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John Pritchard @johnpritchard.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Good to see the Pied Fly showed for you. Nice shot!

Reposted by John Pritchard

Rupert Evershed @rupertevershed.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

It’s been a good week with 2 lifers - The Shrike on Sunday & The Godwit today! Great views of both. Added highlights today: juv Turtle Dove, Osprey, Ring-necked Duck, probable scolding Nightingale & the company of @johnpritchard.bsky.social Also the first ever Cetti’s Warber in the garden back home!

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John Pritchard @johnpritchard.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

It's certainly warm on the St Albans patch but with the hope of a wader or two just around the corner. In the meantime, there's not much that beats enjoying the growing local House Martin flock as they learn to balance and cope with the heat. #hertsbirds

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John Pritchard @johnpritchard.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

The local House Martin colony at Shafford Farm, St Albans has a record 59 nests this year; up 7 on 2025. Fledging a week or so earlier this time, hopefully plenty of second broods to come.

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John Pritchard @johnpritchard.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

A few flyovers are usually the sum of the annual patch Hobby records, here in Herts. It was a change to spot one from garden today, perched in an oak - much to the annoyance of the local Swallows! @patchbirding.bsky.social #PWC2026 #hertsbirds

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John Pritchard @johnpritchard.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

It's been a slow plod nr St Albans but it's 100 up in the #PWC2026 Challenge, with a distant Hobby today. An obliging Little Ringed Plover, a second ever patch Firecrest this week & the only sighting of a #patchgold, formerly common, Collared Dove in April the highlights! @patchbirding.bsky.social

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John Pritchard @johnpritchard.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

It's been a slow but steady few months on the patch near St Albans. At the weekend, a Wigeon was new for the year. But today, I found a #patchgold Dartford Warbler. Patch tick (29 years!) & Herts rarity. Thanks to @rupertevershed.bsky.social for the warbler pic. #PWC2025 @patchbirding.bsky.social

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John Pritchard @johnpritchard.bsky.social · 06/07/2025

2+ Spotted Flycatchers on Gorhambury Estate, St Albans. In willows close to the floodwater pool. Patch year tick. #hertsbirds #PWC2025

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Reposted by John Pritchard

Ver Valley Society @vervalleysoc.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

Join us at 7.30pm, Tues 17 June, St Stephen Parish Centre AL2 3PJ. FREE meeting, all welcome. Guest speaker Dr Julie Battersby will tell us about toads; there'll be updates on the state of the #RiverVer & plenty of time for sewage, planning, nature & more. riverver.co.uk/open-meeting...

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John Pritchard @johnpritchard.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

Get your boots on, it's still there!

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John Pritchard @johnpritchard.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

A steady fortnight of seasonal migrants plus this Pintail today (a personal patch tick), has brought the patch total to a hundred for the year. Not too shabby for an inland #hertsbirds patch, near St Albans. @bglynn500.bsky.social @patchbirding.bsky.social

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John Pritchard @johnpritchard.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Yellow Wagtails aside, times are tough on the patch near St Albans at the moment. Even the Buzzards are turning vegetarian. @patchbirding.bsky.social

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John Pritchard @johnpritchard.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

That's rather poor form, to say the least. Here's the story of my patch Spring so far - the odd bright spot among a pile of... @patchbirding.bsky.social @bglynn500.bsky.social

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John Pritchard @johnpritchard.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

🤍Top garden spotting. It deserves a reply!

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John Pritchard @johnpritchard.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

This morning's visit to a West Dorset coastal strip revealed it was alive with Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and my first Sedge Warblers & Whitethroats of the year. 3 Wheatears lingering but just two Swallows through. Plus two Shelduck halfway up a hill. @bglynn500.bsky.social @bexbirder.bsky.social

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John Pritchard @johnpritchard.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Up in the top bedroom this morning. Can just make out the coast! Nothing other than Chiffchaffs headed your way, so far.

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John Pritchard @johnpritchard.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

Good to hear that you are out there. The garden here was pretty good for the locals this morning but not so good for the photographer!

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John Pritchard @johnpritchard.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

Out with the old and in with the new today, on my @hertsbirds.bsky.social patch near St Albans. A small flock of Golden Plover (patch year tick) and a final Fieldfare were good to see, while Yellow Wagtail (another year tick) was very welcome. @patchbirding.bsky.social @bglynn500.bsky.social

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John Pritchard @johnpritchard.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

First House Martins back to the local colony near St Albans, Herts today. Four appeared at lunchtime. Just for a moment a local Buzzard made me think I was in Cornwall! @rupertevershed.bsky.social @bglynn500.bsky.social @ukhousemartins.bsky.social @hertsbirds.bsky.social

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John Pritchard @johnpritchard.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

It seems you need to sit outside more in March to me!

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John Pritchard @johnpritchard.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

And this afternoon, a first garden Swallow of 2025! 🥳

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John Pritchard @johnpritchard.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

Good effort! It's all painfully slow in these easterlies. A male Reed Bunting the highlight of the regular garden birds here at the moment.

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John Pritchard @johnpritchard.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

Off patch and birding in West Dorset. Good to catch up with a variety of residents and new arrivals. 25 Cattle Egret (Abbotsbury) Wheatear, 4 Pintail, 2 Sandwich Tern, 4 Gannet and Cirl Bunting all along the coastal strip. Hat tip @bexbirder.bsky.social

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John Pritchard @johnpritchard.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

There's a great deal of enjoyment to be had from an annual garden list and today #71 turned up in the shape of two lowly but distant Greylag Geese also #81 on the local patch. Buzzard next door too. @patchbirding.bsky.social @rupertevershed.bsky.social @bglynn500.bsky.social

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