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Brian Small @cach22.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Cracking views of a Shore Lark on the beach at Easton Bavents, north of Southwold, yesterday afternoon - my 201st sp on the patch this year #suffolkbirding #ukbirding

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Brian Small @cach22.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Hi Hugh. Brilliant find! Hope Dave has seen it with his group!

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Hugh Harrop @hughharrop.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Over the moon (to put it mildly) to find this first year male SIBERIAN BLUE ROBIN in our garden at Hillwell, Shetland this morning. The fifth record for Britain and a first for Shetland. #BirdingScotland #UKbirding #RareBirdsUK #Birds #UKWildlife

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Brian Small @cach22.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Loved the Ripping Yarns reference, Ed

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Brian Small @cach22.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Nailed it! Beautiful views of the juvenile Red-footed Falcon that has taken up residence by the Norfolk Hawker wall in Lowestoft #suffolkbirding #ukbirding

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Brian Small @cach22.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

White-rumped Sand still on Benacre Broad this morning, but no closer than yesterday. Poor phone-scoped video, just before sun came up and shimmer ruined it all...

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Rob Wilton @lowestoftlizards.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

I was really pleased to see the White-rumped Sandpiper at Benacre Broad, thanks to @cach22.bsky.social Whilst it was never close the light and lack of shimmer allowed reasonable views. Plus it was great to 'get my eye in,' with the species again.

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Brian Small @cach22.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

...another less obvious juv, just starting moult of mantle/scaps

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Brian Small @cach22.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

A fine juv/1w Caspian Gull at Walberswick has become outrageously tame; in the late afternoon when the 'crabbers' are throwing away their bait it shows to a few metres. These pix are on full-frame without cropping #ukbirding #suffolkbirding

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Brian Small @cach22.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

That is a question we have asked ourselves, but we will never know. A bird moving north through Kent and up east coast could easily come across them...

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Brian Small @cach22.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

With the cat out the bag, today I saw a minimum of 10 Zitting Cisticolas near Walberswick - there is almost certainly more. A single male paired with 2 females, one of which 2nd brooded; 1st autumn birds are spreading south, but can be seen from the beach. Please don't enter the fenced-off area

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Brian Small @cach22.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Another new juv cach for Southwold harbour this afternoon. At times it looked like it was on stilts...

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Brian Small @cach22.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

The juvenile Caspian Gull 'fix' is also underway, with my 3rd of the autumn at Southwold Harbour this afternoon - I am hoping for more and closer views soon... #ukbirding #suffolkbirding

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Brian Small @cach22.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

This afternoon I was able to enjoy my annual juvenile limosa 'fix' with 3 from west hide at Minsmere - one colour-ringed. Such superb birds #ukbirding #suffolkbirding

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Paul Selby @selbypaul.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Yesterday we completed the @mariposanature.bsky.social Butterflies of the French Alps trip, adding Silky Ringlet, extending the record species count to 151. I'm leading the trip in 2027 & there's just 8 spaces left. If you're interested you can book here www.mariposanature.com/tours/butter...

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Paul Selby @selbypaul.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Dusky Grizzled Skipper! Species 150 on Day 7 of the @mariposanature.bsky.social French Alps holiday. With one day left, that's 13 more species than any 8 day trip, anywhere in Europe, ever, by any wildlife holiday company. Proud to be part of the amazing Mariposa team! 🦋

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Brian Small @cach22.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

I am still finding it hard to get over the landscapes

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Brian Small @cach22.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Such is the brilliance of butterflies on the @mariposanature.bsky.social French Alps tour, that yesterday we reached 150 spp for the week! Esper's Marbled White, Ripart's Anomalous Blue, Hermit, Lesser Purple Emperor, and more... @selbypaul.bsky.social

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Brian Small @cach22.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Words hardly convey how brilliant the butterflies on the @mariposanature.bsky.social French Alps tour were yesterday: 100s of fritillaries - inc. Cynthia's, Mountain, Shepherd's, Niobe; Alpine Blue, ringlets, skippers, etc. You had to almost force yourself to look up at the spectacular scenery

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Brian Small @cach22.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Having seen a stunning 93 species the day before, yesterday on the Mariposa Butterflies of French Alps tour proved equally amazing. Titania's Fritillary, Silvery Argus, Eros Blue and last but not least Small Apollo, largely thanks to Paul Selby's brilliant knowledge @mariposanature.bsky.social

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Brian Small @cach22.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

It is! A view looking into Italy from the col

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Brian Small @cach22.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

The first 2 days co-guiding with Paul Selby the Mariposa Butterflies of the French Alps have already been amazing: Foulquier's Grizzled Skipper and several Balkan Fritillary, plus oodles of others. Totally stunning landscape and a few birds thrown in - Rock Thrush today @mariposanature.bsky.social

