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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

We stopped into Lindisfarne yesterday on the way home from a trip to Scotland. And found the long-staying Black Guillemot, so that's 3 lifers in 2 days.

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Managed a glimpse of this, the White-rumped Sandpiper AND a 'Channel' Yellow Wagtail today at Kilnsea & Beacon Ponds. Little Stint and Common Scoter also NFY, so a properly good day. Ada was in a chatty mood today, so apologies if you were accosted in one of the hides 🤣 #YorkshireBirding

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Very cool afternoon yesterday "Extreme" Rockpooling at South Landing, Flamborough with @yorkswildlife.bsky.social, 6 species of crab, a baby conger eel and even a lobster!

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

My dad had an old Collins British Birds book, which contained to me, an iconic painting of a Hobby with a Swift - I've never seen that in real life. Until today at Stone Creek. The falcon flew in with the unfortunate Swift, and perched on a branch 30 yards away to eat it. Amazing. #YorkshireBirds

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

Can watch Hummingbird Hawk-moths for ever. Feeding on a Buddleia along with hundreds of butterflies - Red Admirals, Small Tortoiseshell, Painted Ladies, Large Whites, Holly Blues, Ringlets, Meadow Browns, Peacocks and most importantly, a Silver-washed Fritillary. #PaullHolmeStrays #Butterflies

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

Had a little walk this afternoon to #PaullHolmeStrays. Gave Ada the task of finding Cinnabar caterpillars. Took a bit, but once she'd got her eye in they were suddenly everywhere 🤣 Good day for raptors, a very pale Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, Kestrel and a Buzzard.

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Foolishly went for a walk to Saltend at lunchtime, feel like it was the hottest point all week... Anyway, not many birds about, but did come across this very cool (Cucumber?) Spider.

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

How cool is the Sand Martin Hide at Attenborough NR? Little bit of time this afternoon to stop by. Great place, lovely views of a Hobby and a Cuckoo among nearly 50 species! #NottsBirding

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

Target Bird 2 of 3: A Turtle Dove flew across the field overlooked by our balcony at breakfast. British lifer, a year to the day that I saw my first ever Turtle Dove in Greece (pictured).

A Turtle Dove on a wire, in Greece last May

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Having a couple of days in North Yorkshire with my family, Ada's finally asleep so I'm having a beer on the balcony. I can hear a Nightjar churring away - it really is the strangest sound. One of three "target" birds for the trip, fingers crossed for the other two! #YorkshireBirding

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

A long awaited Yorkshire Tick this morning with an Osprey flying over the Paull Shipyard and out over the Humber! Not a bad bird for the school walk! #YorkshireBirding #PWC2026

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Dunlin at Beacon Ponds on Sunday, didn't seem to care about Ada or I stopping to take a photo or two. #yorkshirebirding

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Ada doesn't get to go birding as much since starting school, so she jumped at the chance to visit North "Cake" Wetlands We found 70 species. The Spoonbill had flown before we got to it, but I did finally see a Bittern on the reserve! #GlobalBigDay #YorkshireBirding @northcavebirds.bsky.social

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

Had a couple of weeks in Malaysia, seen tonnes of birds, including 40 odd lifers. Had a day in Singapore on the way home, so here's a Kingfisher on a Kingfisher. #SingaporeBirds #Birdwatching #Birding

A Kingfisher statue with a White-throated Kingfisher on it's beak.

A close up of the White-throated Kingfisher

An alternative angle of the White-throated Kingfisher

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

Arrived the other day, it's brilliant thanks Owen. I did get round to Figham the other day, nice short walk. I need to visit in the summer!

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

Bit of a surprise after picking up Ada from school - as we were walking back a Cattle Egret flew very low over Paull and out over the Humber. I'd been expecting one in the fields around here at some point, but wasn't expecting it over the garden! #YorkshireBirding #PWC2026

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

No rush. I only managed two visits I think, so that's not too bad. Must get back over soon!

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

Ooh I hadn't seen that - ordered!

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Sunny but very windy on #PaullHolmeStrays today. Last few waterfowl are still around - down to c120 Wigeon now and a lone Pink-footed Goose on the main stray. First Ruff of the year was by the lighthouses - and just as I was leaving, the first Chiffchaff started singing! #YorkshireBirding #PWC2026

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

The irony is I was around the corner on Monday! Will try to get over again to look.

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

Minor point, the American Wigeon in Hedon was on the pools at Newton Garth, which is Paull, not Hedon. I saw it on the 4th and 9th, but it was found (unknown to me) on the 3rd by Garry Taylor. Simon Brebner posted some distant photos on X.

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

Nice birding weekend with Ada, Bempton, Thornwick Pools and a stop at Brid for Purple Sandpiper yesterday. Spurn today for Swans and Geese! #YorkshireBirding

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

I was in Hull earlier - no such luck! 🤣

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

#BigGardenBirdwatch this morning. Bit quiet really, but Ada enjoyed it. Especially when her favourite bird, a Robin put in an appearance.

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

@ldvnnr.bsky.social Is the WTE still around? Contemplating a visit this weekend.

