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Mel S-W

@corvidcrazychap.bsky.social
292 followers 314 following 1.5K posts

Birder - Plants - Insects - MOTHS & more Essex - Rye meads volunteer - did I say birds I am definitely a Biophiliac 🤭

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Reposted by Mel S-W
OliCWildlife @olicwildlife.bsky.social · 1h
Great Grey Shrike, Common Woodpigeons, Northern Wheatear, and Whooper Swans, all on migration around Kihnu Island! #Birding #Estonia #BirdingEstonia #WildlifePhotography @swallowbirding.bsky.social
Great Grey ShrikeCommon WoodpigeonsNorthern WheatearWhooper Swans
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Mel S-W @corvidcrazychap.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
2/2 I especially enjoy watching them hatch in the spring when the males hatch up first then females ready to mate … the female then blocks the end of tube with mud the lays an egg & supplying food to each offspring before capping each subsequent egg to fill the tube before capping tube with mud
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Mel S-W @corvidcrazychap.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
I have been a 🐝 parent for 5 / 6 years originally from #MasonBeeCoUk but they folded,I still continue to collect them to release in spring it started with Red mason bees having my best harvest ever but my big surprise was the Leaf-cutter bee using the bee hotel for the 1st time 😍 1/2
Two smallish wooden boxes one open fronted with cardboard tubes inside which is a solitary bee hotel
Box two has three small holes in front & is lidded this holds the bee cocoons in the spring for release 16 small green pellets on a white kitchen towel & which are Leaf-cutter bee cocoons 40 small brown egg shaped cocoons of the Red mason bee (the smaller ones are female & large males which always hatch first in spring time
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Swallow Birding & Wildlife @swallowbirding.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Our group enjoyed seeing a wide range of species in Estonia with @birdinghaapsalu.bsky.social including GREAT TITS migrating, GREAT GREY SHRIKE, SMEW & EURASIAN SKYLARKS among others. #BirdsSeenIn2026 #estonia #birds #birding @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @tonyrinaud.bsky.social
Great TitsGreat Grey ShrikeSmewEurasian Skylark
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Casual Birder Podcast @casualbirderpod.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
What were your #Top5Birds or bird moments from the past week? Mine: 1. Chiffchaff bathing in my birdbath 2. 2 Buzzards calling over my garden 3. Hearing a Tawny Owl in my neighbourhood 4. Visit by a friendly Rook pair looking for suet treats 5. House Sparrows chirping in a hedge 🪶
Square graphic design. Pale mint green with blue wavy-edged bands at top and bottom.

Portrait format photo on the left side showing a Common Chiffchaff. A small, brownish-yellow bird with a dark eye and pointed beak perches on a dark, textured tree branch. Its feathers show subtle yellow and olive tones, and it appears alert as it looks slightly upward. The bird is facing towards the right of the frame and is shown against a dark background.

Caption below the photo reads:  Common Chiffchaff.  

