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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Been enjoying lovely views of the Osprey at CHL, its 3rd day today. Pic of it wading, bathing and drinking, taken on 24/09/26 which I'd not seen before. Others today 3 GWE's, Green Sand, single Whooper, 49sp. on @birdtrack.bsky.social @yorkbirding.bsky.social

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

CHL, a great morning seeing a much anticipated, top of my site target list realised with this beauty, a juvenile male metal ringed Osprey. Seen fishing, eating, bathing & drinking. Also a v early September solitary Whooper fab to see and hear. @yorkbirding.bsky.social @birdtrack.bsky.social

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

4 very early returning / passage Pintail, elegant even in eclipse, on CHL this morning. An uncommon record here. 40 species on @birdtrack.bsky.social incl 2 singing Cetti's (1 v much a subsong). @yorkbirding.bsky.social

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

CHL looking more wader friendly with Redshank, 1st since 24/3/26, Green Sand, 2nd in last 4 days and my 1st ever records here, and 2 Snipe feeding at S end. A Green Woody, foy and almost same date as last year (12/08/25) 49 sp. @birdtrack.bsky.social incl House lakes @yorkbirding.bsky.social

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Unfortunate head feather loss on this male Blackbird, taken at CHL 14/08/26. Reasons unknown but possibly breeding stress tending 2 or 3 broods, parasites or abrasive foraging in the hard ground. Who knows. @yorkbirding.bsky.social

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Castle Howard Lake Water Rails. Previous record this year 19/2 here then 3 sightings in last 5 days incl. birds at either end of lake, all adults. Not sure if they may have bred silently or are on the move. Also came across a singing Cetti's today at Low Water, Terrington @yorkbirding.bsky.social

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Wood Sandpiper continues its stay at the roadside mudpool at Byland Abbey this morning. Lovely to see a Greenshank in the open and an adult Water Rail against adjacent reeds in the shallows at N end of chl. Common Sand and 84 LBB's at Newburgh Priory. @yorkbirding.bsky.social

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Castle Howard Lake. Adult Water Rail on lake margin, 1st record since 19/02/26. Not sure if they breed here. A Sedge W also, uncommon. 50 sp. @birdtrack.bsky.social Low Water Terrington (pic) 2 Kingfisher beauts in flight together, 12 LBB's on rehydration break from mig. @yorkbirding.bsky.social

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

@northcavewet.bsky.social pleasant morning, 1 of the Eastholm Oak Peregrines in heavy moult, Bittern in flight at Reedbed, Cattle Egret accompanying the Hebridians in centre of reserve, a singing male Willow Warbler 0740 unusual on West Path, 31 Common Gulls overall.

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Castle Howard Lake. Always nice to get a new record on one of your regular patches. Black-t-Godwit this morning at the northern end. @yorkbirding.bsky.social

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Reposted by Stuart Rapson

ANJEC @anjec.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Scotland has just done something quietly brilliant for its birds. New buildings across the country will now have to include "swift bricks", hollow bricks built straight into the walls that give birds a safe place to nest. Scotland is the first country in the UK to write this into law.

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Delighted to see the @yorkbirding.bsky.social recording area Dartford Warbler this morning. Too fast for my digiscoping skills so here is one of the Stonechat family that it has been associating with. Into its known 3rd week now on this Yorkshire common.

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Castle Howard Lakes. 49 species this morning @birdtrack.bsky.social including this South Lake & the Dairy Ponds. 5th record of 2026 for Common Sandpiper today. Dabchick, Coot & Gadwall prefer to breed on the these smaller lakes rather than the Great Lake. 49 species @yorkbirding.bsky.social

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Reposted by Stuart Rapson

BirdGuides @birdguides.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Birds of the Lower Derwent Valley review This is a truly wonderful book dedicated to an area rich in birdlife, says Josh Jones: bit.ly/4vAh81f

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Blacktoft Sands Part of flock of 32 Spoonbills voraciously feeding on Marshland. Incredible numbers compared to my early birding years. 13 Beardies feeding on edge of reeds here. c.130 Blackwits, 7 Ruff & 3 Spotshanks,1 in summer plumage,on Singleton.

