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Frank Cavanagh

@frankcavanagh.bsky.social
118 followers 99 following 101 posts

15 year old -- birder, moth-er and trainee bird ringer -- World life list 638 -- latest addition Goshawk -- best find Ross's Gull.

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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
A nice day on patch today, highlights being 2 rather nice male Black Grouse, my first flock of Pink-footed Geese, large numbers of winter ducks, my first Whooper Swans of the autumn and another male Hen Harrier they are becoming an almost daily occurrence! #PatchBirding @patchbirding.bsky.social
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Great trip down the Kintyre peninsula today, after we had to scrap plans of bird ringing due to the wind the next best options considering the weather was Macrahanish Seabird Observatory. Highlights, 3 Leach's Petrel, 1 juv Arctic Skua, 9 PB Brent Geese, ~750 Kittiwake and ~20 RTD. #BirdingScotland
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Another 2 juv Little Stint at the Add Estuary today along with a Turnstone, the first of the Autumn. Also 3 Hen Harriers on the cycle there... #BirdingScotland #PatchBirding @patchbirding.bsky.social
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
A great day on the Isle of Luing today with 3 (!) Mediterranean Gulls, 2 1cy and 1 adult, 5 Manx Shearwater, an island tick for me, a juv Peregrine that was showing off its acrobatics by chasing crows and an Otter at full sprint! #BirdingScotland
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Did a big day on patch today, 50km cycled, 85 species, much better than I'd expected! Nothing particularly interesting but this White-tailed Eagle at eye level was by far the best encounter! Also a late Whinchat and a Blackcap eating berries #patchbirding #BirdingScotland @patchbirding.bsky.social
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
The high winds we've been having recently have been favorable on the bird front, 2 Kittiwake and a 1 juv Mediterranean Gull on the mud as well as the Little Stint from yesterday, this time giving much better views... #patchbirding #BirdingScotland @patchbirding.bsky.social
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Still good numbers of waders about today with the first Little Stint of the autumn, another 2 Curlew Sandpipers, ~20 Black-tailed Godwit, and plenty of Dunlin, Ringed Plovers, Knot, Redshank and other common waders... #patchbirding #BirdingScotland @patchbirding.bsky.social
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Great trip down to patch after school today, best were my lifer Goshawk that flew <10 meters aver my head when I was scouting a new viewpoint! Also the first Curlew Sand of the autumn, wader numbers still rising and this beautiful Angle Shades... @patchbirding.bsky.social #BirdingScotland #teammoth
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
#patchbirding recently, wader numbers are increasing by the day with ~30 Blackwit, the Golden Plovers are still present, my patch 1st Grey Plover yesterday! Winter duck numbers are also on the up and a Hen Harrier on the cycle home was a pleasant surprise! @patchbirding.bsky.social #BirdingScotland
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
A pleasant cycle down on the patch after school again today with good numbers of Gulls and Waders about but highlights were, 6 Little Egrets, Peregrine, and a pair of both Golden Plover and Knot @patchbirding.bsky.social #patchbirding #BirdingScotland
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
A nice trip out to the Jura yesterday with the Argyll Bird Club, the ferry journeys were quiet with 15 Storm Petrels being the highlight of the trip. Also good numbers of Fulmars and a few Manx Shearwater about, a pod of 20+ Common Dolphins and loads of Cinnabar caterpillars... #BirdingScotland
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Another good day on patch today with my 3rd self found Ruff of the year, this time a female, also a Little Gull present but that was seen to by a group of Lapwing so no pictures of that sadly. @patchbirding.bsky.social #BirdingScotland
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
A nice trap last nigh with 73 species, the biggest this year, with lots of very nice species but by far the best for me was this beautiful female Convolvulus Hawkmoth, a first for me. #teammoth
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
It has been very slow for moths here at the moment with nothing particularly special about so today when my first ever Bulrush Wainscot turned up in the trap it was a nice surprise! Bulrush Wainscot Acrobasis adventella Eudonia lacastrata Orchard Ermine #teammoth
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
A good bit of movement at the moment on patch, 17 Black-tailed Godwits were very nice to see as not many pass through here, a solitary Knot was a nice surprise and my first Little Egret of the 'autumn' was nice too. @patchbirding.bsky.social #BirdingScotland
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
Some interesting behaviour from the young White-tailed Eagle on patch today, it was very fixed on trying to catch one of the Red-breasted Merganser chicks however it gave up eventually after realising that they could dive out of reach... @patchbirding.bsky.social
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
A nice moth trap for me last night with 46 species highlights were my first ever Small Mottled Willow and my joint 2nd Old Lady and Tawny Speckled Pug, Old Lady Small Mottled Willow Tawny Speckled Pug #teammoth
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
A good day on the patch today with the first Ruff of the autumn, good numbers of Greenshank, Common Sandpiper and Curlew, plus a few Bar-tailed Godwit dotted about too... @patchbirding.bsky.social #BirdingScotland
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Just got back from a couple of days on the Colonsay, highlights the sea bird cliffs, moth trapping, counting colour rings and the few hundred Manx Shearwater on the ferry, Common Guillemot Four-spotted Footman (new for island) Hoodie Crow Colour ring reading Manx Shearwater #BirdingScotland
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