Text on the right reads: #Top5Birds What were your best bird moments from the past week?
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Swallow Birding & Wildlife @swallowbirding.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Apart from the brilliant birds we also encountered ROE DEER & EUROPEAN ELK in Estonia with @birdinghaapsalu.bsky.social #mammals #estonia #wildlife #nature @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @tonyrinaud.bsky.social
Roe DeerEuropean ElkEuropean Elk
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Swallow Birding & Wildlife @swallowbirding.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Lots of migrating species in Estonia with @birdinghaapsalu.bsky.social last week including both GREAT & LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKERS, BEARDED REEDLINGS and hundreds of EURASIAN JAY. #BirdsSeenIn2026 #estonia #birds #birding @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @tonyrinaud.bsky.social
Great Spotted WoodpeckerBearded ReedlingsEurasian JayLesser Spotted Woodpecker
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Swallow Birding & Wildlife @swallowbirding.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Surely at least one NORTHERN NUTCRACKER must turn up in the UK this winter? Lots of birds on the move in Estonia last week! #BirdsSeenIn2026 #estonia #birds #birding @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @tonyrinaud.bsky.social
Northern NutcrackerNorthern NutcrackerNorthern NutcrackersNorthern Nutcracker
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Swallow Birding & Wildlife @swallowbirding.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Always a joy to see PALLID HARRIERS and our group enjoyed great views of these birds in Estonia that were fresh in from Finland! #BirdsSeenIn2026 #estonia #birds #birding #pallidharrier @tonyrinaud.bsky.social @britishnatureguide.bsky.social
Pallid HarrierPallid HarrierPallid Harrier
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Swallow Birding & Wildlife @swallowbirding.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
A lovely selection of raptors from Estonia last week with @birdinghaapsalu.bsky.social inc WT EAGLES, PALLID HARRIER, PEREGRINE, MERLIN, SPARROWHAWK & COMMON BUZZARD. #BirdsSeenIn2026 #estonia #birds #birding @tonyrinaud.bsky.social @britishnatureguide.bsky.social
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Swallow Birding & Wildlife @swallowbirding.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Phenomenal numbers of seaduck migrating past the Estonian coast last week with @birdinghaapsalu.bsky.social including LONG-TAILED DUCKS, VELVET & COMMON SCOTER and GREATER SCAUP. #BirdsSeenIn2026 #estonia #birds #birding @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @tonyrinaud.bsky.social
Long-tailed DucksVelvet ScoterGreater ScaupGreater Scaup
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Swallow Birding & Wildlife @swallowbirding.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
SISKIN, CRESTED TIT, TREE SPARROW & WILLOW TIT from a fabulous tour to Estonia last week with @birdinghaapsalu.bsky.social #BirdsSeenIn2026 #estonia #birds #birding @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @tonyrinaud.bsky.social
Eurasian SiskinEuropean Crested TitEurasian Tree SparrowWillow Tit
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Flamborough Bird Observatory @flamboroughbird.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Migweek is just over a week away!!! Bird ringing demonstrations, vismigging, Guided walks, Expert talks on migration Plus much more !! Book your place on the events by following the link below flamboroughbirdobs.org.uk/events/migwe...
flamboroughbirdobs.org.uk
Migweek 2026 Programme - Flamborough Bird Observatory
Saturday 10th – Sunday 18th October 2026 Every day Ringing Demonstration 8am – 12pm at the Living Seas Centre, Flamborough Come and meet FBO’s ringing team, see birds up close and discover the secrets...
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Swallow Birding & Wildlife @swallowbirding.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Great day guiding @landguardbo.bsky.social Highlights incl SHORELARK, SHORT-EARED OWL, GANNET, YELLOW & GREY WAGS, 3 WHEATEAR, ROCK PIPIT & 3 BLACK REDSTART. #BirdsSeenIn2026 #suffolkbirding #birds #birding @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @tonyrinaud.bsky.social
Shorelark or Horned LarkShort-eared OwlNorthern GannetBlack Redstart
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Richard K Broughton @richardkbroughton.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I can thoroughly recommend the Prince Albert pub in Ely. Good beer and food. One of my fieldwork favourites when working in the Fens and having to rough it in the Ely Travelodge. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Ten-minute favour leads to 50 years behind the bar for Ely pub regular
Glyn has been working at the same pub since he was asked to help with a rush of customers in 1976.
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Essex Birdwatching Society @essexbirdnews.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Tune in to watch Edward Mayer's superb talk about Swift conservation from 7:30pm on Friday. This talk WILL NOT be uploaded to our YouTube channel so if you want to see it, you must watch the live stream: www.youtube.com/live/lVNERuQ... #essexbirding
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Casual Birder Podcast @casualbirderpod.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
What were your #Top5Birds or bird moments from the past week? Mine: 1. Around 25 House Martins flying over on migration. 2. Woodpigeons foraging for beech nuts & looking surprisingly agile 3. Tawny Owl calling at dusk 4. Green Woodpecker calling 5. A Eurasian Jay screaming its raucous cry 🪶
Square graphic design. Pale mint green with blue wavy-edged bands at top and bottom.

Portrait format photo on the left side showing a Western House Martin perched on a wire. The bird’s body is facing the camera and its head is turned to the left of the frame. The background is blue sky. 