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Reposted by John Conlin-Hulme

Spurn Bird Observatory @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

If you can support the appeal, or help by sharing it more widely, we would be incredibly grateful. You can donate here: 👉 gofund.me/31d302f20 Please help us give Little Terns at Beacon Ponds the protection they need in 2026.

gofund.me

Donate to Save the Beacon Ponds Little Tern Project, organized by Spurn Bird Obs

Without urgent support, the Beacon Ponds Little Tern Project may not be able … Spurn Bird Obs needs your support for Save the Beacon Ponds Little Tern Project

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

I've been the same with them, so many near misses! I had no camera with me, so my crap photo is through my binoculars, but it shows how close they let me get. Before going back onto the beach, where they disappeared in the shingle. Worth a look if you get some time!

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

Holmpton this afternoon, hoping to find Snow Buntings, which would be a lifer. First bird I saw though, was a Velvet Scoter! First I've seen since 2015. Didn't think the buntings were gonna happen, but they popped up onto the path just as I was about to turn around - result! #YorkshireBirding

A terrible photo of Snow Buntings on top of the cliff

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 10/01/2026

Perfect weather for a family walk at #OutstraysNR Amazing views of a male Hen Harrier. 8 Pintail dropped in, a Merlin crossed the path in front of us and 250+ Brents in the field. We all had a great time. #YorkshireBirding

A view over the wetlands from the Weeton end.

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

Nice to see #PaullHolmeStrays featured! Not sure who the local was though - the Roe Deer have no problems with the gullies - they're often out on the saltmarsh - and sometimes right next to the Humber. I've even seen them out on the mudbanks IN the Humber

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

Ha - I don't go quite that far back, but this many Greylags is quite unusual. A Canada is a rare sighting on Paull Holme Strays though. I've only ever seen one.

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

Probably well over 1k geese on #PaullHolmeStrays today. And for once some are on the Main Stray offering great views - including some White-fronted Geese. Several hundred Greylags, and several hundred more Pink-footed. Loved it. A few Snipe flying around too. #YorkshireBirding

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

Great stuff, if you can edit it to 137 that'd be great. 172 was 2023. And I agree a mean score would make sense. Thanks for running it again!

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

#PWC2025 was not so good - 114 birds for 137 points, #PaullHolmeStrays was quiet - American Golden Plover was the best bird (not seen by me). Only ticks for me were Grey Partridge and a surprise Purple Sand. Easily my best patch bird was an American Wigeon at Newton Garth. #YorkshireBirding

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

Among the lifers was the Osprey at Glaslyn in Wales, it's been a bit of a bogey bird - plenty seen around East Yorks, just not by me! My favourite though was probably the Easington Hume's Warbler - such great views. Closely followed though by a self-found Red-rumped Swallow and Bee-eater

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

My 2025 birding review A strong first 6 months, but then there was a slow Autumn where I struggled to get out. Winter picked up though, so I was able to finish with more UK birds than I'd ever seen: In Summary: 2025 British birds: 182 British ticks: 12 (now up to 225) Yorkshire ticks: 11 (220)

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

I've added Paull again this year, but missed out my previous score - would you mind adding it? I wasn't sure if it should be my last year's score (137), my best (172) or my average score (155). Ta!

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 27/12/2025

So nearly drove that way home today from Kilnsea. Gutted.

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 25/12/2025

Some excellent birding related Xmas gifts - an @rspb.bsky.social hat, and a beautiful Marsh Harrier print by @owentatdraws.bsky.social

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 20/12/2025

As is now tradition, this weekend we made the trip over to #RodleyNatureReserve to visit Dad's memorial bench. 3 years now, and every time I see some cool bird I wish I could tell him about it. He'd have loved to see the huge flock of Linnet - and the sparrowhawk thinning their numbers a little.

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 15/12/2025

Lovely couple of hours birding. A nice Whooper Swan this morning at the Pat Haven bit of Outstrays NR. Followed by several Red-throated Divers in Withernsea at lunchtime. Other divers too, but none I could be certain of an ID on. Finished off with a male Hen Harrier nr Welwick. #YorkshireBirding

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

Bit of a tidy up of the #YorkshireBirding feed. Some non-birding posts were creeping in. I've altered the filters to hopefully bring in posts related to the Outstrays NR. If you think any Yorkshire nature reserve, observatory or birding group tags are missing, let me know!

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

A few hours around Spurn yesterday ticked me past 177 birds for the year - a new record for me. A strong Spring has made up for a summer and autumn with little time for birding The Hume's Warbler was a great little bird, but Barnacle Goose and Redpoll were NFY too. Now on 179. #YorkshireBirding

A screengrab showing Hume's Warbler added to my BUBO year list - and a new PB of 179 British birds.

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 21/09/2025

Just been treat to a great view of a Lancaster Bomber as it did a couple of flybys of Fort Paull

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

Absolutely glorious evening at Outstrays NR yesterday, with maybe 15 Glossy Ibis present and two Cranes in flight (lifer!). Close views of 2 SEO - stunning in the evening light. Not been recently, I love what they've done with it. Good natter to a local birder too. Great stuff. #YorkshireBirding

Geese skeins over Outstrays NR last night.

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

Been so busy over the last couple of months I've not been able to be out locally much. So it was nice to have a couple of short lunchtime walks this week. Not a huge amount about, but a Porpoise in the Humber yesterday and and a #PWC2025 tick Shag today were nice to find. #YorkshireBirding

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 20/07/2025

Thanks for that! I think last time I tried via Welwick the roads were closed, it was probably under construction. I'll try again!

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John Conlin-Hulme @herbington.bsky.social · 20/07/2025

That'd be a nice addition to the #PaullHolmeStrays list. It's not far away!

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