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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I was working in NW Norfolk on 7 Sep so called in at Titchwell. Both Spotted Crakes showed really well on the freshmarsh plus a flyover Osprey, 3 Little Stints and a Wood Sand. Definitely had worse evenings! #NorfolkBirding

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Some highlights from @scillypelagics.bsky.social for @oriolebirding.bsky.social last week. Despite calm winds, we had great views of Cory's, Great, Sooty and Manx Shearwaters, plus many showy Wilson's and European Storm Petrels. #UKBirding

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

These Brown Hairstreaks were one of my favourites from a few days at @kneppwilding.bsky.social recently.

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

I was passing Cattawade early afternoon so called in to have a look for the Hudsonian Godwit. I got lucky as it flew in and landed right below us just after I arrived. Great views! #UKBirding #SuffolkBirding

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Some highlights from a decent spell of summer birding and wildlife recently including my 1st British Squacco Heron since 2010, Purple Emperor at Foxley Woods, Southern Migrant Hawker at Strumpshaw Fen and my 1st Large Tortoiseshell at Beeston Common (thanks to @markclements27.bsky.social).

Purple Emperor and Red Admirals - Foxley Woods

Southern Migrant Hawker - Strumpshaw Fen

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Finally catching up with my backlog of photo editing from the spring. Here are a few favourites from a great @oriolebirding.bsky.social Lesvos tour in early May. Details in ALT.

Lots of Curlew Sandpipers and Little Stints

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Much better flight views of the young male Red-footed Falcon over the Meadow Trail at Strumpshaw Fen this morning. #NorfolkBirding #UKBirding

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Great to finally catch up with the local Red-footed Falcon at Strumpshaw Fen on my third attempt. It was showing well close to Sandy Wall early morning then began hunting as the day warmed up. Plenty of Hobbies too. #NorfolkBirding #UKBirding

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

A few more shots of yesterday's superb 2cy Ross's Gull at Thornham. #NorfolkBirding #UKBirding

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

Great views of the 2cy Ross’s Gull following tractors at Thornham this afternoon. Hopefully the start of a good spring in Norfolk! #UKBirding #NorfolkBirding

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Nice to be just around the corner when the Iberian Chiffchaff was found at Westleton Heath today. My first in Britain. Plus excellent views of Nightingales and Dartford Warblers nearby. #UKBirding #SuffolkBirding

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

It’s been a good start to our @oriolebirding.bsky.social Speyside trip with some quality seabirds off the Fife coast. Stejneger’s Scoter was a lifer for me plus White-winged Scoter, 2 White-billed Divers and lots more. #UKBirding

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

Excellent views of female Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in the Brecks today for @oriolebirding.bsky.social. #UKBirding #NorfolkBirding

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Some more highlights from the Spanish Steppes from earlier in the month. Such good birding! @oriolebirding.bsky.social

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

Another highlight from the Pyrenees were the Lammergeiers. We saw them in several places but this adult showed particularly well as it regularly returned to the cliffs.

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

I've recently returned from guiding @oriolebirding.bsky.social Spanish Pyrenees & Steppes tour where we managed to see lots of great birds. It was hard to beat my first Wallcreeper for my bird of the trip though!

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

A few more Trinidad highlights including the endemic Trinidad Piping-Guan, Guianan Violaceous Trogon, Bearded Bellbird and White-bearded Manakin.

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

Some pics from a boat trip around Trinidad's Caroni Swamp on our @oriolebirding.bsky.social scouting trip. Hundreds of herons came into roost including many Scarlet Ibis, Snowy Egrets and Tricoloured and Little Blue Herons. A large flock of American Flamingos were present too.

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

Slowly making progress through my photos from Trinidad at the start of the month. Another stand-out highlight was a visit to the Oilbird cave where at least 20 were on the rock face. They have to be one of the weirdest birds I've ever seen!

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

While on Trinidad we had a super morning birding on the island's west coast. Hundreds of waders feeding along the mangrove edge included many Western and Semipalmated Sandpipers, Willets and others. Plus plenty of skimmers, herons, pelicans and frigatebirds etc. @oriolebirding.bsky.social

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

Just back from a great scouting trip to Trinidad for @oriolebirding.bsky.social. The hummingbirds were a big highlight of course, and a few of my favourites are attached below.

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

Back at Sheringham for more excellent views of the Eastern Black Redstart for @oriolebirding.bsky.social winter tour. Plus a textbook 2cy Caspian Gull on the beach there. #NorfolkBirding #UKBirding

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

A super afternoon at Cantley Marshes where we counted a minimum of 727 Russian White-fronted Geese - by far the most I’ve ever seen in the UK! #NorfolkBirding #UKBirding

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

A few more highlights from our @oriolebirding.bsky.social Norfolk Winter Tour last week. A great spell of winter birding! #UKBirding #NorfolkBirding #LincsBirding

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

Great first day of our @oriolebirding.bsky.social Norfolk winter tour with the Sheringham Eastern Black Redstart and North Point Taiga Bean Goose being standout highlights. Plus Hen Harriers, Caspian Gull and thousands of geese! #UKBirding #NorfolkBirding

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

Glaucous Gull at QEII yesterday and Green-winged Teal, Russian White-fronts and a pair of Smew at Druridge Pools the highlights of 87 species around some of my old haunts in Northumbs the last couple of days. #NEBirding #UKBirding

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

Time for my annual collage looking back over the last 12 months. Wouldn’t say it was a classic in terms of British birding for me but still some great birds and moments! Cheers to everyone who was a part of it and happy new year!