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Castle Howard Lake. A real surprise for me this morning was a single juvenile Goldeneye, down at the southern end @yorkbirding.bsky.social 44 species on @birdtrack.bsky.social

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Castle Howard Lake Greenshank announced itself, doing 2 or 3 laps before settling adjacent the island, resting not feeding. My 2nd record here (05/0925) Others 5 Teal, 45 Mandarin, 6 black fluffball Tufted ducklings with 19 adults and a juv + adult Grey Wag @yorkbirding.bsky.social

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Castle Howard Lake. An unlikely combo this morning - female Common Scoter and Dabchick together. Others included 2 Common Sands, 5 Teal, Kingfisher and Grey Wagtails made for a pleasant visit. 46 species on @birdtrack.bsky.social @yorkbirding.bsky.social

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Castle Howard Lake. Common Sand again this morning following 3 here 2 days ago. RCP has relocated onto South Lake. 1 drake Teal following unseasonal flock of 9 on 22/6. Good to record lots of breeding evidence,Dabchick, Gadwall etc. 53 species on @birdtrack.bsky.social @yorkbirding.bsky.social

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Castle Howard Lake. A new species for me this morning with a pair of Common Terns, feeding over the lake. Courtship noted with the lead bird, presumably the male, carrying food and both calling excitedly At one point a Jay was harassing / mobbing one of them over the lake. @yorkbirding.bsky.social

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

An enjoyable morning on the @bbs-birds.bsky.social at Menethorpe, my fifth year, 40 sp. today highlight being a new record for the square (from 2008) of a beauty, a Kingfisher which rested here in the Willows on the Derwent. @yorkbirding.bsky.social

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Pleasant morning at Wheldrake Ings @ldvnnr.bsky.social Lovely to see broods of 6 Shoveler and 8 Gadwall on the Pool. Also drake Wigeon,Teal on there and a surprise drake Pintail dropped onto the ings. Small flock of Lapwing landed, 14 in total, Snipe and Redshank. @yorkbirding.bsky.social

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Red-footed Falcon at Bubwith Ings again this morning. A lovely small falcon hunting up and down the Derwent. Park at Derwent Bridge cp and walk a mile up the N bank footpath, to the gate. NO access beyond this as NNR above here. @yorkbirding.bsky.social @ldvnnr.bsky.social

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Delighted when this Temminks dropped in 0918hrs onto Kilnsea Wetlands @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social in front of the hide. Pleased also to see it feeding well on Bloodworms, as vid, to seemingly show a plentiful supply of wader food available.

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Fabulous day @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social, pic of waders at Warren Gate, Bartails, Grey Plovers, Knot, Dunlin, Turnstone. Others around the area : Short-eared Owl, Spoonbills, beautiful M Marsh Harrier, Whimbrel, Osprey (yesterday) plentiful Yellow Wags and Whimbrel.

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Howard King @birdsofbahrain.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

#Birds #Bahrain Environmental issues, a consequence of Trump's Gulf war, must now include early departure of 99% of wintering migrant wader species - after 700-plus disruptive intercept explosions, today's migrant wader count was zero, breeding tern count 1 pair Saunders's

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Completed our 1st @bbs-birds.bsky.social visit at Seaton Ross today. An unusual 27 nr. Curlew noteworthy which I understand from my @yorkbirding.bsky.social colleagues may well be possibly Icelandic breeders en-route supported by us also recording 4 Whimbrel, a new species on the square. 43 species.

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Fab weather over our 12 days. Ardnamurchan peninsula pic Ben Hiant - highest peak, with close up WTE's. Displaying Mergs at Castle Tiordan, Manxs' & 3 Gavia sp. Isle of Eigg pics Bay of Laig with backdrop of Rhum Cullins plus Finger of God. Confiding Twite. Isle of Muck, pic Gallanach Bay, White Wag

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

1st @bbs-birds.bsky.social completed today at Menethorpe. Notables 9 Oycs (4,3,2) in different transects, a Nuthatch calling in flight, 10 Sand Martins through direct on mig, 4 Kites(2,1,1) in diff transects & 110 Common Gulls in one flock SW along Derwent at 0820hrs. @yorkbirding.bsky.social

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

1 of the (4) Egrets tried to take an MA duckling, hovering over it. The female flew up successfully several times chest-bumping it away. 93 Godwits on Swantail. nfy Lesser Whitethroat 2 GBBB's briefly dropped in. Late Common Gulls moving N c.50 @ldvnnr.bsky.social @yorkbirding.bsky.social

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Reposted by Stuart Rapson

Ben Secker @bensecker.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Some ominous footage gathered a few days ago from one of the Willow Tit nests we are monitoring. GSW are the most common predator of WT nests in Britain, and having increased by ~400% since the late 60s, it's not a threat that's going away. Let's hope this one has amnesia... #UKBirding #Yikes

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

1/2 A great Spring morning @ldvnnr.bsky.social after the iced car & mist. Wheldrake full of warbler & wader song. nfr Whitethroat, the newly arrived Sand Martins (100s) are a sight to see feeding & resting, 6 Whoopers, Godwits in colour, Scaup, Marsh Harrier pr displaying. @yorkbirding.bsky.social

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

Stamford Bridge Flash. 5 years since last record so in context a rare bird here - Pr Tufted Ducks. 2 pr Gadwall, 3 Teal and a new in drake Shoveler. CHL fairly quiet, 49 Tufted remain and a GWE. Hanging Grimston Wold, windy for songsters, no Redstart yet. A Yaffle calling. @yorkbirding.bsky.social

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Reposted by Stuart Rapson

Stuart Griffiths @sgriffiths1302.bsky.social · 05/04/2026

Snow Bunting - Cairngorm, one of about 20 birds in the car park.