A bit of an unexpected twist to our journey into town when a Mediterranean Gull showed up at the Add Estuary, a quick detour resulted in my best views of the species in Argyll, also had 35-40 Common Turns with chicks roosting on the mud... #Birds #Birding #BirdingScotland #Scotland
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
On a day in Malawi we stayed at Dzalenyama Forest Lodge we hired a bird tour guide to help find some of my dads targets, of the 8 species on his list we found 5. Boulder Chat (1) Souza's Shrike (2) Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah Miombo Scrub-robin (3) Bohm's Flycatcher (4) #Birding #Africa #Malawi
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Some of the nocturnal birds seen on my holiday to Malawi included African Wood Owl (1), Spotted Eagle Owl (2), Pearl-spotted Owlet (3), Square-tailed, Freckled and Fiery-necked Nightjars (4).
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
The birds of prey in Malawi were insane with 20 species seen some of the highlights were, African Harrier Hawk (Gymnogene) Palm-nut Vulture Wahlberg's Eagle Verreauxs' (Black) Eagle #Birding #Africa #Malawi
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Sorry for the lack of posts recently, I've been in Malawi! It was a great holiday with just over 250 species of bird and some other nice sights! #Birding #Africa #Malawi
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Having only put up this House Martin nest cup 2 weeks ago I thought that it was too late and this year it would be empty, however, when I woke up this morning to here the bubbly chirps coming from just outside my window there was only one thing it could be... #BirdingScotland
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Some nice summer moths last night, including 8 Elephant Hawkmoths! Drinker Green Silver Lines. #teammoth
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
A Blue-tailed Damselfly and Small Pear-bordered Fritillary.
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
Some moths from last week, Pebble Prominent Buff Tip Large Longhorn (Namatopogon swammerdamella), look at those antennae!! #teammoth
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
Some teeny tiny day time flying moths to look out for at this time of year, Micropterix calthella - Buttercups Nettle Tap - Stinging Nettles Glyphipterix thrasonella - Wet Meadows. #teammoth
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
A few nice macro moths from recently, Peach Blossom Light Knot Grass Marbled Brown Knot Grass #teammoth
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
My first Elephant Hawkmoth of the year, interesting because last year I only had 1 in the whole year but the year before that i must have had 100+. Anyone else notice a lack of them last year? #teammoth
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
A Common Snipe at the side of the road on the Moine Mhor. #BirdingScotland
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
It hasn't been the best for moth trapping recently but here are some of the highlights from the most recent, Puss Moth Lunar Thorn Peppered Moth pale Shouldered Brocade. #teammoth
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
A nice walk/fish this morning with several pods of Harbour Porpoise past the rocks plus a handful of Common and Arctic turns kicking about too! #BirdingScotland
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
Another good day today, 2 breeding plumage Great Northern Divers, a White Tailed Eagle getting mobbed by a buzzard and year tick Little Turn... #BirdingScotland
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
A very nice surprise while on a cycle the other day was 3 pairs of Crossbill, in suitable breeding habitat too so 🤞 #BirdingScotland
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
#teammoth
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
Whimbrel and Whinchat from the Moine Mhor on Sunday. #BirdingScotland
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
A very nice surprise while opening a moth trap, a pair of Mandarin Duck, only the second time I have ever seen one and the last time was about a mile away! #BirdingScotland
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
A few nice moths about now that it's finally warming up, Garden Carpet Dark Sword Grass Yellow Barred Brindle Lesser Swallow Prominent
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
A nice surprise on the patch the other morning was a pair of Twite amongst the 50 or so Linnet... #BirdingScotland
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
Some nice views of Garden Warblers recently, I never realised they were so common until i learned there call and now they are everywhere!! #BirdingScotland
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
I nice walk up the hill the other week with nfy Whinchat and some nice views of some commoner birds... #BirdingScotland
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
A beautiful White Stork on the Moine Mhor yesterday am, a UK tick for me... #BirdingScotland
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 25/04/2026
A very good morning in the garden today with garden ✅ Wood Warbler (sadly flew further back into the trees before I could get any photos), many, many singing warblers including this Chiffchaff, a flyover Golden Eagle and 2 nfy Streamer in the moth trap... #BirdingScotland #teammoth
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 25/04/2026
A very pleasant cycle this evening with nfy Common Redstart, many Wheatear, some of my best ever views of Cuckoo and a pair of both Bar and Black-tailed Godwit... #BirdingScotland
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
Stonechat #BirdingScotland
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
Another 6 Emperor Moths the other day, such cool moths! #teammoth
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
Some mothing highlights from the last few weeks, Scarce Prominent Oak Beauty V-Pug Water Carpet #teammoth
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Frank Cavanagh @frankcavanagh.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
A few summer migrants from the last week or so, Sedge Warbler Grasshopper Warbler Wheatear Common Sandpiper. #BirdingScotland
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