Caption below the photo reads: Western House Martin

Text on the right reads: #Top5Birds What were your best bird moments from the past week?
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Swallow Birding & Wildlife @swallowbirding.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Stunning final full day of our autumn birding tour in West Estonia with @birdinghaapsalu.bsky.social 4 sp of Owls, inc URAL, PYGMY and LONG-EARED + HAZEL GROUSE, 6 LESSER SP WOODPECKERS and 3 MOOSE! #BirdsSeenIn2026 #estonia #birds #birding @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @tonyrinaud.bsky.social
Ural OwlEurasian Pygmy OwlLong-eared Owl
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Swallow Birding & Wildlife @swallowbirding.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Cracking migration this morning at Cape Põõsaspea, Estonia with @birdinghaapsalu.bsky.social Over 7000 SCAUP, 2000 COM SCOTER, 750 VELVET SCOTER plus LT DUCKS plus 2 juv and female PALLID HARRIERS! #BirdsSeenIn2026 #estonia #birds #birding @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @tonyrinaud.bsky.social
Juvenile Pallid Harrier
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Swallow Birding & Wildlife @swallowbirding.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
We´ve seen over 30 WT EAGLES in just over two days with @birdinghaapsalu.bsky.social whilst Matsalu NP and Haapsalu treated us to our first flocks of TUNDRA SWANS, HEN HARRIER, MIDDLE SPOTTED WOODPECKER + 450 CRANES! #BirdsSeenIn2026 #estonia #birds #birding @britishnatureguide.bsky.social
Adult White-tailed Eagle
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Richard K Broughton @richardkbroughton.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
This paper is based upon the years of citizen-science data collection by Wiltshire Tree Sparrow legend and @btobirds.bsky.social ringer, Matt Prior.
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Richard K Broughton @richardkbroughton.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
New in #BirdStudy And a rather special 'classic' paper from Ian Newton, ahead of his upcoming monograph book on Bullfinches next year: A 51-year study of Eurasian Bullfinches Pyrrhula pyrrhula in Treswell Wood (UK) www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... #ornithology
Bullfinch, (c) R&B Mearns.
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Swallow Birding & Wildlife @swallowbirding.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
First full birding day with @birdinghaapsalu.bsky.social on Kihnu island. A superb 30 NUTCRACKER during 4 hrs vismig session. Other notable species included LAP BUNT, HEN HARRIERS, 15 WT EAGLES, 3 GG SHRIKE & SMEW. #BirdsSeenIn2026 #estonia #birds #birding @britishnatureguide.bsky.social
Nutcracker in flight
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Mel S-W @corvidcrazychap.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Had a lovely #VolunteerThankYouParty at #RyeMeads @rspbengland.bsky.social sadly the last one due to it’s closure in November but I received my 5 year long service award 😍 sad I can’t add to that 🥴 nice to catch up with such lovely people/friends hopefully will still volunteer with #ThamesWater
White & blue sheet of card with RSPB logo & Swift image & a silver Swift pin badge
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Mel S-W @corvidcrazychap.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Small trap yesterday VC20 #RyeMeads highlights include Vestal (pristine) Old lady Orange sallow L-album wainscot & Black rustic plus a few regulars
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Brigit Strawbridge @brigitstrawbridge.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Calling walkers, birders, nature lovers, or anyone fancying a break... October & November dates available in our new BnB, if anyone's interested? On the southern edge of Bodmin Moor, which is a great place to explore, and wonderfully peaceful at this time of year www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/173324...
