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Richard

@bramberbirder.bsky.social
169 followers 147 following 288 posts

Local Birding + coastal and downland natural history. Sightings from occasional trips further afield. Bramber/Steyning, West Sussex

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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
… and on return, the mist had burnt off, revealing spectacular views over the vale to the north. I’ll try again for the Ouzel’s another day.
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
The mist had filled the ‘scarp slope to the top. Sunny when I reached the ridge line with a hint of dragon’s breath spilling onto the Downs. Looking south and east with distant Brighton.
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
On looking for Ouzel’s in the mist. Mysterious. #Southdowns
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Was it the “chum” that attracted the Kingfisher. Is this a new thing 😉🤔
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
2 Firecrest in mixed woodland at NT Bramber Castle, W.Sussex.
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Stopped off at Lambert’s, Dorset on the way back from IoS. At least 2 Common Redstart present Thursday afternoon.
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Tresco Old Grimsby side: 20 Mipit, 1 Wheatear, 1 Pied Fly, 2 Spot Fly. North of island: Quiet, 1 Wheatear, 2 Mipit. Piper’s Hole seawatch: 2 Sooty Shearwater (w), 25 Manxie (w and o/s), a few Cory’s Shearwater (w), c50 Gannet (various plumages)
Heather Moorland habitat of north of Tresco; colours of purple, yellow and green. “Seawatching” bench near Piper’s Hole, Tresco, looking north. Set between granite rocky outcrops. Fabulous clear day. Deep blue skies. Highlights were 2 Sooty Shearwater making speed (w) with towering shears on the brisk easterly winds.
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Tresco: Dunlin, Glossy Ibis, Spot Fly, big sky.
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
St Agnes, IoS: Upland Sandpiper just now
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Tresco: Pied Flycatcher Pool Road and a flight view of Glossy Ibis. Earlier on the jetboat to Bishop Rock Lighthouse a Bonxie, 3 Corey’s Shearwater and a Sooty Shearwater.
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
The beech tree in our garden is laden with ripe mast and they are beginning to drop - pic 1/2 a branch from a few weeks ago and now 2/2 this accumulated fallout in just a few hours. Hopefully the chaffinches will pay a visit this winter and enjoy.
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Out birding in E. Sussex this afternoon. Generally quiet in the bushes and woodland. Overhead a Goshawk, a juvenile I think.
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Nice
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Impression I get is that WHINCHAT numbers have peaked hereabouts. Whilst watching for the Pallid Harrier, nice to see this single bird, sharing a small bush with a Stonechat.
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Hahha! They are fantastic! Found by local birder Ollie this one!
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Pallied Harrier this morning (08.23 - 10.40) near Finden, W.Sussex with @birdingneversleeps.bsky.social @bostalbirder.bsky.social et al
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
7 Black Tern seen yesterday afternoon flying along the beach (w) at Dungeness. Lovely birds.
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Dungeness Bird Observatory @dungenessbirdobs.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
eight Grey Wagtail, 430 Meadow Pipit, two Tree Pipit and a Siskin. The sea was fairly quiet apart from a Balearic Shearwater and 13 Black Tern heading west.
1cy Black Tern taken by Jacob Spinks.
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Lovely autumn weather for a walk around Cissbury and Monarch’s Way. Best 8 Whinchat, 5 Wheatear, 2 Spotted Flycatcher and a Redstart
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Thursday recap cont’d: Pagham Harbour & Church Norton in a stiff W. breeze gave 2 Greenshank, 4 Grey Plover, a couple of Whimbrel, C. Tern, 50+ Sandwich Tern, 4 Wheatear & most of the other common waders. Redstart, a nice bonus, flushed from a small bush on the gravel Severals late afternoon.
Church Norton, evening high tide with information boardsStart of the Severals (behind the observer) with evening high tide in the harbour. Photo looking North Eastwards.
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Recap from Thursday: Thorney, W. Sussex gave a distant Osprey in a dead tree. A year tick.
Poor record shot of a distant Osprey way beyond the landing lights at Thorney island.
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
1 of 2 or probably 3 Spotted Flycatcher, Brooklands stream, Lancing @sussexornitholo.bsky.social
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Relocated the Pied Flycatcher, Brooklands stream, Lancing found earlier by Bernie F. @sussexornitholo.bsky.social @nickbond007.bsky.social
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Only seen 14 sp. out of Sussex recording area. With Thursday’s Dungeness trip adds (+8 WwBT, Black Tern, L. Stint, Curlew Sand, Ruff, Knot, Whinchat, Kingfisher!) Birdtrack tells me I’m now on 194 Uk year list. 180 Sussex recording area, 169 W.Sussex (inc. TD, G Oriole, Quail, Gropper heard only)
Entrance to RSPB Dungeness visitor centre with bench seating and signage. “Bird of the Year” so far is this self-found Stone Curlew a mile from home on 3rd August, R.Adur valley, near Upper Beeding, West Sussex
