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Reposted by Andy Mears

British Birds @britishbirds.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

The Report on Rare Birds in Great Britain in 2025 is available to journal subscribers, or as a single-purchase hard copy from our shop. Packed with fascinating records, fantastic images and the stories behind Britain’s rarest birds. britishbirds.co.uk/journal/volu...

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Matt Doyle @elyod95.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Great start to @phelpstoby.bsky.social and my trip up north. Birding the willow scrub at Forvie NNR in Aberdeenshire produced RBFly, barred warbler, little bunting, and 3 YBW!

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

To all you toggers who ram your bird pics through an Ai engine - if you think we don’t notice, think again! They look proper weird.

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

An interesting morning at Steart: a flushed Quail was only my 2nd ever seen in the Uk and my 1st since 1986! 6 Manxies were battling their way out, the last flying between Stert Island and the Point. Also juvs of Little Stint, Curlew Sand and Spotred.

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Adult White-tailed Eagle still perched on the shoreline at Crowdy Res but I’m heading off now. Also Little Stint and Turnstone, and a Curlew Sand on Davidstow. @birdguides.bsky.social @marshallpaul.bsky.social

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

White-tailed Eagle perched up at Crowdy Res now on the shoreline @birdguides.bsky.social @marshallpaul.bsky.social

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

30 Clouded Yellow in a small field on the way to Decoy hide today, Shapwick. Probably a gross underestimate, they were just the ones easily seen on a single sweep with bins. I imagine the real total might be c60.

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Cracking day in Somerset, the best for me being a juv Grey Phal showing beautifully on the foreshore at Stert Pt and a slow flyby Leach’s Petrel giving great views 👌

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

What a photo! When was it, Marc?

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Well, I’d be immensely chuffed to see one in Britain even if it ultimately went down as ‘one of 3’

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

I’m curious, Perry - what are the features shown in photos that make yours unequivocally Barolo’s? Genuine question, I’ve never looked closely into the differences between the three taxa but I will now.

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Nice early autumn selection today but hope it’s not too long before something a bit special turns up: Cheddar, 3 Black Tern - Blagdon, 1 Garganey - Chew, 2 Garganey, 1 Black Tern, 2 Commons, 1 G Ibis, 2 Knot - Some Gt Egrets are transferring from the Levels to Chew with Herons Green Bay holding 22.

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Just heard a Serin near the Spurn Point lighthouse. Presumably in flight but unfortunately I couldn’t see it.

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

I’d say the way we share bird news these days is a complete dog’s breakfast. National news services, social media, eBird and the like, and WhatsApp groups… It’s a mess

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Lovely views of the White-rumped Sand at Beacon Ponds this afternoon. These August adults are so distinctive with their worn brown wings, neat little breast bands and snowy white bellies. Purple Sand and Curlew Sands still.

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Black Harrier - now that is one awesome bird

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Lake & pool sides have been good at Herriott’s, Chew lately. So disappointing to have it all thoroughly flushed by hot air balloons early this morning. The majority of birds hadn’t returned by noon. Did see single Garganeys at Herriott’s and Herons Green. 20+ Common Tern were out over the lake.

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Reposted by Andy Mears

Birds of Poole Harbour @harbourbirds.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

An adult male Honey Buzzard came and landed on our Osprey nest briefly this afternoon, digging in the nest searching for a potential wasp or bees nest?! @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Classic mid-August evening at Chew: Garganey, Wood Sand and 4 Black Terns. 3 egret sps, Snipe, Green Sands, Greenshanks and Hobby as backup.

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

All showing well from Avalon hide, Ham Wall earlier this morning: juv Purple Heron, Glossy Ibis, Wood Sand, Spotted Redshank, Green Sand, Water Rails, Marsh Harrier and 3 egret sps. Saw a Bittern later making it, with Grey Heron, a 6-heron morning. Still special. @somersetbirds.bsky.social

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

All showing well from Avalon hide, Ham Wall in the last 10 mins: juv Purple Heron, Glossy Ibis, Wood Sand, Spotted Redshank, Green Sand, Water Rails, Marsh Harrier and 3 egret sps

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David Steel @steelyseabirder.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

The last of our Pufflings on the Isle of May are leaving although it was still a surprise to find this little fella in the moth trap! I soon released it successfully into the North Sea

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Nice to bump into @0100011s.bsky.social too even though he was 500 miles further south than desired. Hope the green meteor stays for you, Cliff🤞

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Watching ad White-rumped Sand at Snettisham from post 26 on the coast path now

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

What are the best birds the site has attracted to date, Phil?

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Pea soup, Chris? (too much nutrient from agriculture and treated sewage effluent; and with a contribution from untreated sewage no doubt) Sad to see under a Govt owned and controlled water sector.

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

A nice few hours at Brownsea lagoon today, nothing exceptional but decent wader numbers to look through. Included LRPs, Barwits, Greenshanks and Avocets. @staldhelmsbirder.bsky.social

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

What’s the evidence? What are their usual July counts for the wetland species they count as key, and what are the current counts…? Please.

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

2 Black-necked Grebes at top end, Blagdon this pm👍

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Wood Sand still at Herriott’s, Chew this morning. Also Oystercatcher and female Mandarin there, and another f Mandarin from Bernard king hide. Common Tern and ad-ish YL Gull on the lake. At Blagdon top end, an ad f Garganey.

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Dorset Bird Club @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Next Thursday (30th July) we have a talk you won't want to miss. @moorebirdsbybike.bsky.social 'Birding Dorset (and beyond) by bike’. This will be preceded by our concise AGM. dorsetbirds.co.uk/wp-content/u... We hope to see you there.

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Wood Sand still at Herriott’s, Chew. Also Oystercatcher and female Mandarin.

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

At least 2 Glossy Ibis at vp1, Ham Wall this evening. To be fair, 20 could easily be hiding out there.

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BirdGuides @birdguides.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

The BirdGuides and BBRC Birders' Code of Conduct sets out a series of core values that we ask birders to follow when in the field:

f.mtr.cool

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Reposted by Andy Mears

West Midlands Ringing Group @westmidlandsrg.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Appeal for Identification We’re seeking to identify the individual pictured after the disturbance of a Sche 1 protected bird at an active nest. Their presence caused the adult birds to leave the nest potentially putting vulnerable chicks at risk during the current extreme heat.

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Aren’t forceps for grasping and clamping? A Crossbill uses its crossed mandibles to prize cones open, ‘opening the bill sideways’, and extracting the seed with its tongue. Just sayin’!

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Western Reef Egret currently showing well from the church watchpoint, Pembs

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Yes, certainly isn’t May anymore, is it

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Smashing. Looks identical to the recent Tealham bird in Somerset. I wonder…

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

That’s a bit good, Martyn!

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Don’t need a view, it is one

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Got a singing Great Reed Warbler at Noah’s hide, Shapwick. Chilly and breezy here, haven’t seen it yet 🍺🙂👍

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

I’d guess the latter with a bit of Merlin error thrown in - but I’d be guessing

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

I hesitate to post this but the Little Bittern report from Ham Wall today comes from what I view to be an unreliable eBird checklist. Sorry, no nice way of saying it, but there it is. I do hope I’m wrong, I’d absolutely love having those little guys back on the reserve…

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Andy Mears @andyfmears.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

1 Spoonbill on the Parrett pools, Otterhampton marsh, Steart this morning @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social

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