airbnb.co.uk
Guest suite in Tremar Coombe · ★5.0 · 1 bedroom · 1 bed · 1 bathroom
Beautifully renovated annexe near Bodmin Moor
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Mel S-W @corvidcrazychap.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Happy #AutumnEquinox to all that follow me 🥰
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Richard K Broughton @richardkbroughton.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Finally caught & colour-ringed the female mate of our 11 yr old Marsh Tit. She's only 16 months old and arrived in the wood in April at last minute to breed, having dispersed from elsewhere - itself a major feat. Her life expectancy now is maybe another 1-2 yrs, if she's careful/lucky.
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Radio Lento @radiolento.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Scenes from the Stort. Love this stretch of river between Harlow Mill and Sawbridgeworth. Just four minutes on the train but two slow hours on foot. Beautiful conditions yesterday.
gentle river with trees on both sides. grassed towpath. brambles and briar by the water's edge. hawthorn bush on the other side with red highlights from its berries. no one else around.another view of the river curving round to the left. this section has tall reeds by the edge of the water. perfect blue sky. straight section of the river with a wider towpath. overhanging trees on both sides. no one else around. another section of the river. green trees with a hint of the autumn colours to come.
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Swallow Birding & Wildlife @swallowbirding.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Lots of other great wildlife to be seen during our guided walks over the #BCBW26 weekend including WILLOW EMERALD, EUROPEAN PAPER WASPS, HAIRY SHIELDBUG & IVY BEES galore! #insects #essexwildlife @britishnatureguide.bsky.social
Willow EmeraldEuropean Paper WaspsHairy ShieldbugIvy Bee
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Swallow Birding & Wildlife @swallowbirding.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Final day of the @essexbirdnews.bsky.social BIG COUNTY BIRDWATCH. Guided walks at Lee Valley & Rainham produced RUDDY SHELDUCK, HOBBIES, PEREGRINE, BEARDED TIT, CETTI'S WARBLER and lots more! #BirdsSeenIn2026 #essexbirding #birds #birding #ukbirding #BCBW26 @britishnatureguide.bsky.social
Ruddy ShelduckEurasian HobbyNorthern PintailEurasian Jay
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Swallow Birding & Wildlife @swallowbirding.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
@essexbirdnews.bsky.social BIG COUNTY BIRDWATCH DAY 4. @esbr-essex.bsky.social and I spent the day at Fingringhoe leading 2 walks. Highlights inc OSPREY, 2+ HOBBY, PEREGRINE, RED KITE and more! #BirdsSeenIn2026 #essexbirding #birds #birding #ukbirding #BCBW26 @britishnatureguide.bsky.social
Eurasian HobbyStock DoveLeucistic Common RedshankRed Kite
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Casual Birder Podcast @casualbirderpod.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
What were your #Top5Birds or bird moments from the past week? Mine, in Hampshire: 1. Little Stint (sp. 199 of 2026) 2. Grey Plover, still in summer plumage 3. Common Whitethroat (my last of the year?) & in Dorset: 4. Big flock of Great Cormorant (sinensis) 5. Two Green Sandpiper in flight 🪶
Square graphic design. Pale mint green background with blue/grey wavy-edged bands at top and bottom. 
Landscape format photo in the lower middle with grey/blue text above. 
Text reads: #Top5Birds What were your best bird moments from the past week? 