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Meant to say, good luck with the autumn quest, Steve! Look forward to reading all about it, however it turns out. Sure it will be great fun 😄
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
🤣
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Just going through my record shots from the day trip to East Sussex and RSPB Dungeness on Thursday with RF @birdingneversleeps.bsky.social Quite by chance I fluked 3 year ticks in one shot. Little Stint, WwBT and Black Tern @stevewg.bsky.social @ploddingbirder.bsky.social
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Thank you! … Not that I have noticed but I’m probably not the best person to ask for a local update.
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
This smart Lesser Black-backed Gull was in the roost near the old Toll Bridge, R. Adur in Shoreham yesterday afternoon @sussexornitholo.bsky.social
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Steyning Roundhill: Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Wheatear, 2 Spotted Flycatcher this morning @sussexornitholo.bsky.social
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
1 of the 2 Spotted Flycatcher at Steyning Roundhill this morning @sussexornitholo.bsky.social
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Redhead Goosander, Beaumaris Beach, Anglesey.
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
In Beaumaris, Anglesey for a few days. This is the Menai Straits looking south to Snowdonia and Great Orme Head. Didn’t have my bins or camera so iPhone shots only showing spectacular scenery. This tight flock of about 20 feeding Goosander at dusk yesterday.
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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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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Slightly underwhelming eclipse experience - maybe it was my technology 🥴🤣
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
By chance, got some #eclipse crescent shadows; sunlight projected on to a door through the leaves of mature tree
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Ready with my pin hole box lash up #eclipse
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
Nice to have a record of successful breeding of Green Woodpecker locally. Pic taken at Botolph’s in the R. Adur valley, W. Sussex.
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
… and my first returning (autumn) Wheatear on the beach
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Hummingbird Hawkmoth again in the garden. This time on the geraniums.
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Pagham Harbour, Church Norton, Sidelsham (afternoon and evening rising tide): 4 Avocet, Blackcap, 1 Common Sandpiper, 10 Curlew, Greenshank, Marsh Harrier, 30 Redshank, 10 Ringed Plover, Sand Martin, 20 Swallow, 12 Turnstone, 12 Whimbrel, Whitethroat (38 species) @nickbond007.bsky.social & A House
From Church Norton benches looking towards the beach at high(ish) tide.Sidelsham Quay with Crab and Lobster PH
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Pagham Harbour, North Wall and creek, (morning): BT Godwit, 4 Buzzard, c20 Cattle Egret, 2 C. Sandpiper, 2 Dunlin, Greenshank, 12 Redshank, 2 Ringed Plover, Spotted Redshank (37 species)
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Pagham Harbour, Halsey’s Farm (morning): 30 Cattle Egret, Grest Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Curlew, Kestrel, Buzzard (distant), Lapwing, Little Egret. 4 Whitethroat (27 species).
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Pagham Harbour: Wasp Spider. Wow!
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Jersey Tiger moth on wood. Garden. South Downs National Park.
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Eastleach Martin, Gloucestershire: Long-tailed Shrike 23/07/26
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Chough, St. Justinians, St. Davids, Pembrokeshire 03/07/26
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Cheers Alan! Hope all is well with you and the family.
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
River Adur valley near Dacre Gardens/ St. Botolph’s: Local STONE CURLEW I chanced on at 10.30 yesterday morning whilst scanning for Wheatear and Whinchat. Cooler conditions in the evening @sussexornitholo.bsky.social
This is one of the first photos. Taken at 10.30hrs to clinch ID before posting out to the local WhatsApp groups and Sussex Scarce Bird channel, it gives an idea of the parched conditions with heat haze: the Stone Curlew appearing to be sheltering in the limited shadow of an isolated thistle bush in the sheep field. Inquisitive sheep eyeing the unusual visitor: Stone Curlew in foreground looking to the right. I’m including this photo to show how dry and parched the sheep field is (it is usually flooded in winter). The hedgerow is green bordering the A283 road between Upper Beeding and Shoreham. The distant cereal field has already been harvested in the 1st week of August. Stone Curlew. Clear, evening light.
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Richard @bramberbirder.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Delighted to find a Stone Curlew this morning in a local field whilst looking for Whinchat. Serious heat haze this morning but cooler this evening when the bird was more active and came closer.
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