bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 02/10/2026Perhaps not everyones cup of tea, but some really good graffiti art on the viaduct at Ditchford GP today, last time we passed that way there was hardly any, so clearly been a summer of artistry! For context, 'Minerva' is an area of the Queensway estate in Wellingborough that has a 'reputation'. 010
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 01/10/2026#Northantsbirds A third of the way there to getting the same incredible garden tick as Shetland got today😉, just missing 'Blue' and 'Siberian'😆🤪. 0101
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 25/09/2026#Northantsbirds An earlyish start at Kinewell Lake today in glorious Autumn sunshine, will never tire of this place, looking forward to the Winter period🙂. First Wigeon of Autumn, with c30 present, and 3 Pintail were the highlight, also several Shoveler and 2 Teal, plus Gt Egret, Raven and Hobby. 180
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 23/09/2026#Northantsbirds Another wander around the New Workings early evening, feels like it's only a matter of time before a decent wader drops in (damn sight more mud than Summerleys can muster😉). Juv Osprey still, 3 Pintail,3 Gt Egret, 2-3 Green Sand, 2 Snipe and juv Hobby; 61 Teal on the East pool North. 090
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 20/09/2026Seems appropriate to wear this tshirt out birding today. Hoping he's found some peace and tranquility somewhere. 040
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 11/09/2026Weekend away in Suffolk, started at Cattawade, contemplating a long and difficult stint trying to find the Hudsonian Godwit-took all of of 5 minutes to pick out a decent candidate, confirmed when it raised its wings🙂. Great to watch for 2 hours, part Barwit, part Spotted Redshank, quite distinctive! 1120
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 10/09/2026#Northantsbirds An uplifting afternoon at the New Workings after a morning funeral, the juv Osprey putting on a real show,eating a small fish (Perch/Roach?) in its tree. An adult Cattle Egret was another site tick,plus an adult Caspian Gull briefly; 2 Green Sand and 38 Teal on North (East) side. 0131
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 10/09/2026This! I'm convinced these AI data centres have been deliberately designed to be as environmentally damaging as possible. You only have to see whose really pushing for/funding AI to know how horrific it is and will be. 010
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 08/09/2026#Northantsbirds The New Workings this evening, North side quiet now the Glossy Ibis has vanished, just 3 Green Sand present. The South produced this lovely juv Osprey (doing a Harpy Eagle impression😆),which eventually flew off East, and a site tick female Pintail ('trust me bro' photo!)🙂 0101
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 04/09/2026#Northantsbirds Resisted the lure of Little Stint and tried to find something ourselves. Summerleys was quiet, Ruff the best; Sywell produced our FOY juv Osprey, with 2 (ad and juv YL Gulls),2 juv LRP, Green and Common Sand. NW North EBGP held the Glossy Ibis still, Greenshank,4-5 Green Sand, 160
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 31/08/2026#Northantsbirds A look in the Walgrave Bay, Pitsford, mid-morning produced a pleasing number of several different passage waders; most were distant, but this Ruff and Greenshank decided to walk right in front of the hide🙂; a look at Lamport Hall produced plenty of Spotted Fly, but no definite Pied. 080
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 28/08/2026#Northantsbirds For once, putting off seeing a decent bird in the county paid off, as Daventrys Pec Sand was joined by 3 juv Curlew Sand today (photos appalling!), also Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit present - almost like the good 'ole days🙂. Glossy Ibis still NW North. 080
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 25/08/2026#Northantsbirds Beautiful light early evening at NW North EBGP, and some quality birds too. The Glossy Ibis and the Spotted Redshank showed very well, with a supporting cast of at least 7 Green and 3 Common Sand. The reed-fringed muddy edges looked good for Spotted Crake, but no joy. 0171
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 22/08/2026#Northantsbirds Really good visit to Titchmarsh LNR today, with Turnstone, juv Black-tailed Godwit and 3 Greenshank, also single Garganey, 220+ Lapwing, 15 Egyptian Geese and a huge ad YL Gull. At Kinewell Lake, fem Mandarin again, with 10 Teal and 4 Shoveler notable. A Vestal was a moth tick. 0140
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 15/08/2026#Northantsbirds My good fortune continued today at Titchmarsh LNR, finding a Glossy Ibis on Aldwincle Lake; age problematic, not a juvenile, but too dull for an adult? Possibly a new bird if the Summerleys bird is the returning adult? Also Wood Sand, Greenshank, 3 Green Sand, 3 Snipe, ad YL Gull🙂 0131
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 14/08/2026#Northantsbirds Given the hot weather today, we decided to stay close-to-home and popped to Summerleys. A scan from Rotary Hide revealed a few seconds view of a 'black Tern, which set alarm bells ringing, so we quickly walked to Screen Hide and 'boom', it was indeed a very nice moulting adult 180
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 12/08/2026Again, please no 'right to roam' crap, we all know that a large percentage of the public are ignorant dumb idiots when out in the countryside. 030