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 05/04/2026

Didn't expect that one, or maybe I should have at this time of year, a F Common Scoter on the Derwent at SB Flash and a new patch record. CHL this morning, rained off but did see a GWE, now developing some aigrettes ready for courtship. A little storm damage above the weir. @yorkbirding.bsky.social

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

Pleasant morning at Wheldrake Ings partly with @birdingdad.bsky.social 110 Pinks N at 0750, my FOY's Swallow & W Warbler, F Scaup (pic), Marsh Harrier pair, 20 Whoopers dropped in 0830, 6 Pochard and Water Rail squealing. @yorkbirding.bsky.social @ldvnnr.bsky.social

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Stamford Bridge Flash. A v unusual aberrant Moorhen with a complete yellow bill drew my attention today. Also foy 3 Mandarin again for 2nd year gradually occupying this section of the Derwent. @yorkbirding.bsky.social

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

CHL. Great to see some migration in action. Common Scoter stopped off here, W to E and 6 Whoopers (1 juv) resting, en route N to Iceland. Common Redshank on the shoreline also, an unusual sighting here. @yorkbirding.bsky.social

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

SB Flash. Beautiful Spring morning. Saw Mutes and Teal pairs copulating in my short visit. Red Kite, from the poolside above Ellers Wood a rare sight here. 6 Herons came together above in mid-air, 3 of which landed here, drake Shoveler. 41 species @birdtrack.bsky.social @yorkbirding.bsky.social

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

Nice to see a drake Scoter on CHL this morning, stopped of on its overland migration. @yorkbirding.bsky.social

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

Beautiful day and a grand round of Cotterdale. Ravens, Curlew and Peewits back for their season, dipped the Dipper.

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

Highlight from this morning a Med Gull at Feoffe Common, a good record for @yorkbirding.bsky.social recording area. Noticeable movement of Shoveler in last couple of days witth extraordinary numbers of 12 at Stamford Bridge Flash and 18 here at Feoffe, 2 small local patches. @birdtrack.bsky.social

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

2 tetrads surveyed today on our 4th and final @bbs-birds.bsky.social winter bird visits. Spring sprung at Seaton Ross with our earliest singing male CB, 3 skeins of PG totalling 310 early on all heading back NW and a yaffling G calling several times. @yorkbirding.bsky.social

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

Slavonian Grebe showing well again this morning at Stamford Bridge Flash. up river from the village towards Buttercrambe on riverside path, first field that you come to. @yorkbirding.bsky.social

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

A new patch record at Feoffe Common this morning in the form of this solitary WF Goose resting and feeding on the grass margin. The Slavonian Grebe present for its 3rd day at Stamford Bridge Flash great to see also feeding well. 40 species here @birdtrack.bsky.social @yorkbirding.bsky.social

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

CHL. A pair of the loved-up Herons. Display flight with elongated neck, female on nest in Bittern posture, bill pointing to the sky. Both in great plumage and presumed male with red beak. Pair Ravens in flight NE over Ray Wood. 46 species on @birdtrack.bsky.social @yorkbirding.bsky.social

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

Eyes popped out of my head this morning. Slavonian Grebe on Stamford Bridge Flash, just before mid-day. @yorkbirding.bsky.social

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

Useful summary of my UK birding activities during 2025, from @birdtrack.bsky.social Different criteria but my top bird would be the CHL Bittern - not recorded here since 1877. Thanks to @pauldoherty.bsky.social for the research on this. Male RB Shrike @ Spurn was special too.

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

North Duffield Carrs - Geoff Smith hide. Rarely see 2 together - video. 3 Scaup distantly, 2 Ruff close. Yaffle flew across the valley, Kingfisher & Stonechat in front of the hide. Feoffee. 4 Shelduck, 125 Common Gulls & 1 LBB. @yorkbirding.bsky.social @ldvnnr.bsky.social

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Stuart Rapson @ivoryg.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

Castle Howard Lake. 5 Shags remain on site after the incredible mid-week 17nr influx, seemingly feeding well. Beautiful morning, 55 species on @birdtrack.bsky.social @yorkbirding.bsky.social

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