Photo shows: Little Stint standing on mud at the edge of water. The bird is facing towards the left of the frame and is leaning forward to feed.

Caption below the photo reads:  Little Stint
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Dungeness Bird Observatory @dungenessbirdobs.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Come join us for the Big Kent Bird Migration Day at Dungeness Bird Observatory, it is only a week away! There will be plenty with a guided walk, migration watches, seawatching and bird ringing if the weather allows. Today is full of Meadow Pipits with hundreds overhead and 101 ringed #kentbirding
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Justin Lansdell @yarevalleyjus.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
A week on, huge thanks to @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social for another great MIGFEST. Birding highlight was the incredible hirundine passage early Sat morning but for me MIGFEST is about so much more: socialising, catching up with friends, the warm Spurn welcome (& of course us winning the quiz! 😉) ❤️
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Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
🦇 Have you ever wondered what species is that bat that visits your garden every evening during the summer? Without a bat detector it's nearly impossible to know. However, it may be possible to narrow it down to some of the more widespread species
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Neil @uk-wildlife.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Here are all the places you can find my stuff online, YouTube for the long videos and other bits on the other platforms :)
A fox head with a green background with logos and usernames of my online content locations

Youtube: Uk wildlife + Pond Lab
Facebook: Uk Wildlife + Pondmanuk

Instagram: Neil_uk_wildlife

Bluesky is the account this is on

A qr code for the link tree with this info too
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Essex Birdwatching Society @essexbirdnews.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
#bcbw26 has been brilliant so far, lots of birds and friendly faces. Great to meet so many new people and to catch up with friends after our summer break. With 2 days left and 6 more walks, there's still time to join in, visit ebws.org.uk/events/bcbw for details #essexbirding
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Swallow Birding & Wildlife @swallowbirding.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
@essexbirdnews.bsky.social BIG COUNTY BIRDWATCH DAY 2. First guided walk of the day at Frinton-on-Sea produced OSPREY, HOBBY in off the sea, GANNET, SANDWICH TERNS, YELLOW WAGS, SAND MARTINS and more. #BirdsSeenIn2026 #essexbirding #birds #birding #ukbirding #BCBW26 @britishnatureguide.bsky.social
OspreyEurasian Hobby
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Swallow Birding & Wildlife @swallowbirding.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
After a rather quiet guided walk at Wrabness we moved to Abberton where 50+ people turned up for our 3rd walk. 3 PEREGRINE, 2 HOBBY, 42 SPOONBILL, CURLEW SAND, BLACK TERN were among the highlights. #BirdsSeenIn2026 #essexbirding #birds #birding #ukbirding #BCBW26 @britishnatureguide.bsky.social
Eurasian HobbyGreat EgretEurasian Spoonbills & Greylag GeeseBlack-tailed Godwit
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Flamborough Bird Observatory @flamboroughbird.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Migweek 26 is only 3 weeks away !! Our first talk is @craigcthomas1.bsky.social with the years headland highlights followed by an auction to raise funds for our lighthouse grasslands project. flamboroughbirdobs.org.uk/wp-content/u...
flamboroughbirdobs.org.uk
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Swallow Birding & Wildlife @swallowbirding.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
It wasn't just birds we encountered on our 3 guided walks around South Essex but lots of FIREBUGS, VESTAL, Helice CLOUDED YELLOW & MIGRANT HAWKERS. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social #savebutterflies #insects #essexwildlife @britishnatureguide.bsky.social
FirebugVestalHelice Clouded YellowFemale Migrant Hawker
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Swallow Birding & Wildlife @swallowbirding.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Concluded day 1 of the @essexbirdnews.bsky.social BIG COUNTY BIRDWATCH at Wallasea Island where 3 PEREGRINE delighted the participants plus 2 LITTLE STINT, CURLEW SANDPIPER, RUFF and lots more. #BirdsSeenIn2026 #essexbirding #birds #birding #ukbirding #BCBW26 @britishnatureguide.bsky.social
Peregrine FalconPeregrine FalconRuffLittle Stint with Dunlin
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Swallow Birding & Wildlife @swallowbirding.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Then onto Gunners Park for 2nd guided @essexbirdnews.bsky.social walk where SAND MARTIN, SPARROWHAWK, HOBBY, CHIFFCHAFF, MED GULLS, SANDERLING were among the highlights. #BirdsSeenIn2026 #essexbirding #birds #birding #ukbirding #BCBW26 @britishnatureguide.bsky.social
Eurasian SparrowhawkCommon Chiffchaff
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Swallow Birding & Wildlife @swallowbirding.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Great start to @essexbirdnews.bsky.social BIG COUNTY BIRDWATCH. First guided walk at Canvey Island where SANDWICH TERN, TURNSTONE, 3 GREY WAGTAILS and a handful of common species were enjoyed. #BirdsSeenIn2026 #essexbirding #birds #birding #ukbirding #BCBW26 @britishnatureguide.bsky.social
Black-headed GullGreat CormorantMeadow PipitCommon Starling
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Neil @uk-wildlife.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Not what I expected to see in the River Thames yesterday - Pilot Whale and her calf! #whales #dolphins
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Neil @uk-wildlife.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
My full video of the Pilot Whales in the Thames yesterday: youtu.be/JSNaoSh1QPw
youtu.be
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Essex Birdwatching Society @essexbirdnews.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
During #bcbw26, we hope you can join a walk or watch the daily highlight shows on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/@ebws - and don't forget you can go birding anywhere in Essex and enter your BCBW26 sightings, to find out how visit ebws.org.uk/bcbw26/recor... #essexbirding
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Essex Birdwatching Society @essexbirdnews.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
The EBwS Autumn Bird Photography Competition is now open for entries (with a slight rule change to maintain anonymity). For full details including how to enter please visit www.ebws.org.uk/photocomp/au... #essexbirding
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Victoria Woolley @natureartvic.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Tomorrow I head back to Switzerland for 3 weeks, back to my hubby and the mountains. Much needed time together and the start of something very exciting. Very much needed break and chance to rest and recover with Chris in the mountains with nature on the doorstep. 🏞🫖🍫🐿🦉🍂🍄🍄‍🟫
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