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 09/08/2026#Northantsbirds A first visit to Kinewell Lake for several weeks, expectations low, but ended up a decent visit. Site ✅️ Marsh Harrier was overdue, 2 Little Grebe unseasonal, ad Common Gull and a 1 Gadwall youngster remains. Two 'firsts' for the lake with Lsr Emporer and 15+ Small Red-eyed Damselfly 080
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 07/08/2026Best get my arse in gear and actually go and see them before an extremely cold winter kills them all off...☃️🤪 010
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 06/08/2026Last day in NW Norfolk, went back to Snettisham,luckily we found the WR Sandpiper just as the high tide was turning, and close in (photo showing it with its 2 confusion possibilities; Dunlin and Sanderling!). At Titchwell, a spangly dinky-billed juv Black-tailed Godwit present, plus a Brent Goose🙂 070
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 03/08/2026Following many attempts at getting close to multiple Clouded Yellows the last 3 days in NW Norfolk, finally one deigned to nectar long enough to get some photos at Ringstead Common - love those eyeballs! Bonus of a bee ✅️, with a Gold-tailed Melitta, appropriately enough on Clustered Bellflower🙂. 040
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 03/08/2026"Everything starts with an E" - Continental Black-tailed Godwit E12 giving some great views at Titchwell late afternoon, plus the Curlew Sand and an ad YL Gull. A few hours at Ringstead Common produced 'just' 15+ Hummingbird Hawkmoth, but several Clouded Yellow and Painted Lady, plus 2 Raven. 090
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 02/08/2026What a day in NW Norfolk today; first, the birds, with great views of the White-rumped Sandpiper at Snettisham, plus Lt Stint, 3 Spotted Redshank, Cattle Egret. Early evening visit to Titchwell produced the moulting Curlew Sandpiper and a presumed 2s Arctic Tern🙂 191
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 01/08/2026The grassy meadow by Old Hunstanton GC/dunes produced 15+ HHawkmoth, 10+ Clouded Yellow and our first Marbled Clover. On to Ringstead Down, and incredible views of our first Queen of Spain Fritillary!! Constantly on view, defending a small section of the main track; Clouded Yellow and 5+ HHawkmoth. 091
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 31/07/2026Seeing the terrible scenes at Westleton/Dunwich, why the f@ck are disposable bbqs still allowed to be sold? Let's face it, anyone buying one in this drought, and taking it to the bone-dry countryside to use, is likely to be thick as pig shit, so don't give them the option! 040
Reposted by @bigstarbirding.bsky.socialRebecca R Helm @rebeccarhelm.bsky.social · 29/07/2026“Artificial intelligence labs are in a new arms race to buy up millions of rare books, slicing them open, scanning the pages and pulping the remains — sparking concerns that the last remaining copies of out-of-print texts are being destroyed on an industrial scale.” 7242142
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 28/07/2026#Northantsbirds A slow walk round Summerleys this morning, with anything decent confined to the Scrape as the Trust were working by the main lake. The 2 Garganey showed well from the hide, with a juv LRP & Gt Egret. Still a few Wasp Spider about, incl this whopper, plus a ✅️Hook-banded Meadow Fly. 080
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 26/07/2026Visited the most famous bramble patch in England this morning🙂, with excellent views of the Long-tailed Shrike, perched up on view for the 2 hours we were there, dropping down onto several Grasshoppers and Bees. Many thanks to the volunteers manning the car park👍. Bonus Hornet Robberfly✅️ 1131
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 23/07/2026Humans eh? Surely the most stupid creature on the planet...🤪 130
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 20/07/2026#Northantsbirds Not even a Common Sand at Summerleys early evening, but a noticeable increase in both Coot and Gadwall; thoughts of a Garganey hiding among the latter miraculously bore fruit with an eclipse drake on the Scrape, though it was among Lapwings and not Gadwall😆 080
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 18/07/2026Countless hours spent listening to 60s and 70s music featuring the amazing sound and groove of either a Hammond or Farfisa organ, and today, at Emmaus Village charity shop near Carlton, Beds, we found this lovely (and working) Farfisa; so tempted to buy it at £150, but resisted temptation! 010
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 15/07/2026Well, colour me shocked that organised religion is just a front for a money-obssessed collection of grifters...🤡👹 010
Reposted by @bigstarbirding.bsky.socialPapay ranger - Jonathan Ford @papayranger.bsky.social · 15/07/2026After a long day of Papay Tours and boat trips, finally caught up with the Blue-cheeked bee-eater at about 10pm, coming in to roost in the willows at Hundland. A first for Orkney, a magical bird and a treat for the Papay Tour guests and visiting birders too! #Papay #Orkney #rarebirds 1635
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 28/06/2026#Northantsbirds Egret nesting season seems to have finished at Kinewell Lake, with just 4 juv Cattle present, on two different islands, won't be long before they appear at Stanwick/Thrapston/Summerleys🙂. One juv had an adult-like yellow bill - other juvs over the years have occasionally shown this. 0170