British and European wildlife highlights

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 30/12/2025

Nice scope views of the drake American Wigeon at Milkhope today. Very cool to hear it calling too! #NEBirding #UKBirding

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

A few shots of a particularly showy Water Pipit at Cley Marshes last weekend. #NorfolkBirding #UKBirding

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

Incredible views of Long-eared Owl at Warham Greens this evening (this pic phonescoped). Made for a great end to the day with Yellow-browed Warblers, Firecrest and Glossy Ibis nearby too. #UKBirding #NorfolkBirding

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

Stuff of dreams on Shetland today with great views of the Siberian Thrush at Asta. What a bird for our @oriolebirding.bsky.social group to catch up with. Check out that undertail! #UKBirding #ShetlandBirding

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

It’s been a good start to our @oriolebirding.bsky.social Shetland tour as a stop at Musselburgh on the way up to Aberdeen produced the long-staying Marsh Sandpiper, White-winged Scoter, Surf Scoter and plenty more! #UKBirding

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

I don’t usually post photos from the moth trap but this one has to be worth a mention. @midyaredan.bsky.social and I trapped Norfolk’s 1st Shining Marbled in Strumpshaw village last night. Other highlights included Lunar Yellow Underwing & 2 Four-spotted Footman. #teammoth @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 08/09/2025

The Black-winged Kite eventually showed really nicely at Hickling this afternoon. Much better perched views than a couple of years ago. What a beauty! #UKBirding #NorfolkBirding

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

It’s been a good few weeks for waders in the Mid Yare Valley especially at Buckenham Marshes. At least 3 Spotted Redshanks, 6 Wood Sandpipers & a Little Stint have made an appearance along with many Ruff, Black-tailed Godwits, Green Sandpipers and Little Ringed Plovers. #UKBirding #NorfolkBirding

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

A 1cy limosa Black-tailed Godwit from Cley Marshes on the 15th. Clearly a lot more advanced on the upperparts than the many surrounding islandica godwits. #UKBirding #NorfolkBirding

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 23/08/2025

A few gull images from recent forays down to Suffolk. Enjoyed getting such good views of a variety of 1cy birds. Details in ALT text. #UKBirding #SuffolkBirding

1cy Herring, Lesser Black-backed and Caspian Gulls

Adult Yellow-legged Gull with Lesser Black-backs

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 17/08/2025

One of at least three Clouded Yellow at Hickling Broad NWT in recent days. Only my second in Norfolk after one there a couple of months ago. A Whinchat was a nice bonus on Thursday too. #UKBirding #NorfolkBirding #UKButterflies

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 04/08/2025

Made my way to Walberswick yesterday where the Zitting Cisticola was a great bit of early August excitement. We had some good flight views but pics were difficult! A smart 1cy Caspian Gull at the quay was much more obliging. #UKBirding #SuffolkBirding

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 19/07/2025

limosa Black-tailed Godwits were up to two at Buckenham Marshes this afternoon with a much larger juvenile joining the original bird on Hide Pool. Hopefully a sign they’ve had a good breeding season! #NorfolkBirding #UKBirding

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 16/07/2025

The first juvenile limosa Black-tailed Godwit of the year is always a highlight of midsummer in Norfolk. This one at Buckenham Marshes this afternoon was my first on the patch though. #UKBirding #NorfolkBirding

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

Some highlights from a very productive visit to Foxley Woods at the end of last month; Purple Emperor, Silver-washed Fritillary (including form valezina) and White Admiral.

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

We did well for eastern warblers on the @oriolebirding.bsky.social Estonia tour earlier in the month with many giving excellent views. Greenish, Booted, Blyth's Reed and Icterine Warblers pictured here. #BirdingEstonia

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 19/06/2025

I'd only seen autumn Barred Warblers until two weeks ago so I was really hoping we'd catch up with some adult males on our @oriolebirding.bsky.social Estonia tour. They certainly didn't disappoint! #BirdingEstonia

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

I had three lifers on last week's @oriolebirding.bsky.social Estonia tour with the first being superb views of this Lesser Spotted Eagle low overhead on our second day.

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

Found time to start editing pics from leading @oriolebirding.bsky.social Estonia summer tour with @birdinghaapsalu.bsky.social last week. A standout highlight was this Ural Owl which showed really well in the twilight one evening. #BirdingEstonia

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

It's fair to say a walk around Strumpshaw Fen looking for moths with @midyaredan.bsky.social was more exciting than expected! This 2cy Pallid Harrier circled us briefly before crossing the river and heading high west mid-afternoon. What a bird to see on patch! #UKBirding #NorfolkBirding

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

Hudsonian Godwit was one of my most wanted birds in Britain so it was amazing to get such good views of the female at Titchfield Haven this morning! Those underwings are a sight to behold! #UKBirding

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

Probably my favourite birding on Lesvos was a morning at Ipsilou Monastery. An arrival of migrants included many Golden Orioles, flycatchers, Wood Warblers & a Common Rock Thrush. And the usual great birds incl Cinereous Bunting, Sombre Tit, Western Rock Nuthatch, wheatears etc.

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Jonathan Farooqi @jonathanfarooqi.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

The third afternoon of our Lesvos trip was spent back at Kalloni Salt Pans and the Tsiknias River. An Isabelline/Turkestan Shrike (possibly the former) was great to watch & there was no shortage of waders. Later, both Baillon's & Little Crakes were showing by the river ford at dusk.

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