marsh but both Marsh and Willow occur locally. Any thoughts welcome, bird wasn’t heard to call.

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 29/12/2025

A burning question is why can everyone identify Caspian Gulls with impunity and I’m hopeless, there must be others with a similar affliction or do they just not admit it.

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 11/12/2025

Not impossible you’ll get Hen Harrier on your patch, you just never know and you’ve done great so far, I never managed one in 25 years at Sandbach Flashes but others had them.

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 07/12/2025

A steady morning at RSPB Saltholme, nice to see a few Tree Sparrows around the feeders, they’ve been quite difficult to see at times this year on site, for me anyway, @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 22/11/2025

Short-eared and Barn Owl over meadow from Lake Walk RSPB Saltholme @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

A quick search on Apple Podcasts and it is listed with a few others with similar titles so followed, good luck with it.

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

Small gatherings (100-200) DWT Low Barns recently. @durhamwildlife.bsky.social

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

Water Pipit and Bittern from Phil Stead hide, Saltholme RSPB 14:35. @teesbirds.bsky.social. Bittern on and off for the last 10 minutes.

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 19/10/2025

A real geography lesson for me today, travelled to South Gare for my WEBS count to find the access road closed. No problem I’ll park in Redcar and walk both ways. Knackered, a Little Stint was with the roosting waders. Not one person (or dog) was nice. @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 09/10/2025

With a British list of roughly 385 after 35 plus years birding I’m hardly “hardcore” but today’s Mourning Dove on my regular(ish) Scilly holiday was special, summed up wonderfully on the local what’s app group by an islander. Not quite as epic as the Swift but it will do.

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

Lovely mix of waders in soggy conditions at Castle Lake with black tailed godwit, ringed plover, dunlin, curlew sand, common sand, ruff and spotted redshank all present.

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 08/09/2025

A nice mix of waders still at Castle Lake NR with Spotted Redshank and five Curlew Sandpipers still. As usual the birds were pretty distant. @durhambirdclub.bsky.social

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

Ordered it, read it and recommended it to all who will listen, a superb read, I know already it’s one I’ll go back and read time and again.

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

Green and Wood Sandpipers, RSPB Saltholme earlier today. @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

Green, Wood Sandpiper and Little Stint still RSBP Saltholme, 15:00. @teesbirds.bsky.social

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Andy Firth @andyfirth.bsky.social · 19/07/2025

Three Whimbrel over Saltholme Pools hide RSPB Saltholme, Garganey still present @teesbirds.bsky.social

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