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 26/06/2026#Northantsbirds With our climate beginning it's slow collapse this week, no birding til early today, thankfully the 2 female-type Garganey were still at Summerleys, an extremely belated FOY; 3 Great Egret best of the rest. Common Terns seem to have abandoned Eddies Is and have relocated to Marys. 040
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 24/06/2026Make the 6-fingered knuckledraggers have their meeting - outside, hottest part of the day, no shade or water, each Reform councillor to speak for minimum of 60 minutes on why climate change is a hoax, while that blazing sun frys their last few remaining brain cells. 030
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 21/06/2026#Northantsbirds Kinewell Lake today, and not often the local breeding birds are upstaged, but finding a Red-tipped Clearwing was a definite highlight! A female Mandarin returned for the Summer, as they have for the last several years; where do they go to at other times of the year?? 070
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 20/06/2026#Northantsbirds With such a quiet last few weeks locally, I lost some of my birding mojo, and todays visit to Summerleys did little to get it back, until we got to Wader Bay, where an adult Mediterranean was preening on the shore; another scan revealed a 1s Little Gull(my first June record I think)🙂 0100
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 12/06/2026#Northantsbirds Looks like an excellent breeding season for our Nene Valley Cattle Egrets, a visit today revealed 3 different broods of 3,4 and 4 juveniles, all at different ages. Max of 9 adults at any one time. As in previous years, the Cattle Egret have nested later than the Littles. 0110
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 08/06/2026#Northantsbirds Summerleys this evening started with a Red Kite taking another Lapwing chick from off the Scrape, and finished with an adult YL Gull in Wader Bay. In between, an LRP, Great Egret, rattling Lesser Whitethroat and at 2 fully-fledged Redshank doing their best 'Wood Sand' impression🙂 0100
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 05/06/2026After 2 aborted attempts, finally got to see the Black-winged Kite near Sea Palling today; always distant, and, when it did fly, it simply dropped off its favoured bush and out of sight - hoping for proper flight views tomorrow. No sign of Montys at Horsey, but plenty of Seals, and 2 Lsr Emporer. 060
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 31/05/2026#Northantsbirds June 1st tomorrow, so ends one of the most disappointing Springs for many years personally (with the exception of the Wood Sandpipers, which were freaking amazing!) Didn't see/find a single Sanderling or Turnstone, nor even an Arctic Tern🤪. Missing the Savi's was the cherry on top! 360
Reposted by @bigstarbirding.bsky.socialJohn Malloy @johnmalloy.bsky.social · 31/05/2026Hello old friend. 7th “yearly” pilgrimage to see the American Black Tern, again paired with a male Arctic Tern. @markarmstrong70.bsky.social 📸 Canon R5M2/RF100-500/RF1.4 #NEbirding #Birdsoftheworld #Birdoftheday #BirdsSeenIn2026 2916
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 31/05/2026#Northantsbirds An uneventful visit to NW South today, Hobby and 3 drake Pochard present. Sadly, someone has been on the main island (must've waded/swam across?), with remains of a fire and littered bottles and cans left - no doubt the nesting LRPs deserted; another reason I hate the general public🤬 280
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 30/05/2026#Northantsbirds Too warm for us today, so headed for Kinewell Lake as it's pretty shaded round most of the Lake. As expected, rather quiet, a handful of Tufted Duck and Gadwall present; biggest surprise was a Common Sandpiper (any wader is a bonus here!). Several juv Little Egret joined by 2 Cattle🙂 060
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 25/05/2026#Northantsbirds As it's been such a poor May locally, here's a reminder of a lovely blast-from-the-past🙂; I remember it moving between Aldwincle Lake and Town Lake regularly, resulting in lots of running back to cars, speeding up and down the A605, and u-turns in the road at the Titchmarsh junction! 040
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 16/05/2026#Northantsbirds Whilst the long-staying Whimbrel and a new-in Ruff were nice to see at Summerleys today, it's been a rather quiet week. A couple of oddities provided a distraction - a presumed albino Egyptian Goose, and a Black-headed Gull x Gonzo from the Muppets hybrid; that is some bill😮🙂! 080
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 15/05/2026#Northantsbirds Hobby was the theme of our day, with 2 at Kinewell Lake, followed by another duo at NW South that put on a real display, hawking insects along the river. Not much else about, so a few pics from Summerleys this week - B-n Grebes, Whimbrel, Tundra Ringed Plover, Sand Martin. 060
bigstarbirding.bsky.social @bigstarbirding.bsky.social · 09/05/2026#Northantsbirds As well as 4 'Tundra' Ringed Plover at NW South today, a check through the Gulls at the W end threw up this - small-headed, dinky, slim and very long-winged LBB type. Heat haze and distance didn't help, but appeared to have an all-dark bill; compare size/shape with ad LBB on left. 060