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Brian Small @cach22.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Just arrived home after a late morning appointment and news of the Hudsonian Godwit at Minsmere broke. Managed to see it on west scrape before it flew to south - the first time we saw the underwing... 2 limosa Black-taileds too #ukbirding #suffolkbirding

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Brian Small @cach22.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Six limosa Black-tailed Godwits at Minsmere yesterday, but they never came close for nice photos. A selection here; a couple 'beasts' plus a small nicely barred and white-browed bird #ukbirding #suffolkbirding

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Brian Small @cach22.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

The landscapes of Tarbet and Handa change rapidly with the weather, but always spectacular

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Brian Small @cach22.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Hi David. An interesting record, but I can't help but think the number of rings in this bird is excessive. Not your fault of course, but 6 colour and one metal is somewhat OTT

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Tour update 🚨 Next year's Fabulous Fuerteventura took some more bookings today, meaning it's already over half-full. It's a wonderful destination with special butterflies and birds, and led by the popular, dynamic duo of Dave Fairhurst & @cach22.bsky.social. www.mariposanature.com/tours/wildli...

Greenish Black Tip (Euchloe charlonia) © Chris Lodge

Houbara Bustard (Chlamydotis undulata fuertaventurae) © Chris Lodge

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Brian Small @cach22.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

I was surprised the Lesser Yellowlegs at Aldeburgh stuck around long enough for me to go and see it this morning; lovely light and I had it all to myself, plus a little bit of bonus singing when antagonised by a Redshank #ukbirding #suffolkbirding

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Brian Small @cach22.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

A royal day out...! Greenland Wheatear taking the coastal path on its way northwest. Most of the late April wheatears we get are likely to be leucorhoa and the length of the wing on this one - almost reaching tail tip - suggests a long-distance migrant #ukbirding #suffolkbirding

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Brian Small @cach22.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

A nice surprise along the beach south of Walberswick this morning: a Wryneck singing three times from a bramble. I am not sure I have ever heard one sing in the UK... #ukbirding #suffolkbirding

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Brian Small @cach22.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Finally some photos edited from an amazing @mariposanature.bsky.social trip to Provence & Camargue with David Fairhurst. So many highlights: 1000s of Ruff and Wood Sands, Calandra Lark, Lesser Kestrel, Bonelli's Eagle, but also Crested Tit and Firecrest. Spaces available for next year (see reply)

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Postcard from the field, from tour leaders Dave Fairhurst & Brian Small in southern France: Our A Spring in Provence tour is under way, and we've spent a wonderful day in the wetlands of the Camargue, with masses of birds on show. More birds, butterflies, wildflowers to follow in the coming days...

Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus), A Spring in Provence © Brian Small

Ashy-headed Wagtail (Motacilla flava cinereocapilla), A Spring in Provence © Brian Small

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Brian Small @cach22.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

The bank is now roped off, but in several attempts this week, including 2 hours this morning, I have not seen it either...

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Brian Small @cach22.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

We hope to get it roped off this week

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Brian Small @cach22.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

Zitting Cisticola at Walberswick showed 6 times in 70 minutes this morning viewing from beach; please do not walk out into marsh along raised bank (like this person), there is no guarantee you will see it (like this person)... #ukbirding #suffolkbirding

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Brian Small @cach22.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

3 juvs were fledged from UK birds in 2025. As this is a juvenile, it should be one of those, but as far as I know they still have radio tags fitted...

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Brian Small @cach22.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

The highlight of a @naturetrek.bsky.social weekend in Suffolk was this juv White-tailed Eagle that appeared over the group at Minsmere sluice - the 10 Adders were pushed to a close second. Ringed on both legs, but where as it is not a tracked IOW bird apparently...#ukbirding #suffolkbirding

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Brian Small @cach22.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

This is the set that I put through AI - ebird.org/checklist/S3... - the 8th image at least came back as Tundra

ebird.org

eBird Checklist - 24 Feb 2026 - Reydon Marshes - 21 species

Submitted by Brian Small.

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Brian Small @cach22.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

This bean goose at Reydon Marshes confused me. Eventually I identified it as Tundra, however I put several photos through AI and the response was: 50% bean goose sp.; 25% Taiga; 25% Tundra. So not just me that was confused...

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Brian Small @cach22.bsky.social · 07/02/2026

The Hume's Warbler at Flycatcher Alley, Lowestoft was very mobile this morning, but showed well at times. Quite washed out khaki in colour compared to autumn, but with a brown wash across breast typical of winter birds

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Brian Small @cach22.bsky.social · 17/01/2026

Another 3 hours at Walberswick this morning eventually produced some nice looks at at least 4 Zitting Cisticola - thanks to @jakegearty.bsky.social and his hearing #ukbirding #suffolkbirding

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