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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I was absolutely made up to have brief, but amazing views of Otter at Colchester Caste Park a couple of days ago! Mega #essex

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

#BCBW (Big County Birdwatch) day 2 photos from Frinton sea watch and Abberton walks. Highlights were an Osprey overhead just after 7am and Willow Emeralds. #essexbirding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Golden Plover from Copt Hall this afternoon. #essexbirding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Great to see two Spot Flys on my local patch today. Thanks goes to @olicwildlife.bsky.social for finding them! #essexbirding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

A nice morning spent watching at least 4 Spot Fly at Wigborough Church, then onto Abberton where there were a couple of Spoonbills! Finally to Mersea for Clouded Yellow and Wall Brown butterflies. #essexbirding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

After several failed attempts, I finally saw the Ring-necked Duck at Abberton yesterday. This is also, a ✅ for me! #essexbirding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Popped across the Strood to Mersea Island today. Lucky enough to see Spot Fly and Wheatear. #essexbirding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

It was baking hot today 🥵, but I still managed 20 mins at Abberton this afternoon. Here is one of the 20+ Spoonies from the causeway. #essexbirding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Popped across to Mersea Island yesterday. Here are a few photos of some of my sightings. #essexbirding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Having barely visited Abberton in weeks, I cycled there today and was rewarded for my efforts with 2 Wood Sandpipers dropping onto the causeway. The Osprey was still around too, which was nice! #essexbirding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Had my first visit to Abberton in weeks today. Osprey was chilling on what I understand is its favourite perch. Ruddy was about but I couldn’t pick out the Ring Necked Duck even though it was reported again. Also, I snuck out to Manningtree last week for the Hudwit - life✅. #essexbirding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

I was up on the Suffolk heath yesterday and saw a few bits and bobs.

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Had a walk around the lower part of Friday Woods, Colchester this morning before the worst of the heat. Still can’t track down Purple Emperor in last years territory but did have WL and Purple Hairstreak, plus Brown Arg and W Admiral.

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Nice (hot 🥵) walk around the southern part of Friday Woods, Colchester this am. Nice to see White Admiral, Banded Demoiselles and an active, showy Nightingale. Then some parenting going on nearby. #essexbirding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

Birders, I’ve now been to two bird named pubs/bars…The Crow Inn (Sheffield) and today, The Rook Taproom (Brighton). It’s always a joy to find bird related places, and both of these were excellent. What bird related/named places have you been to? Gull pic from Brighton yesterday #birding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

Minsmere had some great birds this week when I headed up there for the day with @swallowbirding.bsky.social and @esbr-essex.bsky.social. Pictures include Roseate Tern, Dartford Warbler, Sand Martin and a Marsh Harrier following a successful hunt! It was a great day! #suffolkbirding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

I carried out a BTO Birds in Greenspaces survey at a local site the other day. Nice to see some busy Swallows while I was there. #essexbirding @btobirds.bsky.social

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

Back from a few days in Hungary where the focus was more beer than birds, but couldn’t help squeezing a bit of birding in. Hooded Crow, Tree Sparrow and Black Redstart were the highlights. Checked East Mersea Stone point #essex on the way out too 😉 #birding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

A very showy Nightingale on the local patch today. #essexbirding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Local patch walk first thing was mainly about butterflies including whirling Speckled Wood and Green Hairstreak. Also had my first Swifts of the year over Abberton today too. #essexbirding #ukbutterflies

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

Also from Tiptree, a very busy Song Thrush (one of many), and one of at least 3 Nightingales. #essexbirding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

Nice little stop off in Tiptree this afternoon for one of my favourite songs of spring! Sorry about the 💨 noise! #essexbirding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

Photos of a few sightings at Abberton yesterday. #essexbirding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Black Tern, Common Sand, Barn Swallow and Sand Martin from Abberton today. #essexbirding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Went for a near on 10 mile pedal powered 🚲 circuit taking the local patch and beyond the other day. Mistle Thrushes, Skylarks and a fresh in Nightingale were noted. Bluebells looked nice in the sunlight too. #essexbirding. #lowcarbonbirding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

Abberton has continued to deliver this week. Little Gull and Ring Ouzel from today. Wheatear and Bonapartes Gull yesterday, the latter of which was the first I’ve seen, so that was ace ✅. Thanks to the finders! #essexbirding #birdsseenin2026

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

This week around Abberton and my local patch - LRP, Swallow, Yellow Wagtail and Red Kite. Also managed to catch up with my first Willow Warbler of the year - I love their song! #essexbirding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Abberton was the place I heard Nightingale for the first time this spring. I followed that up with one on the local patch later in the day, which was nice. #essexbirding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

Abberton and Tiptree Heath were looking lovely in the sunshine today. #essexbirding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

Siskin and Redpoll from castle park, Colchester today and my first Chiffchaff from the local patch earlier this week. #essexbirding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

One of two Black-necked Grebes at Abberton this afternoon. Plus some busy Cormorants and a Cattle Egret that was making itself at home with the gulls. #essexbirding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

It was a battle of the bills today. I’m not getting into that contest, but I was really pleased to have finally seen my first Glossy Ibis in Essex. #essexbirding

Glossy Ibis (➡️) with Curlew (⬅️) at Copt Hall

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

Nice flock of 10 Redpoll on patch today. Cool. #essexbirding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 10/01/2026

The Smew and White-fronted Geese entertained at Abberton today. #essexbirding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

A gentle start to the year with a bit of local birding followed by an hour at Abberton. Missed some of the highlights but it was a nice time out. #essexbirding

White fronted geese being sins Canada Geese

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 28/12/2025

Red-necked Grebe from today. Great to catch up with one! Thanks to @esbr-essex.bsky.social #essexbirding

Red-necked Grebe from Ardleigh reservoir

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 21/12/2025

Couldn’t resist popping back to see the Abberton Smew yesterday. They were good enough to not only stick around, but come a little closer. #essexbirding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

It was a wildfowl elite kind of morning at Abberton yesterday with 2 Smew! #wildfowlelite #essexbirding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 14/12/2025

A few shots from a very sunny Mersea Island this week. #essexbirding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

Three firsts for me this week, Brown Shrike, Crossbills and Arctic Skua, the later of which was thanks to birding pals @stuttonsparrows.bsky.social, @swallowbirding.bsky.social and @esbr-essex.bsky.social from a super trip to Norfolk. Also pics of Firecrest & Kingfisher to round things out. #birding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

Crossed the Strood onto Mersea Island today. Here’s a few of the sightings. #essexbirding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 08/09/2025

Hummingbird Hawk Moth from the garden this morning. #essex #Sphingidae

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 06/09/2025

After a few distant views, the Black Terns at Abberton finally done the decent thing this morning. #essexbirding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 23/08/2025

Swallows in abundance at Abberton this week. In fact lots of things to see including Little Gulls and Little Stints - both too camera shy for me though! #essexbirding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 15/08/2025

Quick stop off to Abberton and Mersea this morning. Lovely sunrise 🌅 and then Greenshank, Ruff and Spot Fly were on offer. #essexbirding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 12/08/2025

First Pied Flycatcher for me for this year on Mersea. Cracker. #essexbirding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

Crossed the strood for a visit to Mersea Island in Essex this morning. Lots about including Willow Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and Sparrowhawk. #essexbirding #birding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

This mornings Wood Sandpiper at Abberton was a great find by @simonpatient1.bsky.social. A seemingly rather hungry Yellow Wagtail popped up too. #essexbirding #birding

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Jon W @fivefootseven.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

Always look forward to seeing Wasp Spiders. There has been a few on my local patch this year. #nature #spider

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